Crow Introduces SHINE Act to Crack Down on Dark Money in Politics

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), Co-Chair of the End Corruption Caucus, introduced the Stopping Hidden Interests and Non-Disclosure in Elections Act (SHINE Act). This legislation prevents big money donors from creating shady super PACs just weeks before an election to shield their motivations and mislead voters. 

Crow’s bill requires political action committees to disclose contributions of $1,000 or more that are received within 20 days of an election within 48 hours of receipt. His proposed reform will close the pop-up PAC loophole, which currently allows special interests to delay disclosing donors until after an election is held.

Congressman Crow introduced this bill alongside Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17).

“Special interests and billionaire donors shouldn’t be able to anonymously and secretly funnel money into our elections,” said Congressman Crow. “The American people are tired of dark money distorting our politics. Congress must clean up corruption and strengthen our democracy.”

“Swampy and hidden campaign spending weakens public trust in government and gives powerful corporations and special interests too much power over our elections,” said Congressman Deluzio. “These dark money groups should not be able to pour millions into campaigns right before an election without filing disclosures until after an election is over. I am proud to work with my colleagues to close this ridiculous loophole with the SHINE Act, and I’ll keep fighting to get dark money out of our elections.”  

This bill is endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Democracy Defenders Action, End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund, and Public Citizen. 

"It's far past time for Congress to close the loophole that allows newly-registered super PACs to disclose their donors weeks after an election," said Debra Perlin, Vice President of Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). "By exploiting this gap in our laws, these organizations can pour money into an election while hiding their motivations and ideology. That's why CREW strongly endorses the SHINE Act, which would close this loophole by requiring these political committees to disclose contributions of $1,000 or more received within 20 days of an election within 48 hours, giving the public a real understanding of who is trying to influence them."

"All Americans deserve to know who is trying to influence their voices and their votes. However, when Super PACs form right before an election and then don't have to file disclosure reports until after the election, this loophole leaves Americans in the dark," said Virginia Canter, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Chief Counsel and Director at Democracy Defenders Action. "We appreciate Congressman Crow's leadership in introducing the SHINE Act to ensure voters get the information they need and when they need it -- before Election Day. We urge Congress to quickly pass this common sense legislation."

“The American people have a right to know who is attempting to influence and buy their votes—and to have this information before an election,” said Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund. “By requiring high-dollar donations to be disclosed within 48 hours, the SHINE Act would provide voters with crucial information––and close a major loophole in our broken campaign finance system. We applaud Representatives Crow and Deluzio for their continued leadership in ensuring our elections are transparent and fair.”

"The SHINE Act closes an often-abused loophole in the current campaign finance laws. Wealthy interests often create last-minute PACs weeks before an election that are not required to disclose their donors and spending until the next reporting period that falls after an election, when the information is no longer of much use to voters. This measure would mandate that these last-minute cloaked groups immediately disclose where the money is coming from and how it is being spent before voters cast their ballots,” said Craig Holman, Ph.D., Public Citizen.

Throughout his time in Congress, Congressman Crow has stood up to special interests and has not taken a dime of corporate PAC money. He is leading the fight to root out corruption in our elections, including through his End Dark Money Act to crack down on dark money’s influence on U.S. elections and his bipartisan Shell Company Abuse Act to limit foreign interference in U.S. elections.

Crow is also an original cosponsor of the TRUST in Congress Act to ban members of Congress and their families from owning or trading stocks.

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