Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have introduced a bill that would “require the electronic disclosure of Senate campaign finance reports,” according to a press release.
Congressional Quarterly sums up what the bill would do:
The bill, virtually identical to measures introduced in the 108th, 109th and 110th Congresses, would reduce the time it takes for a campaign report or other disclosure filed with the secretary of the Senate to become available to the public. Under the current paper system, it can take up to a month for Senate information to turn up on the FEC Web site. The measure, which has 25 cosponsors, would reduce that time to no more than 48 hours and save taxpayers and estimated $250,000 a year.
According to CQ, Presidential and House candidates already use an electronic filing system.
Feingold:
“This commonsense bill to make our electoral system more transparent is long overdue,” Senator Feingold said. “The Senate should catch up with the House, the President, and the many Senators who already voluntarily file electronically by passing this reform which has broad bipartisan support.”
Cochran:
Senator Cochran said, “This important legislation will require the Senate to operate with the same transparency in campaign filing that the President and Members of the House of Representatives already use. I hope the Senate will consider the bill in a timely manner and approve it so that we can begin to operate under a modern filing system.”
Schumer:
“This proposal is a no-brainer. It should be approved expeditiously to increase disclosure and move the Senate’s reporting system into the 21st century,” said Senator Schumer, Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee.
Additional sponsors of this legislation, as listed in the press release, include “Senators Akaka, Alexander, Bennett, Bingaman, Brown, Cardin, Chambliss, Dodd, Durbin, Feinstein, Grassley, Harkin, Isakson, Kerry, Leahy, Levin, Lieberman, Lugar, McCain, Nelson (NE), Reed, Reid, and Rockefeller.”
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