By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-23-21
The Senate on Wednesday (March 24) will hold its first hearing on a new bill that could reduce the media’s massive election ad take by extending political ad disclosures to online ads on the largest digital platforms, beefing up content disclosures for political spots and other content on television and radio and making existing disclosures more prominent. The Democrat-backed bill has President Biden’s support.
The goal is to rein in “dark money.” That is money to influence elections but funneled through nonprofits and shell companies so its source remains obscured.
The Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), is holding a hearing Wednesday (March 24) on the For the People Act of 2021 (H.R. 1). The bill – the first of the new session, as its number suggests – was introduced Jan. 4 and passed the House. But it will be a tough sell in the Senate. » Read More