June 29,2000

Roth Votes for Bill Disclosing Sources of Political Contributions

Bill Only a ''First Step''

WASHINGTON -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman William V. Roth, Jr. (R-DE) today voted in favor of H.R. 4762, a bill requiring disclosure of some of the sources of funding of political campaigns. The bill was approved by the full Senate with a vote of 92 - 6.

While Roth supported the measure as a first step, he expressed concern that the bill does not address all disclosure abuses by tax-exempt organizations and that the Internal Revenue Service may not be prepared to provide this new disclosure information to the public.

"I believe in full disclosure of who is funding political campaigns. The public has a right to know who is paying for the political advertisements and direct mail that they see. While I think this bill may not go far enough in requiring disclosure of those groups, it is a first step and that is why I supported it today," Roth stated.