March 29, 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.
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.
I am telling you as directly as I can that I don't want my money as an investor to be used secretly to finance any political agenda or party or group of political extremists who act contrary to my reasoning. I am completely unable to address the issue now because the companies in which I own a share use my invested money in secret! To advance their own brand of politics. Please stop this egregious practice now!
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,
Todd Crawford