Senate GOP blocks campaign disclosure bill again WASHINGTON -- After keeping the Senate in session past midnight to protest GOP opposition to a campaign disclosure bill, Democrats forced a do-over vote on the legislation - and it failed again. Versions of the Disclose Act have been the calling card for campaign finance reform ever since the Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case in 2010. But they have never been able to overcome a GOP-led filibuster. Democrats, though, are not deterred as they portray the Republican blockade as an example of what's wrong with campaign funding, reminding voters of the millions being spent by outside groups to elect GOP candidates this fall. The legislation would have required any political or social welfare organization to disclose spending of $10,000 or more within 24 hours, and would also identify donors who contribute $10,000 or more. Republicans opposed the bill on free speech grounds, and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the GOP leader, said the new rules amount to "harassment and intimidation" of donors. McConnell also said a provision in the bill would make it easier to exempt labor unions, who are typical allies of Democrats, from the new disclosure requirements - though Democrats dispute that and say the rules would apply equally to all organizations. The nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation, a good-government watchdog organization, offers this analysis of the labor provision, saying that while it is true that dues-paying union members would not have to be listed on disclosures, that is no different than the legislation's approach toward individuals from within the Chamber of Commerce, the Sierra Club or any other association who are likely to give less than $10,000. Unions also fall under existing law that requires disclosure of political activity beyond $5,000. "McConnell can't have it both ways," according to the Sunlight Foundation. "He can't argue the law is unfair because it wouldn't require dues-paying union members to be named on disclosure reports while at the same time arguing in favor of anonymity to 'shield" corporate or wealthy individual donors from harassment." A handful of Democratic senators staged a midnight protest after the bill failed on Monday, but their do-over vote had a similar result Tuesday. The bill failed to advance on a party-line vote.