Alexander Maintains No Limit Position During Disclose Act Debate

Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander says he should be able to raise as much money as possible from whomever will give it, so long as he discloses his donors.

The state’s senior U.S. Senator has revived an argument to remove contribution limits amid a debate about requiring more disclosure of outside political groups that can keep the names of donors private. He acknowledges some people just want to remain anonymous. But Alexander argues that the DISCLOSE Act being pushed by Democrats in recent weeks would force organizations like the NRA and U.S. Chamber of Commerce to reveal their membership rolls.

“Millions of people who pay dues to those organizations – and somehow they end up with their name in the paper for having supported a candidate they might know nothing about. It’s a deterrent to free speech. Best thing to do is take the limits off. Give the money to the candidates and the parities. The law requires them to disclose, and it should.”

Alexander contends that the big donors who are often vilified only contribute to outside political groups because they’ve already maxed out for the candidate. Given a choice, Alexander says they would give directly to the candidate.