Lentz Joins Meehan in Calling for “Timely and Full Disclosure” for Special Interest TV Ad Funding

Proposes joint press conference to denounce anonymous corporate donations
 
Springfield, PA – Today Bryan Lentz, the Democratic nominee for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, announced that he was joining Pat Meehan in calling for the “timely and full disclosure” of money that is pouring into the District to pay for television commercials being run by special interest groups like Americans for Jobs Security and American Action Network.
 
Until yesterday, Meehan had remained silent on the issue as outside special interest groups poured over $1 million in anonymous donations into TV ads backing his own campaign. However, the Republican bravely broke his silence yesterday through campaign spokesperson Virginia Davis, who told a Delaware County Daily Times’ reporter that Meehan “believes that groups and individuals should be able to support the candidates of their choosing so long as there is timely and full disclosure”. [emphasis added].
 
Lentz proposed holding a joint press conference with Meehan to denounce Americans for Job Security, American Action Network and the foreign-funded U.S. Chamber of Commerother groups who have all refused to disclose which corporations or individuals are donating money to fund the ads that they have been running non-stop in the District. Those groups have been taking advantage of a recent Supreme Court decision (“Citizens United”) that lifted longstanding restrictions on corporate spending on political advertising.
 
“Tracking down the source of anonymous donations made to political candidates is the kind of activity that Pat Meehan would have likely investigated as a prosecutor, so I’m glad that he’s finally taking a stand on this issue,” Lentz said. “I look forward to standing side-by-side with him to call for the end of a practice that invites corruption and poses a very real threat to our Democracy.”
 
Lentz has openly called for campaign finance reform measures following the Supreme Court’s unpopular ruling on corporate spending in political campaigns earlier this year. He supports restricting the amount of money that corporations can spend on political advertising, and stronger disclosure rules for donations that are made in support of advertising that benefits political candidates. 
 
A former Airborne Ranger, criminal prosecutor and Iraq War veteran, Bryan Lentz currently serves in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Delaware County. He was awarded both the Bronze Star for Service and the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for his military service. He lives in Swarthmore with his wife Jennifer and their son Thomas.

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