One simple way the Senate could embrace the internet in 2017

Will 2017 be the year the Senate fully embraces the digital revolution? Sure, Sens use Twitter, Facebook and even Snapchat. But they’re strictly analogue when disclosing information about their campaign finances. That’s where a new bill from Sen Jon Tester (D-MN) comes in.

Dubbed the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act, Sen Tester’s legislation would require US Senate candidates to file their campaign finance reports electronically like all other federal candidates — not on paper, as is the current practice. “It’s hard to say this is a bad bill," Sen Tester said. "It saves money and adds disclosure, so what could be bad about that?” The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that taxpayers would save about $500,000 a year if senators electronically filed these reports. Nearly all federal candidates and committees began electronically filing their campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission in 2001. But the Senate was exempted from the e-filing requirement.