March 28, 2014
SEC
I am deeply concerned about the influence of corporate money on our electoral process.
In particular, I am appalled that, because of the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, publicly traded corporations can spend investors' money in secret. The gross empowerment of corporations contradicts everything that our nation claims to stand for. Our sports contests are fair and balanced: we do not pit pro football teams against the Midget League. But the elections that decide our collective futures are given over to entities whose huge budgets and vast resources vie with the harassed, distracted, overworked or underemployed ordinary citizen.How can government let this state of affairs continue?
I am writing to urge the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue a rule requiring publicly traded corporations to publicly disclose all their political spending.
Both shareholders and the public must be fully informed as to how much the corporation spends on politics and which candidates are being promoted or attacked. Disclosures should be posted promptly on the SEC's web site.
Thank you for considering my comment.
Sincerely,
Margaret Nagel