November 6, 2013
SEC Comment file 4-637
Dear Comment file 4-637,
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 investor's money on political activity in secret.
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.
The citizens and people of this country that duly pay their taxes and in return expect the government to respect their right to know what is being done in politics and policy are being betrayed. Despite the citizens united ruling corporations do not need more ways to hide their influence on the government and politicians. Since the overwhelming majority of people in this country do not have the weath to carpet bag the government, It should be the policy of what few honest government agencies that are left to fight for our right to a fair and balance election process. The only way to accomplish that now is for the SEC to help the average citizen and make a ruling to require these hidden monies to be disclosed.
Thank you for considering my comment.
Sincerely,
Grant Wilson