The following press release arrived via email:

Rep. Eshoo Hails Campaign Finance Disclosure Language in Omnibus Spending Bill

 Washington, D.C.—Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) praised the inclusion of improved campaign finance disclosure language in the $900 billion “omnibus” spending bill that will fund federal government agencies through the end of 2012.  The 2012 omnibus legislation removes riders attached to previous bills that specifically prohibited any disclosure for government contractors. This compromise language allows President Obama to move forward with disclosure requirements for contract recipients.

“After President Obama’s draft Executive Order requiring disclosure of political spending by companies doing business with the federal government was leaked, big business and lobbyists were up in arms,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo. “In response, House Republicans repeatedly added riders to appropriations bills to block any new disclosure requirements over unified Democratic opposition.

“Today’s compromise omnibus spending bill leaves the President free to require disclosure from any company receiving taxpayer dollars. We should all agree that with public dollars come public responsibilities.  In the aftermath of the Citizens United decision, it’s even more important for us to stand up for transparency and disclosure.  I hope the President takes this opportunity to finally issue his long-awaited Executive Order.”

In February, Eshoo offered an amendment to H.R. 1 that mirrors the President’s Draft Executive Order which became public in April. On July 28, 2011, Rep. Eshoo sent a letter to President Obama, signed by 62 Members of Congress, urging him to finalize his Draft Executive Order on Contractors. The letter reads, in part:

 “Disclosure will not politicize the procurement process — it will improve it.  Political expenditures are already well-known to those that make them and to the officials who benefit.  With disclosure, the public will have access to this information as well, allowing them to judge whether contracts were awarded based on merit.”

In reaction to the Rep. Eshoo’s proposal and the President’s Draft Executive Order, Republicans attached four riders to appropriations bills to prohibit any disclosure requirements whatsoever. Each time, Eshoo led the opposition to the riders, and offered her own amendment to require campaign disclosure. Each time, Republicans blocked the amendment from even being voted on.