Opinion: Reboot your opposition, Senator X

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Should members of the U.S. Senate file their campaign reports the old-fashioned way – in which (and I’m quoting Sen. Dianne Feinstein) “paper copies of disclosure reports are filed with the Senate Office of Public Records, which then scans them, makes an electronic copy of them, and sends that copy to the FEC on a dedicated communications line” ? Or should they join the House in filing electronically, giving the public an earlier glimpse at sources of support.

It seems like a no-brainer in this interactive age, but for unspecified reasons Republicans have put a procedural hold on the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act reported out of the Rules Committee.

Last week, as the measure was on the verge of approval, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) (who supports electronic filing) objected on behalf of an unnamed Republican colleague.

Amid a guessing game about just who objects to this good-government measure, a group called The Sunlight Foundation is urging readers to call Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) to pressure him to “out” the objector. Before that happens, the mystery senator would be wise to let go of his ‘hold.’