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Julia Brownley on Government Reform

Shift political influence away from the special interests

In Congress, I will support the federal legislation known as the DISCLOSE Act, that would create the same transparency on a national level. We must work to shift political influence back toward the American people and away from the special interests.

Limit campaign contributions and campaign spending

A: Yes.

Q: Political Action Committees (PAC) contributions?

A: Yes.

Q: Corporate?

A: Yes.

Q: Political Party contributions?

A: Yes.

Q: Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?

A: Yes.

Lengthen term limits for state legislators

A: Term limits for state legislators needs to be evaluated. Six years in the Assembly is too short and should be extended somewhat.

Full disclosure of campaign spending.

Disclosure of Information on Spending on Campaigns Leads to Open and Secure Elections Act of 2013 or DISCLOSE 2013 Act:

• Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to redefine the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidates, qualifications, or fitness for office.
• Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications.
• Prescribes disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and campaign-related disbursements.
• Requires any communication transmitted through radio or television to include an individual or organizational disclosure statement, together with:
  1. the Top Two Funders List of the persons providing the largest and second largest aggregate payments of $10,000 or more for a radio communication, and
  2. the Top Five Funders List of the five persons providing the largest aggregate payments of $10,000 or more for a television communication.
• Repeals the prohibition against political contributions by individuals age 17 or younger.
• Requires a covered organization which submits regular, periodic reports to its shareholders, members, or donors on its finances or activities to include in each report, in a clear and conspicuous manner, the information included in the statements it has filed about campaign-related disbursements the organization has made during the period covered by the report.
• Requires semiannual reports on election campaign contributions by registered lobbyists for any independent expenditure of $1,000 or more, including electioneering communication.