December 4, 2013
As a private citizen and small investor, I am appalled at the huge impact corporate money is having on our government "by the people". I strongly urge the Securities and Exchange Commission to reinstate the rule requiring publicly traded corporations to disclose their political spending to the unified agenda and complete the rule in 2014.
I will never understand or agree with the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling that corporations and unions are "people". Please ensure that transparency of corporate spending in future elections is a high priority for the SEC. The public depends upon your agency to look out for the interests of small investors such as my husband and myself.
Allowing big corporations to make large, secretive contributions to politicians and political causes for partisan interests is a slap in the face to democracy and is simply wrong. Unfortunately, our government is being bought by the largest contributors. It is my expectation that the SEC will assume greater responsibility in making corporate contributions more transparent.
Shareholders and the public deserve to be fully informed as to how much corporations spend on politics and which candidates are being promoted or attacked. Disclosures should be posted promptly on the SEC’s website.
Thank you for considering my comment.
Julie-Ray Harrison
Texarkana, TX