Editorial: Elections and government need less secrecy, not more

There is nothing wrong with people or groups buying ads to make their views known on candidates and issues in an election. But there is something wrong with those groups not disclosing who is paying for those ads.

The Center for Individual Freedom, a think tank that leans toward conservative and libertarian philosophies, has sued Secretary of State Betty Ireland to challenge West Virginia's "electioneering communications" laws, according to The Associated Press. Among other provisions, state law requires independent campaigns to file periodic reports listing donors and detailing spending.

"The Center's values compel it to avoid speech that is conditioned on reporting and disclosure," the group said in U.S. District Court filings. "Moreover, its supporters have been clear that they value their privacy and will curtail support if threatened with reporting and disclosure."

Filing Friday in Charleston, the center also seeks a court order by April 21 to block enforcement of the law. The group said it's already begun crafting broadcast ads it wants to air in the weeks leading up to the May 13 state primary.

Among other issues, the center advocates limits on lawsuits and jury damage awards.

According to the AP, most of the campaign finance law provisions being challenged in the lawsuit were enacted by the state Legislature in response to advertising during the 2004 Supreme Court race. That campaign was noted for millions of dollars worth of attack ads funded by independent advocacy groups and was the most expensive court race in state history.

The center objects to parts of the law that regulate election-time communications, from broadcast and print ads to mass mailings, leaflets and phone calls. It objects to such rules as sweeping, burdensome, intrusive, untailored and vague, according to the AP.

People value transparency in government. We require elected bodies to conduct their meetings in public. We require government agencies to make their records available for public inspection. We need this sort of access and information to hold our elected officials and our public employees accountable.

If the Center for Individual Freedom does not want people to know what it's doing to influence West Virginia elections and who is paying for that effort, it shouldn't join our political battles. We need less secrecy in government and in elections, not more.