Center for Political Accountability : Articles

Remarks from Conference Board Corporate Political Spending Conference

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 15, 2012
The Conference Board
by Bruce Freed
Remarks from Bruce Freed, on the panel "The Battle Over Corporate Political Activity: Left Wing Plot, Good Governance, or Both?" at The Conference Board's Corporate Political Spending Conference on May 15, 2012.

Money Unlimited

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 14, 2012
The New Yorker
by Jeffrey Toobin
When Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was first argued before the Supreme Court, on March 24, 2009, it seemed like a case of modest importance. The issue before the Justices was a narrow one. The McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law prohibited corporations from running television commercials for or against Presidential candidates for thirty days before primaries.

2012 Election Drowning in Secret Money

Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 13, 2012
United Press International
by Michael Kirkland
The 2012 elections are awash in secret money, with donors accountable to no one, while the national media sleeps and few voters seem to care. If money has an impact in U.S. elections, the race for the White House and other high offices may be determined by faceless donors pulling the strings from the shadows. Not exactly an image promoted by the Founding Fathers.

Super PAC Spending Teeters at $100 Million Mark

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 10, 2012
OpenSecrets.org
by Russ Choma
Expenditures by super PACs were expected to hit the $100 million mark today, further proof that outside spending will far outstrip anything seen in previous election cycles.

Campaign Finance Bill Targets Nonprofits

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 9, 2012
New Hampshire Union Leader
by Ted Siefer
The Senate is set to vote today on a bill that would require nonprofit organizations and other groups to report the money they spend on state and national political races. Both liberal and conservative-oriented groups are raising concerns about the bill, HB 1704, which a Senate committee amended earlier this month to include the expanded reporting requirements.

WellPoint Faces Shareholder Ire Over Political Spending

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 8, 2012
Fortune Magazine
by Eleanor Bloxham
This year marks the first presidential election year since the January 2010 Supreme Court decision Citizens United, which opened the floodgates on corporate political spending. So it's not too surprising that oversight and disclosure of these practices have been hot topics in U.S. boardrooms both this year and last year.

Shareholders United

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 7, 2012
The Daily Beast
by Rob Cox
It's worrying to think that shareholder democracy is needed to rectify shortcomings in the real thing, yet this week two of the nation's biggest corporations will give their investors precisely that opportunity. Motions on the ballots at the annual meetings of Bank of America and 3M will act as referenda on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case, which handed companies the same...

'Super PAC' Rethinks Certain Donations

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 5, 2012
Miami Herald
by Matea Gold
Anxiety about the effect of a ban on political spending by federal contractors is prompting new caution by a company connected to such donations and a "super PAC" that accepted them.

Show Me the Money

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 4, 2012
Huffington Post
by Bob Burnett
Six months before the November 6th presidential election, Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney by three percentage points. The most common explanation for the closeness of a race that should be Obama's to lose is the weak economy. Another explanation is the polarization of electorate: the right has solidified behind Romney but the left hasn't embraced Obama with the same fervor. But money is the culprit;...

Cracks in Citizens United

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 2, 2012
California Lawyer
by Thomas Brom
Last December, Second Circuit Judge Guido Calabresi opened his concurring opinion upholding limits on local campaign contributions in New York City by citing the New Testament. Luke 21:1-4 recounts Jesus's parable of the rich giving gifts to the temple treasury, while a poor widow puts in two small copper coins - all she has to live on. "Truly I tell you," Jesus says, "this poor widow has put in...

Conservative Group Seeks FEC Approval to Keep Donors Secret

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

May 1, 2012
Chicago Tribune
by Matea Gold
A conservative group that plans to run a barrage of television ads attacking President Obama has asked the Federal Election Commission if it can avoid disclosing its donors by not naming him explicitly in its commercials.

Study: Big Corporate Donors Are Bad Investments

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 30, 2012
Time
by Gary Belsky
How about this for a new investing strategy: Avoid the stock of companies that make big political contributions. The more they give, it seems, the worse their share prices perform.

Some Shareholders Call for Companies to Disclose Political Giving

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 26, 2012
Minnesota Public Radio
by Catharine Richert
This spring, shareholders of Minnesota's most well-known companies will vote on board members and various proposals from shareholders - standard annual meeting fare. But for at least five local companies, the hot topic will be political spending and lobbying disclosure.

Corporate Campaign Contributions Show Some Industries Giving Up Appearance of Bipartisanship

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 26, 2012
Huffington Post
by Dan Froomkin
Money traditionally follows power in the nation's capital. As a result, corporate campaign contributions have historically been split among incumbents of both political parties, with a decided advantage for whichever controls Congress and the White House.

Google, Marriott, UPS Pick Sides in 2012 Election

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 25, 2012
ABC News
by Amy Bingham
As Americans begin to divide down party lines over their presidential preferences in the 2012 election, so too are many of the country's largest corporations.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Faces Changing Times

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 24, 2012
Roll Call
by Eliza Newlin Carney
U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Donohue had much to celebrate when the business lobby marked its centennial last weekend. He also had cause for alarm.

Most Independent Ads for 2012 Election Are From Groups That Don't Disclose Donors

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 24, 2012
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
Nearly all of the independent advertising being aired for the 2012 general-election campaign has come from interest groups that do not disclose their donors, suggesting that much of the political spending over the next six months will come from sources invisible to the public.

Reports Show Hard-to-Track Donors Dominate Outside Giving

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 22, 2012
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten and Christopher Schnaars
Millions of dollars flowing to independent political groups dominating this year's presidential and congressional contests have come from mystery and hard-to-find donors, newly filed campaign reports show.

Vast Mexico Bribery Case Hushed Up by Wal-Mart

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 21, 2012
The New York Times
by David Barstow
In September 2005, a senior Wal-Mart lawyer received an alarming e-mail from a former executive at the company's largest foreign subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico. In the e-mail and follow-up conversations, the former executive described how Wal-Mart de Mexico had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance.

Investors Want Disclosure of Corporate Political Contributions and Lobbying Expenditures

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 20, 2012
Forbes
by Christopher Skroupa
The U.S. Supreme Court has brought front and center the debate on the role of the public corporation in our democracy with its recent decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

WellPoint Is Focus of Aggressive Effort to Force Political Spending Disclosure

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 19, 2012
Washington Post
by Tom Hamburger
Health insurance giant WellPoint is the latest target of an increasingly aggressive campaign to force disclosure of corporate political and lobbying expenditures, including payments to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has become more active in elections over the past decade.

More Boardrooms Targeted for Political Spending

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 19, 2012
Market Watch
by Ronald D. Orol
Should public companies be up front with shareholders about their political agendas? More institutional investors are agitating for corporations to disclose what they spend on political advocacy, including campaign donations to candidates, funds provided to PACs or super PACs and money going to industry associations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Secret Donors Pour Millions of Dollars Into Crossroads GPS

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 17, 2012
Los Angeles Times
by Matea Gold
Crossroads GPS, a conservative nonprofit group that is one of the most prominent critics of President Obama, raised nearly $77 million in its first 19 months from a small cadre of secret donors, including two dozen who wrote checks of $1 million and more.

The People vs. the "Corporate People"

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 16, 2012
Motley Fool
by Alyce Lomax
The Supreme Court's Citizens United case, which helped further open the floodgates for corporate political spending in America, is about an ongoing and extremely contentious issue. Even before the ruling, there was plenty of reason to believe the deep-pocketed "corporate people" had far more influence on politics than regular people, and it was a bit amazing to think that corporate interests were...

A Surprisingly Effective New Path to Neutralizing the Political Influence of Big Business

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 15, 2012
The New Republic
by Mark Schmitt
Every four or five years, it seems, progressives and the media discover ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, anew. I'm old enough that the latest "OMG!" reaction to the existence of the conservative legislative network, following the revelation of its role in promoting voter ID laws and the "Stand Your Ground" gun laws that briefly shielded George Zimmerman, is probably the third...

Corporations Under Pressure on Political Spending

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 13, 2012
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten and Martha T. Moore
American companies are discovering the perils of politics as activists and public pension fund officials apply new pressure on corporations to disclose their political spending - or cease it entirely. Companies holding their annual meetings this spring will face a record number of shareholder resolutions demanding companies reveal whether corporate funds have been spent on...

Mystery Donor Gives $10 Million to Crossroads GPS Group to Run Anti-Obama Ads

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 13, 2012
Washington Post
by T.W. Farnam
An anonymous donor gave $10 million late last year to run ads attacking President Obama and Democratic policies, escalating the money race that is defining the 2012 presidential campaign. And in the new, free-wheeling environment of independent political giving, the identity of this donor, like many others, is likely to remain a permanent mystery.

Ban on Political Ads on Public TV Struck Down

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 12, 2012
Reuters
by Jonathan Stempel, Terry Baynes, and Jasmin Melvin
A divided U.S. appeals court struck down a federal ban on political advertising on public TV and radio stations, a decision that could open the public airwaves to a heavy dose of campaign ads leading up to the November elections.

Presidential Election 2012 to Play Out on New Campaign Finance Field

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 11, 2012
Huffington Post
by Paul Blumenthal
As Rick Santorum exits the Republican presidential primary campaign stage right and Newt Gingrich wallows in a sea of debt, the general election match-up between President Barack Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney begins in earnest. Thanks to a sea change in campaign finance laws brought about by the Supreme Court and a shift in fundraising norms driven by Obama's decision to opt...

Super PACs Largely Free to Spend Remaining Cash

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 11, 2012
BusinessWeek
by Jack Gillum
When a presidential candidate throws in the towel, what can a "super" PAC that once supported the campaign spend its money on? Pretty much anything it wants.

Montana Pushes Back on High Court Campaign Finance Case

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 11, 2012
Law.com
by Marcia Coyle
By the end of this month, Montana's attorney general will have made his best case to the U.S. Supreme Court against reversing a state court decision upholding Montana's ban on corporate independent campaign expenditures.

Corporate Spending Post-Citizens United Decision Comes Under Attack

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 10, 2012
JD Supra
by Morgan Lewis
The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. -, 130 S.Ct. 876 (2010), lifted long-standing limits on corporate and labor union political spending. Prior to Citizens United, federal law generally prohibited corporations and unions from using their treasury funds to make expenditures to influence federal elections, including expenditures for express advocacy ads,...

The In-House World According to Ben Heineman, Jr. Part II

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 10, 2012
Law.com Corporate Counsel
by Catherine Dunn
In this edited conversation, Heineman discusses corporate regulation, anticorruption efforts, and the post-Citizens United role of U.S. companies in politics and elections.

FEC Ruling Leaves Ad Uncertainty

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 9, 2012
Roll Call
by Eliza Newlin Carney
A court ruling rejecting Federal Election Commission disclosure requirements as too lax has left political players unsure how much they need to report about the financing of issue ads, making the agency a battleground in the dispute over secret money in 2012.

Efforts Broaden to Overturn Citizens United Court Case on Super PACs

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 5, 2012
The Salt Lake Tribune
by Cathy Mckitrick
A coalition of 11 state attorneys general has sent a letter to Congress, urging support for a constitutional amendment to overturn a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows corporations and labor unions to pour unlimited funding into election campaigns. The high court's Jan. 2010 landmark decision, Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, paved the way for the intense "super...

Coke Withdraws from Group That Backs Stand Your Ground Law

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 5, 2012
Baltimore Sun
by Barbara Liston and Martinne Geller
Coca-Cola Co is dropping its membership in a conservative national advocacy group that supports "Stand Your Ground" laws such as the one being used as a defense in the Florida killing of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin. The move by the world's biggest soft drink maker comes as corporate America faces increased scrutiny from consumers and shareholder activists over...

Democrats Make Headway in Push for Transparency on 'Issue Ads'

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 4, 2012
Washington Post
by T.W. Farnam
Democrats finally caught a break on their effort to increase regulation of money in politics last week when a federal judge in Washington threw out a loophole in disclosure requirements.

Shareholders Have a Right to Know About Political Contributions

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 3, 2012
USA Today
by Drew F. Cohen
As the 2012 election season heats up, campaigns have been soliciting donations to fuel what many expect to be the most expensive election cycle in U.S. history. Unbridled by the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, which prohibited restrictions on corporate political contributions and gave rise to a new form of political committees known as Super PACs, corporations have doled out millions...

Super PACs Can Be Thwarted, Even With 'Citizens United'

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 3, 2012
Washington Post
by Fred Wertheimer
Here is the only good news about the super PACs flooding the 2012 presidential race with negative ads funded by huge contributions from the super rich: These vehicles for corruption can be eliminated. Congress can pass legislation to end these candidate-specific super PACs that is well within the bounds of Citizens United.

A Judge Turns on the Light

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

April 2, 2012
The New York Times
A federal judge took an important step toward ending secret donations to big-spending political groups, striking down regulations that permitted some groups to hide their donors. Unfortunately, the ruling probably came too late to flush this corrupting practice from this year's elections - though there is still time for Congress to do so.

Koch Brothers, Chamber of Commerce Face Possible Campaign Donation Disclosure After Ruling

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 31, 2012
Huffington Post
by Paul Blumenthal
On Friday evening, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling that could begin the process of revealing the identities of secret donors to groups connected to Karl Rove and the Koch brothers.

Outside Political Spending Four Times Greater Than in 2008

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 29, 2012
The Florida Independent
by Ashley Lopez
Super PACs and other outside groups are already spending four times as much money on this upcoming presidential than in 2008, the Sunlight Foundation reports.

Campaign Spending Shows Political Ties, Self-Dealing

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 28, 2012
ProPublica
by Kim Barker and Al Shaw
For an example of the fluidity of campaign finance rules, as well as the tangled web of connections between candidates and super PACs, look no further than the digital consulting firm Targeted Victory.

Chevron, Merck Disclose Funding to 2010 Attack-Ad Groups

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 28, 2012
Bloomberg News
by Jonathan D. Salant
Some secret donors who gave money to groups that paid for millions of dollars in attack ads during the 2010 midterm elections are becoming public. Chevron Corp. (CVX), an oil and gas company; Merck & Co. (MRK), a drug maker; and the American Petroleum Institute are among the entities that have disclosed through corporate filings or Internal Revenue Service reports their donations to...

Beware of the Super-PAC: More Lawmakers Are Fearing an Ad Ambush

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 28, 2012
The Hill
by Joe Picard
The proliferation of super-PACs has come in a presidential election year, and their attacks have mostly been aimed at White House hopefuls. But members of Congress should not rest easy, according to Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.).

McCain Rips Super PACs

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 27, 2012
The Daily Beast
by Howard Kurtz
Any notion that John McCain might be abandoning his longtime crusade for campaign-finance reform vanished on Tuesday as he sprayed a variety of targets, from the Supreme Court to super PACs to his fellow Republicans.

Making Corporate Actions Visible

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 26, 2012
Huffington Post
by Ralph Gomory and Leo Hindery, Jr.
In a recent article we wrote: "America today is very different from the country that fought the Revolutionary War and framed the Constitution. Then, it was a nation of farmers; today, it's a nation of corporations."

Halliburton Wins Praise from Open-Government Groups for Commitment to Political Disclosure

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 26, 2012
Houston Chronicle
by Richard Dunham
This is news: Halliburton is being praised - yes, praised! - by political watchdog groups. The Houston-based multinational corporation, which has been blasted for a decade by liberals and good government groups for its close ties to the White House and the Pentagon, is now being held up as a model of openness.

New Arguments Filed in Campaign Finance Case

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 24, 2012
Great Falls Tribune
by Matt Gouras
The Montana attorney general's office filed new arguments Friday in the ongoing court battle over Montana's political spending restrictions, saying the state's ban on corporate campaign contributions is constitutional. The arguments come in one of three court cases challenging the state's campaign finance laws, an effort led by a conservative group that has been active with political...

Campaign Disclosure Loophole Worries Iowans

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 24, 2012
Quad-City Times
by Rod Boshart
State election watchdogs are worried that a loophole in Iowa's campaign finance disclosure law, if left unchecked this legislative session, could release a flood of contributions from secret donors. The fear is that nonprofit groups making independent expenditures could use the money to target candidates in Iowa races at all governmental levels.

Corporate Governance Advocates Take on Political Spending and Contracts with Managers

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 23, 2012
SocialFunds.com
by Robert Kropp
In September, the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), an organization of institutional investors representing $18 trillion in assets under management, submitted a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), voicing its support for a petition urging the Commission "to develop rules to require public companies to disclose to shareholders the use of corporate resources...

Political Disclosure Hits 100 Companies

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

In a major milestone, 100 companies have adopted disclosure and oversight of their political spending. This comes as 12 additional companies embraced the corporate governance standard, the Center for Political Accountability announced today. The companies which took this step as the 2012 proxy season unfolds include Halliburton Co., one of the largest oil field service companies; Safeway, the large supermarket chain; and railroad giant CSX Corp.

One Hundred Companies Sign on to Disclose Political Spending

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 21, 2012
The Hill
by Rachel Leven
One hundred companies have signed on to a watchdog organizations' effort to disclose political expenditures. A 100th company joined the Center for Political Accountability's corporate governance standard Wednesday, the center announced. The center is seeking companies to sign on to their disclosure and oversight standards in wake of the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Committee Supreme...

Dialing Up the Dollars: Telecommunications Interests Donated Heavily to NC Lawmakers

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 20, 2012
Follow the Money
by Denise Roth Barber
In the spring of 2011, North Carolina became became 19th state to restrict local governments from building publicly-owned broadband networks. North Carolina's two biggest cable providers, Time Warner Cable and CenturyLink, along with the North Carolina Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCCTA), aggressively lobbied for the bill and were prominent campaign donors. This report...

Rules of the Game: Bad News for Nation's Nonprofits

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 20, 2012
Roll Call
by Eliza Newlin Carney
In an election that until lately has been dominated by super PACs, politically active nonprofits are the new bad guys, drawing ethics complaints, letters to the IRS and legislative action. That is bad news for the nation's 1.6 million nonprofits, which have much to lose as their sector gets dragged into political money controversies. For reform advocates, the problem with big-spending,...

Could Corporations Take Tax Breaks on Political 'Dark Money'?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 19, 2012
Pro Publica
by Justin Elliott
The Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision opened the way for unlimited corporate spending on politics and has led to the proliferation of nonprofit political groups that do not have to disclose the identities of their donors. But corporations may be getting another benefit from anonymous donations to these groups: a break on their taxes.

Post Citizens-United Money May Swamp Congressional Candidates

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 17, 2012
Huffington Post
by Dan Froomkin
Political spending by deep-pocketed donors and cash-rich corporations threatens to sow chaos in this year's congressional races, political consultants warn. A billionaire or corporation writing a check for $1 million -- or even $10 million -- isn't enough to swing a presidential election. But when it comes to congressional campaigns, it could be plenty.

California Gets Top Marks for Public Disclosure of Political Spending

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 16, 2012
San Diego Union-Tribune
by Will Evans
California has some of the best public disclosure of independent political spending in the country, according to a report released yesterday, but the state ethics watchdog wants to go further. The National Institute on Money in State Politics conducted a nationwide study of state independent expenditures - spending by political interests to influence an election independently from any...

Buying a Political Ad? Let a SuperPAC Foot the Bill

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 16, 2012
NPR
by Brian Naylor
There has been one constant throughout the GOP campaign - Mitt Romney and the superPAC that supports him have vastly outspent his rivals. An NPR analysis of various campaign data finds a new trend is now apparent - most of the TV ads supporting Romney have been bought by that superPAC, Restore Our Future, while Romney's campaign is spending little on TV.

GOP Super PAC Men Seek to Overturn Donation Limits

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 15, 2012
iWatch News
by Michael Beckel
As unlimited contributions flow into super PACs this year, one man is at the center of a new effort to allow people to donate more money, to more candidates, at the national stage. "I don't believe government is there to limit us," Shaun McCutcheon told iWatch News.

Since Citizens United, Outside Political Spending in Elections Has Doubled

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 14, 2012
International Business Times
by Ashley Portero
Independent, free-spending "super PACs" have become a troubling but accepted part of the American political landscape since the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door to their formation in 2010. Previous imageEnlargeNext image 1 / 2 (Photo: REUTERS) The U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in the Citizens United case has led to debate over the role of...

Poll: Voters Want Super PACs to Be Illegal

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 13, 2012
Washington Post
by Chris Cilizza and Aaron Blake
Nearly seven in 10 registered voters would like super PACs to be illegal, including more than half who feel that way strongly, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Congress Moves to Turn Back SOX, Dodd-Frank Compliance

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

March 12, 2012
Compliance Week
Only in the rarified world of Washington could lawmakers push legislation dubbed a "jobs bill" to help small business that actually does almost nothing to help small business-and imposes more risks on investors, and throws more money to Wall Street banks, and sets back corporate governance a full 10 years. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened last week.

IRS May Make Political Groups Pay Dearly for Keeping Donors Secret -- And Out Them

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 9, 2012
Huffington Post
by Dan Froomkin
For years, the IRS has done little or nothing to check the rise of overtly political groups that claim a special tax-exempt status in order to funnel secret money into election-related advertising.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 9, 2012
Slate
by Richard L. Hasen
Most of what you hear about Citizens United v. FEC is negative. By opening the door for corporations to spend unlimited sums in elections and to allow for the creation of super PACs, the Supreme Court has made a campaign finance system that was already flooded with money much worse. But Citizens United obviously has its defenders, and they have advanced a number of arguments to try to blunt criticism...

Super PACs Ramp Up Spending on Races Where Control of Congress Is at Stake

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 8, 2012
Bloomberg News
by Laura Litvan
Redistricting obliterated his House seat serving central Iowa. Still, Republican Representative Tom Latham has something going for him: a 4-1 cash edge in his re- election race against Democratic Representative Leonard Boswell in a merged district.

Corporations Don't Pony Up for Super PACs

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 8, 2012
Politico
by Anna Palmer and Abby Phillip
When super PACs emerged two years ago, critics howled that corporations would take advantage of a newfound tool to flex their muscle in politics. But so far this campaign season, publicly traded companies have shied away from the outside groups - giving less than one half of a percent of all the contributions raised by the most active super PACs. Instead, corporate lobbyists and...

More Shareholders Demanding Corporate Political Transparency

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 6, 2012
Law.com Corporate Counsel
by Catherine Dunn
As voters tune into the Republican presidential campaign's big Super Tuesday primaries, concerns about adverse effects of corporate political spending are being reflected in an expanding universe of shareholder proposals that cover not only campaign-related spending, but proposals on lobbying disclosures as well.

Scrutiny of Political Nonprofits Sets Off Claim of Harassment

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 6, 2012
The New York Times
by Jonathan Weisman
The Internal Revenue Service is caught in an election-year struggle between Democratic lawmakers pressing for a crackdown on nonprofit political groups and conservative organizations accusing the tax agency of conducting a politically charged witch hunt.

Super PACs Target Congressional Races

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 5, 2012
Roll Call
by Eliza Newlin Carney
Super PACs and other unrestricted groups have moved beyond the presidential campaign trail to target key House and Senate races, and Congressional candidates don't know whether to laugh or cry. Several candidates have asked their opponents to pledge to bar super PACs and similar third-party groups from their races, emulating the pact signed in January by Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and his...

Super Tuesday Ad Spending Nearly Tops $10 Million

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 4, 2012
Seattle Times
by Beth Fouhy and Jack Gillum
The Republican candidates and a few independent groups have spent nearly $10 million on television and radio ads in seven states that vote on Super Tuesday, and more than half of that total comes from the Mitt Romney-backing Restore Our Future, which is running spots criticizing Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

Secret Donors to 'C4s' Play Behind-the-Scenes Politics

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 2, 2012
Los Angeles Times
by Michael Hitzik
There's no mystery about why a business or industry group might be shy about how it spends money on election campaigns. Just ask department store chain Target. In 2010, Target, which had been known for its progressive employment policies, faced a customer and shareholder backlash after it donated $150,000 to a pro-business PAC in Minnesota that was backing a gubernatorial candidate who...

Super PACs, Candidate Blur Line Ahead of November 6

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

March 1, 2012
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
Presidential candidates and the super PACs accepting unlimited donations to help their campaigns cannot coordinate their activity, yet they are sharing consultants, donors and even advertising footage, raising new questions about the independence of outside groups.

Evil Lurks in Super PACs

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 29, 2012
Los Angeles Times
by Steve Lopez
You and I have been here before, with me recommending something you don't want to hear about, even though it'll be good for you. No, I didn't get another colonoscopy. I'm talking about those three dreaded words: Campaign finance reform. Have your eyes already glazed over because the subject can be so tediously dull? If so, snap out of it and pay attention, because money in politics is...

Drug Lobby Gave $9.4 Million to Nonprofits That Spent Big on 2010 Election

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 27, 2012
iWatch News
by Michael Beckel
The drug lobby's trade association was a multimillion-dollar donor to nonprofit groups that were actively working to elect federal candidates during the 2010 election, an iWatch News analysis of documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service reveals. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, better known as PhRMA, doled out $9.4 million to 501(c)(4) "social welfare"...

Corporate Political Spending Tops List of Resolutions in 2012, Report Says

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 27, 2012
Financial Advisor
by Jim McConville
Companies will face a bevvy of social and environmental shareholder resolutions during this year's corporate annual meeting season on topics ranging from corporate political spending and mortgage foreclosures to coal use and fracking for natural gas, according to a report released Tuesday.

Romney Camp, Super PAC Share High Level Aides

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 26, 2012
Washington Times
by Luke Rosiak
Mitt Romney's presidential campaign and the super PAC accepting million-dollar contributions to support him are barred by law from coordinating, yet they share many of the same top-level workers, a fact both groups have helped mask by paying high-level aides through companies that appear to exist largely as conduits to avoid disclosure.

SEC's Aguilar Says Companies Should Report Political Spending

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 24, 2012
Bloomberg News
by Jesse Hamilton
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should require companies to disclose their spending on political campaigns, said SEC Commissioner Luis Aguilar. "Investors are not receiving adequate disclosure, and as the investor's advocate, the Commission should act swiftly to rectify the situation," said Aguilar, a Democrat on the five- member commission, in remarks prepared for a...

