In the final minutes of the regular Legislative session lawmakers passed a measure setting new disclosure requirements for corporations and unions that buy ads to support or oppose political candidates.
The rules require additional reporting periods before primary and general elections, as well as disclaimers on ads identifying who paid for them.
The Senate adopted the measure 61-0 and the House approved it 131-0. The legislation now awaits action by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
The disclosure requirements followed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for businesses and unions to spend unlimited money on ads to support or oppose candidates in federal races, and another federal court ruling that struck down a Minnesota ban on similar spending by corporations in state elections. The spending at issue includes advertising bought independent of a candidate's campaign. Corporations cannot make contributions directly to candidates.
Previous to the rulings corporations were able to buy ads dealing with issues but not explicitly supporting or opposing candidates.
