From: Leahy for Senate
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.
The Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court was the worst one in recent memory. Corporations are NOT people and should not be allowed to contribute unlimited amounts to political campaigns to further their own corporate aims, against the needs and wants of the citizenry as a whole, PARTICULARLY WITHOUT PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE AMOUNTS AND RECIPIENTS. Even the name of the corporate group that pushed that agenda is a lie: it gives the impression that it is was founded by concerned citizens when it is nothing but a front group for corporate greed.
We, the people, do not want a country of, by, and for the corporations, and that's what the Citizens United decision allows. As Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg Address, our country has always been, and should be again (which it is not now) a country of, by, and for THE PEOPLE.
I urge you to compel corporations to disclose the amounts and recipients of their corporate largesse.
Thank you in advance for serving the public, NOT PRIVATE, interest.
Sincerely,
Bryan Woodhouse