Huffpost Politics The Blog   Lisa Gilbert Headshot  Spending
Spotlight  Posted: Updated:  This week has showcased the need
for a spotlight on the money overwhelming our democracy, as
reform groups, investors, state elected officials and more have
demanded that Congress and federal agencies do their jobs and
make elections transparent to the people voting in them.  First,
on Monday morning, organizations and investors gathered to urge
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require publicly
traded companies to disclose contributions when they engage in
electoral politics. Then this Thursday, the DISCLOSE Act came up
for a hearing in the Senate.  Both SEC rules and congressional
action are critical to close the gaping loopholes in our system
left by the Citizens United decision and ineffective FEC
regulations on the disclosure of political spending.  Polls show
the public overwhelmingly supports disclosure. According to a
New York Times article on a New York Times/CBS News poll
released on October 28, 2