A Texas House committee is re-examining "dark money" political groups after Gov. Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would have subjected them to stricter disclosure rules.
A proposal last year required some politically active nonprofits to disclose major donors, like other political groups already do. The measure passed the Legislature but Perry nixed it on free speech grounds.
The State Affairs Committee in Austin on Thursday heard that, since 2010, such contributions accounted for about 1 percent of Texas political donations. But that amount recently has been growing.
Supporters say such a law would increase government transparency by limiting secret contributions to groups whose nonprofit status exempts them from campaign finance laws.
Conservative groups have opposed what they say may heap attention on donors trying to retain apolitical images.
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