Senator Al Franken introduces bill to keep Foreign Interests out of U.S. Elections

Senator Al Franken Announces Bill to Keep Foreign Interests out of Elections

Franken offers bill to limit foreign influence in U.S. elections

The American Elections Act of 2010 will keep foreign interests out of our elections by:

• Banning election contributions and spending by corporations who are controlled or highly influenced by foreign nationals (foreign governments, companies, and persons).  This includes:

• Corporations that receive most of their financing from foreign nationals.

• Corporations where foreign nationals hold a controlling share of stock (as defined under leading corporate law) or a majority of the Board of Directors.

• Corporations that allow foreign nationals to control or participate in their political activities—including ad spending, donations, and political action committees. 

• Requiring all corporations to certify, before giving or spending in elections, that they are in compliance with these requirements.

• Requiring all companies to disclose in their political advertising how much of their company is controlled by foreign nationals, or if this isn't possible, how much of their financing comes from foreign nationals.