Issue One applauds Rep. John Katko (R-NY) for co-sponsoring the Political Accountability and Transparency Act

Republican Rep. John Katko (NY-24) co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that ensures the public knows who is trying to influence their vote in elections and prevents lawmakers from abusing leadership PAC funds.

“Everyone has a right to know who’s spending money to influence elections. We are heartened to see Representative Katko be a part of meaningful bipartisan reform efforts in the House and urge lawmakers from both parties to follow in his footsteps,” said Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee.

The original sponsors of PATA include Congressional Reformers Caucus Co-chairs Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), and Derek Kilmer (D-WA).

The Political Accountability and Transparency Act will help better equip the public with the information they deserve to know when making choices about candidates and elections by:

• Stopping flagrant abuse of campaign finance restrictions by strengthening coordination rules so super PACs truly operate independently from candidates for office.
• Requiring political advertisements to disclose the top donors to the organization paying for the advertisements.
• Prohibiting politicians from abusing leadership PAC funds for their personal gain by clarifying that the “personal use” restriction on campaign funds applies to all political committees, including leadership PACs. Issue One and the Campaign Legal Center revealed widespread abuse of leadership PACs by members of Congress increasingly using the funds for five-star dinners, high-end vacations, and country club memberships, all under the guise of “fundraising expenses.”

Click here to learn more about PATA.