DiNapoli gets three CA-based companies to disclose political donation system

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 23, 2012
WNYC.org
by Colby Hamilton
Not too long before Governor Andrew Cuomo went on Fred Dicker's radio program to declare "you are either with the special interests or your with the people" on pension reform, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli put out a statement that highlighted one of the major benefits he sees in keeping the pension system largely like it is.

'Super PAC' leaders profit from lack of oversight

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 22, 2012
Los Angeles Times
by Melanie Mason and Matea Gold
The Red White and Blue Fund, a "super PAC" backing the presidential bid of Republican Rick Santorum, paid more than half a million dollars last month to a newly formed direct mail firm. The owner of that company? None other than Nick Ryan, a former Santorum aide - and founder of the Red White and Blue Fund.

Super PAC Money Getting More Scrutiny, Complaints

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 21, 2012
Roll Call
by Eliza Newlin Carney
Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum is drawing more scrutiny as his poll numbers rise, and so is the increasingly lucrative super PAC backing the former Pennsylvania Senator.

G.O.P. Campaigns Grow More Dependent on 'Super PAC' Aid

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 20, 2012
The New York Times
by Nicholas Confessore
Weeks of intense campaigning in the early nominating states have left the leading Republican presidential candidates increasingly dependent on millions of dollars spent on their behalf by outside "super PACs," reports filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday showed.

Two Justices Suggest Citizens United Ruling Should Be Reconsidered in Montana Case

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 17, 2012
Washington Post
by Robert Barnes
Two Supreme Court justices suggested Friday that the court reconsider its controversial 2010 decision that allowed unlimited corporate and union spending in elections. The suggestion came as the court blocked a Montana Supreme Court decision upholding a century-old ban on corporate campaign spending in the state.

Super PACs Play Growing Role in Congressional Races

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 16, 2012
Real Clear Politics
by Caitlin Huey-Burns
A press release was recently sent out in Ohio, West Virginia and Montana accusing the recipients' respective Democratic U.S. senators, all of whom are up for re-election, of embracing "the Washington insider culture" by opposing an amendment to a congressional insider-trading bill.

Campaign Hits Corporation Donation

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 16, 2012
Politico
by Anna Palmer
California utility PG&E's decision to give money to a super PAC may be a cautionary tale for corporations thinking about ponying up - and to super PACs willing to take the money. PG&E, under scrutiny after a pipeline explosion this fall left eight dead, contributed $10,000 to a super PAC supporting California Democratic Rep. Howard Berman - a fact now on display in a two-page mailer...

End Corporate Demockary

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 15, 2012
CorpGov.net by James McRitchie
Corporations determine far more than any other institution the air we breathe, the quality of the water we drink, even where we live. Yet they are not accountable to anyone. Those words were on the 1991 cover of Power and Accountability: Restoring the Balances of Power Between Corporations and Society by Robert A.G. Monks and Nell Minow, long before 2010 when the United States Supreme Court ruled...

New Mexico Legislature to Congress: Amend Against Citizens United

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 13, 2012
The Nation
by John Nichols
The Constitution of the United States can be amended in two formal ways: from the top down and from the bottom up. But New Mexico legislators have found a third way and, hopefully, other state legislators around the country will follow their lead.

Dueling pledges face off in Montana race

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 10, 2012
Politico
by Robin Bravender
Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg has challenged Sen. Jon Tester to keep all out-of-state money out of their battle for the Senate seat, rejecting an earlier proposal from Tester that sought to limit third-party cash.

Chamber Of Commerce Makes $10 Million Ad Buy for Congressional Races

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 9, 2012
Talking Points Memo
by Eric Kleefeld
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is making a big-time money drop into the 2012 Congressional races, with a big buy of ads across the country. The Chamber's press release announces ads in 16 states and 40 total media markets, targeting 12 House districts and 8 Senate races. And as the Wall Street Journal reports, the total ad buy is $10 million.

Some Super PAC Money

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 8, 2012
Roll Call
by Eliza Newlin Carney
Six of the top 10 super PACs active in the 2012 elections have received money from untraceable sources, including nonprofits and shell corporations, according to a report released today by two progressive advocacy groups.

AT&T Shareholders Demand Answers

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 7, 2012
Politico
by David Saleh Rauf
Some AT&T shareholders want more than just dollars and cents from the board of directors in the aftermath of the company's aborted takeover of T-Mobile: They want to know how company money is being spent to influence politics.

Secret Money Is Funding More Election Ads

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 6, 2012
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
More than a third of the advertising tied to the presidential race has been funded by nonprofit groups that will never have to reveal their donors, suggesting that a significant portion of the 2012 elections will be wrapped in a vast cloak of secrecy. The bulk of the secret money spent so far has come from conservative groups seeking to propel a Republican into the White House, advertising...

With Spotlight on Super PAC Dollars, Nonprofits Escape Scrutiny

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 3, 2012
Pro Publica
by Kim Barker, Al Shaw and Ariel Wittenberg
When super PACs announced their 2011 fundraising numbers earlier this week, it provided an early glimpse into how the new way of financing political campaigns may work in the upcoming election. The filings showed that super PACs are indeed fundraising juggernauts, pulling in more than $98 million, with an average donation of $47,718. But so far, their sources of...

Corporations are sending more contributions to super PACs

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 2, 2012
Washington Post
by T.W. Farnam
Corporations appear to be embracing, albeit slowly, new campaign rules that allow them to make direct contributions to political groups. The super PACs that have been playing a significant role this election season are getting more of their funding from corporate coffers - 23 percent, according to an analysis of federal records.

'Super PACs' largely funded by a wealthy few

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

February 1, 2012
Los Angeles Times
by Matea Gold, Tom Hamburger, and Maloy Moore
Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles- When it comes to big money in politics, Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons' influence has long been apparent in Texas, where he has plowed more than $1 million into Rick Perry's gubernatorial campaigns. Now Simmons has found a new outlet for his outsize political giving - the explosion this election cycle of "super...

Congress can fix the Super PAC problem

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 31, 2012
Salon.com
by Adam Skaggs
Election junkies circled January 31st on their calendars months ago - but not because of Florida's primary today, no matter how important it is to Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Tuesday's real significance deals with Super PACs - it's the day "independent" groups, dominating the 2012 election, must file their financial disclosures for the last six months.

Harold Simmons gave Karl Rove-linked Crossroads groups $7 million

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 31, 2012
Politico
by Kenneth Vogel
The Karl Rove-linked juggernaut Crossroads groups raised $51 million last year - including a whopping $7 million from Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons - but that's still a far cry from the $300 million the two-pronged outfit intends to spend boosting Republicans and attacking Democrats in the run-up to Election Day.

Push for transparency focuses on campaign spending, gift giving

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 30, 2012
Arizona Capitol Times
by Caitlin Coakley Beckner
In the wake of two of Arizona's biggest political shake-ups of last year, lawmakers are hoping a little sunshine will help clean up the mess. Shadowy groups involved in the recall of then-Senate President Russell Pearce brought to light some of the flaws in the current financial disclosure requirements. Meanwhile, the Fiesta Bowl scandal brought to light ethical questions...

Shareowners File 40 Resolutions on Lobbying Expenditures by Corporations

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 27, 2012
Social Funds
by Robert Kropp
Walden Asset Management leads a coalition of investors calling on companies to disclose both direct lobbying expenditures and indirect funding of lobbying through trade associations. SocialFunds.com -- Spearheaded by the work of the Center for Political Accountability (CPA), sustainable investors and governance advocates have, in the two years since the Supreme Court's Citizens United...

Super PACs' Money Could Tip Balance of Power in Congress

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 26, 2012
CNN
by Martina Stewart
The 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allows unlimited contributions by corporations and unions has already affected the 2012 presidential campaign. But it could play a larger part in the balance of power in Congress this fall.

Shedding Light on Political Spending

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 26, 2012
Parker Poe
In recent years, shareholder activists have called for greater transparency regarding corporate political spending. Demands for full disclosure - even for shareholder approval of certain political spending - increased dramatically in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held that corporate funding of independent political advertisements in candidate...

SOPA-Supporting California Politicians Receive Cash Flow From Hollywood

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 25, 2012
Huffington Post
by Will Evans
Hollywood is threatening politicians with one thing they hold very dear: campaign cash. As anti-piracy legislation stalled in Congress last week, the movie industry's top lobbyist, former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, warned Democrats not to count on Hollywood money if they turn their backs on the industry's legislative priority.

Super PACs Set Sights on 2012 Congressional Races

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 24, 2012
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
Outside political groups, already big players in this year's GOP presidential battle, have started to train their firepower on Senate and House races.

Dangerous Terrain

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

Winter 2012
The Conference Board
by Bruce Freed and Karl Sandstrom
A confluence of changes - more money being spent by outside groups, increased secrecy, and weak regulation - could lead to confusing times for corporations that want to be involved in politics.

Corporate Political Spending Targeted

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 22, 2012
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
by Len Boselovic
Investors and corporate governance experts are asking the Securities and Exchange Commission to require public companies to provide detailed disclosure of their political spending. The initiative comes two years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that restrictions on corporate campaign spending violated the First Amendment rights of corporate America. The 5-4 decision in the...

Meet the Super Super PAC

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 21, 2012
Politico
by Dave Levinthal
Super PACs are just so 2011. Meet the next big thing in U.S. politics: the super super PAC. These nascent groups can not only raise mega cash to promote candidates, but give money to candidates' campaigns - a kind of political power and intimacy today's super PACs alone can't achieve.

As 'Citizens United' Turns 2, SuperPACs Draw Protests

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 20, 2012
National Public Radio by Peter Overby
Saturday is South Carolina's Republican presidential primary. It's also the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's famous Citizens United decision. That's the case that allows corporations to explicitly support or attack specific candidates. The day will be marked with attack ads - and protests.

Investors Announce New Shareholder Initiative Seeking Disclosure of Company Lobbying Activities

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 19, 2012
Market Watch
Investors today announced the filing of shareholder resolutions at 40 corporations, for votes at 2012 shareholder meetings; the resolutions urge the corporations to report on lobbying expenditures, including indirect funding of lobbying through trade associations.

Shareowners to Corporations: Say No to Political Expenditures

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 18, 2012
SocialFunds.com
by Robert Kropp
Since the US Supreme Court decided the controversial Citizens United case two years ago and removed longstanding limits on corporate political spending, shareowners and other governance advocates have engaged with companies in efforts to limit the effects on corporate reputation and shareowner value of unlimited political expenditures. Among the most noteworthy efforts has been that of the...

Citizens Divided

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 12, 2012
Colorado Springs Independent
by Steven Rosenfeld
On Dec. 30, Montana's Supreme Court issued a stunning rebuke to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision that infamously decreed corporations had constitutional rights to directly spend money on "independent expenditures" in campaigns.

Time to Revive Democracy in the U.S.: Tell Shareholders How Their Dollars Are Used in Politics

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 11, 2012
Nonprofit Quarterly
by Rick Cohen
Between those advocating for economic democracy who think there's too much wealth and power concentrated in the hands of 1 percent of the nation's population, and those advocating for corporate democracy advocated by nonprofits promoting investors' rights through shareholder resolutions, and those advocating political campaigns that are free of secret special interests working under the...

GOP: Corporate Donation Ban Unconstitutional

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 10, 2012
Politico
by Josh Gerstein
The century-old ban on corporate donations to federal political campaigns should be junked as unconstitutional, the Republican National Committee argued in a legal brief filed Tuesday that could lead to new attacks on the GOP as beholden to corporate money.

The Power of Super PACs

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 9, 2012
Washington Post
"WELL, OF COURSE, it's former staff of mine. And, of course they're people who support me. They wouldn't be putting money into a PAC that supports me if they weren't people who support me." That was former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in Sunday's "Meet the Press" debate on NBC, asked about millions of dollars' worth of ads being run on his behalf by a super PAC called "Restore Our Future."

Super PACs Alter the Dynamics of Fundraising

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 8, 2012
Washington Post
by T. W. Farnam
Well-established candidates have always had the edge in fundraising, but under the new rules governing money in politics, it looks as if the rich are just getting richer. The vast majority of the $14 million in spending from "super PACs," a new type of political group, has been spent on behalf of three candidates: Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman Jr., federal records show. Those are...

Chamber's Attack Ads Draw Local Criticism

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 7, 2012
Great Falls Tribune
by John S. Adams
Chamber of Commerce officials in three Montana communities have publicly responded to a political attack ad created and paid for by their parent organization, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The national chamber organization ran a television ad over the holidays in cities across Montana attacking U.S. Sen. Jon Tester for voting for "$500 billion in new taxes to pay for Obamacare," which...

Tough Dilemmas for Companies on Campaign Spending

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 6, 2012
Harvard Business Review
by Ben W. Heineman, Jr.
Should companies use funds from the corporate treasury to advocate directly for or against political candidates in contested elections? This basic question - now made immediate with the opening of the election season in the Iowa caucuses - raises dilemmas for boards and business leaders.

CPA Letter Challenges Wall Street Journal Attacks on Political Disclosure

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 6, 2012
The Center for Political Accountability responded to recent Wall Street Journal attacks on corporate political disclosure in a letter published in today's paper. CPA chair John Milton Cooper, Jr. wrote that companies are not being silenced but "are responding to the marketplace, listening to shareholders, recognizing their self-interest and protecting shareholder value" by adopting political disclosure.

The Biggest Threat to Citizens United

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 6, 2012
Salon.com
by David Sirota
Last week, while the national press corps was busy pretending the tiny Iowa caucus was the only news in America, a major ruling out of Montana paved the way for a likely U.S. Supreme Court showdown over the role of corporate money in politics.

Occupy Shareholders Engaging with Shareholder Resolutions? It's Happening...

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 5, 2012
Nonprofit Quarterly
by Rick Cohen
Why did 2011 break all previous records in the number of shareholder resolutions pursued in the corporate sector? Did the societal frustration with the concentration of wealth and power in corporate America lead to both the Occupy movement and the increase in shareholder actions to push for change in the corporate sector?

In Montana, Corporations Aren't People

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 4, 2012
Slate
by Dahlia Lithwick
On the rare occasions when the world talks to you in stereo, it's a good idea to set aside your knitting and listen. This week, Americans got their first good look at what super PACs-political organizations that can receive unlimited corporate contributions and make unlimited expenditures for federal candidates-have wrought in Iowa. At the same time, the Montana Supreme Court issued a stunning opinion...

ISS Policy Shift Favors Disclosure of Political Spending

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 4, 2012
Inside Investor Relations
by Brad Allen
Attention on corporate political spending promises to ratchet up from next month, and it's not just because the US presidential campaign is swinging into full gear. Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) is changing its policy guidelines in favor of shareholder proposals that call for disclosure and board oversight of contributions to political committees and trade...

Three Campaign-Finance Lawsuits on the Heels of 'Citizens'

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 3, 2012
Law.com
by Marcia Coyle
Three key campaign-finance challenges, one already at the U.S. Supreme Court, seek to push through doors left open by the justices' controversial Citizens United decision.

'Super PACs' Are Showing Their Power

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

January 1, 2012
Los Angeles Times
by Tom Hamburger and Melanie Mason
Political committees unfettered by donation limits are dominating the last weeks of the presidential nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, funding aggressive attack campaigns that are swamping the efforts of the candidates themselves.

MT Court Restores Corporate Campaign Spending Ban

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 31, 2011
Boston Globe
by Matt Gouras
The Montana Supreme Court restored the state's century-old ban on direct spending by corporations on political candidates or committees in a ruling Friday that interest groups say bucks a high profile U.S. Supreme Court decision granting political speech rights to corporations.

Super PACs Dominate Iowa Caucus, Helping Mitt Romney Run Ahead

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 31, 2011
Huffington Post
by Paul Blumenthal
"This is politics," Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney declared Dec. 21, dismissing calls for him to condemn ads attacking former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that were run by an independent group supporting Romney's candidacy.

Group's Ads Rip at Gingrich as Romney Stands Clear

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 30, 2011
The New York Times
by Nicholas Confessore and Jim Rutenberg
The attacks began three weeks ago and have not let up since: Television ad after television ad slamming Newt Gingrich for having "more baggage than the airlines," for being fined by Congress for ethics violations, for his position on illegal immigration, even for admitting that he has made mistakes on the campaign trail.

Outside Groups Air Barrage of Ads in Mass. Race

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 27, 2011
Boston Globe
by Andrew Miga
Watch the political advertising and Elizabeth Warren, the leading Democratic Senate candidate in Massachusetts, either "sides with extreme left" protesters or has a history of being too cozy with Wall Street. Or Republican freshman Sen. Scott Brown, whom she hopes to defeat next year, is portrayed as an enemy of the environment.

'Reform' Initiative on 2012 Ballot Is Not at All What It Seems

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 27, 2011
The Modesto Bee
by Dan Morain
The latest initiative to qualify for the 2012 ballot is thick with the earnest rhetoric of white-hat-wearing good government reformers. It's also dripping with cynicism.This may come as a shock, but the "Stop Special Interest Money Now Act" won't do anything of the kind - at least not in any way that is balanced.

2011 in Retrospect: Will SRI Occupy Personhood in 2012?

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 26, 2011
CSR Wire
by Sanford Lewis
In 2011, Occupy Wall Street and its progeny captured the world's imagination with its resistance to the growing corporate occupation of our political system. As many within the socially responsible investment (SRI) community rightly noted, the values of Occupy are aligned with many of the social and environmental justice goals that SRI has sought for years.

Mutual Fund Support for Political Spending Disclosure Inches Upward

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 22, 2011
SocialFunds.com
by Robert Kropp
An analysis prepared for the Center for Political Accountability by Jackie Cook of Fund Votes reveals that mutual fund support for corporate political spending disclosure increased in 2011 for eighth year in a row. SocialFunds.com -- During the 2011 proxy season, shareowner resolutions addressing political spending and disclosure were included on the ballots of 32 companies. Vote totals...

Challenge to NY Campaign Finance Laws Fails

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 21, 2011
Thomson Reuters
by Basil Katz
A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday tossed out a challenge to New York City anti-corruption campaign finance laws, finding the so-called "pay to play" rules do not violate free speech rights.

Super PACs: The Bad Cops of 2012

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 21, 2011
Politico
by Robin Bravender and Dave Levinthal
The bad cops of 2012 are here. Super PACs with ties to Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum launched a negative advertising blitz this month in Iowa that has let the candidates - with ties to the groups - stay above the fray while the outsiders do the dirty work.

Romney-Gingrich Super PAC Spat Highlights Hazy Rules

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 21, 2011
Real Clear Politics
by Scott Conroy
A day after he condemned current campaign finance regulations for making "a mockery of our political campaign season," Mitt Romney appeared to change his tune on Wednesday morning after Newt Gingrich publicly called on him to disavow a negative ad campaign being run by an outside group promoting Romney's candidacy.

Five Constitutional Amendments That Could Overturn Citizens United - How Are They Different?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 21, 2011
International Business Times
by Ashley Portero
While the U.S. Supreme Court treats corporations like people who can use money as a form of expression, a handful of congressman -- Democrats, Independents and even a Republican -- have taken steps to overturn the high court's classification this year.

Starve the Beast. End the Stalemate

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 18, 2011
Washington Post
by Steven Pearlstein
There is a branch of economics known as game theory, which tries to figure out how various "players" in a market maximize their welfare based on the expected behavior of other "players," all of whom are doing the very same thing.

Focus on Donations Grows

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 16, 2011
Inside Investor Relations
by Brad Allen
When the US Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that corporate political contributions are protected by free speech, the five-four split-decision signaled deep divisions. But the court was nearly unanimous in upholding the importance of disclosure to give voters the information necessary to 'make informed choices in the political marketplace'.

Close Super PAC Ties Draw Ire

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 15, 2011
Roll Call
by Eliza Newlin Carney
In this year's brawling and unpredictable GOP presidential primary, super PACs have emerged as the latest magnet for controversy.

FEC Quashes New Disclosure Rules

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 15, 2011
Politico
by Robin Bravender
New rules that would pull back the curtain on who is behind big-money political advertising were quashed Thursday by the Federal Election Commission, thanks to unified opposition from the panel's Republicans.

Who is Behind the Attacks on Dem Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren?

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 12, 2011
OpenSecrets.org
by Michael Beckel
Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies -- the conservative nonprofit advocacy group founded with assistance from GOP strategist Karl Rove -- wants you to believe that Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren is too close to Big Finance. However, last month, the group criticized her for being too close to the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Actually, Corporations That Lobby and Make Campaign Contributions Get Special Benefits

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 12, 2011
Huffington Post
by Stephen Strauss
Recent reports reveal that: GOP Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich received nearly $2 million for activities (not technically within the definition for lobbying) resembling lobbying, and former GOP Congressman Tauzin -- the country's highest paid lobbyist -- received $11.6 million.

Unlimited Campaign Cash Fuels "Super PACs"

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 10, 2011
CBS News
by Phil Hirschkorn
Even before it had filed its paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, a "Super PAC," or political action committee, supporting Texas Governor Rick Perry for president was filming his announcement speech in Charleston, South Carolina.

Oil and Gas: Industry Pours Campaign Cash Into State, Local Races

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 9, 2011
E&E Publishing
by Mike Soraghan
The chairwoman of the Texas Railroad Commission, Elizabeth Ames Jones, gets more campaign contributions from oil and gas than from any other industry. The Railroad Commission doesn't oversee railroads. By accident of history, the elected three-member panel regulates Texas's oil and gas industry. And when the three commissioners campaign, they turn to the companies they regulate to fill...

Illinois mulls public financing of elections

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 8, 2011
Illinois Times
by Patrick Yeagle
Illinois needs a system to publicly fund election campaigns, reform advocates told a state committee examining potential campaign finance reforms last week. But one expert says lawmakers probably won't go for it.

Colgate & IBM Lead; Amazon, Berkshire, Cisco, Nike, Sprint, & Disney Lag

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 7, 2011
CorpGov.net
by James McRitchie
The CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability ranks companies in the S&P 100 according to their disclosure and board oversight of political spending activities. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and with the 2012 electoral season already underway, the Index provides shareowners and other stakeholders with insight into how the...

Measure to curb union, corporate clout qualifies

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 7, 2011
Mercury News
by Judy Lin
California Republican interests have qualified a ballot measure that would severely curb the political influence of public and private employee unions while depriving Democratic political candidates of a major source of campaign cash.

Benchmarking Political Spending Habits

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 6, 2011
Compliance Week
by Stephen Davis and Jon Lukomnik
The phrase "corporate politics" is about to take on a whole new meaning. Next year is, of course, an election year when presidential and congressional elections will dominate the headlines. What you may not be aware of, however, is that it's set to be a political year in corporate boardrooms as well.

Some Say the American Legislative Exchange Council Influences Legislation Too Much in Texas and U.S.

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 3, 2011
Star-Telegram
by Aman Batheja
It may be the most powerful force in Texas politics you've never heard of. The American Legislative Exchange Council has helped enact hundreds of pieces of legislation in states nationwide. The conservative, pro-business nonprofit counts over 1,000 state lawmakers and some of the world's largest companies as members.

OCCUPIED Amendment Would Overturn 'Citzens United'

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 1, 2011
The American Independent
by Ashley Lopez
Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, appeared on MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan Show yesterday to discuss a newly proposed amendment to the Constitution he introduced to reform campaign finance in the U.S.

FEC Deadlocks on Coordination Among Candidates as Super PACs Expand to Capitol Hill

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

December 1, 2011
Washington Post
by Jack Gillum, AP
How much can an outside group, bankrolled by millionaires, help a candidate win an election? In the midst of a bitterly divided campaign season, not even the country's top election officials could decide.

As White House Candidates Abandon Public Funding, Republicans Look to End System

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 28, 2011
Washington Post
by Ben Pershing
At some point in 2012, President Obama and his GOP opponent will formally declare whether they plan to take public funding for their general-election campaigns. If House Republicans get their way, there won't be a choice to make.

TV Attack Ads Aim at Obama Early and Often

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 26, 2011
The New York Times
by Jeremy Peters
Inside the debate halls, the clash may be Republican versus Republican. But offstage, conservatives are mounting a unified and expensive air assault on the candidates' common opponent: President Obama.

Money & Politics: New study tracks independent spending

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 24, 2011
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
by Bill Lueders
In four critical Wisconsin state Senate races last year, groups making independent campaign expenditures actually spent more than the candidates themselves.

Despite pledge, donations flow from Starbucks

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 24, 2011
Associated Press
by Mike Baker
If Starbucks chief Howard Schultz wants voters to withhold campaign cash from federal politicians, he may need to start with trying to halt the flow of donations coming from the people who work for him.

New state website to help in finding campaign finance data

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 23, 2011
Rapid City Journal
by David Montgomery
Political donations in South Dakota will take a big step into the 21st century next month when Secretary of State Jason Gant rolls out a new website to monitor money in state elections.

Wall Street Journal Op-ed Attacks Corporate Disclosure of Political Spending

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 22, 2011
Social Funds
by Robert Kropp
Bruce Freed of the Center for Political Accountability talks with SocialFunds.com about the mischaracterizations in the Journal's op-ed piece, and describes the widespread support for greater disclosure. SocialFunds.com -- When a leading advocate for corporate transparency and accountability comes under attack in the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, one can only conclude the...

Main Street Alliance challenging Humana on contributions to anti-reform forces

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 21, 2011
Insider Lousiville
Staff Article
The liberal Main Street Alliance is asking Louisville insurer/health care provider Humana to come clean on political donations related to Obama health care reform.

Freedom and its Price: Shareholders Seek Disclosure of Corporate Political Spending

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 21, 2011
Corporate Political Activity Law Blog
by Jisha V. Dymond
In the past few years, pay-to-play restrictions have flourished, particularly in the context of contracts related to the management of public pension plan assets and similar government investment accounts. While some regulations such as MSRB Rule G-37 have been in place for some time, there has been a flurry of activity to pass additional regulations, such as the...

Corporate power grows stronger as government wanes

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 19, 2011
Los Angeles Times
by Tom Petruno
In the dreams of the Occupy Wall Street movement, America will look like a very different place five years from now. The power and influence of corporations will be sharply curbed, good jobs will be plentiful and income disparities will have narrowed significantly.

