Senate Republicans block campaign disclosure bill

Senate Republicans blocked a bid by Democrats to require political fundraising groups to reveal their anonymous contributors who are fueling negative television advertisements ahead of the November election. By a 51-44 party line vote, supporters of the Disclose Act of 2012 fell short of the 60 votes needed to clear a Republican procedural hurdle. But Democrats promised to debate the bill late into the night and seek another vote, hoping to paint Republicans as thwarting transparency. "This is too important an issue to let it die quietly," said Sen Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called the act a waste of time and said Democrats should instead try to remedy the ailing U.S. economy.