Measure would close loophole and ensure voters know who pays for robo-calls

The House today unanimously approved an election transparency bill sponsored by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) that would ensure voters know who is sponsoring political robo-calls.

“This is a common-sense, good-government reform,” Benninghoff said.  “If a family receives a robo-call trashing a candidate, they should at least be told who is paying for the smear campaign.”

Under current law, when an individual or group airs a political television or radio commercial or publishes a print advertisement that directly targets a candidate, these forms of political communication must identify the sponsor.  The law currently does not specify whether or not robo-calls – or pre-recorded political phone messages – are subject to this requirement.  Benninghoff’s bill would close this loophole in the election law.

“If you’re going to attack a candidate, you ought to at least have the guts to stand behind your words,” Benninghoff said. “This bill would make it so that cowardly mudslingers can no longer hide behind a curtain of anonymity through this loophole in the law.”

The bill on March 8 was unanimously approved by the House State Government Committee, of which Benninghoff is the Republican chairman.

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff
171st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(814) 355-1300
(717) 783-1918

KerryBenninghoff.com

Contact:  Dan Massing

House Public Relations

(717) 772-9845

www.pahousegop.com