BILLINGS — U.S. Sen. Jon Tester says he hopes to force political groups to reveal their contributors with legislation aimed at stopping the profusion of so-called “dark money” in campaigns.
Tester introduced a measure Tuesday that would make public the names of donors who give more than $5,000 to tax-exempt groups engaging in elections.
He says voters deserve to know who is paying for ads that appear during election season, just like candidates must reveal their donors.
A 2010 Supreme Court decision allows independent political organizations to raise and spend money without disclosing where it’s coming from.
In the three election cycles since the decision, dark-money groups have leafleted the state with ads attacking candidates.