October 24, 2016 5:55 PM

Updated: Texas Federation of Republican Women backs disclosure of contributors to politically active nonprofits

In unanimous vote, board of one of the largest grassroots conservative groups supports robust disclosure: “Knowing who is giving money to try to influence elections is the only way to ensure transparency and allow voters to make fully informed choices.”

Editor’s note: Texas House State Affairs Chairman Byron Cook issued a statement late in the day about this. The story has been updated to include it – SB

One of the largest conservative grassroots groups in the state, the Texas Federation of Republican Women, has now come out in favor of the disclosure of contributors to politically active nonprofits. And the move by the group won immediate praise from a Texas House leader who has made it a mission to drag the finances of certain groups into the light.

In a resolution passed unanimously by the TFRW board, the group with about 10,000 members said that they support “legislation to clarify that organizations engaged in political advocacy must publicly disclose their donors just as candidates and political action committees do.”

The passage of such legislation by the Texas Legislature would promote freedom of speech and transparency in elections, the TFRW board said.

“This legislation should not apply to religious congregations or groups primarily engaged in providing charitable services, but specifically to those organizations which primarily engage in formal political advocacy for candidates, causes or legislation,” the resolution clarified.

By Scott Braddock