Group defends Voters' Right to Know Act in federal court

By Greg Hahne
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
Published: Monday, May 1, 2023 - 2:42pm

The group behind last year’s ballot measure that aims to expose dark money is asking a federal judge to toss a bid to end the new law.

In court filings, attorneys for Voters’ Right to Know said nothing in the law is unconstitutional.

The law, which 72% of voters approved, requires public disclosure of the identity of anyone who has given at least $5,000 to political campaigns.

Attorney David Kolker says allowing citizens to know who is financing political commercials can let people know if their message is credible.

Lawyers for the Koch Brothers-founded group Americans for Prosperity argued the First Amendment protects the identities of those who contribute to advocacy organizations.

The judge is set to hear arguments later this month.

Politics Elections