CHICAGO - Displaying his apparent belief that no amount of corporate special interest influence is too much, Congressman Mark Kirk voted against the bipartisan DISCLOSE Act yesterday.  The DISCLOSE Act, a vital and necessary first step to undo the damage of the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case, takes a positive step toward reining in unfettered corporate influence over elections. The bill passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 219-206.

"We already know Congressman Mark Kirk has taken millions in corporate special interest money and votes their way every single time," Alexi for Illinois spokesman Matt McGrath said.  "Only a typical Washington politician like Congressman Kirk would look at the way things are right now and determine corporate special interests need more influence, not less.

Congressman Kirk's FEC filings show that in 2009 Citizens United donated to him the maximum amount allowable by law, to both his primary and general election campaigns.

"It's pretty simple: Citizens United gave Congressman Kirk significant campaign contributions, and Congressman Kirk voted their way," McGrath said.  "Water is wet, ice is cold, and Mark Kirk takes corporate special interest cash and votes their way every time."

The DISCLOSE Act was introduced to restore transparency to political campaigns following the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which rolled back important campaign finance rules and effectively allows corporations and other special interests to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections.  Despite Congressman Kirk's attempt to derail this important piece of legislation, the DISCLOSE Act passed on a bipartisan vote and now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.   

Congressman Kirk's vote fits an unmistakable pattern of putting the concerns of Wall Street over those of Main Street. Kirk voted against pro-consumer financial regulatory reform late last year, against a jobs package that will provide thousands of good paying jobs for Illinois, and against President Obama's stimulus package, which has already created and saved thousands of Illinois jobs.   Late last year, Congressman Kirk completely skipped a vote on extending unemployment benefits and has yet to offer an explanation as to where he was and what was more important than helping out people hit hard by the economic meltdown.  Meanwhile, Kirk has taken over $2.9 million in campaign contributions from corporate special interests and federal lobbyists over the course of his career.    

"When Congressman Kirk emerges from his undisclosed location, and after he answers the many questions left unanswered about his pattern of embellishments and distortions about his professional life, he should answer one more basic question for the people of Illinois: Congressman Kirk, whose side are you on?" McGrath said.