(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus is continuing his push for a constitutional amendment to restore Montana's ability to regulate campaign contributions and put elections back in the hands of the people. Baucus renewed his call today after legislation to bring more transparency to elections, known as the DISCLOSE Act, was blocked from passage in the Senate.  Baucus' constitutional amendment is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee next Tuesday, July 24.

"Elections belong to the people, and the people have a right to know where all this money is coming from," Baucus said. "The surest way we can protect Montanans' voices from being drowned out by big business and secret special interests is to pass my constitutional amendment and put elections back in the hands of the people once and for all."

Baucus has supported every piece of campaign finance reform legislation that has come before him. He first introduced a constitutional amendment to restore state's ability to regulate campaign contributions in 2010 in response to the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission.  More information on Baucus constitutional amendment is available HERE.

DISCLOSE

The DISCLOSE Act Baucus voted for today would require outside groups to tell the public who funds their political activates.

·        It requires outside groups to disclose all donation sources in excess of $10,000.

·        It also requires outside groups to file a report with the FEC each time they spend more than $10,000 on political activity.

·        The DISCLOSE Act treats unions, corporations and wealthy individuals equally, and contains no restrictions on free speech of any kind.