California Retirement Systems/ISS United On Corporate Political Spending

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 18, 2011
California Corporate & Securities Law
by Keith Paul Bishop
On Tuesday, I wrote about CalPERS' adoption of updated governance principles, including this new Principle 6.5: Robust board oversight and disclosure of corporate charitable and political activity is needed to ensure alignment with business strategy and to protect assets on behalf of shareowners. We...

2012 Corporate Governance Policy Updates and Process

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 17, 2011
Institutional Shareholder Services
Executive Summary
Read the Executive Summary of the 2012 Corporate Governance Policy Changes Here.

More Companies Disclose their Political Spending Habits

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 15, 2011
Compliance Week
by Reese Darragh
According to a recent study on political spending disclosure practices-the first since the controversial Citizens United Supreme Court case-more than half of the S&P 100 disclose aspects of their political giving habits. Of those, 24 companies, including Colgate-Palmolive and IBM, prohibit any kind of political spending completely.

How Many Companies does it take to Win an Election?

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 15, 2011
CSRwire.com
by Elaine Cohen
Is corporate political spending responsible business practice or unreasonable use of corporate power and influence? Either way, if more corporations do not disclose their contributions, you may just be voting, inadvertently, for your least favorite candidate.

Calpers Approves Policy on Corporate Political Contributions

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 14, 2011
Bloomberg Businessweek
by Michael B. Marois
The California Public Employees' Retirement System approved new guidelines calling on companies in which the largest U.S. public pension invests to disclose their political contributions annually.

Talking Points: What Boards Need To Know About Corporate Political Spending

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 14, 2011
Boardmember.com
by Bobby R. Burchfield
It is expected that $6 billion will be spent fueling election campaigns in 2012. Bobby Burchfield, a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP based in the firm's Washington, D.C. office , recently spoke with Jamie Reeves, managing editor of special projects at Corporate Board Member, about the issues related to corporate political spending that boards of directors...

Unveiling secret corporate political money

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 13, 2011
United Press International
by Michael Kirkland
The Securities and Exchange Commission is being flooded with support for a proposed regulation that would undo at least some of the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission -- which opened the floodgates to often secret corporate political contributions that threaten to swamp American elections.

Citizens United ruling and the potential of don't ask, don't tell vs. full disclosure.

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 12, 2011
Groundupct.wordpress.com
Editorial
Overtime, we have seen our electoral process eroded by special interests groups and lobbyists, coupled with much money to influence elections and elected officials. The emergence of a new Republican party has launched a nation-wide effort to suppress the vote through bills that would disenfranchise millions in over 34 states, and have become law in 14.

Say-on-pay not going away

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 10, 2011
Inside Investor Relations
by Adam Piore
With a flagging economy driving down earnings, investors are likely to more closely scrutinize rising pay, and may take a more confrontational stance than they did during the financially heady days of the 2011 proxy season, when a rising economic tide seemed set to lift all boats. They are also likely to be less tentative in casting 'no' votes simply because say on pay is now in its...

How Consequential is Citizen's United?

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 9, 2011
Election Law Blog
by Richard Pildes
There is a tendency right now to attribute to Citizens United (CU) virtually all newly emerging forms of financing elections, and the increasingly large amounts, that arose in the 2010 election cycle and that look to play an even more central role in the 2012 elections. But this tendency can reflect a complacent sensibility among critics of Citizens United that the case is the source of...

Coalition Seeks Disclosure Rules for Corporate Political Contributions

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 9, 2011
Corporate Counsel
by Sue Reisinger
A coalition of 40 investment professionals, foundations, religious investors, and financial planners have come out in support of a proposal to require public companies to disclose their spending on political campaigns.

The indirect political spending of the S&P 100

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

November 7, 2011
Law Professor's Blog Network
by Elizabeth Pollman
The Center for Political Accountability and Wharton's Zicklin Center for Business Ethics recently released a report evaluating the political spending and disclosure practices of the S&P 100. They've come up with the "CPA-Zicklin Index" which evaluates factors such as disclosure of various categories of spending, whether the company has a policy on corporate political...

The Biggest Companies Are Getting the Message

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

November 4, 2011
Motley Fool
by Alyce Lomax
The unholy alliance between money and politics is one of the biggest controversies capturing the public spotlight these days. Fortunately, heightened attention to the topic seems to be convincing the biggest corporations to adopt better policies.

Study ranks UPS high in political transparency

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

November 4, 2011
Atlanta Business Chronicle
by Dave Williams
United Parcel Service Inc. .. has one of the most progressive policies for disclosing political contributions among the nation's largest companies, according to a new study.

CalSTRS Adopts Policy on Corporate Political Contributions Disclosure

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

November 4, 2011
Reuters
Press Release
The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) adopted a policy calling for portfolio companies to annually report their expenditures on political contributions.

Corporate citizenship: Companies should follow IBM and Colgate-Palmolive's lead on political spending

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

November 3, 2011
Pennlive.com
by Patriot News Editorial Board
January 21, 2010, might well go down in American history as the day our democracy altered forever - and not for the better. That was the date the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision was made, giving corporations and unions free reign to spend as much money as they want on elections.

New Index Looks at S&P 100 Corporate Political Spending Policies and Practices

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

November 2, 2011
The Confernece Board
from the Governance Center Blog
With the 2012 presidential and congressional elections hurtling toward us and another proxy season just around the corner, the topic of corporate political spending is looming large, as U.S. companies weigh decisions on whether, how, and to what extent to spend corporate funds to contribute to political campaigns and advocacy organizations.

FCC Wants Political Ad Spending Disclosure

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

November 2, 2011
TMCNet.com
by Peter Bernstein
It kind of went unnoticed given all of the commotion at the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) open meeting on October 27 about the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation System (ICC) reform. However, on the same day they put another kettle on the stove to boil in the form of a request for comment on rules that would require TV broadcasters to put their files online,...

Political-Giving Feedback

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

November 1, 2011
Treasury & Risk
by John Mulqueen
The issue of corporate political contributions has drawn a lot of attention since 2010, when the Supreme Court opened the way for secret political contributions by companies and unions. Shareholder groups are pressing businesses to disclose what they give and warning of the risks involved in making contributions, including damage to corporate reputations, extortion and waste of...

ISS Seeks Investor Input for Revised Proxy Voting Policies

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

November 1, 2011
Institutional Shareholder Services
by Robert Kropp
The contribution of proxy advisory services is credited as a factor in the marked increases in shareowner support for environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) proposals over the past two proxy seasons. For years, proxy advisors automatically advised against voting in favor of ESG-related proposals, particularly those addressing environmental and social issues;...

Amazon Gets Failing Grade for Political Transparency, Says Study

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 31, 2011
Seattle Weekly
by Curtis Cartier
Question: What do Amazon and Disney have in common? Answer: Both company's founders had/have a strange interest in cryogenics. Oh, also both companies are apparently extremely secretive about how they spend money to influence national politics.

Study Rates S&P 100 Corporate Political Transparency, Accountability

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 31, 2011
Corporate Counsel
by Sue Reisinger
A growing number of U.S. companies are putting restrictions on political contributions and are voluntarily disclosing corporate political spending, according to a new study by the nonpartisan Center for Political Accountability and the Wharton School's Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the University of Pennsylvania.

Under shareholder pressure, companies disclose political spending

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 31, 2011
InsideCounsel.com
by Cathleen Flahardy
According to a recent survey by the Center for Political Accountability, a non-profit created in 2003 with a goal to bring transparency to corporations' political spending, an increasing number of companies is disclosing the contributions they make to political campaigns.

Companies rethink corporate political donations

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 31, 2011
Inside Investor Relations
by Brad Allen
A survey of practices at the S&P 100 reveals that two dozen of the largest US corporations have publicly opted out of political spending funneled through independent committees, as allowed by the Supreme Court Citizens United decision.

Politics, money and taxes

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 31, 2011
The Los Angeles Times
Editorial
Mention "social welfare organization" and the last thing that comes to mind is a group that expends millions of dollars to influence a federal election. But Crossroads GPS, which spent more than $17 million in 2010 to elect Republicans to Congress, claims to be a social welfare organization - which gives it tax-exempt status and allows it to conceal the identities of its donors.

Study: Corporations placing own limits on political spending

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 29, 2011
Los Angeles Times
by Melanie Mason
Faced with the option of limitless political spending in a post-Citizens United world, corporations are increasingly choosing to disclose, and in some cases limit, their giving, according to a study released Friday. The report, created by the Center for Political Accountability and the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School,...

Outside Groups Eclipsing G.O.P. as Hub of Campaigns

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 29, 2011
The New York Times
by Nicholar Confessore
About once a month, a dozen or so of the country's most influential Republicans meet in a bare-walled conference room in Washington to discuss how to make further gains in the Congressional elections next year and defeat President Obama.

CPA-Zicklin Index Press Release

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2011
CPA-Zicklin Index findings indicate corporate disclosure of political spending is now the norm as companies restrict campaign outlays - Rankings produced for disclosure practices of the companies in the S&P 100.

More Companies Shed Light on Political Spending

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2011
Reuters
by Kim Dixon
More American companies are bending to shareholder pressure to reveal their spending to sway political campaigns despite court decisions allowing unfettered corporate cash in elections, according to a study released on Friday. Colgate-Palmolive Co, IBM and Merck & Co are among the big names with the best grades from the Center for Political Accountability, a foundation-funded group that pushes...

Study: Where do Minnesota companies rank in political disclosure?

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2011
Minnesota Independent
by Jon Collins
A study released today ranked the top 100 American companies on how well they disclose their political activities, finding that many companies are moving towards adoption of disclosure policies, although others, such as 3M, are being left behind. The study was done by the Wharton Center for Business Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania and the Center for Political Accountability....

Amazon, Disney tight-lipped on giving

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2011
Politico
by Dave Levinthal
Amazon.com may be a leading purveyor of information. The Walt Disney Company trades in making youthful dreams come true. But both corporations rank among the nation's worst when it comes to disclosing and managing their political spending, according to a new study of S&P 100 companies by the nonpartisan Center for Political Accountability and the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics at the...

Walt Disney Doesn't Want You To Know Which Political Campaigns It's Paying For

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 29, 2011
Miami New Times
by David Minsky
Walt Disney might be known best for sunny characters like Mickey Mouse, but that doesn't mean it's opposed to a little dark political skullduggery on the side. Disney is worst among big American corporations in terms of political transparency, according to the D.C.-based nonpartisan Center for Political Accountability.

Is Political Accountability an Oxymoron

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2011
Intel CSR Blog
by Linda Qian
Intel does have Political Accountability Guidelines based on the Center for Political Accountability's Model Code of Conduct for Political Spending. That document is a living document that was just recently updated this year to bring more clarity to our position regarding independent expenditures. Intel's senior leadership - including the Board of Directors - approved the guidelines, engage...

Index Ranks Companies on Political Spending Disclosure

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2011
Sustainability Investment News
by Robert Kropp
SocialFunds.com -- Today, at the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the Wharton School, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) launched the most recent of its initiatives to improve disclosure and board oversight of corporate political spending.

Political Ad Funders Must Not Dodge Scrutiny

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2011
Bloomberg Businessweek
by Susan Crawford
Thanks to the Supreme Court's decision last year to allow corporations and unions to make unlimited campaign contributions, Americans in the coming year may be blitzed by $1 billion of essentially anonymous television ads.

More Corporations Shed Light on Political Spending

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 27, 2011
National Public Radio
by Peter Overby
For the first time, 100 of America's biggest corporations are being rated on the transparency of their political activities. On Friday, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the nonpartisan Center for Political Accountability will release an index that ranks the S&P 100 companies. The rankings come as politicians employ new loopholes - and the Supreme Court's...

Largest U.S. Companies Increasingly Disclose Political Spending

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 27, 2011
Bloomberg News
by Kristin Jensen and Alison Fitzgerald
The largest U.S. companies are increasingly disclosing to shareholders the donations they make to political candidates and interest groups, according to the Center for Political Accountability. While few companies shared such information eight years ago, 55 members of the Standard & Poor's 100 Index now disclose direct political spending and have their boards...

FCC To Rule On Online Political Advertisement Disclosure

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 27, 2011
The Huffington Post
by Paul Blumenthal
Everyone is used to seeing a flood of political advertising, whether they are vicious attack ads or saccharine puff pieces, in the months before an election. Soon, the public may get a huge amount of information about the source and cost of all of those advertisements in a way that has never been done before.

The Influence Industry: Judicial elections, corporate policies give glimpse into 2012

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 27, 2011
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
Two studies scheduled to be released Thursday offer contrasting predictions for the 2012 elections: Outside groups are likely to spend more money than ever, but many top corporations may not be among them. The second study, by the Center for Political Accountability, found that most companies in the S&P 100 have adopted policies requiring that they disclose any direct corporate spending...

Influence of Corporate Campaign Contributions in Government Contract Award Decisions

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 25, 2011
Journalist's Resource
by Elise Shanbaker
In the wake of the 2010 Supreme Court decision "Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission," the level of corporate spending on federal elections is likely to increase. In making such donations, corporations are not selfless, of course - one goal is often to secure government contracts.

Super-Soft Money: How Justice Kennedy paved the way for "SuperPACS" and the return of soft money.

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 25, 2011
Slate
by Richard Hasen
Soft money is coming back to national politics, and in a big way. And we can blame it all on a single sentence in Justice Anthony Kennedy's opinion in 2010's controversial Citizens United decision-a sentence that was unnecessary to resolve the case.

'Pivotal Role' for General Counsel in Corporate Political Activity

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 24, 2011
Corporate Counsel
by Catherine Dunn
The machinations of the 2012 election cycle are fully in motion, with each televised debate and catchy tax proposal marking the countdown to the primaries and general election-and in the national, state, and local election processes, general counsel will have a pivotal role in developing oversight for corporate political spending, according to the authors of a new report by The...

A new way to buy real influence

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 24, 2011
Politico
by Anna Palmer & Jim Vandehei
Good news for rich people, corporate power players and labor bosses who want to buy some real influence with members of Congress: It just got a lot easier. Many voters assume it's always been easy to buy influence with lawmakers: Send a few contributions their way and suddenly, you get special treatment...

With Political Spending Outrage In The Streets, Corporate Leaders Talk About Transparency, Accountability

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 21, 2011
Huffington Post
by Paul Blumenthal
Four miles north of the occupied Zuccotti Park, where protesters have urged an end to corporate influence in politics, business executives met at the Waldorf Astoria, the former home of President Herbert Hoover, to talk about transparency and accountability in corporate political spending.

House Democrats Urge SEC To Require Disclosure of Campaign Donations

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 20, 2011
The Wall Street Journal
by Andrew Ackerman
)--A group of 43 House Democrats is urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to require public companies to disclose the political contributions they make, a followup to a 2010 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the government from banning direct corporate spending in political campaigns. In a letter sent Thursday to SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro, Rep. Gary Ackerman (D., N.Y.)...

Corporate-backed 'Super-PAC' raising eyebrows

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 18, 2011
The Orlando Sentinel
by Mark K. Mathhews
A Hialeah-based funeral service -- called Deep Sea Burial for obvious reasons -- has become the first corporation to register a so-called Super-PAC with the Federal Election Commission that will allow it to raise and spend unlimited money in the next election.

The Perils of Donating to Perry

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 17, 2011
The Weekly Standard
by Mark Hemingway
Last week, the Rick Perry campaign announced with great fanfare that the Texas governor had raised $17 million for his presidential campaign in the July-September quarter. That's more than any other GOP hopeful, and since Perry was a recent entrant to the presidential race, he raised that sum in just 49 days.

Fighting for Corporate Disclosure

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 12, 2011
Roll Call
by Eliza Newlin Carney
All eyes seem to be on Wall Street these days, which is turning out to be good timing both for soul-searching CEOs and for reform activists taking aim at corporate money. A far-flung corporate reform coalition is pushing to give shareholders a bigger voice in American companies' political spending decisions, both through federal and state legislation and through new regulations at the...

Rove vs. the Koch Brothers

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 10, 2011
Politico
by Kenneth P. Vogel
Karl Rove's team and the Koch brothers' operatives quietly coordinated millions of dollars in political spending in 2010, but that alliance, which has flown largely under the radar, is showing signs of fraying.

Dealing with Political Contribution Disclosures

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT

October 3, 2011 Corporate Secretary
by Gary Stern
Corporate secretary plays a key role in deciding disclosure policy by advising management and board. The Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision granted corporations the right to contribute to federal elections for the first time. Since corporations now have license to dole out political donations to various political action committees and non-profit advocacy groups, though not directly to...

The Counter-Reformation: The Fall of Campaign Finance Reform

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 CDT

September 27, 2011
Huffington Post
by Josh Blumenthal
WASHINGTON -- In the first two weeks of January 2006, the Senate Judiciary Committee held confirmation hearings for President George W. Bush's second nominee to the Supreme Court, Samuel Alito. By replacing Justice Sandra Day O'Connor with Alito, Bush was replacing the Court's swing vote with a reliable conservative. This move would affect countless issues, but one that never came up...

Business Executives Call for End to Anonymous Cash

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 CDT

September 26, 2011
Politico
by Dave Levinthal
An alliance of business executives is posing a challenge to its corporate brethren: stop giving out anonymous cash. The nonpartisan Committee on Economic Development wants companies to be upfront about their political activity, even though new laws have made it easier for them to do it under the radar. The group, made of about 200 executives, has also called on Congress to pass new disclosure...

The Deregulated Campaign

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 CDT

September 17, 2011
National Journal
by Eliza Newlin Carney
When comedian Stephen Colbert won the Federal Election Commission's approval in June to run his own so-called super political action committee, he lost no time soliciting money for it.

Suit: State Farm covered up donations to justice who voted in its favor

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 CDT

September 15, 2011
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
Lawyers in a class-action case accuse insurance giant State Farm of defrauding the Illinois Supreme Court by covering up its support of the Republican candidate in the most expensive state judicial race in U.S. history.

Rick Perry and HPV vaccine-maker have deep financial ties

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 CDT

September 13, 2011
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose bid for the White House depends heavily on support from religious conservatives, finds himself confronting an issue that is a flash point for that part of his base: his attempt to order schoolgirls to receive a vaccine that would protect them against a sexually transmitted virus.

Barbour Adds More Financial Heft to Crossroads Super PAC

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 CDT

September 8, 2011
Roll Call
by Shira Toeplitz
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour signed on to aid the fundraising efforts of American Crossroads, the conservative group that is expected to spend millions to boost Republicans in the 2012 cycle.

Amazon Spends Millions to Fight Internet Sales Tax

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 27, 2011
New York Times
by Aaron Glantz
When it comes to avoiding the requirement of collecting sales tax from its consumers, Amazon is not afraid to open its wallet. More than nine months before a proposed June 2012 referendum asking that California's new Internet sales tax law be overturned, Amazon, the Seattle-based online retailer, has already spent $5.25 million, state records show, more than any company has spent in...

'Candidate super PACs' surge ahead in the 2012 money race

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 24, 2011
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
Until this month, Steven C. Roche was one of Mitt Romney's most trusted advisers, helping the former Massachusetts governor raise tens of millions of dollars in his long quest for the White House. Now Roche has jumped ship to Restore Our Future, a "super PAC" dedicated to helping Romney win the presidency by raising unlimited funds from wealthy donors and corporations.

100+ CEOs promise no campaign donations

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 24, 2011
CNNMoney
by Charles Riley
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) --You know who's really mad at Washington? Corporate America. Led by Howard Schultz of Starbucks (SBUX, Fortune 500), more than 100 CEOs have signed a pledge to halt all political campaign contributions until lawmakers, as Schultz puts it, "stop the partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C."

Super PACs Changing 2012 Landscape

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 18, 2011
U.S. News and World Report
by Susan Milligan
Sen. John McCain worked tirelessly a decade ago to achieve a long-desired reform of campaign finance law, working with another Republican and two Democrats to win approval of one of the last, big bipartisan policy bills Congress has passed. Under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, no longer could corporate and labor special interests make massive, unlimited "soft money"...

The Conference Board Forms Committee on Corporate Political Spending

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 13, 2011
SocialFunds.com
by Robert Kropp
After collaborating last year with the Center for Political Accountability on a Handbook on Corporate Political Activity, the Board seeks to educate its member businesses on the issue in advance of the 2012 elections.

Super PACs new playground: 2012

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 10, 2011
Politico
by Kenneth P. Vogel
First came American Crossroads, Commonsense Ten and their ilk - so-called super PACs set up with unlimited cash that poured millions of dollars into ads benefiting multiple candidates and attacking their opponents. Now comes the next generation of this new breed of fundraising committees - super PACs created to boost individual presidential candidates, and to strip the bark off their rivals.

New Balance distances itself from donation to Romney supporting 'super PAC'

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 10, 2011
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
A Boston-based sneaker manufacturer under fire from gay rights activists is seeking to distance itself from a political donation by its chairman, who gave $500,000 to an independent group supporting Republican Mitt Romney for president. Jim Davis, chairman of New Balance, gave the money on June 15 to Restore Our Future, a "super PAC" focused on supporting the former Massachusetts governor's bid...

GOP Feels the Influence of Outside Money Groups

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 10, 2011
NPR
by Peter Overby
Even as Republicans have made their presence felt this summer in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail, some party leaders have begun to feel their own control of Republican activism slipping away.

Serving Shareholders and Democracy

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 9, 2011
New York Times
When the Supreme Court ruled that the government may not ban campaign spending by corporations in the landmark Citizens United decision last year, it argued that disclosure of contributions would protect American democracy from hidden corporate agendas. The court reasoned that "prompt disclosure of expenditures can provide shareholders and citizens with the information needed to hold corporations and elected officials...

Both sides dash for anonymous cash

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 9, 2011
Politico
by Kenneth P. Vogel
If anyone had doubts about the role that anonymous and untraceable money will play in the 2012 campaign ad wars, a flurry of recent reports and voluntary disclosures should put them to rest.

Corporate Political Donations: Ties that Bind

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 9, 2011
Corporate Board Member
by John R. Engen
By now, most corporate leaders are at least vaguely familiar with Target Corp.'s ill-fated dalliance in the arena of financing election campaigns. During the 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial race, the big Minneapolis-based retailer gave $150,000 to MN Forward, a pro-business fund-raising group that supported Republican candidate Tom Emmer.

SEC urged to make companies list political spending

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 5, 2011
Reuters
by Karey Wutkowski
(Reuters) - A group of securities law experts are pushing for federal regulations forcing companies to reveal how much they spend on political activities. The 10 professors have formally petitioned the Securities and Exchange Commission to quickly write rules requiring regular disclosures to shareholders.

Law Professors Ask SEC to Require Disclosure of Campaign Donations

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 5, 2011
Wall Street Journal
by Danny Yadron and Andrew Ackerman
A group of 10 corporate law professors asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to require corporations to disclose to shareholders most political spending. In a petition filed Thursday with the SEC, the professors asked the agency to establish rules to deal with new campaign finance laws that allow companies to donate to outside political groups directly from their...

Corporate Political Spending Will be a Major Issue in 2012

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 4, 2011
Sustainability Investment News
by Robert Kropp
SocialFunds.com -- The degree to which the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision of January 2010 has galvanized activist shareowners was made clear this past proxy season, when resolutions addressing political spending and disclosure were included on the ballots of 32 companies. Vote totals for eight of the resolutions exceeded 40%, and an additional 14 resolutions gained more...

Firm gives $1 million to pro-Romney group, then dissolves

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 4, 2011
MSNBC
by Michael Isikoff
A mystery company that pumped $1 million into a political committee backing Mitt Romney has been dissolved just months after it was formed, leaving few clues as to who was behind one of the biggest contributions yet of the 2012 presidential campaign.

$30 Million Pouring In to Influence Wisconsin Recall Elections

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 CDT

August 4, 2011
ABC News
by Shushannah Walshe
Months have passed since protests snared the Wisconsin state capital and a collective bargaining argument shut down the state government. But the anger has not died away, and legislators from both parties face recall elections. It may sound like a local Wisconsin issue, but both sides say this is a major bellwether for 2012, and a staggering amount of money -- about $30 million -- is being spent...

Wisconsin recall ad deluge may presage 2012 election

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 CDT

July 29, 2011
Reuters
by James B. Kelleher
(Reuters) - A deluge of political advertising in Wisconsin this summer to sway the largest wave of special state elections in U.S. history may be a harbinger of the partisan onslaught expected in the 2012 national elections.

Shareholders Press on CSR Risks

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 CDT

July 28, 2011
Directorship
by Steve Starbuck and Ann Brockett
As proxy season comes to a close, an analysis of shareholder proposals continues to indicate a growing belief on the part of institutional investors that a company's social and environmental policies correlate strongly with its risk management strategy-and ultimately its financial performance.

Shareholders Press on CSR Risks

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 CDT

New breed of 'super PACs,' other independent groups could define 2012 campaign

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 CDT

July 5, 2011
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
One commercial accuses the president of worsening the deficit and says, "It's time to take away Obama's blank check." Another attacks Republican tax and Medicare policies, saying, "We can't rebuild America if they tear down the middle class." So begins the shadow campaign of 2012, in which a new breed of "super PACs" and other independent groups are poised to spend more money than ever to sway...

U.S. Federal Election Commision Deadlocks on Greater '12 Donor Disclosure

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 CDT

June 16, 2011
Bloomberg
by Jonathan Salant
The U.S. Federal Election Commission failed to approve a proposal that could lead to greater disclosure of donors to independent groups poised to spend millions on attack ads in the 2012 presidential race. The FEC deadlocked today in Washington along party lines, as it did when it failed to move ahead with a similar proposal in January. Some campaign finance experts who are alarmed by the rise of...

California presses for disclosure of political donations

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 CDT

June 2, 2011
Financial Times
by Dan McCrum and Nicole Bullock
Bill Lockyer, the state treasurer for California, has asked the state's leading public pension funds, the two largest such asset managers in the US, to use their influence to press for full disclosure of political donations by US companies.

