December 9, 2012
Dear members of the Securities and Exchange Commission:
I HAVE BEEN A TREASURER FOR STATE CANDIDATES AND PACs. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REQUIRED TO CAREFULLY DOCUMENT WHO DONORS WERE AND HOW MUCH THEY GAVE [THERE WAS ALSO A LIMIT TO THE GIVING.] IF A DONOR IS THE WIFE OR CHILD OF ANOTHER DONOR, THEN EACH ONE MUST BE LISTED INDIVIDUALLY, NOT JUST ONE LISTING AS A FAMILY.
IF THE LAW NOW SAYS THAT CORPORATIONS ARE PEOPLE, THEN IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THEY LIST WHO MAKES UP THIS "ONE PERSON", BECAUSE YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT A CORPORATION IS NOT ONE INDIVIDUAL.
PUBLICLY TRADED CORPORATIONS SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY BE REQUIRED TO MAKE PUBLIC WHERE AND HOW MUCH DONATIONS ARE. SOME THE PUBLIC OWN THAT CORPORATION. AND, SOME OWN PART OF THAT CORPORATION THROUGH MUTUAL FUNDS. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THEIR MONEY IS BUYING.
I urge the SEC 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,
H.L. Chris Chrissos