CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- It's an election year and you know what that means. Get ready for all those ads.

Savvy voters might want to know who pays for those ads, fliers and handouts. Some come from the candidates themselves, but others come from advocacy groups.

Some lawmakers in West Virginia want to know where the money's coming from too and are discussing it in special session this week in Charleston.

In 2004, former West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw was the subject of a campaign from the group "And for the Sake of the Kids", which targeted a passionate speech McGraw gave in Boone County. He says the ads and campaign helped destroy his chances for re-election.

"It was a sham. It was never about the kids. It was about defeating a candidate for office," Delegate Carrie Webster (D-Kanawha) said. "We are saying you can do that but you are going to disclose who the people are so the voters have the full picture."

Delegate Carrie Webster says she wants voters to know who is behind the ads you get in the mail. A law was passed two years ago to make it happen, but a court injunction means it only applies to television and radio broadcasts.

Legislation introduced during the recent special session will change that.

"It's very hasty," Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth (R-Mercer), said. "It's an election bill. That is one of the most important things we do and in a normal session we would have a number of people in to voice different views."
"The irony of the fact that this bill is to deal with transparency was pointed out last night. Of how this is being pushed through hastily," Senator Evan Jenkins (D-Cabell) said.

Outgoing State Senator Vic Sprouse says on his blog the issue is political. He claims it is to ensure what happened to Warren McGraw doesn't happen to his brother, Attorney General Darrell McGraw, who is up for re-election this year.

"I have had not one contact from the AG's office," West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin said about his decision to place the issue on the call for the special session. "It came through legislators that work so hard."

Caruth says hastily passed legislation lends itself to court challenges.

There is also the factor of money spent on the session. The procedure to get this bill passed is expected to extend the special session by one day.