California pensions may target firms' political outlays

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 CDT

June 1, 2011
Reuters
by Jim Christie
(Reuters) - California's treasurer on Wednesday urged state pension funds to back shareholders pressing companies to disclose political spending, which many of his fellow Democrats expect to rise and be used against them in the 2012 election cycle.

Citizens United: The Shareholders Strike Back

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 CDT

June 1, 2011
Mother Jones
by Andy Kroll
The battle against the effects of the Supreme Court's game-changing Citizens United decision, the ruling that ripped down the wall between corporations and American elections, is gathering steam among an unlikely group: investors. With Congress unable to pass new legislation and the Obama administration so far unwilling to fix the dysfunctional Federal Election Commission, it's corporate shareholders...

Minnesota upholds disclosure law

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 CDT

May 23, 2011
Inside Investor Relations
by Brad Allen
Appeals court votes to keep law requiring disclosure of political contributions that was brought in following the Citizens United decision

Transparency vs. Free Speech

Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 CDT

May 22, 2011
National Journal
by Eliza Newlin Carney
It's become popular in certain circles to assail political transparency as a nefarious threat to free speech. Once a bipartisan touchstone, campaign finance disclosure rules are now the target of court challenges, lawmakers, and opinion leaders on the right. The Wall Street Journal has accused the White House of using disclosure to attack the First Amendment rights of its political...

Political groups, now free of limits, spending heavily in 2012

Sat, 21 May 2011 00:00:00 CDT

May 21, 2011
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
A contentious special election in Upstate New York has quickly become a test run of sorts for 2012 as outside political groups pump more than $2 million into an obscure three-way House contest. Republican and conservative groups, led by the Karl Rove-backed American Crossroads, have flooded the airwaves with ads attacking the Democratic and tea party candidates vying to replace former Republican...

Secret Donors Multiply in U.S. Election Spending

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 CDT

May 19, 2011
Washington Post
by John Crewdson, Alison Fitzgerald, Jonathan Salant and Charles Babcock
In the weeks before last November's election, television viewers in South Carolina were treated to an animated caricature of Representative John Spratt high- kicking in a chorus line with President Barack Obama and then- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "It's the worst economy in decades," the ad intoned, "and the folks in Washington are...

Obama mulls new way to measure political reach

Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 CDT

May 17 2011
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
WASHINGTON - Some of the nation's biggest government contractors do not disclose details of their political spending through trade associations and other third-party groups that are playing an increasingly important role in elections, a review of corporate disclosures shows.

News Corporation Will Disclose its Political Donations

Sat, 14 May 2011 00:00:00 CDT

May 14, 2011
New York Times
by Brian Stelter
Beginning this summer, the News Corporation, the media company controlled by Rupert Murdoch, will announce each year all the political contributions it has made.

Shareholder advocacy groups lift veil on political contributions

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 CDT

May 13, 2011
Star Tribune
by Susan Feyder
Spurred by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that opened corporate coffers to political candidates, shareholder advocacy groups are taking companies here and elsewhere to task for their political spending policies.

IRS Moves to Tax Gifts to Groups Active in Politics

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 CDT

May 12, 2011
New York Times
by Stephanie Strum
Big donors like David H. Koch and George Soros could owe taxes on their millions of dollars in contributions to nonprofit advocacy groups that are playing an increasing role in American politics. Invoking a provision that had rarely, if ever, been enforced, the Internal Revenue Service said it had sent letters to five donors, who were not identified, informing them that their contributions may...

Exclusive: New Dem money group to take on GOP

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 CDT

April 29, 2011
Politico
by Jeanne Cummings
Democrats with ties to the Obama White House on Friday are launching a two-pronged fundraising effort aimed at countering deep-pocketed GOP groups in 2012 - and adopting some of the same policies on unlimited, secret donations that President Barack Obama himself has long opposed, the organizers tell POLITICO.

Groups Form to Aid Democrats With Anonymous Money

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 CDT

April 29, 2011
New York Times
by Jim Rutenberg
MANCHESTER, N.H. - A group including former White House officials, union leaders and one of Hollywood's biggest producers have joined forces to start an outside effort to help President Obama and Congressional Democrats in 2012 by using the very sort of anonymous, unlimited donations from moneyed interests that the president has so deplored.

Adapting to campaign finace rulings, Democrats build big-spending network

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 CDT

April 12, 2011
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
The first sign that the ground had shifted in political fundraising came last year, when conservative groups quickly took advantage of new court rulings to dramatically outspend their liberal rivals. Now comes the next tremor, as Democratic activists finalize plans for an entirely new political infrastructure in 2012. A network of liberal groups formed in recent weeks is poised to spend $200...

Democrats following Republicans into field of undisclosed donors

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 CDT

April 7, 2011
Los Angeles Times
by Matea Gold and Tom Hamburger
Democrats putting together new independent political organizations for the 2012 campaign are embracing a model that will allow them to conceal their donors - the very tactic for which they criticized Republicans in 2010. Majority PAC, a new group aimed at electing Democrats to the Senate, and American Bridge 21st Century, which will serve as a research hub, are being...

Big money, union fight shape Wisconsin court race

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 CDT

April 4, 2011
Politico by Kenneth P. Vogel
A conservative judge's campaign for reelection to the Wisconsin Supreme Court has become the next front in a growing multistate Republican effort to limit the power of organized labor. The once-obscure judicial race, which will be decided in an election Tuesday, has taken on national implications, both because Gov. Scott Walker's signature legislation stripping public unions' bargaining powers could be...

Former Obama aides likely to start independent fundraising group

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 CDT

April 1, 2011
Los Angeles Times
by Matea Gold and Christi Parsons
As President Obama prepares to kick off his reelection campaign, two former key White House aides are likely to launch an independent political group in support of his bid, a direct response to the pent-up demand among Democrats for a vehicle to challenge the Republican network of well-funded allies.

Haley Barbour known for fundraising talent and tactics

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 CDT

March 24, 2011
Los Angeles Times
by Matea Gold
As he ponders a run for president, Haley Barbour would not seem a natural fit for the anti-establishment political mood now brewing: The governor of Mississippi is a longtime inside-the-Beltway operator who lobbied for the tobacco industry and other powerful interests.

When it Comes to Political Spending, Some Companies Tell All

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 CDT

March 23, 2011
National Public Radio
by Peter Overby
The percentage of undisclosed money in the political system went up during last year's midterm elections. That's because of a dramatic increase in advertising by anonymously funded freelance organizations such as the American Action Fund and Citizens for Strength and Security. Much of the money is thought to come from corporations. Now, proponents of transparency are winning disclosure...

How Companies Can Limit Political Spending Risks

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 CDT

March 14, 2011
Huffington Post
by Bruce F. Freed
With spending in the upcoming presidential election cycle expected to soar, how can companies take advantage of newfound freedom after the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision without being "Target-ed"?

Duking it out: The pitfalls of corporate political activity

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 CST

March 4, 2011
Fortune
by Eleanor Bloxham
As Duke Energy takes heat over private meetings it had with its regulator, corporate boards should expect tough questions from shareholders on political activities this proxy season.

Target Corp Revises Contribution Policy But Questions Continue After 2010

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 CST

February 24, 2011
BNA Money and Politics Report
by Kenneth P. Doyle
Target Corp., the national retailer that prompted headlines and a boycott effort last year when it contributed to a conservative campaign spending group, has quietly adopted a new policy calling for more careful review and transparency in decisions about its corporate political spending.

Investors Target Political Spending

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 CST

February 4, 2011
Inside Investor Relations
by Jeff Cossette
Doling out corporate cash to support political campaigns is not winning any votes with shareholders

Investors Target Political Spending

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 CST

February 4, 2011
Inside Investor Relations
by Jeff Cossette
Doling out corporate cash to support political campaigns is not winning any votes with shareholders

Mutual Funds Back Corporate Political Disclosure in 2010 Proxy Season

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 15, 2010
Washington, D.C. -- Continuing a strong trend, mainstream mutual funds registered this year the lowest resistance ever to corporate political disclosure resolutions, the Center for Political Accountability reported today.

Crossroads GPS prepares offensive

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 14, 2010
Politico
by Alex Isenstadt
Crossroads GPS-the conservative group that carpet-bombed Democrats with a wave of attack ads during the 2010 midterm election-is about to launch its first offensive of the 2012 election cycle.

Group Behind Election Ads Weigh in On Tax Deal

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 14, 2010
NPR
by Peter Overby
A new voice is weighing in on the congressional tax debate: Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, an outside group that spent millions to create a Republican majority in the House.

Business Leaders See Risks in Unchecked Political Spending

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 13, 2010
National Journal
by Eliza Newlin Carney
Reform advocates railing against undisclosed corporate campaign spending may have an unlikely new ally in the never-ending political money wars: Business leaders themselves.

A look back at 2010 spending

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 13, 2010
Politico
by Kenneth P. Vogel
The Service Employees International Union made a mistake in targeting Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) during her Democratic primary in September, but won't rule out backing 2012 primary challengers to White House-backed lawmakers, according to an official at the powerful union.

Anonymous donors $132 million on 2010 campaign ads

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 10, 2010
Wall Street Journal
NEW YORK - Independent groups that do not disclose the identity of their donors spent $132.5 million to influence elections nationwide this year, accounting for about a third of all spending by outside groups in the 2010 election cycle, a report released Friday found.

Angry member groups shun Chamber

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 7, 2010
Politico
by Jeanne Cummings
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is under fire from some local chambers over its hard-hitting $75 million ad campaign to elect a Republican House, with dozens of hometown groups distancing themselves from the effort and a handful even quitting the national group in protest.

Handbook Guides Corporations on Disclosure of Political Activity

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 7, 2010
Institutional Shareholder
by Robert Kropp
SocialFunds.com talks with Bruce Freed, President of the Center for Political Accountability and co-author of the Handbook on Corporate Political Activity, about efforts to increase corporate disclosure of payments to trade associations.

72 super PACs spent $83.7 million on election, financial disclosure reports say

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 3, 2010
Washington Post
by T.W. Farnam
The newly created independent political groups known as super PACs, which raised and spent millions of dollars on last month's elections, drew much of their funding from private-equity partners and others in the financial industry, according to new financial disclosure reports.

Shareholders Target Politics

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 2, 2010
Treasury and Risk
by Dave Lindorff
Retailer Target was once seen as a paragon of social responsibility. The company offers scholarships and steers 5% of profits to programs in the communities in which its stores are located. As recently as 2008, socially responsible investment firms hailed it as a model business. Then last summer, Target became a target-of a boycott by activists angry that the company contributed $150,000 to...

After Citizens United, Political and Legal Strategies Still Evolving

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 2, 2010
WNYC
by Anna Sale
It's been nearly a month since the midterm elections, but the impact of the Supreme Court's Citizens United campaign finance decision is still largely disputed. A bitterly divided court ruled in January that the government may not limit political spending by corporations in candidate elections. In the midterm elections that followed, corporate trade associations, unions and other outside groups spent...

Pair of conservative groups raised $70 million in midterm campaign

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST

December 2, 2010
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen and T.W. Farnam
A pair of conservative groups founded with the help of Republican political guru Karl Rove raised more than $70 million since their inception last spring, making them the undisputed leaders of an onslaught of outside spending on 2010 House and Senate races, according to new disclosures Thursday.

Effort for Liberal Balance to G.O.P. Gropus Begins

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CST

November 23, 2010
New York Times
by Michael Luo
In what may prove a significant development for the 2012 elections, David Brock, a prominent Democratic political operative, says he has amassed $4 million in pledges over the last few weeks and is moving quickly to hire a staff to set up what he hopes will become a permanent liberal counterweight over the airwaves to the Republican-leaning outside groups that spent so heavily on this year's...

Democrats strategists ready to take page from GOP playbook in 2012

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CST

November 20, 2010
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen and T.W. Farnam Major Democratic strategists, still reeling from a barrage of midterm spending by conservative groups, are planning a similarly well-funded campaign by liberal organizations aimed at reelecting President Obama in 2012.

Insurers Gave U.S. Chamber $86 Million Used to Oppose Obama's Health Care Law

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CST

November 17, 2010
Bloomberg
by Drew Armstrong
Health insurers last year gave the U.S. Chamber of Commerce $86.2 million that was used to oppose the health-care overhaul law, according to tax records and people familiar with the donation.

Settlement discloses $1.2 million in donations

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CST

November 17, 2010
Billings Gazette
by Mike Dennison
HELENA - A Montana group that financed three conservative ballot measures in 2006 has settled a long-running dispute with the state's chief campaign cop, agreeing to disclose the source of $1.2 million used to support the measures. Montanans in Action, based in Winifred, agreed last Friday to settle a lawsuit filed by Commissioner of Political Practices Dennis Unsworth, who said the...

Regulatory: Corporate Political Expenditures After Citizen's United

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CST

November 17, 2010
Inside Counsel
by William H. Minor
This month's elections featured an avalanche of independent spending designed to persuade voters to support or oppose particular candidates. Anyone who lives in a state with one or more competitive races on the 2010 ballot witnessed the overwhelming number of campaign advertisements. The Sunlight Foundation estimates that more than $450 million was spent on these independent activities...

White House open to Democratic outside groups in 2012

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CST

November 9, 2010
Politico
by Jeanne Cummings
The White House is bracing for an onslaught of $500 million or more in spending by outside Republican groups opposed to President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election, prompting Obama advisers to give the green light to big Democratic donors to set up similar outside groups to counter the GOP's effort.

On eve of election, companies want more political disclosure

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CDT

November 2, 2010
MarketWatch
by Ron Orol
On the cusp of one of the most expensive mid-term elections in history, company leaders are saying they want more disclosure in political spending. Specifically, two-thirds of 301 business leaders surveyed by pollster Zogby International - on behalf of the Committee for Economic Development - believe secret political spending poses a threat to companies.

Conservative Donor Groups Lay a Base for 2012 Elections

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CDT

November 1, 2010
New York Times
by Jim Rutenberg
WASHINGTON DC - The midterm election campaign will end Tuesday, but one of its most marked developments - the emergence of outside groups, often backed by anonymous donations, that can direct waves of advertising into political battles - is just getting started.

Groundbreaking Corporate Political Activity Handbook Sets Out Emerging Best Practices for Political Spending

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CDT

November 1, 2010
On the eve of the most expensive mid-term election in American history, The Conference Board today released a groundbreaking Handbook on Corporate Political Activity, co-authored by Center for Political Accountability president Bruce F. Freed and counsel Karl Sandstrom with Paul DeNicola, director of The Conference Board Governance Center.

CPA Finds Solid Business Leader Support for Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability in New Survey

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CDT

November 1, 2010
Washington, D.C. - U.S. business leaders overwhelmingly say they support disclosure and board oversight of corporate political spending, the Center for Political Accountability reported in highlighting a new survey commissioned by the Committee for Economic Development (CED).

WellPoint gave $1.4 million to elect Republicans

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 30, 2010
Indianapolis Star
by Maureen Groppe
WASHINGTON --Indianapolis-based WellPoint has given nearly $1.4 million in contributions to help put Republicans in governors' mansions and in other state offices around the country, according to campaign disclosure reports.

Southwest Ambulance keeps funding campaigns

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2010
Arizona Republic
by Beth Duckett
Southwest Ambulance continues to spend tens of thousands of dollars in support of local candidates in Tuesday's election. The donations were made in City Council races taking place in Scottsdale and Chandler, bringing Southwest's total independent expenditures in the two city elections to $224,000, the bulk of it going to support three Scottsdale candidates.

3M, Pentair take heat for political gifts

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 28, 2010
Star Tribune
by Jackie Crosby
Several socially responsible investment companies that already have taken Target and Best Buy to task for political donations to MN Forward, have now added 3M and Pentair to their lists.

Corporate campaign ads haven't followed Supreme Court's prediction

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 27, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by David G. Savage
The Supreme Court sent a wave of corporate and union money flooding into campaign ads this year, but it did so with the promise that the public would know - almost instantly - who was paying for them. "With the advent of the Internet, prompt disclosure of expenditures can provide shareholders and citizens with the information needed to hold corporations and elected officials...

'Independent' Groups Behind Ads Not So Independent

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 27, 2010
NPR
by Peter Overby and Andrea Searbrook
These are the final frantic days of the campaign season. From Missouri to Hawaii, New York to California, political groups are jamming in their last attacks. It's a banner year for attack ads - and the organizations making them - partly due to the sea of cash unleashed by a Supreme Court decision early this year.

What's legal? Ruling on corporate political spending in Montana leaves uncertainty

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 24, 2010
Associated Press
by John Gouras
HELENA - A judge's recent decision to toss Montana's century-old ban on corporate political spending has left observers and enforcers alike trying to figure out exactly what is now legal. Some experts feel Judge Jeffrey Sherlock's decision will have less impact than originally feared since there are already so many ways money comes into elections, including political action committees and...

Aiona violated campaign gift rules, Dems say

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 23, 2010
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
by Derrick DePledge
Hawaii Democrats filed a complaint yesterday with the state Campaign Spending Commission alleging that Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona's campaign for governor and the Republican Governors Association coordinated advertising on Aiona's behalf and violated state campaign contribution limits.

A Cautionary Tale of Corporate Political Spending Emerges in Minnesota

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 22, 2010
ABA Journal
by John Gibeaut
Long regarded as a leader in campaign finance reform, Minnesota until this year had some of the nation's toughest laws on political spending by corporations. With the federal government and many other states, Minnesota for decades tried to tame corporate political participation through various restrictions on expenditures.

Secret Spending Defines Midterm

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 22, 2010
National Journal
by Eliza Newlin Carney
By now, the two defining trends of this midterm are clear: Big money and unprecedented secrecy. It's a toxic combination, arguably tailor-made to usher in a new generation of scandals and fresh calls for reform.

Top Corporations Aid U.S. Chamber of Commerce Campaign

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 21, 2010
New York Times
by Eric Lipton, Mike McIntire, and Don Van Natta, Jr.
Prudential Financial sent in a $2 million donation last year as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce kicked off a national advertising campaign to weaken the historic rewrite of the nation's financial regulations. Dow Chemical delivered $1.7 million to the chamber last year as the group took a leading role in aggressively fighting proposed rules that would...

Judge Strikes Down Montana's Ban on Corporate Political Expenditures

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 18, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Jess Bravin
A state judge Monday struck down Montana's 98-year-old ban on corporate political expenditures, ruling that it conflicts with the U.S. Supreme Court's January decision voiding similar provisions of federal law.

National cash fuels campaigns in state

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 18, 2010
Star Tribune
by Kevin Diaz and Pat Doyle
WASHINGTON - National political groups are funneling millions of dollars into Minnesota's governor race as part of a massive infusion of cash generated by interest groups across the country.

'Nonpolitical' Groups Target Dems in Ad Blitz

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 14, 2010
National Public Radio
by Peter Overby and Andrea Seabrook
This election season, more money than ever is flowing from supposedly nonpolitical groups into TV ad campaigns. Most of the ads are negative, sponsored by ambiguously named organizations like "Americans for Job Security" and "The Commission on Hope Growth and Opportunity." Who are those groups?

Union disclosure unlike other groups'

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 8, 2010
Politico
by Ben Smith
Defenders of the outside Republican groups that don't disclose their donors -- the Chamber of Commerce and Crossroads GPS are the biggest this year -- have sometimes made the argument that Democrats have no right to gripe about this, because the unions that support them don't disclose their donors either either.

Money Talks Louder Than Ever in Midterms

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 7, 2010
New York Times
by Michael Luo
The dominant story line of this year's midterm elections is increasingly becoming the torrents of money, much of it anonymous, gushing into House and Senate races across the country.

Battle Escalates Over Undisclosed Campaign Cash

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 16, 2010
CQPolitics
by Steven T. Dennis
Democrats and Republicans ratcheted up their battle Wednesday over private nonprofit groups that are spending millions of dollars on advertisements in campaigns across the country, largely favoring the GOP, without disclosing their donors.

Secret donors fuel American Crossroads media buy

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 5, 2010
Politico
by Kenneth P. Vogel
A massive $4.2 million ad buy announced Tuesday by American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS erases any doubts that the groups, conceived by veteran GOP operatives Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, have the cash to be major players in next month's election.

Political spending does not always match CSR values

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CDT

October 1, 2010
Financial Times
by Sarah Murray
In January this year, a US Supreme Court ruling removed limits on corporate spending in political campaigns. The decision, which is expected to release into the election process a wave of corporate and special interest money, has revived questions about how companies claiming to espouse principles of corporate responsibility should behave when it comes to their lobbying and political activity.

Donor Names Remain Secret as Rules Shift

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 21, 2010
New York Times
by Michael Luo and Stephanie Strom
Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies would certainly seem to the casual observer to be a political organization: Karl Rove, a political adviser to President George W. Bush, helped raise money for it; the group is run

The New GOP Money Stampede

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 16, 2010
Time
by Michael Crowley
In recent days, Ohio voters have probably seen a TV spot ripping Democratic "stimulus and debt" policies, courtesy of a group calling itself Crossroads GPS. They may also have caught an ad by an outfit called the American Action Network praising Republican Congressmen Pat Tiberi and Dave Reichert for "standing up for fiscal responsibility." Meanwhile, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, a Democrat, is...

Oil companies split on bid to suspend global warming law

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 15, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Margot Roosevelt
Is Big Oil really backing Proposition 23? Maybe not. Among California's major oil refiners, Shell Oil opposes the November ballot initiative to suspend the state's global warming law. Chevron Corp. is officially neutral. ExxonMobil and BP have decided not to get involved. ConocoPhillips has yet to contribute.

Despite Supreme Court support, disclosure of funding for 'issue ads' has decreased

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 15, 2010
Washington Post
by T.W. Farnum
A Supreme Court decision this year dramatically altered the regulation of money in politics, and a recent vote by the Federal Election Commission could change one area of the law that the court left intact: rules governing disclosure of the sources of campaign money. A key provision of the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law curbed so-called issue ads, which avoid spending...

Fading Away: Increasing Number of Electioneering Groups Keeps Donors' Identies Secret

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 15, 2010
Public Citizen
by Taylor Lincoln and Craig Holmen
In his 2010 majority opinion in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Justice Anthony Kennedy justified lifting restrictions on corporate and union electioneering activities in part because of disclosure requirements in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA).

Groups' Spending for GOP on the Rise

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 14, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Brody Mullins
Conservative and business groups, fueled by newly legal large donations from corporations, are mounting an effort to elect Republican candidates that could rival political spending by labor unions and liberal organizations for the first time in years.

G.O.P. Allies Drive Ad Spending Disparity

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 13, 2010
New York Times
by Michael Luo
Outside groups supporting Republican candidates in House and Senate races across the country have been swamping their Democratic-leaning counterparts on television since early August as the midterm election season has begun heating up.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce launches ad attack on Boxer

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 9, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Tom Hamburger
Reporting from Washington - The nation's largest business organization launched a multimillion-dollar advertising attack in California on Wednesday night on U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, part of a nationwide effort targeting vulnerable Democrats.

Companies spend indirectly on politics

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September, 8, 2010
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
WASHINGTON '" Some of the nation's largest publicly traded companies said they will not channel corporate funds directly into political advertising that targets candidates, even though it is legal for them to do so.

Right pours cash into Senate races

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 8, 2010
Politico
by Manu Raju
Spending by conservative third-party organizations surged in August, as Republican-aligned groups plunged millions of dollars into key Senate races, potentially neutralizing the strong financial advantage Democrats have enjoyed this campaign season.

Judge tosses Wash. limit on late campaign spending

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 7, 2010
Seattle Post Intelligencer
by Curt Woodward
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- State officials are mulling their next steps after a federal judge overturned a state law limiting campaign contributions in the final weeks of ballot measure campaigns.

Bid to suspend CA globa-warming law gets $1 million from billionaire brothers' firm

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 4, 2010
LA Times<
by Margot Roosevelt
The fight over a November ballot initiative to suspend California's global warming law has escalated sharply with the Koch brothers, oil billionaires and "tea party" backers, making a million-dollar entry into the fray. The contribution to the campaign for Proposition 23 came Thursday from a subsidiary of Wichita, Kan.-based Koch Industries, the nation's second-largest private company...

Americans United for Life Targets Pro-Abortion Democrats in Three States

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 2, 2010
LifeNews
by Steven Ertelt
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Americans United for Life is targeting three pro-abortion Democrats in tight election contests with radio ads talking about abortion issues. The ads are also meant to be the first by the group following a Supreme Court decision striking down some of the McCain-Feingold advertising limits.

Texas: Bell Gets $2 Million in Lawsuit Against RGA

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CDT

September 1, 2010
CQPolitics
by Tricia Miller
Former Rep. Chris Bell (D) was awarded a $2 million settlement from the Republican Governors Association in the resolution of a campaign finance issue from the 2006 Texas gubernatorial race, the Houston Chronicle reported on Wednesday.

New Spending Rules Mean New Backlash

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT

August 30, 2010
National Journal by Eliza Newlin Carney
For American corporations testing their new freedom to spend money directly on campaigns, the backlash against donations by Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. sends a stark warning: Proceed at your own risk.

Big money taints judicial elections

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 29, 2010
Seattle Times
by Neil Peirce
It's tough to underestimate the peril to impartial American justice that's been highlighted in a new report on the big-time campaign money flowing into elections for justices on state Supreme Courts.

GOP bringing in the bucks for House midterms

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 26, 2010
Washington Post
by T.W. Farnum and Dan Eggen
This week, the top Republican in the House, Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio), pledged that the party would spend $50 million assisting House candidates in the midterm elections. The National Republican Congressional Committee has been outraising its Democratic counterpart for the past four months and raising far more than in the last election cycle. Last month, it brought in...

Citizens United Aftershocks

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 25, 2010
Washington Post
by Katrina vanden Heuvel
What are the consequences of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision allowing corporations "unlimited spending in pursuit of political ends"? The world of campaign finance is new, confusing -- and very alarming.

Political groups set up for ad blitz

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 24, 1010
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
WASHINGTON More than a dozen political groups have organized in recent weeks to spend large amounts of money on attack ads against House and Senate candidates as special interests on the left and right play a larger role in midterm races.

