November 28, 2012
SEC members:
I urge you to issue a rule requiring public corporations to publicly disclose all their political spending.
As both an attorney and rabbi, I am concerned with the corrosive influence of huge spending by the wealthy, the unfettered negative campaigning, and the impact on legitimacy in the public's eyes.
Both shareholders and the public must be able to know how much the corporation spends on politics and which candidates they are promoting or attacking. Disclosures should be posted promptly on the SEC's web site.
Such disclosure is required of natural persons who spend above a certain level; the large spending by corporations requires this all the more.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Zimet