Editorials

Recently the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill that would require candidates to reveal the source of the funds that pay for their political advertising.

Nobody voted against it.

The bill is a version of legislation introduced in recent sessions by Rep. Randy Hinshaw, D-Huntsville. The difference this time is that while the law will require candidates to disclose who paid for publications, mailouts, television ads and those pesky phone calls, the bill does not require similar disclosure for “issue-driven campaigns,” which are usually waged by “issue-driven interest groups” that have fought tooth and nail to keep their donor lists secret.

We applaud the dogged determination of Hinshaw, who has fought this battle year after year. If the Legislature gave a “let the sunshine in” award, he should get it. And we applaud the House for uniting to pass it. Polls show that the people want this law on the books. Now they are a step closer to getting it.

What we fear, however, is that some representatives voted for the bill because they knew there was little chance of it reaching Gov. Bob Riley's desk.

In the past, legislation of this sort has died in the Senate — killed by those who oppose requiring “issue-driven” interest groups to disclose the source of their funding. So you would expect that with the “issue-driven” issue off the table, the bill would sail through the upper house.

It won't.

Unless the minority coalition of Republicans and dissident Democrats put their petty squabbles behind them and work for the good of the state and its people, expect this bill to be filibustered to death.

Why?

Because the minority wants to show the majority that they can tie things up if they want to.

And what will the people of Alabama get out of this?

Nothing.