Secret money flows through election loophole

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 22
Detroit Free Press
by Jennifer Dixon and M.L. Elrick
Michigan's campaign finance laws are designed to let voters know whose money is trying to influence them. Yet it's virtually impossible to tell where more than $4 million -- nearly 40% -- of the money spent on TV ads during the gubernatorial primary races came from.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce amplifies political spending

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 22, 2010
Associated Press
by Jim Kuhnhehn
WASHINGTON - At times subtle, at times loud, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is spending record amounts on lobbying and in election battlegrounds, elbowing into the nation's politics in unprecedented ways for the business community.

Target feels backlash from shareholders

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 20, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Jennifer Martinez and Tom Hamburger
After weeks of public protest over its financial support of an organization that backed a GOP gubernatorial candidate opposed to gay rights, Target Corp. now faces a new form of pressure: demands from institutional shareholders that it revamp its donation process to avoid the chance of additional backfires.

Judge asked to overturn state law on disclosing corporate donations

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 20, 2010
Star Tribune
by Pat Doyle
In the wake of the uproar over Target's spending on politics, a federal judge was asked Friday by abortion opponents and other backers of GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer to block a state law that requires such disclosures by corporations.

Exercising new ability to spend on campaigns, Target finds itself a bulls-eye

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 19, 2010
Washington Post
by Jia Lynn Yang and Dan Eggen
When Target gave money in July to a pro-business group in Minnesota, the company thought it was helping its bottom line by backing candidates in its home state who support lower taxes. Instead, the retailer has found itself in a fight with liberal and gay rights groups that has escalated into calls for a nationwide boycott and protests at the company's headquarters and stores.

Ads Go After Ohio Democrats

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 19, 2010
CQPolitics
by John McArdle
A shadowy Republican-leaning 501(c)4 group that goes by the name of the Committee for Truth in Politics shelled out more than $320,000 this week for ads in the Cleveland market targeting Democrats in tough races and appears set to go after another Democrat in the Columbus market.

Karl Rove-Linked Conservative Group, American Crossroads, Adapts to New Campaign Finance Landscape

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 19, 2010
OpenSecretsBlog
by Michael Beckel
American Crossroads, which some have dubbed the '�shadow Republican National Committee,'� is at the vanguard of political entities that are taking advantage of the new campaign finance landscape in the wake of January's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling that lifted restrictions on corporate cash in political advertisements.

GOP outside cash worries Dems

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 19, 2010
Politico
by Kenneth P. Vogel
With less than three months until Election Day, Democrats are becoming increasingly concerned that the independent groups they are counting on for support won't have the money to counter what they fear will be an unprecedented advertising campaign waged by their Republican counterparts.

Voter (and Customer) Beware

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 19, 2010
New York Times
The Target Corporation has a well-earned reputation for hiring and advancing the rights of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. But a controversial political donation has stirred the nationwide wrath of gay and lesbian groups that previously had praised the retail chain. Target apologized after its $150,000 contribution to an organization supporting Tom Emmer, the aggressively antigay Republican...

News Corp. donates $1 million to GOP Governors

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 17, 2010
New York Times
by Brian Stelter
The News Corporation, controlled by Rupert Murdoch, contributed $1 million to the Republican Governors Association this summer, the Bloomberg news service reported this week.

Rulings Cover Political Donors in Veil of Secrecy

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 17, 2010
National Public Radio
by Peter Overby
In the first 17 days of August - not normally a time of major campaign activity - independent groups spent $2.4 million to promote or attack candidates in the midterm elections. The spenders included unions and well-established advocacy organizations.

Conservative group kicks off $4.1 million election ad campaign

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 16, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Michael A. Memoli and Tom Hamburger
The ads decrying Washington policies will run in markets including 24 competitive congressional races. The midterm election appears likely to be the most expensive on record.

Fox parent gives $1 million to RGA

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 16, 2010
Politico
by Ben Smith
News Corp., which owns Fox News and the New York Post, gave $1 million to Haley Barbour's Republican Governors Association this year, according to the RGA's most recent filing.

Target: No equality in donations

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 16, 2010
Politico
by Jeanne Cummings
Target Corp., for now, has rejected demand from the Human Rights Campaign that the retailer donate to pro-gay rights candidates in order to balance its contribution to a group backing Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, an ardent opponent of gay marriage.

The Real Lesson in Target's Campaign Cash Trouble

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 16, 2010
National Public Radio
by Peter Overby
During this election season, there's likely to be a lot more corporate cash in politics, following a Supreme Court ruling last winter that lifted restraints on companies and labor unions.

Court halts rule on political ads

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 13, 2010
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
by Jason Stein
Madison- Piling on to an agreement already reached in a federal lawsuit, a divided state Supreme Court put a freeze late Friday on a state rule regulating political ads and messages in the run-up to elections.

Donation Backlash still haunts Target

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 13, 2010
Minneapolis Star Tribune
by Jackie Crosby
The controversy surrounding Target Corp.'s $150,000 donation to an organization backing Republican Tom Emmer for governor continues to smolder, despite an apology last week from the CEO.

Target stores negotiate with gay/lesbian group over political spending

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 13, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Tom Hamburger and Jennifer Martinez
Last week, faced with waves of protests, retailer Target Corp. apologized for its $150,000 donation to an organization backing a Republican candidate with a long record of opposing gay rights.

Political ads, brought to you by Goldman Sachs?

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 12, 2010
Fortune
by Tory Newmyer
FORTUNE -- More than seven months after it was handed down, the Supreme Court's ruling that rolled back limits on corporate participation in elections remains mired in controversy.

Firms think twice about political ads

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 10, 2010
Politico
by Jeanne Cummings
As the Minnesota primary for governor draws to a close Tuesday, the controversy over corporate-backed political ads for Republican candidate Tom Emmer is far from over.

Google Urged to be more open about political spending

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 9, 2010
DailyTech
by Shane McGlaun
Google is the biggest search engine in the U.S. and one of the largest search engines in the world. The company has the most lucrative online advertising program around which fills its coffers with money and allows the company to take on projects which normally aren't part of its core search focus.

Target Discovers Downside to Political Contributions

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 7, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Brody Mullins and Ann Zimmerman
arget Corp. sought to take advantage of new campaign-finance rules, but ended up putting a bull's eye on its back. The Minneapolis retailer recently donated $150,000 to a political group, Minnesota Forward, that backs pro-business candidates in statewide races, including a candidate for governor who opposes same-sex marriage. On Friday, hundreds of gay-rights supporters...

Target could have avoided Emmer woe, experts say

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 6, 2010
Minneapolis Business Journal
by John Vomhof, Jr.
When Target Corp. became the first corporate supporter of MN Forward, the new business-focused political action committee, the retailer likely didn't think its $150,000 contribution would generate much attention.

Outside groups unleash late ads in Colorado's Senate race

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 6, 2010
Denver Post
by Michael Booth and Allison Sherry
A late round of Senate ads, one a harsh attack on Sen. Michael Bennet and the other a bold boost for Republican Jane Norton, will test the ability of wealthy outside groups to reach ballot procrastinators in Colorado.

Wall St. cuts political donations, shuns ad campaigns

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 6, 2010
The Economic Times
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: Major Wall Street firms have cut back sharply on political contributions for November's mid-term US elections and are pledging to avoid direct sponsorship of political advertising campaigns. Donations by leading Wall Street political action committees to candidates for the House of Representatives and Senate and to political parties are down as much as 40 per cent in this election cycle compared...

A guide to the 'shadow GOP': the groups that may define the 2010 and 2012 elections

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 5, 2010
Yahoo! News
by Holly Bailey
It's a nondescript office building just two blocks from the White House - but in politics, it's ground zero for what many are referring to as the "shadow GOP." On the 12th floor of this New York Avenue office complex, four separate conservative groups are collectively planning to spend at least $70 million to help Republicans win back control of Congress this November.

Corporate money helping legislative candidates too

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 5, 2010
Minnesota Public Radio
by Tim Pugmire
MN Forward, a new business-backed group that's using corporate donations to support political candidates, has announced its first list of favored state legislative candidates.

Target CEO apologizes to employees for MN Forward donation

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 5, 2010
Minneapolis Business Journal
Target Corp. CEO Gregg Steinhafel on Thursday apologized to the retailer's employees for a corporate political donation that had drawn criticism from both inside and outside the company. Read more: Target CEO apologizes to employees for MN Forward donation - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

Political ads off limites, Goldman promises

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 2, 2010
New York Times
by Javier C. Hernandez
Facing pressure from critics of Wall Street to limit its role in elections, Goldman Sachs has pledged not to spend any of its vast corporate reserves on political advertising.

Corporate Campaign spending picks up speed

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 2, 2010
LA Times
by Tom Hamburger
Reporting from Washington - Driven by increasing anger at Democratic policies and by recent Supreme Court decisions unshackling corporate contributions, business and conservative groups are preparing a flood of campaign money to try to wrest control of Congress from the Democrats.

Political opposites protest ad rules

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 1, 2010
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
by Jason Stein
Madison - An unlikely duo of a conservative group and a liberal organization together have brought a lawsuit to block a new state rule regulating political issue ads and messages that took effect Sunday.

Will Coal Bosses Band Together to Influence Elections

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
August 28, 2010
ABC News
by Hanna Seigel
Top officials at the country's major coal companies, including Massey Energy, owner of the West Virginia mine where 29 died earlier this year, apparently want to take advantage of looser campaign finance laws and use corporate money to defeat political candidates they believe to be "anti-coal."

New business plan: crushing Dems

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 28, 2010>br> Politico
by Jeanne Cummings and Chris Frates
Democrats may be going out of their way to say they aren't anti-business, but business is gearing up to demonstrate that it's anti-Democrats - at least when it comes to members of the party's liberal wing.

Coal execs hope to spend big to defeat Conway and Chandler

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 28, 2010
Lexington Herald-Leader
by John Cheves
Several major coal companies hope to use newly loosened campaign-finance laws to pool their money and defeat Democratic congressional candidates they consider "anti-coal," including U.S. Senate nominee Jack Conway and U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler in Kentucky.

After political gift, Target feels backlash

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 27, 2010
Star Tribune
by Jackie Crosby and Baird Helgesen
Target Corp. is discovering that a new era of political giving presents a double-edged sword. A January Supreme Court ruling allows companies to donate directly to campaigns. But the Minneapolis-based retailer has found out that plenty of customers and employees are ready to protest those choices.

Target Corp. defends Minnesota political donation

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 27, 2010
Associated Press
by Martiga Lohn
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Target Corp. on Tuesday defended the use of its new freedom to spend money on political campaigns as employees and gay organizations criticized a $150,000 donation that will help a Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate who opposes gay marriage.

10 states add campaign finance laws

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 25, 2010
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
WASHINGTON - Ten states have swiftly passed new laws requiring additional disclosure of political spending, following a Supreme Court ruling that lets corporations and unions pump unlimited amounts of money into certain campaign commercials.

Initiatives backed by corporate funds

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 24, 2010
TriCity Herald
by Michelle Dupler
OLYMPIA -- A Public Disclosure Commission report released Friday shows corporate, union and special interest group money has paid for the lion's share of efforts to get initiatives on the November general election ballot.

"Grassroots" Rove-linked group funded almost entirely by billionaires

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 23, 2010
Salon
by Justin Elliott
Virtually all of the $4.7 million raised by Karl Rove's new conservative outfit was contributed by just four billionaires, three of whom are based in Dallas, Texas, and two of whom made their fortune in the oil and gas industry.

15 year-old Alabama law on donations to judicial candidates never enforced

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 21, 2010
Birmingham News
by Mary Orndorff
A 15-year-old Alabama law that says judges should not hear cases in which one of the parties donated at least $2,000 to their campaigns has never been enforced, locked in a stalemate over whether it first needs to be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice for evidence that it would not disenfranchise minorities.

Corporate campaign cash: CU and raise you

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 21, 2010
Politics in Minnesota
by Charley Shaw
For the past six months there has been no shortage of speculation about the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's January ruling in the Citizens United case, but many observers failed to note one of the likeliest consequences of all: more lawsuits.

Rove-linked group uses secret donors to fund attacks

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 20, 2010
Politico
by Kenneth P. Vogel
A new political operation conceived by Republican operatives Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie formed a spinoff group last month that - thanks in part to its ability to promise donors anonymity - has brought in more money in its first month than the parent organization has raised since it started in March.

Show Him the Money

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CDT
July 7, 2010
Washington Monthly
by James Verini
Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has a well-developed talent for self-promotion. He makes a point of being the last person on any stage, and he leaves no detail to chance. The Chamber's event staff is famously fastidious: one of Donohue's parties involved corralling a Clydesdale horse into the Chamber's lobby. Such grandiosity is of a piece with how Donohue...

2010 Proxy Season Results: Record Support for Political Disclosure Sends 'Loud and Clear' Message to Companies

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CDT
June 29, 2010
Washington, DC -- Shareholders registered a record high level of support for corporate political disclosure and accountability this proxy season, the Center for Political Accountability announced.

CPA Unveils Database on Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CDT
June 24, 2010
Washington, DC -- The Center for Political Accountability has launched a new corporate political accountability and disclosure database to provide a valuable tool for the media, investors and the public and shed greater light on direct and indirect corporate political spending.

Corporate cash ready to flow into Minnesota elections

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CDT
June 17, 2010
Minneapolis Star Tribune
by Baird Helgeson and Pat Doyle
A new political organization, backed by two of the state's most powerful business interests and led by one of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's top deputies, could result in a powerful wave of corporate cash in this year's state elections.

Arizona Blocked from Subsidizing State Candidates Facing Privately-funded foes

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CDT
June 9, 2010
Washington Post
by Robert Barnes
The Supreme Court stepped into another campaign finance controversy on Tuesday when it blocked Arizona from distributing campaign subsidies to publicly funded candidates facing big-spending opponents.

Court Issues Injunction Against FEC in Speechnow case

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CDT
June 4, 2010
Blog of Legal Times
by Marcia Coyle
The federal district court in Washington yesterday issued an injunction barring the Federal Election Commission from enforcing contribution limits against SpeechNow.org and its donors.

Interest Groups Prepared to Spend Record Amounts in 2010 Elections

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CDT
June 3, 2010
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
Interest groups are gearing up to spend record amounts of money on this year's congressional and state elections, as liberals seek to shore up Democratic defenses and conservative and business groups plan a well-funded push on behalf of Republicans.

Consumer Report: Insurance Industry Spending Over $17 Million to Influence Outcome of June 8th Election

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CDT
June 2, 2010
PRNewswire-USNewswire
SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Insurers and the political action committees they fund have spent more than $17 million dollars on candidates and one ballot initiative to quietly influence the outcome of Tuesday's election, according to a new analysis released today by Campaign for Consumer Rights. The consumer group noted that voters are unlikely to know from the populist-sounding names...

Another Year, More Secret Spending

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CDT
June 1, 2010
National Journal
by Eliza Newlin Carney
Critics have found a lot to hate about the so-called Disclose Act, the new campaign finance bill that congressional Democrats are pushing to enact by July 4.

High Votes Show Strong Support for Political Disclosure

Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 CDT
May 20, 2010
Washington - The Center for Political Accountability applauds an exceptionally strong show of support for corporate political disclosure and accountability as Goldman Sachs shareholders voted on a resolution for the investment bank to report its trade association payments used for political purposes.

Norfolk Southern Investors Reject More Disclosure

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 CDT
May 15, 2010
Virginian Pilot
A majority of Norfolk Southern Corp. shareholders rejected a proposal Thursday that pushed for greater disclosure of company spending on political campaigns. At the railroad's annual meeting in Williamsburg, 67 percent of shareholder votes cast were against the proposal, brought by the New York City comptroller on behalf of several New York City pension funds. The 33 percent in favor of the measure was essentially the...

Funds Want More Disclosure of Railroad's Political Spending

Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 CDT
May 10, 2010
Virginia Pilot
by Robert McCabe
For the second year in a row, a group of New York City pension funds has asked shareholders of Norfolk Southern Corp. to push the railroad's board of directors to better disclose the company's spending on political activities.

WellCare's Investor Wants Disclosure

Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 CDT
May 7, 2010
Health News Florida
by Jim Saunders and Mike Wells
A New York-based investor is pushing to require WellCare Health Plans --- a major contributor to Florida politicians and parties --- to disclose more information about how it spends company money on political activities.

CPA Receives Ceres Award for Its Pioneering Achievements in Corporate Political Accountability

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 CDT
May 5, 2010
Washington -- The Center for Political Accountability received yesterday a prestigious award from Ceres and Trillium Asset Management for its pioneering work to establish corporate political disclosure and accountability.

GOP Governors Group Swings Into Action

Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 CDT
May 4, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Douglas A. Blackmon
EDGARTOWN, Mass.-A week ago, Massachusetts state treasurer Timothy Cahill, a conservative onetime Democrat now running for governor as an independent, thought he had just two serious opponents: Democratic incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick and the Republican nominee, former insurance company executive Charles Baker.

Money Talks Loudly in California Election

Sun, 02 May 2010 00:00:00 CDT
May 2, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Michael Hiltzik
Now that the "Money Talks" California election of 2010 is in full swing, it's timely to examine just how loudly the millions of dollars being spent by major corporations at the ballot box are speaking, and what they're saying.

Riding Herd on Company Management

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CDT
April 27, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Roger Ferguson
In his speech last Thursday at New York City's Cooper Union, just a few blocks from Wall Street, President Obama called for reforms to provide shareholders a stronger say in the governance of companies in which they invest.

Key Milestone Reached as Half of Trend Setting S&P 100 Adopt Political Disclosure

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CDT
April 22, 2010
Washington -- Two new companies have moved to adopt disclosure and oversight of their political spending with corporate dollars. Their action brings to 50, or half, the number of public companies in the trend-setting S&P 100 that have embraced the corporate governance standard. It also brings to 75 the corresponding number of public companies in the S&P 500 that have taken this step.

Party Allies Raising Millions

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CDT
April 17, 2010
National Journal
by Peter H. Stone
In the next month or so, the American Action Network, a self-styled "action tank," plans to launch a pricey political blitz with television and other ads in several states to boost the fortunes of Republican members who support center-right principles and are facing tough races this fall.

Complaints from Jerry Brown prompt California Chamber of Commerce to pull ad

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CDT
April 9, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Anthony York and Michael Rothfeld
The California Chamber of Commerce on Thursday said it would stop airing an ad attacking Jerry Brown amid objections from members of the organization, some of whom received calls from Brown and his wife demanding that the spot be removed.

Mining Interests are Heavily Invested on Capitol Hill

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CDT
April 9, 2010
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
The mining industry, which finds itself under renewed scrutiny this week after dozens of fatalities at a West Virginia coal mine, wields major political clout in Washington thanks to hefty campaign contributions to GOP lawmakers and expensive lobbying efforts aimed at blunting the impact of environment- and safety-related legislation.

Secert Funding of U.S. Chamber's Political Ads May be Outlawed

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CDT
April 7, 2010
Bloomberg
by Jonathan D. Salent and Mark Drajem
April 7 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. companies would lose their ability to secretly finance political advertising run by organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce under a bill being considered by Democratic lawmakers.

Big Money Flows to State Races

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CDT
April 5, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Brody Mullins
WASHINGTON-Labor unions, corporations and wealthy individuals are preparing to break spending records to influence the November elections. But more than in recent years, they will be focusing on races for governor and state legislatures.

Shareholder Groups Seek to Limit Corporate Contributions

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CDT
April 5, 2010
Christian Science Monitor by Margaret Price
Shareholder groups aim to keep a lid on companies' political spending in the wake of Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission, a case in which the Supreme Court eased restrictions on corporate campaign spending.

Business Bids to Shape Health Changes- Chamber of Commerce Plans Effort to Challenge New Regulations

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CDT
March 28, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Janet Adamy
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is planning a broad effort to blunt the health overhaul by trying to shape its regulatory language and spending heavily to unseat vulnerable Democrats who voted for it.

Pro-Business Lobbying Blitz Takes on Obama's Plan for Wall Street Overhaul

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CDT
March 28, 2010
New York Times
by Eric Lichtblau and Edward Wyatt
WASHINGTON - With the Obama administration looking to score another major legislative victory, an array of pro-business groups and fiscal conservatives are mounting a well-financed campaign to scale back or block altogether the Democrats' plan to overhaul regulation of the financial industry.

Rulings Split on Campaign Fundraising

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CDT
March 27, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by David G. Savage
A three-judge panel rejects a GOP challenge to limits on direct contributions to candidates or political parties. A D.C. appeals court rules that independent groups may spend as much as they wish.

Courts Ruling on Funding of Campaigns

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CDT
March 27, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Jess Bravin
Federal courts began reshaping campaign-finance law in light of a January Supreme Court decision lifting some political-spending limits. The rulings Friday set the stage for future court action that Republicans hope will free their party from restrictions on raising money.

After victory, conservatives mount new challenges to campaign finance limits

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CDT
March 26, 2010
Washington Post
by Tomoeh Murakami Tse
In a small office overlooking Indiana's Highway 40, James Bopp Jr. is preparing a nationwide assault on campaign finance regulations...

Political Non-Profits Ramp up Rhetoric

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CDT
March 25, 2010
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
WASHINGTON - A little-known group, the Committee for Truth in Politics, recently made a big splash: It spent $5 million on television ads denouncing Democratic efforts in Congress to impose new regulations on the financial industry.

States try to adapt to Supreme Court's campaign finance ruling

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CDT
March 25, 2010
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
Many states are scrambling to react to the Supreme Court's landmark ruling this year that loosened restrictions on corporate and union spending in elections.

The First Corporate Ad

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CDT
March 24, 2010
The Texas Tribune
by Ross Ramsey
The first political ads bought by a corporation in Texas appeared in East Texas newspapers just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively ended the state's ban on that kind of spending.

Testimony of Professor John C. Coffee, Jr.

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST
March 11, 2010
Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Entities of the House Financial Services Committee
by John C. Coffee, Jr.
I am pleased and honored to be invited to testify here today. My message is simple: Congress cannot successfully fight the Supreme Court over the scope of the First Amendment, but it can and should increase the transparency and accountability surrounding corporate involvement in the...

U.S. Chamber Grows into Major Poltiical Force

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST
March 8, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Tom Hamburger
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is building a large-scale grass-roots political operation that has begun to rival those of the major political parties, funded by record-setting amounts of money raised from corporations and wealthy individuals.

Decision Could Allow Anonymous Political Contributions by Businesses

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 27, 2010
New York Times
by Griff Palmer
The Supreme Court decision last month allowing corporations to spend unlimited money on behalf of political candidates left a loophole that campaign finance lawyers say could allow companies to pay for extensive political advertising while avoiding the disclosure requirements the court appeared to leave intact.

CPA-CII Write to 427 Top Companies, Urge Adoption of Political Disclosure and Accountability in Response to Citizens United

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 24, 2010
Washington, D.C., Feb. 24, 2010 -- The Center for Political Accountability and the Council of Institutional Investors, joined by nearly 50 institutional investors and shareholder advocate groups, today launched a letter campaign to persuade companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index to disclose all political contributions they make with corporate funds. The letter also calls on corporate boards to approve and review all company political donations.

CPA Demands Political Donations Disclosure

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 23, 2010
Corporate Secretary
Last week the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) sent 430 letters to members of the S&P 500 who do not yet disclose their political spending. The letter, whose numerous signatories include the Council of Institutional Investors, warns companies of the new risks posed by the US Supreme Court's recent decision in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: '�It is likely to put companies under...

Valuing Corporate Politics

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 22, 2010
Pensions and Investments
by Roger Schillerstrom
The U.S. Supreme Court decision Jan. 21 relaxing legal constraints on corporate political advocacy spending makes disclosure of such spending more important than ever.

Lobby Firm Tells Clients How to Sway Elections While Avoiding 'Public Scrutiny'

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 17, 2010
Talking Points Memo
by Zachary Roth
Last Month's Citizens U In the wake of last month's Citizens United ruling, a powerhouse Washington lobbying firm is informing its corporate clients on how they can use middlemen like the Chamber of Commerce to pour unlimited amounts of money into political campaigns, while maintaining "sufficient cover" to avoid "public scrutiny" and negative media coverage.

PG&E Amps up Bid for Power

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 10, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by Michael Hiltzik
The utility's initiative has become Proposition 16, which is written broadly to apply to all public power systems. By undermining all competition from public power agencies, it will benefit no one except...

Investors Seek More Disclosure on Political Spending

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 9, 2010
Wall Street Journal
by Scott Thurm
An effort by activist shareholders to prod companies to disclose political contributions is taking on new urgency following last month's Supreme Court decision loosening restrictions on corporate political spending.

Global Proxy Watch Newsletter

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 5, 2010
Global Proxy Watch
US shareowner activists have been galvanized into collective action by Citizens United, the surprise US Supreme Court decision lifting most restrictions on corporate political spending...

In the Wake of Controversial Supreme Court Spending Decision, Shareowner Activists Develop Plan for Corporate Disclosure of Political Spending

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 5, 2010
by Robert Kropp
Social Investment Forum
Asserting that excessive corporate political spending reduces shareowner value and weakens corporate governance, shareowner advocates call on corporations to adopt a framework for disclosure developed by the Center for Political Accountability.

The Corporations Already Outspend the Parties

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST
February 1, 2010
The Atlantic
by Marc Ambinder
For the first time in recent history, the lobbying, grassroots and advertising budget of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has surpassed the spending of the national committees of BOTH the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee.

Corporate Campaign Spending: The Buck Stops Where?

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 29, 2010
AARP Bulletin Today
by Bill Hogan
In a game-changing decision handed down on Jan. 22, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for corporations big and small to pump as much money as they want into election advertising that explicitly promotes or attacks individual political candidates and issues.

Good Governance is Key to Policing Corporate Political Activities

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 21, 2010
The Council of Institutional Investors: The Voice of Corporate Governance
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled today that the government may not bar companies, labor unions and other organizations from using their general treasuries to fund advertisements that support or oppose political candidates.

