February 9, 2012
Securities and Exchange Comm.
Dear Securities and Exchange Comm.,
I am writing to urge the SEC to require every publicly traded corporation to publicly disclose every penny of political spending. Now, corporations can hide behind shadow entities and claim protection for their "free speech."
This is not free speech; it's extortion. If companies had to disclose all donations, consumers could choose not to buy a product based on such donations. In the absence of knowledge, consumers have their money taken from them and used against them.
If there was total transparency about campaign donations, free speech would be preserved and the greater good would be served. Both shareholders and the public must be fully informed about corporate political spending and which candidates receive it. Disclosures should be posted promptly on the SEC’s web site.
Thank you for considering my comment.
Sincerely,
Grant Steen