NYC Lawmakers Want More Transparency in Elections

New York City Council members are pushing for more transparency in local elections. 

Council Members Brad Lander and Dan Garodnick announced Wednesay that they want to stop anonymous campaign ads. These ads include those that come through the mail and on the television and radio. The City Council is voting on a bill Thursday that will require disclosure in every ad paid for by candidates and third parties. 

Councilman Garodnick says he wants campaign mailers and other promotions to own up to what they are saying.

"There should be no secrets out there as to who is communicating when you are reading the mail or seeing an advertisment on television," Garodnick said.

He also said outside groups spent more money than all of the candidates combined in the 2013 City Council elections. He stated that too often campaign ads are viscious in nature, and there should be no confusion as to who is paying for them.

Council Member Carlos Menchaca says his 2013 campaign was viciously attacked in anonymous ads.

"They were xenophobic, they were racist, they were lies," he said. "There was no one owning up to them."

The Supreme Court has ruled that disclosure requirements are allowed. If the bill passes, outside groups will have to state their owners, chief of executive officers, and top three donors on their ads.