The U.S. Supreme Court should take steps forcing broader disclosure of the financial interests backing friend-of-the-court-briefs, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and several Democratic colleagues asserted in a new filing in a closely watched consumer protection case the justices will hear in March.

Whitehouse, joined by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, made their arguments for greater public disclosure in an amicus brief filed Wednesday backing the lawfulness of the single-director structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The case, set for argument in March, has attracted substantial friend-of-the-court briefing from the business community, consumer advocates, legal scholars and others.