If you are reading this, chances are you are part of the 84% of California voters who have said they want ads for political candidates and ballot propositions to more clearly identify their major funders.

A bill in the Assembly, AB 1648, is known as the California Disclose Act. It provides for the three largest funders of each political ad to have their names and logos on the ads, so you will know who is actually paying for them. The bill will be going to the Assembly for its vote the week of May 21.

Political advertising is frequently paid for by special interests hiding behind deceptively named organizations. "Disclose" will cover all TV ads, radio ads, print ads, mass mailers and websites as well as independent expenditures for and against candidates. State and local candidates will have to appear in ads paid for them and say that they approve the message, just as federal candidates now do.

If you want a clean money campaign in your state this year, let your representatives in the Legislature know it. Tell them that voters deserve to know who really pays for political ads.

Francine M. Farber
President
League of Women Voters of Fresno