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Guns Guns Guns
Guest
In spite of the clamor emanating from conservatives and the business community, the draft E.O. is, according to some advocates (including OMB Watch), an important first step toward curbing the harmful effects of the deluge of corporate money that has begun flowing into our political system since the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010. The draft E.O. is also a significant down payment on the president’s campaign promise to address the growing influence of special interests in Washington.
As written, the draft E.O. would require "any entity bidding for a government contract to disclose political contributions to federal candidates or parties made within the past two years that, in aggregate, exceed $5,000." The disclosure would "include contributions made by the entity’s directors and officers as well as its affiliates and subsidiaries." Disclosure would also include contributions made to third parties, including trade associations and 501(c)(4) organizations, that intend to use those funds to make independent expenditures in support of or opposition to candidates or to engage in electioneering communications, such as paid political ads. This is the first time third-party contributions would be publicly disclosed.
The disclosed information would be available through a searchable, downloadable database on Data.gov. Those that win federal contracts must certify that they have disclosed the information as a condition of receiving the award. The E.O. calls on the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council to develop rules to implement the E.O. by the end of 2011. Thus, the new disclosure requirements would apply to contract solicitations that occur before the next election cycle.
http://www.ombwatch.org/node/11643
As written, the draft E.O. would require "any entity bidding for a government contract to disclose political contributions to federal candidates or parties made within the past two years that, in aggregate, exceed $5,000." The disclosure would "include contributions made by the entity’s directors and officers as well as its affiliates and subsidiaries." Disclosure would also include contributions made to third parties, including trade associations and 501(c)(4) organizations, that intend to use those funds to make independent expenditures in support of or opposition to candidates or to engage in electioneering communications, such as paid political ads. This is the first time third-party contributions would be publicly disclosed.
The disclosed information would be available through a searchable, downloadable database on Data.gov. Those that win federal contracts must certify that they have disclosed the information as a condition of receiving the award. The E.O. calls on the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council to develop rules to implement the E.O. by the end of 2011. Thus, the new disclosure requirements would apply to contract solicitations that occur before the next election cycle.
http://www.ombwatch.org/node/11643