Campaign Finance ruling leaves Democrats with few options

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 23, 2010
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen and Ben Pershing
Frustrated Democrats began laying plans Friday to chip away at a landmark Supreme Court decision unleashing corporate expenditures in political campaigns, but the ruling's broad sweep will make it difficult to stem a tidal wave of new spending in this year's pivotal midterm elections.

High Court Decision May Bring 'Cascade' of Election Spending

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 22, 2010
Bloomberg
by Jonathan D. Salant and Lorraine Woellert
Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) -- A U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down federal restrictions on corporate political spending may pump millions of dollars into the 2010 campaign from companies with stakes in congressional action.

Day After: SCOTUS Ruling Not So Bad

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 22, 2010
Politico
by Jeanne Cummings
New money will flow into campaigns this year as a result of Thursday's Supreme Court decision, but will the impact be as dramatic as all the hyperventilating in Washington suggests?

Citizens United decision makes company political disclosure, corporate governance changes even more critical

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 21, 2010
Washington DC - "Company disclosure and board oversight of political spending becomes more critical because of the Supreme Court's sweeping decision allowing unlimited corporate political spending," the Center for Political Accountability said in a statement.

'Free at Last,' Business Says as Court Opens Campaign Spending

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 21, 2010
Bloomberg
by Lorraine Wollert and Jonathan Salant
Jan. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Business groups celebrated the potential for greater political influence as labor unions and shareholder activists began looking for ways to counter a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows unlimited corporate campaign spending.

Chamber of Commerce Warns Lawmakers it Will Play Election Hardball

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 12, 2010
CQ Today
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Tuesday that it will try to stop several bills that it views as trouble for the economy, and the group warned lawmakers that it will involve itself in House and Senate races this year. Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive of the Chamber, promised the '�largest, most aggressive voter education and issue advocacy effort in our nearly hundred-year history.'�

Health Insurers Funded Chamber Attack Ads

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 12, 2010
National Journal - Under the Influence
by Peter H. Stone
Just as dealings with the Obama administration and congressional Democrats soured last summer, six of the nation's biggest health insurers began quietly pumping big money into third-party television ads aimed at killing or significantly modifying the major health reform bills moving through Congress.

Courts Roll Back Election Spending Limits

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 9, 2010
New York Times
by David D. Kirkpatrick
WASHINGTON- Even before a landmark Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance law expected within days, a series of other court decisions is reshaping the political battlefield by freeing corporations, unions and other interest groups from many of the restrictions on their advertising about issues and candidates.

How Interest Groups Behind Health Care Legislation are Financed is Often Unclear

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST
January 7, 2010
Washington Post
by Dan Eggen
Many of the Washington interest groups that are seeking to shape final health-care legislation in the coming weeks operate with opaque financing, often receiving hidden support from insurers, drugmakers or unions.

New companies bring political disclosure to nearly half of trend-setting S&P 100

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 CST
December 14, 2009 Washington DC - Four new companies have agreed to adopt disclosure and board oversight of political spending with corporate funds, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) and Newground Social Investment announced today.

More Companies are Disclosing Their Political Activity

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 CST
December 14, 2009
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
WASHINGTON- Drugmaker Merck's political action committee donated more than $572,000 to federal candidates in the 2008 election and racked up $4.6 million in expenses to lobby Congress and the executive branch last year, federal records show.

Tiny Group of Deep-Pocketed Contributors Fueling U.S. Chamber's Advocacy

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST
November 24, 2009
New York Times-Greenwire
by Anne C. Mulkern
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce often says it speaks for 3 million members, businesses both large and small. What it doesn't promote as readily is that 19 supporters last year provided a third of the trade group's total revenue.

Storm Over the Chamber

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST
November 19, 2009
New York Times
by John Broder
BACK in the 1990s when Thomas J. Donohue was president of the American Trucking Associations, a subordinate raised a question at a staff meeting. Some of the association's members, the aide said, wondered whether it was really necessary for the group's president to fly on a private jet.

Chamber spent $1.6 million in last week

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST
November 18, 2009
Politico
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent at least $1.6 million in the last ten days targeting nine House battleground Democrats who voted for the passage of the health reform package, according to a list of ad buys obtained by POLITICO.

Supreme Court Ruling Could Play Role in 2010 Governor's Races

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST
Supreme Court Ruling Could Play Role in 2010 Governor's Races

Supreme Court Ruling Could Play Role in 2010 Governor's Races

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST
November 17, 2009
USA Today
by Fredreka Schouten
If the Supreme Court opens the door to more corporate money in political campaigns, it could affect laws in nearly two dozen states and a host of governor's races next year, including high-profile contests in Texas and Connecticut, experts say.

Chamber's Donohue Keeps Cash Coming After PG&E, Apple Defect

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST
November 12, 2009
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem and Daniel Whitten
Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. and three other members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce quit over its opposition to climate-change legislation. President Barack Obama denounced the group for "spending millions" to kill a planned consumer financial-protection agency.

Electon Spending: Reformers on Flood Watch

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST
November 7, 2009
National Journal
by Sara Jerome
Doomsday scenarios from campaign finance reform advocates are enough to make you grab hip waders. A pending Supreme Court decision, advocates say, could "open the floodgates to unlimited corporate and union spending during elections and undermine election laws across the country," as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., recently phrased it on the Senate floor.

Corporate America's Enlightened Disclosure

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 24, 2009
National Journal
by Julie Kosterlitz
Six years ago, Bruce Freed embarked on a seemingly quixotic quest. The former Senate investigator and newspaper columnist set out to get corporate America to reveal and rethink the cash that it lavishes on the nation's political system.

Drug Makers are Advocacy Group's Biggest Donors

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 22, 2009
New York Times
by Gardiner Harris
WASHINGTON A majority of the donations made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one of the nation's most influential disease advocacy groups, have come from drug makers in recent years, according to Congressional investigators.

Shareholders Should Hear About Political Spending

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 22, 2009
Business Week
by Ciara Torres-Spellescy
On Sept. 9, about a month before the U.S. Supreme Court officially kicked off its 2009- 2010 term, the justices assembled to rehear a closely watched case about corporate campaign spending. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission involves a nonprofit group that wanted to use corporate funding to distribute a film harshly critical of Hillary Clinton shortly before the 2008...

Exit Through Lobby

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 19, 2009
The New Yorker
by James Surowiecki
Resigning in protest is not in the American grain. Robert McNamara stuck around as Secretary of Defense even after he decided that the Vietnam War was a disaster; Colin Powell did the same during the Bush Administration's push for war with Iraq; and in the lead-up to the financial crisis, few high-profile executives stepped down over disagreements in philosophy or tactics...

Chamber Divided on Climate Change

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 18, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
by Len Boselovic
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has lost a handful of influential members over its opposition to climate change legislation being considered by Congress.

Chamber Defections Cast Shadow Over Latest Effort

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 15. 2009
Roll Call
by Anna Palmer
As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce rolled out its multimillion-dollar Campaign for Free Enterprise on Wednesday with all the pomp and circumstance of a political campaign rally, the business group was still dogged by questions surrounding its position on climate change legislation...

Some companies cool to chambers' stance on climate change

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 15, 2009
Finance and Commerce
by Bob Geiger
Minnesota businesses increasingly are saying that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which opposes a U.S. Senate energy bill that could cap greenhouse gas emissions, does not speak for them.

Some companies cool to chambers' stance on climate change legislation

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 15, 2009
Finance and Commerce
by Bob Geiger
Minnesota businesses increasingly are saying that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which opposes a U.S. Senate energy bill that could cap greenhouse gas emissions, does not speak for them.

Businesses Clash with U.S. Chamber over Climate Change

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 14, 2009
Minnesota Public Radio
by Stephanie Hemphill
Businesses clash with U.S. chamber over climate change legislation by Stephanie Hemphill, Minnesota Public Radio October 14, 2009 St. Paul, Minn. - Some Minnesota businesses are opposing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce position on climate change legislation. Four Minnesota companies say they're working with local chambers to encourage support for federal legislation. Tom...

Shareholders Urge Companies to Challenge U.S. Chamber, NAM Over Climate Change Position

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 14, 2009
North American Windpower
by NAW Staff
In letters to 14 top companies, 43 investors and investment-focused organizations encouraged the companies to end the contradiction between their own policies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's and National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) positions on pending climate legislation. Each of the companies has publicly stated that it supports action on climate change, which the...

Coalition Calls on 14 CEOs to Drop Chamber Memberships

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 14,
Pension & Investments
The CEOs of Air Products & Chemicals, Alcoa, American Electric Power and 11 other companies were urged to withdraw their memberships from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Associations of Manufacturers over disagreements on climate change, according to a statement from a group of 43 institutional investors and related organizations.

Campaign Finance Laws Face a Reset

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 13, 2009
Politico
by Jeanne Cummings
A series of court decisions expected this fall could put the nation on track to return to turn-of-the-century campaign finance laws.

Does the U.S. Chamber Speak for Big Business?

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 7, 2009
Business Week
by Jane Sasseen
There aren't many who would willingly take on Apple (AAPL) icon Steve Jobs-and lecture him on technology. But Thomas J. Donohue, the combative head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, isn't one to step away from a fight.

'Hot Button' Climate Issue Spotlights How U.S. Chamber Sets Policy

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 6, 2009
Greenwire
by Anne C. Mulkern
U.S. Chamber of Commerce staff decides the trade group's climate and energy policy positions without approval from the board of directors, Nike Inc. charged as it formulated a plan to call for greater chamber openness.

Chamber of Overstated Horrors

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 3, 2009
Boston Globe
Globe Editorial
IT IS refreshing to see three energy companies - the nuclear power operator Exelon; Pacific Gas and Electric; and New Mexico's largest electricity provider, PNM - quitting the US Chamber of Commerce over that organization's increasingly shrill, doom-saying opposition to climate change legislation in Washington. The chamber claims that limits on greenhouse gas emissions by Congress or the...

Investors Urge Chamber Defections

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT
October 1, 2009
Roll Call
By Anna Palmer
Activist shareholders are pressuring companies such as Nike to pull out of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, arguing that the trade group's stance against climate change legislation is incompatible with the companies' own positions.

Exelon Quits U.S. Chamber Over Rift on Climate Bill

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CDT
September 29
Wall Street Journal
By Cassandra Sweet
Exelon Corp. on Monday became the third big utility in the past week to quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over the influential business group's stance against federal climate-change legislation.

P&E, Duke Energy Walkout Show U.S. Splits on Climate

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CDT
September 29, 2009
Bloomberg News
By Daniel Whitten
Sept. 29 (Bloomberg) -- PG&E Corp. quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Nike Inc. and Johnson & Johnson criticized the group for its stance. Duke Energy Corp. resigned from the National Association of Manufacturers.

Armey's Army Marches against Obama

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CDT
September 27, 2009
Washington Post
By Ben Pershing
Richard K. Armey has been an economics professor, House leader, corporate lobbyist and a blunt-talking critic of his fellow Republicans. Now, at the vanguard of a looselyknit band of opponents of President Obama's agenda, Armey has morphed into a role Obama himself held years ago: a grass-roots organizer.

Utility Quits Alliance Over Climate Change

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CDT
September 23, 2009
New York Times
By Kate Galbraith
Amid a growing split in the business community over climate policy, Pacific Gas and Electric, a major California utility, is withdrawing from the United States Chamber of Commerce, citing "fundamental differences" with the chamber's approach to global warming.

Court Backs Outside Groups Political Spending

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CDT
September 19, 2009
New York Times
by David D. Kirkpatrick
WASHINGTON - The federal appeals court for the District of Columbia ruled Friday that the government cannot restrict independent political spending by nonprofit groups or political committees, accelerating the judicial rollback of regulations aimed at curtailing the power of money in politics.

Supreme Court hears arguments for corporate funding of candidates

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CDT
September 10, 2009
Los Angeles Times
By David G. Savage
The Supreme Court's conservative bloc sounded poised Wednesday to strike down on free-speech grounds a 102-year-old ban against corporations spending large amounts of money to elect or defeat congressional and presidential candidates.

A Century-Old Principle-Keep Corporate Money Out of Politics

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CDT
August 11, 2009
New York Times
By Adam Cohen
The founders were wary of corporate influence on politics - and their rhetoric sometimes got pretty heated. In an 1816 letter, Thomas Jefferson declared his hope to "crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country."

CPA-Zicklin Center File Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Protect Competition in the Political and Economic Marketplace

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CDT
July 30, 2009
Washington, DC - The Center for Political Accountability and the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School warned that lifting long-standing limits on corporate political activity and more recent requirements for corporate and trade association political disclosure would "have severe consequences on the openness, dynamism and operation of markets" and corporate governance.

Political disclosure gains new support among S&P100 companies as 2009 proxy season closes

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CDT
July 21, 2009
Washington DC - Four new companies have agreed to adopt disclosure and board oversight of political spending with corporate funds, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) and Green Century Capital Management, Inc. announced today.

Exclusive: Conservative group offers to sell endorsement for $2M

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CDT
July 17, 2009
Politico
By Mike Allen
The American Conservative Union asked FedEx for a check for $2 million to $3 million in return for the group's endorsement in a bitter legislative dispute, then flipped and sided with UPS after FedEx refused to pay.

Politico pulls back curtain on the secret funding of 501(c)(4) organizations

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CDT
July 17, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- An article in today's Politico exposed an effort by the American Conservative Union, a leading 501(c)(4) organization, to raise $2 million from private mail carrier FedEx. The group said it would support the company on a controversial piece of legislation in return for the contribution.

Justices may end campaign finance ban on corporations

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CDT
June 30, 2009
Los Angeles Times
By David G. Savage
The high court delays a decision until next term on whether a documentary critical of Hillary Clinton can be regulated as a type of campaign ad.

CPA warns that Supreme Court action threatens corporate political accountability, poses serious risk to shareholders

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CDT
June 30, 2009
Washington, DC - The Center for Political Accountability warned today that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on June 29, 2009 ordering a new hearing of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission threatened a tidal wave of undisclosed, unaccounted for money in federal and state elections. The CPA is leading a nationwide effort to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political spending.

Cash-for-clunkers deal moves ahead

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CDT
June 10, 2009
Politico
By Lisa Lerer
A controversial auto bill that would reward consumers with tax credits for trading in their old cars and buying more-fuel-efficient ones passed the House on Tuesday, inching closer to becoming law.

Campaign Finance Rules May Take A Beating

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 CDT
May 18, 2009
National Journal
By Eliza Newlin Carnery
Even as Congress and the Obama administration mull a new round of campaign finance regulations, a series of legal challenges threatens to dismantle the existing rules, election law experts warn.

Duke Energy ditches manufacturing group

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 CDT
May 8, 2009
Politico
By Lisa Lerer
Duke Energy won't renew its membership in the National Association of Manufacturers, in part because of disagreements with the lobbying group's stance on climate change policy.

Chamber under fire on warming

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 CDT
May 5, 2009
Politico
By Lisa Lerer
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is taking head from Johnson & Johnson, Nike and other corporate members over its opposition to global warming legislation pending in the House.

40 Percent Vote at Citi Demonstrates Strong Shareholder Support for Political Disclosure

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CDT
April 23, 2009
Washington DC - The Center for Political Accountability hailed the 40 percent vote for a political disclosure resolution at Citigroup Inc.'s annual meeting this past Tuesday as demonstrating surging support for full reporting of the company's political spending.

Lobbying Groups Ramp Up Spending on Issue Ads

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CDT
April 20, 2009
The Wall Street Journal
By Christopher Conkey and Brody Mullins
Washington - A pilots group on Monday launched an advertising campaign designed to shoot down an Obama administration proposal to levy new user fees on planes, part of a surge in spending on issue ads by lobbying organizations.

El Paso advocates disclosure standards

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CDT
April 17, 2009
Houston Business Journal
By Greg Barr
Bruce Freed has been prodding publicly traded companies for five years to provide details of political expenditures using corporate funds. His Washington, D.C., advocacy group, the Center for Political Accountability, sent a letter last July to more than 60 major corporations on the Standard & Poor's S&P 100 index that had not yet adopted the center's political

He Doesn't Let Money Managers Off the Hook

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CDT
April 12, 2009
The New York Times
Gretchen Morgenson
Every once in a while, if only for sanity's sake, it is wise to leave our bankrupt era behind and seek out a bit of wisdom from a moral authority.

Not Quite a Confession, But a Good Start

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CDT
April 8, 2009
The Washington Post
Steven Pearlstein
For the past year, as the nation has engaged in a heated debate about how we got into the current financial mess and how we're going to get out of it, there's been one group noticeably missing from the conversation: leaders of the big Wall Street firms.

Political disclosure hits 60 companies, including 40 in the trend-setting S&P 100

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 CDT
March 24, 2009
Washington DC - As the 2009 proxy season formally opens, the pace of political disclosure is accelerating as seven new companies from a cross-section of American business have agreed to adopt or expand their disclosure of political spending with corporate funds. This brings to 60 the number of companies embracing what is becoming a corporate governance standard. The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) and several of its shareholder advocate...

Political disclosure hits 60 companies, including 40 in the trend-setting S&P 100

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 CDT
March 24, 2009
Washington DC - As the 2009 proxy season formally opens, the pace of political disclosure is accelerating as seven new companies from a cross-section of American business have agreed to adopt or expand their disclosure of political spending with corporate funds. This brings to 60 the number of companies embracing what is becoming a corporate governance standard. The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) and several of its shareholder advocate partners announced...

Companies try to clean up their act

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 CDT
March 24, 2009
Politico
By Jeanne Cummings
Having the wrong political benefactor can be as toxic an asset as a bundled bunch of subprime loans. Just ask the PMA Group, Kuchera Defense Systems and Kuchera Industries, all companies caught up in a federal investigation surrounding Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA.).

Empty Disclosure

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 CDT
March 19, 2009
Center for Responsive Politics
By Lindsay Renick Mayer
Some lobbyists appear to collect money for nothing--more than half a billion dollars from clients over the last decade, Center finds.

CPA, Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research urge Supreme Court to uphold political disclosure

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 CST
February 26, 2009
Washington DC - The Center for Political Accountability and the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School called on the U.S. Supreme Court to leave in place long-standing limits on corporate political activity and more recent requirements that companies and trade associations disclose their spending on electioneering communications.

19 Leading Financial Institutions Receiving TARP Funds Urged to Adopt Political Disclosure

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 CST
February 23, 2009
Washington, D.C. - Warning that "gaps in transparency and accountability" contributed to the current economic crisis, shareholder advocates called on 19 financial companies that received more than $1 billion under the U.S. Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program to disclose and require board oversight of their political spending with corporate funds, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) announced today.

Shareholder Advocates Want Political Disclosure

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 CST
February 23, 2009
National Journal
By Robert Gettlin
The Center for Political Accountability, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for transparency and accountability in corporate political spending, has sent a letter to 19 financial companies that received more than $1 billion under the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program urging that they adopt political disclosure measures.

Exclusive: Bailout recipients keep donating

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 CST
February 19, 2009
The Washington Times
By Jennifer Haberkorn
Wall Street executives have pleaded economic ruin, secured hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer assistance and been pilloried for their business excesses. But none of that has curbed their appetite for doling out political donations - or the willingness of politicians to accept the largesse.

Sacramento Bee article highlights ballot measure spending abuses examined in CPA report

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 CST
January 16, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- An article in the Sacramento Bee yesterday highlighted the abuses of candidate-controlled ballot measure committees that were the focus of the Center for Political Accountability's recent Taking Initiative report.

CPA, Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research call mandatory judicial recusal essential to avoid conflicts of interest

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 CST
January 8, 2009
Washington, DC -- To "enable companies to act ethically without sacrificing their right to speak on important public issues," the Center for Political Accountability and the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School called on the U.S. Supreme Court to require mandatory recusal by judges in cases where one of the parties has financially supported the election of the judge.

Wall Street: It's payback time

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 CST
January 6, 2009
Fortune Magazine
By Roger Parloff
In today's dire financial climate, what exactly should a CEO say when it's time to hold that quarterly earnings call with analysts and the media? On the one hand, he could try refreshing candor and say, "Look, let's be honest. This sucker could go down." The problem with this approach is that it tends to ensure that the company will indeed go down - that afternoon. The stock price will...

CPA Report Shows How Corporate Bankrolling of Ballot Measures Distorts Democratic Process and Puts Companies and Their Shareholders at Risk

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 CST
December 18, 2008
Washington, D.C. -- In the wake of one of the most divisive ballot easure battles in American history, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) has completed a comprehensive study of how corporate bankrolling of initiatives can distort the democratic process and expose companies and their shareholders to significant risk. It calls for meaningful, knowledgeable oversight of political spending by company directors. The CPA is leading a nationwide shareholder...

Measuring Corporate Accountability

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 CST
December 17, 2008
National Journal
By Bara Vaida
Companies over the years have gotten caught up in controversy by providing monetary support for hot-button state ballot measures. The most recent companies to get embroiled in such measures are Bolthouse Farms, Pacific Gas & Electric, and the Manchester Grand Hyatt and Grand Del Mar hotels based in San Diego, which supported Proposition 8, the 2008 California ballot initiative to ban gay...

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Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 CST
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In About Face, Top Mutual Funds Support Political Disclosure Resolutions in 2008 Proxy Season

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 CST
December 11, 2008
Washington, D.C. -- In a sign of accelerating support from the institutional investor community, at least 13 mutual fund families switched their votes in 2008 to support shareholder resolutions calling on companies to disclose and require board oversight of their political spending with corporate funds, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) announced today.

The Crisis Last Time

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 CST
November 7, 2008
The New York Times Book Review
By Richard Parker
For writers who seek to influence public affairs, timing plays a paramount role. And few writers have had better timing than Adolf Augustus Berle.

Independent groups up spending

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CDT
Independent groups up spending

Independent groups up spending

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CDT
October 10, 2008
USA TODAY
By Fredreka Schouten
Spending by independent political groups in congressional races is surging in the final weeks before Election Day, in some cases surpassing what candidates themselves are pumping into close contests. Since Sept. 1, nine groups have spent more than $1 million each in House and Senate races, including $11.3 million by an organization bankrolled by drug companies that is running ads featuring 26...

Business, Labor Groups Zero In On a Few Close Senate Contests

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CDT
October 9, 2008
Wall Street Journal
By T.W. FARNAM
Business and labor groups are ramping up advertising in a handful of Senate races, seeing that chamber as the battleground that will have an outsize impact on the next administration's policies, regardless of which party controls the White House.

Partisan Fighting for Your Business

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CDT
October 9, 2008
The Washington Post
By Mary Ann Akers And Paul Kane
Congressional Democrats and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are back in that comfortable position they've long enjoyed -- mortal enemies. After working together last week to pass the $700 billion rescue package for the financial markets, Democrats and the Chamber are now sparring over the work that big business's main lobby is doing in the upcoming House and Senate elections.

Politico.com Article Highlights Secret Corporate Political Spending

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 CDT
September 26, 2008
Washington, D.C. -- An article in Politico.com this week is a timely reminder of the pervasiveness of secret corporate political spending that the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) has been working to eliminate through its political disclosure effort.

CPA Calls on US Chamber of Commerce, new c4 Groups to Disclose Questionable Political Spending

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 CDT
July 28, 2008
Washington, D.C. -- The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) called on the Voter Education Committee (VEC), an organization used by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to conceal its funding of political ads in Washington state, to drop its appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court of a state court decision ordering it to disclose its contributors.

Business Nervously Eyes the Senate

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:00:00 CDT
July 26, 2008
National Journal
By Peter H. Stone
In the business community, the fundraising mantra these days sounds a lot like "It's the Senate, stupid." There are 23 Republican Senate seats up this year versus 12 Democratic ones, and fundraising by several GOP candidates and their Senate committee is lagging behind that of their Democratic counterparts. So, corporations and wealthy executives are pouring tens of millions of dollars into...

McCain Allies Find Finance-Law Holes

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 CDT
July 3, 2008
Wall Street Journal
By Brody Mullins and T.W. Farnam
Allies of Sen. John McCain have found new loopholes in the campaign-finance law he helped write -- and they're using them to reel in huge contributions to help him compete with Sen. Barack Obama.

When Political Giving Doesn't Pay

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CDT
Directorship

June 01, 2008

When Political Giving Doesn't Pay

Investor groups want greater board oversight and disclosure of the political contribution...

When Political Giving Doesn't Pay

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CDT
June 1, 2008
Directorship
By Aaron Bernstein
As the 2008 presidential election hits full stride, your company may be inclined to shell out? through the legal channels of PACs, 527s, and other avenues?to the candidate perceived to be in the best interest of your company or industry. Before it does, however, consider this: New evidence suggests that political donations may not be good for most companies and might even signal that the...

McCain Campaign Calls; A Nonprofit Steps In

Sat, 31 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT
The Washington Post

McCain Campaign Calls; A Nonprofit Steps In

By Robert O'Harrow Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 31, 2008; A01

For weeks, Republican presidential candidate

McCain Campaign Calls; A Nonprofit Steps In

Sat, 31 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT
May 31, 2008
The Washington Post
By Robert O'Harrow Jr.
For weeks, Republican presidential candidate John McCain had been hammered for supporting the Air Force's February decision to award a $40 billion contract for refueling tankers to Northrop Grumman and its European partner. Democrats, labor unions and others blamed the senator for a deal they say could move tens of thousands of jobs abroad. McCain's advisers wanted to strike back...

Corporations to Disclose Political Contributions

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT
May 29,2008
New York Times Caucus blog
By Leslie Wayne
Boards of directors of Fortune 500 companies typically get involved in such matters as setting dividends, hiring executives and deciding on corporate strategy. But a new task has been added to the agenda of many corporate boards: Political disclosure.

Political Disclosure Tops 50 Companies

Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT
May 28, 2008
Washington DC - Reaching a major milestone, the number of companies that have adopted political disclosure and accountability reached 51, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) and its shareholder advocate partners announced today. Prudential Financial (NYSE: PRU), UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Avon Products (NYSE: AVP), Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) and eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) are the latest to agree to report and require board...

