Sunlight Foundation

The justices have blocked off sensible solutions like the one in Montana. But in the Citizens United case, they went out of their way to say they weren't anti-disclosure. Yet a measure that would require large donors to certain non-profit groups to identify themselves is stalled in Congress. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who once championed full disclosure as an alternative to spending limits, has reversed course. He now calls efforts to require large donors to identify themselves a form of intimidation. Money spent anonymously to influence elections is almost by definition corrupting. If the public cannot make the connection between lawmakers' actions and the monied interests backing them, the temptation for almost extortion-like pressure is sure to follow.