WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today released the below statement after voting against legislation to federalize elections. The Senate ultimately rejected advancing the proposal by a vote of 49-49.
“Today, the Senate once again rejected Democrats’ partisan efforts to impose onerous federal restrictions on our elections and political discourse. I am proud to have joined unanimous Republican opposition in voting against the DISCLOSE Act, which would have chilled free speech by imposing new regulations on political speech and requiring public disclosure of the names and addresses of individuals who choose to donate to political campaigns.
“The DISCLOSE Act represents a willing effort to impede the free exercise of First Amendment rights by individuals of any political persuasion, and I commend my Republican colleagues for standing with freedom of speech and the right to private political expression. I will continue to stand for the constitutional rights of my fellow West Virginians, and all Americans, and fight against liberal efforts to suppress the free speech and political expression that is vital to our democracy.”
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