For American Judges, Rendering Justice, With One Eye on Re-election

Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT
May 25, 2008
AMERICAN EXCEPTION

For American Judges, Rendering Justice, With One Eye on Re-election

By ADAM LIPTAK

Last month, Wisconsin voters did...

For American Judges, Rendering Justice, With One Eye on Re-election

Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT
May 25, 2008
The New York Times
By Adam Liptak
Last month, Wisconsin voters did something that is routine in the United States but virtually unknown in the rest of the world: They elected a judge.

Companies Start to Lift Veil on Political Spending

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT
May 13, 2008
Washington Post
By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Ever wonder how much companies really spend to influence government through trade associations? Well, a few corporations are coming clean, or at least cleaner.

Accounting Information as Political Currency

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT
May 12, 2008
Harvard Business School
By Martha Lagace
Corporate donations to political campaigns reveal a lot about mutual back-scratching in the political and business arenas. Now new research from Harvard Business School reveals that corporate giving may consist of more than monetary contributions.

Dragging Big Business to Disclosure

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
April 24, 2008
EDITORIAL

Dragging Big Business to Disclosure

Resisting every inch of the way, the powerful National Association of Manufacturers has finally agreed to follow Congress's new ethics law and disclose which of its members have been funding its lobbying operations on Capitol Hill.

Welcome to the sunshine club. Like other lobbying...

Dragging Big Business to Disclosure

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
April 24, 2008
The New York Times
Resisting every inch of the way, the powerful National Association of Manufacturers has finally agreed to follow Congress's new ethics law and disclose which of its members have been funding its lobbying operations on Capitol Hill. Welcome to the sunshine club.

Key Proxy Advisor Recommends Vote Against AT&T Management on Political Contributions Disclosure

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
April 21, 2008
Washington, D.C. - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) and Domini Social Investments welcomed the support of RiskMetrics Group (RMG) for Domini's shareholder proposal, which calls on AT&T to publicly disclose and require board oversight of its political contributions.

Climate Issues Divide U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Big Members

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
April 17, 2008
Wall Street Journal
By Elizabeth Williamson
Thomas Donohue built the U.S. Chamber of Commerce into Washington's biggest spending lobbying group by seizing the opportunities of a pro-business, Republican decade. But as Washington tilts more Democratic, populist and green, some big companies are becoming leery of allying too closely with conservative, antiregulatory institutions such as the chamber.

The Selling of the Judiciary: Campaign Cash 'in the Courtroom'

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
New York Times

April 15, 2008
EDITORIAL OBSERVER

The Selling of the Judiciary: Campaign

The Selling of the Judiciary: Campaign Cash 'in the Courtroom'

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
April 15, 2008
The New York Times
By Dorothy Samuels
"We put cash in the courtrooms, and it's just wrong," Sandra Day O'Connor, the former Supreme Court justice, declared at the start of a conference in New York last week on a growing threat to judicial independence and integrity: the escalating millions that special interests are pouring into state judicial elections in an effort to buy favorable rulings.

Shareholders Call Information Giant McGraw-Hill Hypocritical for

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
April 3, 2008
Washington, D.C. - As McGraw-Hill shareholders prepare to vote on proxy proposals this April, a shareholder advocate called the information services company "hypocritical" for blocking a political disclosure proposal that has been adopted by 43 other leading U.S. public companies.

Recent Developments Highlight Move Toward Secret Political Spending

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
April 2, 2008
Washington, D.C. - Two recent articles highlight continued efforts to hide political spending. One involves a suit by a conservative think tank to overturn West Virginia disclosure requirements for political spending in state races. The other examines the expanded use of 501(c)(4) organizations, which are being used to circumvent campaign contribution limits and conceal the source of political money in congressional elections.

Political Money: The Need for Director Oversight

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CDT
April 1, 2008
The Conference Board Executive Action Alert
By Bruce Freed and Karl J. Sandstrom
When it comes to corporate governance, one area often overlooked is company involvement in politics. The amount of money companies spend for political purposes is relatively small and viewed as immaterial, even though business historically has been a major political funder. Until recently, political expenditures were not fully disclosed and were...

CPA Calls on US Chamber Group to Drop High Court Appeal, End Fight Against Political Disclosure

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CDT
March 25, 2008
Washington, D.C. - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) called on the Voter Education Committee (VEC), an organization used by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to conceal its funding of political ads in Washington state, to drop its appeal to the U.S.

Political Blinders

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CDT
March 14, 2008
Global Proxy Watch
By Stephen Davis
Should a company's board control its political spending, a task usually left to management? Some 62% of US directors think boards should oversee donations, and 57% think such spending should require board approval,

Boards Should Scrutinize Political Spending

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CST
March 6, 2008
BusinessWeek
By Bruce Freed and Karl J. Sandstrom
Until recently, directors have paid scant attention to company political spending. Because the amount corporations devote to politics is quite small and might seem immaterial, especially as a proportion of company revenue, it often hasn't been disclosed.

Disclosing gifts to trade groups: the next big thing in governance?

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST
February 28, 2008
Financial Week
By Jeff Nash
Five U.S. public companies have agreeed to disclose the donations they make to trade associations and other non-profits that are used for political purposes, bringing the total number of companies now providing such disclosure to 43.

Companies to disclose political aid

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST
February 28, 2008
Financial Times
By Francesco Guerrera
Five large US companies, including American Express and Xerox, will bow to shareholder pressure on Thursday and agree to disclose all their political spending.

Money, Politics, and the Corporate Agenda Big Business in the Political Process

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST
February 25, 2008
A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE FOR MANY AMERICANS, CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT OF CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNS OFFERS BOTH RISKS AND CREWARDS. HOW PREVALENT IS CORPORATE POLITICAL ACTIVITY? WHAT POLICIES GOVERN CORPORATE SPENDING?

New Companies Bring Number Adopting Political Spending Disclosure to 38

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST
February 19, 2008
Washington, D.C. - In a major expansion of company political disclosure, Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE), United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) and United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) have agreed to report their trade association payments used for political purposes as part of their overall disclosure and board oversight of political spending with corporate funds. Praxair (NYSE: PX) has agreed to implement more disclosure of its political spending.

Interest-Group Campaign Spending Nears Record

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST
February 5, 2008
Wall Street Journal
By T.W. Farnam and Brody Mullins
Spending by interest groups in the current presidential campaign is on pace to far exceed the record amount spent by outside groups in the last presidential election -- and could top $1 billion for the first time, according to new campaign-finance reports.

Stealthy Groups Shake Up Races

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST
February 4, 2008
Wall Street Journal
By Brody Mullins
Election results from Florida were still rolling in last Tuesday evening when Patrick Davis began plotting to help his candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, in tomorrow's slate of Super Tuesday contests. He checked campaign finances, analyzed polls and edited phone-call scripts to solicit votes and bash opponents. But Mr. Davis doesn't work for the Huckabee campaign. In fact, Mr....

Monsanto bears up to baring its political contributions

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST
January 28, 2007
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By David Nicklaus
A year ago, Monsanto resisted the idea of disclosing political contributions on its website. It said such reporting "would not be useful to shareowners and would be burdensome and an unnecessary expense to the company."

A Conservative Answer to MoveOn

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST
A Conservative Answer to MoveOn
Political Advocacy Group Formed by Former Bush Aides Plans a Broad Agenda

By Paul Kane and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, January 20, 2008; A05

When a group of former White House aides formed a political...

A Conservative Answer to MoveOn

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST
January 20, 2008
The Washington Post
By Paul Kane and Jonathan Weisman
When a group of former White House aides formed a political advocacy group called Freedom's Watch last summer, its initial wave of ads featured battered Iraq war veterans pleading for support for President Bush's "surge" of troops. Last month, the theme changed dramatically as the same group splashed dark, grainy images of illegal immigrants across television screens in...

Is your portfolio politically slanted?

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST
January 17, 2008
Christian Science Monitor
By Laurent Belsie
Do you know the political slant of your portfolio? Every election cycle, US businesses pour hundreds of millions of dollars into campaigns, parties, and politically affiliated groups. Some of that money is reported, some isn't. Now a movement to get corporations to disclose voluntarily their political contributions is gaining ground. Recently, the Monitor's Laurent Belsie...

Corporate Governance special report

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST
January 14, 2008
Wall Street Journal
By Andrew Yurkovsky
The pace of companies adopting policies to disclose their political spending has quickened, with 18 more companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 index agreeing last year to disclose such spending. According to the Center for Political Accountability, a Washington-based shareholder-advocacy group, that brings the total to 33 among the S&P 500. Without proper transparency,...

Chamber of Commerce vows to punish anti-business candidates

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST
From the Los Angeles Times

Chamber of Commerce vows to punish anti-business candidates

The group indicates it will spend in excess of the approximately $60 million it put out in the last
presidential cycle.

By Tom Hamburger
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

January 8,...

Chamber of Commerce vows to punish anti-business candidates

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST
January 8, 2008
Los Angeles Times
By Tom Hamburger
Alarmed at the increasingly populist tone of the 2008 political campaign, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is set to issue a fiery promise to spend millions of dollars to defeat candidates deemed to be anti-business. "We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," chamber President Tom Donohue said.

CPA Calls on US Chamber of Commerce to Disclose its 2008 Political Spending

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST
January 8, 2008
Washington, D.C. - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) today urged the United States Chamber of Commerce, the nation's premier trade association, to disclose the sources and beneficiaries of the more than $60 million it plans to spend in the 2008 elections.

Donor money talks, often in a whisper

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-give29dec29,0,209252.story?coll=la-homecenter
From the Los Angeles Times

Donor money talks, often in a whisper

With voter-approved spending limits in place, those invested in state government get creative with...

Donor money talks, often in a whisper

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
December 29, 2007
Los Angeles Times
By Nancy Vogel
A massage for a lawmaker's wife. Circus tickets for his kids. Keys to a mountain cabin for the weekend. A donation to his favorite charity or one that flies him across the world on an "educational" trip. There are many ways to get a politician's attention. Plenty of corporations, unions and others with a stake in state government do it the time-honored way: They write checks to campaign...

Interest Groups Gain In Election Cash Quest

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
Interest Groups Gain In Election Cash Quest

Analysis Shows Giving
To Parties Has Dipped;
Beyond 'Swift Boating'

By BRODY MULLINS
December 19, 2007; Page A1

Wall St Journal

WASHINGTON -- One of the defining...

Use of Trade Associations, c4s as Conduits for Secret Political Spending Highlighted by Wall Street Journal

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
December 19, 2007
Washington, D.C. - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) applauded the Wall Street Journal for highlighting the growing use of trade associations and "social welfare" organizations to hide political spending. In several reports this and last year, the CPA warned about this development and the dangers it poses to companies and shareholders.

Political funds skirt rules

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
Political funds skirt rules
As regulators clamp down on 527 groups, other nonprofits draw donors for ads
By Michael Riley
The Denver Post
Article Last...

Washington Post Highlights Growth, Danger of Stealth Political Spending Through 501c4s

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
December 6, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- As the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) has been warning, 501(c)(4)s and 501(c)(6)s -- non-profit "social welfare" organizations and trade associations -- are becoming the vehicle for stealth political campaigns. This development was highlighted this week in an article and editorial in the Washington Post.

Nonprofits Become A Force in Primaries

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
Nonprofits Become A Force in Primaries
Use for Donations Is Under Scrutiny

By John Solomon and Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 5, 2007; A01

Nonprofit groups created to educate the public and lobby on issues have started inserting themselves into the presidential primaries, adding an unexpected wild card to wide-open...

Nonprofits Become A Force in Primaries

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
December 5, 2007
The Washington Post
By John Solomon and Matthew Mosk
Nonprofit groups created to educate the public and lobby on issues have started inserting themselves into the presidential primaries, adding an unexpected wild card to wide-open elections in both parties.

TrustHuckabee Calling

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
Washington Post
Editorial

TrustHuckabee Calling
There's a new group campaigning in Iowa, but it's not saying much about where its money comes from.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007;...

TrustHuckabee Calling

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST
December 4, 2007
The Washington Post
Editorial
GO TO TrustHuckabee.com, and you'll see what appears to be a typical campaign Web site. "Governor Huckabee can win the Iowa Caucuses if you commit yourself to attending your Precinct Caucus and become a Precinct Captain," it says. Supporters can sign up to stuff envelopes, buy "Trust Huckabee" gear (a junior hoodie is $27.99) or watch videos of Huckabee appearances. At the very bottom of the...

Companies and politics: Do they mix? Study says no

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
Companies and politics: Do they mix? Study says no

The research found corporate campaign contributions usually don't
add up for shareholders.

By David Phelps, Star Tribune
Last update: November 24, 2007 - 9:55 PM

As a new election season begins, corporations and...

Lifting the Curtain on Corporate Contributions

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
November 16, 2007
CondeNast Portfolio.com
by Megan Barnett
During the first six months of 2007, Pfizer spent $128,969 from its corporate checkbook on political donations to Democratic and Republican politicians. It doled out another $614,300 to various party committees and lobbying organizations, including $50,000 to PhRMA, the pharmaceutical lobbying powerhouse.

Lifting the Curtain on Corporate Contributions

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
December 16, 2007
Conde Nast Portfolio.com
By Megan Barnett
During the first six months of 2007, Pfizer spent $128,969 from its corporate checkbook on political donations to Democratic and Republican politicians. It doled out another $614,300 to various party committees and lobbying organizations, including $50,000 to PhRMA, the harmaceutical lobbying powerhouse.

Corporate Political Contributions: Investment or Agency?

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
Abstract: We examine corporate contributions to political candidates for federal offices in the United States from 1991 to 2004. We find that firms that donate have operating characteristics consistent with the existence of a free cash flow problem.

Corporate Political Contributions: Investment or Agency?

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
November 16, 2007
University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management
Abstract: We examine corporate contributions to political candidates for federal offices in the United States from 1991 to 2004. We find that firms that donate have operating characteristics consistent with the existence of a free cash flow problem.

Fidelity Shift in 2007 Proxy Season Tips Scales Toward Corporate Political Disclosure

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
November 15, 2007
Washington, D.C. - In an important development, top funds in Fidelity, one of the nation's leading mutual fund families, moved from opposing to abstaining on shareholder resolutions calling for corporate political transparency and accountability in 2007, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) reported today. The move had the effect of strengthening the votes in support of the resolutions, based on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's standard vote...

Use of 501c4s for Secret Campaign Spending Underscores Need for Corporate Political Disclosure, CPA Warns

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
November 13, 2007
Washington, D.C. - The emergence of 501(c)(4) groups as major conduits for secret political money in the 2008 elections reinforces the need for public companies to disclose and require board oversight of their political spending, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) said today.

A New Channel for Soft Money Starts Flowing

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
November 12, 2007

The New York Times

A New Channel for Soft Money Starts Flowing

By JIM RUTENBERG and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

The so-called Wounded Warriors Act,...

A New Channel for Soft Money Starts Flowing

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST
November 12, 2007
The New York Times
By Jim Rutenberg and David D. Kirkpatrick
The so-called Wounded Warriors Act, legislation intended to improve health care for veterans, has attracted nearly unanimous, bipartisan support in Congress. So why would the newly formed Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America begin running a television commercial urging the citizens of South Carolina to tell Congress to pass it?

Show Us Your Money: Halting the Use of Trade Organizations as Trade Organizations as Convert Conduits for Corporate Campaign Contributions

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 CDT
October 1, 2007
Journal of Corporation Law
By Shayla Kasel
The US Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) is the world's largest business federation, and the most financially influential trade organization. The Chamber is one of the top independent organizational contributors to state and federal political campaigns. However, the public will never know who is funding the Chamber's attack ads and get-out-the-vote efforts because the Chamber is a...

Dell, Oracle Latest Companies to Adopt Political Disclosure

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 CDT
September 26, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- September 26, 2007. As 2008 proxy season plans get underway, shareholder activists announced today that Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) have adopted political disclosure and accountability policies. This brings to 33 the number of companies disclosing their political activity to shareholders.

CPA Announces New Board Member

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 CDT
September 20, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- Shelley Alpern, Vice President and Director of Social Research and Advocacy at Trillium Asset Management, and Michael Petro, Vice President and Director of Business and Government Policy and Chief of Staff of the Committee for Economic Development, have joined the board of the Center for Political Accountability, Bruce F. Freed, the CPAÃ¢??s executive director, announced today.

Show Us Your Money: Halting the Use of Trade Organizations as Convert Conduits for Corporate Campaign Contributions

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 CDT
September 9, 2007
Journal of Corporate Law
By Shayla Kasel
The US Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) is the world's largest business federation, and the most financially influential trade organization. The Chamber is one of the top independent organizational contributors to state and federal political campaigns. However, the public will never know who is funding the Chamber's attack ads and get-out-the-vote efforts because the Chamber is...

CPA and the Zicklin Center at The Wharton School to Collaborate on Corporate Governance and Corporate Political Accountability Issues

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 CDT
August 24, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- August 24, 2007. The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) and the Wharton School's Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research announced today a new collaborative effort on corporate governance and corporate political accountability.

Resolved: Public Corporations Shall Take Us Seriously

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:00:00 CDT
August 12, 2007
New York Daily Magazine
By Dashka Slater
Daly's order, the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, N.J., owns about 300 of the 5.5 billion Exxon Mobile shares outstanding, but she has used those few shares to keep the company talking about an issue that it would just as soon ignore. In a few weeks' time, the company's millions of shareholders would be able to vote on a resolution she wrote, which asked ExxonMobil to set a firm...

Resolved: Public Corporations Shall Take Us Seriously

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:00:00 CDT
August 12, 2007
New York Times Sunday Magazine
By Dashka Slater
Daly's order, the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, N.J., owns about 300 of the 5.5 billion Exxon Mobil shares outstanding, but she has used those few shares to keep the company talking about an issue that it would just as soon ignore.

What's Next for Governance?

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 CDT
August 1, 2007
Institutional Shareholder Services
Investors and U.S. corporate issuers came together as never before in 2007 to address a wide range of concerns and to better align views on corporate best practices.

American business needs an election cash code

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:00:00 CDT
July 9, 2007
Financial Times
By Bruce Freed and Bennett Freeman
Last year, Robert Kelner, a leading Washington election lawyer, warned: "More than in the past, the Department of Justice seems to be trying very hard to tie campaign contributions to legislative acts by members of Congress and to draw the inference that there's a criminal connection between the two."

Proxy bids more than hot air

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 00:00:00 CDT
June 4, 2007
Financial Week
By Jeff Nash
With the 2008 election season ramping up, investors are increasingly asking companies to better disclose their political contributions?and in many cases, they?re getting what they asked for.

It Pays to Get Ahead of the Curve on Political Disclosure

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 CDT
May-June 2007
Executive Counsel
By Bruce Freed
Corporate political spending is the subject of increased scrutiny by the press, regulatory authorities and prosecutors. With heightened attention come escalating legal and reputational risks.

To Conceal Donors, Some Political Groups Look to the Tax Code

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT
April 17, 2007
The Washington Post
By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
An increasing number of organizations working to influence elections also are working to hide who is paying for their activities.

To Conceal Donors, Some Political Groups Look to the Tax Code

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT
April 17, 2007
The Washington Post
By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
An increasing number of organizations working to influence elections also are working to hide who is paying for their activities.

Industry Giants Opening Up on Politics

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT
April 11, 2007
Roll Call
By Tory Newmyer
The transparency tide sweeping Capitol Hill is reaching corporate suites far outside the Beltway.
A dozen companies this month announced they are the latest to join a growing list of business giants pledging to disclose more about their political spending. The decisions come in response to pressure from shareholder groups, who in the past three years have been building momentum for the...

More Firms to Make Political Disclosures

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT
April 5, 2007
CFO.com
By Stephen Taub
The transparency tide sweeping Capitol Hill is reaching corporate suites far outside the Beltway.
A dozen companies have recently adopted political disclosure and accountability policies, according to a group of shareholder activists.

Major companies adopt political disclosure policies

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT
Major companies adopt political disclosure policies

Wed Apr 4, 2007 3:06PM EDT

By Sarah Coffey

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Major companies including DuPont (DD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will now disclose which politically linked trade associations they...

Gaining Momentum: Number of Companies Adopting Political Disclosure Hits 31

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT
April 4, 2007
Washington, D.C. - Shareholder activists announced today that 12 new companies have adopted political disclosure and accountability policies, boosting the number to 31. This represents a 63% jump in the past two and a half months.

Investors want facts on political donations

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT
Investors want facts on political donations

By Francesco Guerrera in New York

Financial Times

Published: April 1 2007 22:01

Corporate America's traditional secrecy on political spending is under attack from an investor drive for greater transparency before the 2008 presidential election campaign.

A group of more than...

Investors want facts on political donations

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT
April 1, 2007
Financial Times
By Francesco Guerrera
Corporate America's traditional secrecy on political spending is under attack from an investor drive for greater transparency before the 2008 presidential election campaign.

Nonprofit Calls on Firms to Include Donation Rules in Codes of Conduct

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CDT
March 21, 2007
Wall Street Journal
By Dean Treftz
A shareholder advocacy group is calling for companies to include rules on corporate political donations in their codes of conduct, in order to avoid potential legal problems and perhaps scandal.

CPA Releases Primer on Corporate Political Spending

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CDT
March 14, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) released today a primer on corporate political spending. As the CPA's primer sets forth, corporate political spending takes various forms. The report provides a definition that covers the most common types of political spending.

In The Loop

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST
The Washington Post
March 6, 2007

In The Loop
on K Street

A Peek Into Corporate America

Not...

A Peek Into Corporate America

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST
March 6, 2007
The Washington Post
Not waiting for Congress to impose new disclosure laws, shareholder activists have persuaded some of the nation's largest companies to disclose their political spending on such things as issue campaigns. General Electric, Hewlett-Packard and American Electric Power recently agreed to report how much they give trade associations for politics and lobbying. Home Depot said it would report "soft money" gifts such as...

44 Companies to Face Political Disclosure Shareholder Resolution in 2007 Proxy Season

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:00:00 CST
February 8, 2007
Washington, D.C. - Forty-four companies -- a record number -- are expected to vote on political disclosure shareholder resolutions in the 2007 proxy season. Based on Center for Political Accountability (CPA) model proposals urging companies to disclose and require board oversight of their political spending, the resolutions have been filed by 24 institutional investors and allied shareholders. The CPA is leading a nationwide effort to bring transparency and...

Non-profits fail to disclose funding of political campaigns

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 CST
Non-profits fail to disclose funding of political campaigns

By Adam Jadhav
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

'08 Candidates Make End Run Around Federal Campaign Rules

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 CST
This story brought to you by Politico.com

'08 Candidates Make End Run Around Federal Campaign Rules
By: Kenneth P. Vogel
February 1, 2007 10:52 AM EST

As the 2008 presidential campaign enters a winnowing phase in which candidates will be judged by the size of their war chests, a group...

Cutting Risk by Disclosing Political Donations

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:00:00 CST
This story brought to you by Politico.com

Cutting Risk by Disclosing Political Donations
By: Andrew Glass
January 29, 2007 08:29 PM EST

In politics, it often pays to be ahead of the curve. That holds true for corporate governance too, even more so when...

Cutting Risk by Disclosing Political Donations

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:00:00 CST
January 29, 2007
Politico.com
By Andrew Glass
In politics, it often pays to be ahead of the curve. That holds true for corporate governance too, even more so when politics enter the equation.

Monsanto bears up to baring its political contributions

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:00:00 CST
January 28, 2007
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By David Nicklaus
A year ago, Monsanto resisted the idea of disclosing political contributions on its website. It said such reporting "would not be useful to shareowners and would be burdensome and an unnecessary expense to the company."

Home Depot Agrees to Disclose Political Donations

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:00:00 CST
January 24, 2007
Bloomberg News Service
By Vineeta Anand
Home Depot Inc. agreed to disclose its political donations for the first time, one of several new policies that may help appease investors angered by former Chief Executive Officer Robert Nardelli's severance package.

In Major Expansion, Four Leading Companies Widen Political Disclosure

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:00:00 CST
January 24, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- In a major expansion of company political disclosure, General Electric (NYSE:GE), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) and American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) have agreed to report their trade association payments used for political purposes as part of their overall disclosure of political spending with corporate funds. In addition, Home Depot (NYSE: HD) has adopted disclosure of its soft money political contributions. All of the companies agreed to...

Monsanto, Verizon, General Dynamics Adopt New Policies for Political Spending

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:00:00 CST
December 20, 2006
Washington, D.C. - In a major development, three leading public companies -- Verizon (NYSE:VZ), Monsanto (NYSE:MON), and General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) -- have committed to steps that move corporate political disclosure forward.

Cause-Related Funding: Critics Want Disclosure

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 CST
December 1, 2006
The Issue Barometer
Hard questions are being asked about "soft money" corporate spending.

Activists Say BP Breaking Promise on Campaign Donations

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:00:00 CST
November 7, 2006
Dow Jones Newswires
By John M. Biers
BP PLC (BP), which vowed to refrain from making political donations in 2002, has come under renewed criticism over a series of recent U.S. contributions that shareholder activists say contradict its pledge.

Social Investment- Highlights from 2006 Proxy Season

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:00:00 CDT

GreenMoneyJournal.com

Fall 2006

Eight Large Cap Mutual Funds Cast Proxies for Corporate Political Disclosure in 2006

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:00:00 CDT
October 10, 2006
Washington, D.C. - October 10, 2006. In a significant shift, eight of 30 "large cap" U.S. equity mutual funds voted for corporate political disclosure resolutions in the 2006 proxy season, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) reported today. Previously, the major fund families had opposed or abstained on shareholder resolutions calling for transparency and accountability in company political spending since they were first filed in the 2004 proxy season.

Shareholders Favor More Disclosure

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:00:00 CDT
Shareholders Favor More...

Social Investment- Highlights from 2006 Proxy Season

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:00:00 CDT
October 1, 2006
GreenMoneyJournal.com
By Timothy Smith and Bruce Freed
The 2006 proxy season was memorable with numerous highlights and its share of lowlights. Shareowners continued to insure their voices were heard and there were numerous examples of management and investors seeking common ground and reaching positive agreements.

