January 31, 2012
Securities and Exchange Commission
Dear Commission,
Right now, Super PACs don't have to disclose their unlimited corporate donations. That means they can keep the public in the dark about who's funding the attack ads that bombard their TV screens daily.
That's why I'm joining with the 14 United States senators who formally asked you to use your regulatory authority to require that corporations disclose their spending in elections.
SEC: Exercise your regulatory authority to require public disclosure of corporate political contributions.
As someone actively interested in politics since my teens---a very long time ago!--, I understand about bitterly fought campaigns. However, the vitriol, manipulation, and sheer money spent is totally out of control. When corporations can hide their self-interest in secrecy, that's inappropriate. And personally, I'd like to know which corporate entities I might be patronizing are undermining the normal process. Politics should not be the stimulus program; we should have a people-centric stimulus program.
Corporations are not humans; they should not be so completely able to hide their partisanship and their efforts to elect those who are their toadies WITHOUT the electorate having a fair chance to know who is doing what.
The financial crisis was ignored by regulators. Don't compound the horror of that by letting corporate America (or even outside entities) take over the information fed to people ad nauseum daily.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Tombrello