Bill Would Allow Voters to Follow the Money

Public interest groups are urging citizens to back a bill scheduled to be voted on Tuesday in the state Assembly that would require disclosing the names of large donors to political ads seen by voters across the state.

Under AB 1148, also known as the California Disclose Act, the three largest donors to political advertising on TV and radio as well as those in mailers and websites would need to be named.

"This would be a huge win for democracy in California, allowing citizens to give proper weight to the different messages they hear and make informed decisions at the ballot box," said MapLight, a nonprofit watchdog group that tracks the influence of money in politics, in an email message to supporters.

The California Chamber of Commerce has announced its opposition, dimming its prospects, the San Jose Mercury-News stated.

The measure has been scheduled for a full vote in the Assembly. Voters who want to share their thoughts on the proposal with their elected officials can search for their Assembly members on the Sunlight Foundation website here. The foundation is a nonpartisan organization that uses technology for government openness and transparency.