Iowa Governor Chet Culver today signed a bill that will impose new restrictions on campaign advertisements. The law will keep anonymous campaign advertisements paid for by big corporations, foreign businesses and shadow organizations, out of Iowa voters’ mailboxes and airwaves.

The legislation comes after Citizens United v. FEC, a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed corporate money in Iowa campaigns.  For the first time in modern campaigns, big corporations will be allowed to spend money from their vast corporate treasuries in connection with Iowa elections.  It will require any organization that makes independent expenditures to file a report with the board once their total expenditures reach $750.  Additionally, each organization’s filing will need to disclose whether or not the organization is advocating for or against a particular candidate or ballot issue.