Like many cities across the nation, Philadelphia faces a budget crisis due to massive overspending by lawmakers on wasteful projects. In order to make up for their $179 million shortfall, Philadelphia’s government has proposed everything from steep soda taxes to property tax increases.

We just received word that regretfully the DISCLOSE Act passed.  To see who did what, go to the roll call votes here.  As was noted yesterday, to cover the butts of any uncertain legislators, Reid has promised the Senate will take this up.  The DISCLOSE Act action center has been updated so that you can immediately turn your ire on the other chamber.

As you've probably read and heard on the news or talk radio, there is a bill looming in Congress that poses a serious threat to our freedom of speech, as protected by the First Amendment. H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act, is the brain-child of Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D, MD-8), who as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is tasked with getting Democrats elected to Congress. The bill is a clear partisan political tool that would further expand government's reach into Americans' daily lives by restricting political giving and involvement in elections.