Why block disclosure and responsibility?

Hopefully, most Americans are aware of the Citizens United ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling classified corporations as people. So as people, shouldn't they pay taxes like people do? Some corporations, such as GE, paid no federal income taxes in 2010.

Another result of this ruling is that it legitimizes corporate bribery in our political process as witnessed by the scurrilous political ads we see on television. Corporations can spend as much as they choose and state whatever they wish in their Super PAC ads with little regard for truthfulness or disclosure of who their contributors are.

A Republican

filibuster against the

DISCLOSE Act prevented its passage in 2010. The act would have required corporations, unions and non-profits to disclose contributions they make to independent groups. Sen. Chuck Grassley, why did vote against this?

In April, Grassley voted against the Buffett Rule, which would have required all households earning $1 million or more annually to pay at least 30 percent of their income in federal taxes instead of far lower rates than ordinary citizens. Grassley, why?

Bob Sprengeler

Cedar Rapids