Rewards for Free-Trade Votes

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CDT
Wall Street Journal

Subtle Shift
Business Lobby Hedges Its Bets
By Supporting More Democrats

Chamber of Commerce Buys
TV Ads for Candidates
In Republicans' Crosshairs

Rewards for Free-Trade Votes

By JEANNE CUMMINGS
September 22, 2006; Page A1

WASHINGTON -- Freshman Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean of Illinois is facing the Republican Party machine in her...

Subtle Shift: Business Lobby Hedges Its Bets By Supporting More Democrats

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CDT
Freshman Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean of Illinois is facing the Republican Party machine in her re-election bid. Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Dennis Hastert have headlined money-raising events for her opponent. The National Republican Congressional Committee has budgeted $1.5 million to attack her. But Ms. Bean has won an unexpected ally with clout to counter the Republican heavyweights: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Subtle Shift: Business Lobby Hedges Its Bets By Supporting More Democrats

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CDT
September 22, 2006
Wall Street Journal
By Jeanne Cummings
Freshman Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean of Illinois is facing the Republican Party machine in her re-election bid. Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Dennis Hastert have headlined money-raising events for her opponent. The National Republican Congressional Committee has budgeted $1.5 million to attack her. But Ms. Bean has won an unexpected ally with clout to counter the...

Best Practice in Internal Oversight of Lobbying Practice

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CDT
Working Paper No. 200601

1 September 2006

Best Practice in Internal Oversight of Lobbying Practice

Robert Repetto
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy
301 Prospect...

Trade Associations and Oversight of Company Political Spending

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CDT
September 1, 2006
NACD Directors Monthly
By Bruce Freed and Jamie Carroll
The effort to limit corporate money in politics has created new channels for corporate political involvement, many hidden from public view. Prominent among these are trade associations. In response to the Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars now flow through associations and other nonprofit organizations....

Shareholders Seek Political Spending Receipt

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT
CFO.com

August 22, 2006

Shareholders Seek Political Spending Receipt

As the fall election season...

Lifting the veil of secrecy on corporate political donations

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT
August 22, 2006
Financial Times
By Francesco Guerrera
When President Theodore Roosevelt railed against business people for putting their fortunes "only to the basest of uses", he did not include currying political favour as one of the abominations of those "malefactors of great wealth".

Companies Are Showing Their Hands

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 00:00:00 CDT
BusinessWeek
July 31, 2006 issue

Up Front

POLITICAL CASH
Companies Are Showing Their...

General Mills Joins Companies Disclosing Political Spending, Political Disclosure Resolution Leading Vote-Getter in 2006 Proxy Season

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:00:00 CDT
July 17, 2006
Washington, D.C. -- General Mills (NYSE: GIS) became the latest major company to agree to disclosure and board oversight of its corporate political contributions. The company's move came at the close of the most successful proxy season yet for corporate political disclosure. Support for a model resolution calling for corporate political transparency and accountability averaged 21% of the votes announced to date.

The End of Legal Bribery

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:00:00 CDT

June 2006

Washington Monthly

The End of Legal Bribery

How the Abramoff case could change Washington.
By

The End of Legal Bribery

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:00:00 CDT
June 2006
Washington Monthly
By Jeffrey Birnbaum
So far, the scandal surrounding disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff has produced some vivid and memorable examples of modern Washington graft--skybox tickets, pricey restaurant meals, golf junkets to Scotland. Yet at the center of the scandal is something more prosaic, and potentially far more explosive: good old-fashioned campaign donations.

Does your company keep political secrets?

Wed, 31 May 2006 00:00:00 CDT

Does your company keep political secrets?
FORTUNE 500 companies are becoming more open about executive pay, product safety and environmental impact. But many still resist pressure to
Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 CDT
May 15, 2006
Washington, D.C. - In a report released today, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) called trade associations "the Swiss bank accounts of American politics" for their role in helping companies conceal and spend over $100 million in corporate funds. This spending, the report notes, poses serious risks to company economic interests and reputations and to shareholder value. The CPA is leading a nationwide shareholder initiative to bring transparency and...

Secrets of Corporate Giving

Sun, 14 May 2006 00:00:00 CDT

TIME

From the Magazine

Sunday,...

Secrets of Corporate Giving

Sun, 14 May 2006 00:00:00 CDT
May 14, 2006
Time
By Douglas Waller
Merck prides itself on being socially enlightened. The drugmaker gives its employees diversity training and extends health insurance to same-sex partners. But a report to be released this week by the Washington-based Center for Political Accountability (C.P.A.) shows that in the 2004 elections, Merck was one of 18 companies that gave money to judicial candidates whose conservative views clashed with the...

Watchdog group makes quiet gains for transparency in corporate giving

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:00:00 CDT
April 25, 2006
The Hill
By Elana Schor
With ethics and campaign-finance reform making plenty of headlines this year, one might think the watchdog Center for Political Accountability would be a household name inside the Beltway. But the group operates mainly under the radar ? and prefers it that way.

McDonald's, Southern Co. Latest Companies to Adopt Political Transparency and Accountability

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 CDT
April 6, 2006
Washington, D.C. - McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) and Southern Co. (NYSE:SO) agreed to disclose and have their directors oversee soft money political contributions made with corporate funds, shareholder activists announced today. The groups, Washington-based Center for Political Accountability (CPA), socially responsible investment firm Trillium Asset Management Corp., and the Central LaborersÃ¢?? Pension Fund, are part of a nationwide campaign to bring...

Investors Seek Clarity on Campaign Giving

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:00:00 CDT
April 5, 2006
Wall Street Journal
By Jeanne Cummings
As Congress debates new campaign-finance rules, shareholder groups are pushing companies to do a better job of disclosing political donations.

Shareholders See Risky Corporate Political Behavior As Threat to Shareholder Value, Demand Reform, CPA Poll Finds

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:00:00 CDT
April 5, 2006
Washington, D.C. - An "overwhelming majority" of American shareholders express concern that company political spending 'puts corporations at legal risk and endangers' shareholder value, according to a poll released today. A similar majority want companies to adopt political disclosure and accountability.

More Firms' Political Ties Put Online

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST
More Firms' Political Ties Put Online

The reports are showing up on a growing list of company websites.

By Jonathan Peterson
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

March 20, 2006

WASHINGTON - Under pressure from shareholder activists, a small but growing...

More Firms' Political Ties Put Online

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST
March 20, 2006
Los Angeles Times
By Jonathan Peterson
Under pressure from shareholder activists, a small but growing number of major U.S. companies have agreed to disclose their political donations on their corporate websites.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Staples Adopt New Policies for Political Giving, Amgen Board Endorses Political Disclosure Resolution

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST
March 20, 2006
Washington, D.C. - Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS ) agreed to disclose and have their directors oversee soft money political contributions made with corporate funds. In addition, Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) became the first company whose board of directors endorsed a shareholder resolution calling for disclosure and

This Year's Proxy Issue: Political Contributions

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST
March 10, 2006
American Banker
By Jim Cole
Shareholders are pushing Citigroup Inc. and several other banking companies this proxy season to fully disclose their political contributions.

Activists forcing firms in the region to hold elections on fuller disclosure

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:00:00 CST
Call for openness on political donations

Activists forcing firms in the region to hold elections on fuller disclosure

By Ross Kerber, Boston Globe Staff | February 9, 2006

Shareholder activists plan to...

Up Front

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:00:00 CST
January 31, 2006
Business Week
By Nanette Byrnes
General Mills (GIS ) has become the latest company to agree to disclose its political donations -- and the sixth this year. It joins Amgen (AMGN ), Bristol-Myers Squibb, Staples, Southern Co. (SO), and McDonald's (MCD ) in yielding to shareholders' demands for more transparency in this area, especially in state and local politics.

Pressure On Boards to Oversee Soft Dollars Hardening in 2006

Wed, 18 Jan 2006 00:00:00 CST
January 18, 2006
Dow Jones
By Tiffany Kary
As a political storm continues to gather over the dealings between former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, it isn't just politicians who need to be wary. Companies are also reassessing their political donations. Soft money that spills from companies to politicians is often blamed for throwing a wrench into the democratic determination of public policy. But it?s also...

Pressure On Boards To Oversee Soft Dollars Hardening In 2006

Mon, 16 Jan 2006 00:00:00 CST
Pressure On Boards To Oversee Soft Dollars Hardening In 2006

By Tiffany Kary

As a political storm continues to gather over the dealings between former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, it isn't just politicians who need to be wary. Companies are also reassessing their political donations. Soft...

Curbing corporate political spending migraines

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 CST
January 2006
Magazine of Business for Social Responsibility
By Bruce F. Freed
"Soft money" is causing migraines for companies. The term commonly is used to describe corporate treasury funds that are contributed to political candidates and committees. It's a particular problem for companies that have been cavalier in their use.

Shining Light on Corporate Political Gifts

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:00:00 CST
The New York Times

Shining Light on Corporate Political Gifts

By FLOYD NORRIS

December 16, 2005

WHICH politicians - and which political causes - are your companies financing?...

Shining Light on Corporate Political Gifts

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:00:00 CST
December 16, 2005
The New York Times
By Floyd Norris
WHICH politicians - and which political causes - are your companies financing? Will those contributions come back to haunt them as prosecutors go after lobbyists for expenditures that could be deemed contributions - or bribes?

Pepsico, Coca Cola, and Eli Lilly Adopt New Policies for Political Giving

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:00:00 CST
Pepsico, Coca Cola, and Eli Lilly Adopt New Policies for Political Giving

Pepsico, Coca Cola, and Eli Lilly Adopt New Policies for Political Giving

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:00:00 CST
December 16, 2005
Three join the growing ranks of companies that provide board oversight and public disclosure of soft money contributions.

DeLay Indictment Exposes Company, Shareholder Risks from Secret Political Contributions

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:00:00 CDT
September 29, 2005
Washington, D.C. - The indictment of the No. 2 House leader for Texas campaign finance law violations underscores a much larger problem: undisclosed and unaccountable corporate political contributions invite corruption and threaten shareholder warned Bruce F. Freed, co-director of the Center for political Accountability (CPA).

Funds vote down political disclosure proxies

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 00:00:00 CDT
Funds vote down political disclosure proxies

Reuters, September 26, 2005

Mutual funds, which hold more than 22 percent of U.S. corporate stock, overwhelmingly voted against proposals to require corporations to disclose political contributions in the 2005 proxy season, a...

Funds vote down political disclosure proxies

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 00:00:00 CDT
September 26, 2005
Reuters
Mutual funds, which hold more than 22 percent of U.S. corporate stock, overwhelmingly voted against proposals to require corporations to disclose political contributions in the 2005 proxy season, a new study found.

CPA Finds Big Mutual Funds Continue to Back Companies, Hurt Shareholders by Opposing Corporate Political Disclosure

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 00:00:00 CDT
September 26, 2005
Washington, D.C. - Twenty seven of 30 large cap U.S. equity mutual funds voted against political disclosure resolutions the second proxy season, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) reported today. Updating a Common Cause study of mutual fund votes in last year's proxy season, the Center found that the funds continued to follow management's opposition the 22 companies where the resolution was considered in 2005.

Nonprofits Cloak Donors to Governor

Wed, 24 Aug 2005 00:00:00 CDT
Nonprofits Cloak Donors to Governor

Tax-exempt groups provide millions from sources
not made public. Ethics watchdogs say the
practice avoids state disclosure...

Don't tolerate election interference

Wed, 17 Aug 2005 00:00:00 CDT
Don't tolerate election interference

Seattle Times, August 17, 2005
Editorial

A King County Superior Court ruling last week struck a blow for Washington state's values of transparent campaign financing.

Judge Richard Jones ruled the Voters Education Committee had to report who paid for an incessant television ad campaign in 2004 that targeted...

Missing in Action?

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 00:00:00 CDT
Missing in Action?

NAM Promised to Fight Vigorously for Bush's Judges. Or Did It? In January, barely three months into his job heading the National Association of Manufacturers, former Michigan Gov. John Engler (R) made an announcement that stunned many people in the lobbying world. His organization, he said, would be first into the fray to support President Bush's judicial...

Companies are being urged to be more open about their political contributions

Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:00:00 CDT
Sunshine Is the Best Disinfectant

Companies are being urged to be more open about their political contributions

By Marc Gunther, Business Ethics, Summer 2005

A new standard for best practice in corporate political donations is being set today, as leading...

Excerpts from "Proponents Score Several Wins in Spring Season"

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 00:00:00 CDT
Excerpts from "Proponents Score Several Wins in Spring Season"

Carolyn Mathiasen and Meg Voorhes, IRRC's Corporate Social Issues Reporter, June/July 2005

The spring 2005 proxy season for corporate responsibility issues was...

Missing in Action?

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 00:00:00 CDT
Roll Call
June 15, 2005

Missing in Action?

NAM Promised...

Missing in Action?

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 00:00:00 CDT
June 15, 2005
Roll Call
By Tory Newmyer
NAM promised to fight vigorously for Bush's judges. Or did it?

Directors Mum on Use of Company Money in Judicial Wars, CPA Survey Finds

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 00:00:00 CDT
June 15, 2005
Washington, D.C. -- Directors are strikingly silent as a leading trade association threatens to entangle their companies in the divisive judicial wars, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) found in a survey released today. Indeed, most of the directors queried didn't respond whether they had been informed or approved of the group's use of company funds to push the confirmation of federal court nominees.

Proponents Score Several Wins in Spring Season

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 CDT
June/July 2005
IRRC's Corporate Social Issues Reporter
By Carolyn Mathiasen and Meg Voorhes
The spring 2005 proxy season for corporate responsibility issues was notable for a new campaign, led by AFSCME and the state of Minnesota, questioning drug companies on their policies opposing drug reimportation. The campaign clearly struck a nerve among investors, averaging support of over 15 percent, unusually high for a first-year shareholder...

Companies Dodge Social Security Reform But Still Fund Administration Push, CPA Survey Finds

Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:00 CDT
May 31, 2005
Washington, D.C. -- A survey released today by the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) found that more large companies are reluctant, in the face of strong public opposition, to support the Bush administration's plans to overhaul Social Security. However, many of these same companies expressed no reservations about organizations that they financial support promoting the President's efforts.

J&J, Schering-Plough Boards Will Oversee Donations

Sun, 01 May 2005 00:00:00 CDT
May 1, 2005
Board Alert
Following the lead set by Morgan Stanley and Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough have agreed to publicly disclose and explain the reasons for their corporate political contributions. The firms' boards, in a move that goes beyond what shareholders demanded, will also have oversight of those donations.

Loophole in 527s Shields Donors

Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:00:00 CDT
April 27, 2005
Roll Call
Suzanne Nelson
As Congress debates what to do about 527 groups, the independent political organizations that spent almost a half-billion dollars to influence the 2004 elections, an underlying assumption has been that while the groups raised unregulated soft money, at least their donor lists were public. But a review of disclosure forms required by the Internal Revenue Service reveals that contributors to 527s are...

CPA Asks Companies to Disclose Participation in Social Security Reform Effort

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 00:00:00 CDT
April 11, 2005
Washington, D.C. - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) asked America's largest companies to disclose whether they are spending corporate funds in the Social Security reform debate. The Center's mission is to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political activity.

NPR Report on Johnson & Johnson, Schering-Plough Political Disclosure Moves.

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 CDT
NPR Report on Johnson & Johnson, Schering-Plough Political Disclosure Moves.

National Public Radio covered the decision by pharmaceutical giants Johnson & Johnson and Schering- Plough to disclose and require board oversight of the political contributions they make with corporate funds. In a news story aired on April 7, 2005, correspondent Peter Overby reported that "corporate...

NPR Report on Johnson & Johnson, Schering-Plough Political Disclosure Moves

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 CDT
April 7, 2005
National Public Radio
Peter Overby
National Public Radio covered the decision by pharmaceutical giants Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough to disclose and require board oversight of the political contributions they make with corporate funds.

CPA Applauds Two Major Drug Companies for Agreeing to Disclose and Account for their Political Contributions

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 CDT
April 7, 2005
Washington, D.C. -- The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) today praised Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough for agreeing to disclose and have their board of directors oversee their soft money political contributions. The CPA is leading a nationwide campaign to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political giving.

Investors turn focus to political contributions

Sun, 06 Mar 2005 00:00:00 CST
March 6, 2005
Chicago Tribune
By Andrew Countryman
Amid the scores of shareholder resolutions filed each proxy season, a growing number of investors want to know where companies are spreading their political contributions.

Directors Strongly Support Corporate Political Spending Disclosure, Question Whether Contributions Help Companies, CPA Poll Finds

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 00:00:00 CST
February 28, 2005
Washington, D.C. - By strong majorities, directors expressed support for a set of reforms to bring greater transparency to corporate political spending. Two thirds (66%) of directors said that recent corporate scandals involving political activities have '�damaged the public's confidence and trust in corporate America.'�

Five New Companies Agree to Political Disclosure, Including Trade Associations and c4 Payments

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 00:00:00 CST
February 28, 2005
Washington, D.C. -- Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM), Xerox (NYSE: XRX), Capital One (NYSE: COF) and American Express (NYSE: AXP) have agreed to report their payments to trade associations and other tax-exempt groups used for political purposes as part of their overall disclosure of corporate political spending.

Secret Corporate Political Gifts Harm Shareholders, CPA Study Warns

Tue, 15 Feb 2005 00:00:00 CST
February 15, 2005
Washington, D.C. - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) released today a groundbreaking report that found that corporate secrecy on political contributions harms shareholders by denying them information critical for evaluating management performance and company behavior. The CPA is leading a campaign to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political giving.

BellSouth, Citigroup, Eli Lilly Urged to Disclose Donations

Mon, 14 Feb 2005 00:00:00 CST
February 14, 2005
Bloomberg News Service
By Jonathan D. Salant
BellSouth Corp., Citigroup Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. are among more than 30 companies that will be asked by institutional investors including unions to disclose their political donations and the reasons for them.

Sunshine is the Best Disinfectant

Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 CST
January 1, 2005
Business Ethics
By Marc Gunther
A new standard for best practice in corporate political donations is being set today, as leading firms respond to pressures to disclose soft-money political donations. Morgan Stanley became the first major U.S. company to agree to disclose its soft- money contributions and to have them verseen by its board. This spring, drugmakers Schering- Plough and Johnson & Johnson also agreed to...

CPA Applauds Morgan Stanley for Agreeing to Disclose and Account for its Political Contributions

Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:00:00 CST
December 14, 2004
Washington, D.C. -- The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) today praised Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough for agreeing to disclose and have their board of directors oversee their soft money political contributions. The CPA is leading a nationwide campaign to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political giving.

CPA Endorses Faith-based Investors Shareholder Resolutions Directors at Pharmaceutical Companies

Thu, 09 Dec 2004 00:00:00 CST
December 8, 2004
The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) strongly endorses a corporate political contribution disclosure and accountability resolution filed at the six major U.S. pharmaceutical companies by faith-based shareholders and their allies.

In the U.S., Some Big Names Have Lost Luster

Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:00:00 CST
In the U.S., Some Big Names Have Lost Luster

By RONALD ALSOP
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
November 15, 2004; Page B1

Ask Michael Kitchens...

In the U.S., Some Big Names Have Lost Luster

Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:00:00 CST
November 15, 2004
Wall Street Journal
By Ronald Alsop
Ask Michael Kitchens what comes to mind when he hears the name Walt Disney Co., and it won't be Mickey Mouse or Disney World. What he thinks of first: "Michael Eisner and overblown salaries."

Bleeding Heart Businesses

Sun, 14 Nov 2004 00:00:00 CST
Bleeding Heart Businesses
Corporate America Finds Profit in Tilting to the Left

By Marc Gunther
The Washington Post
Sunday, November 14, 2004; Page B05

Compassionate capitalism. Think it sounds like an oxymoron? Think again. Even as America is supposedly turning...

Bleeding Heart Businesses

Sun, 14 Nov 2004 00:00:00 CST
November 14, 2004
The Washington Post
By Marc Gunther
Compassionate capitalism. Think it sounds like an oxymoron? Think again. Even as America is supposedly turning conservative on social issues, big business is moving in the other direction.

Strange Bedfellows

Mon, 01 Nov 2004 00:00:00 CST
November 1, 2004
IR Magazine
By Jana Sanchez
Enron's collapse in 2001 turned media - and beleagured shareholders' - attention to corporate political donations. The energy giant's political generosity seemed to give its executives particularly former chairman Kenneth Lay, unfettered White House access.

DeLay Associates Indicted in Texas

Wed, 22 Sep 2004 00:00:00 CDT
DeLay Associates Indicted in Texas
Three Officials Who Helped Redistricting Effort Face Campaign-Law Charges

WASHINGTON -- A Texas grand jury indicted three officials who helped coordinate House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's efforts to redraw Texas's congressional map, on charges of violating a state law banning corporate funding of political activity.

Eight...

SEC Should Require Corporations to Disclose Political Contributions

Sun, 05 Sep 2004 00:00:00 CDT
SEC Should Require Corporations to Disclose Political Contributions

Mercury News Editorial

Maybe you contribute to political campaigns. Maybe you don't. Or maybe you do, but don't know about it.

If you own stocks, directly or through mutual funds, some...

SEC Should Require Corporations to Disclose Political Contributions

Sun, 05 Sep 2004 00:00:00 CDT
September 5, 2004
San Jose Mercury News
Editorial
Maybe you contribute to political campaigns. Maybe you don't. Or maybe you do, but don't know about it. If you own stocks, directly or through mutual funds, some of your money is going into politics. As a shareholder, however, figuring out where and to whom your money goes is nearly impossible.

Election Year Focuses Shareholders on Corporate Political Contributions

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 CDT
Election Year Focuses Shareholders on Corporate Political Contributions

Social investors have devoted little attention to the problem of corporate political giving -- until recently.

September 2004

By...

Election Year Focuses Shareholders on Corporate Political Contributions

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 CDT
September 2004
By Shelley Alpern
Until very recently, the socially responsible investment (SRI) movement has devoted relatively little attention to the problem of corporate political giving. Having nothing to do with companies that donate unseemly sums to political causes may sound like a tempting prospect, but screening on this basis has always posed a number of difficulties. Advocacy, however, began to pick up steam during the 2004 resolution annual meeting season...

Domini Social Impact Update- Fourth Quarter 2004

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 CDT
September 1, 2004
Domini Social Investments
Social Impact Update
Every year, we draft and file "shareholder resolutions"to appear on corporate proxy statements in the spring. Each resolution presents an important social or environmental issue, and seeks approval from the company's shareholders for a new policy, or a report. We filed a total of 20 resolutions in 2004, addressing issues from global warming and labor rights to cosmetic safety...

Business behavior is too opaque

Mon, 16 Aug 2004 00:00:00 CDT
Business behavior is too opaque

Corporate shareholders should have easy, timely access to information that might be
important to them

Monday, August 16, 2004

News items remind us of two types of corporate information that should be made prominently
available to shareholders, employees and creditors.

The first is a...

Business behavior is too opaque

Mon, 16 Aug 2004 00:00:00 CDT
August 16, 2004
Oregon Live.com
News items remind us of two types of corporate information that should be made prominently available to shareholders, employees and creditors.

Center for Political Accountability Urges Companies to Heed Shareholder Demands to Disclose Political Contributions

Wed, 19 May 2004 00:00:00 CDT
May 19, 2004
Washington, DC - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) today called on corporations to listen to the growing numbers of shareholders calling full disclosure of their political contributions, now that Republicans and Democrats are primed to pressure them to support "527" committees. The follows the Federal Election Commission's (FEC) refusal last week to restrict the activities of the committees and similar organizations.

Require Altria to Disclose Political Contributions, Center for Political Accountability Urges Company Shareholders

Thu, 29 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 29, 2004
Washington, DC - A landmark resolution asking the Altria Group to disclose its political contributions and the business reason for making them will be taken up at the company's annual meeting, on Thursday, April 29, in East Hanover, New Jersey.

Feds asked to suspend PAC probe:

Mon, 26 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
Feds asked to suspend PAC probe:
Contributions legal, U.S. attorney is told

AUSTIN -- A national conservative group is asking federal prosecutors to drop an investigation into the financial activities of a political committee founded by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar...

Activists Target Political Gifts: Dozens of companies face shareholder resolutions calling for more-detailed accounts of donations

Mon, 26 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 26, 2004
Los Angeles Times
By Jonathan Peterson
In an election-year burst of activism, shareholders have targeted dozens of companies with resolutions urging that they provide enhanced, easily accessible details of all their political donations.

Feds asked to suspend PAC probe: Contributions legal, U.S. attorney is told

Mon, 26 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 26, 2004
Houston Chronicle
By R.G. Ratcliffe
A national conservative group is asking federal prosecutors to drop an investigation into the financial activities of a political committee founded by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land. The American Conservative Union told U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton of San Antonio that the 2002 campaign finance activities of DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority should not be subject to...

Center for Political Accountability Urges Wells Fargo to Hold Vote on Political Disclosure Resolution

Wed, 21 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 21, 2004
Washington, DC - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA), a public interest group, urged Wells Fargo & Co.'s CEO today to let shareholders speak at the company's annual meeting on a landmark political disclosure resolution. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, in San Francisco, California.

Letter to the Editor - Omaha World-Herald

Tue, 20 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 20, 2004
In an Omaha World-Herald article published on April 16, a spokesperson for Union Pacific Corp. claimed that UP's employee-funded political action committee, not the company itself, contributed in the last election cycle to Americans for a Republican Majority (ARM), a controversial political committee that gave money to extremist groups.

U.P. political gifts are questioned

Fri, 16 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
U.P. political gifts are questioned

The Washington, D.C.-based center distributed information this week reporting that U.P. made $1,032,022 in corporate contributions in the 2002 election cycle and that the company "gave to conduits that, in turn, contributed to controversial groups" such as Texans for a Republican Majority and the Traditional Values Coalition. The latter opposes gay rights,...

U.P. political gifts are questioned

Fri, 16 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 16, 2004
World-Herald
By Stacie Hamel
The Washington, D.C.-based center distributed information this week reporting that U.P. made $1,032,022 in corporate contributions in the 2002 election cycle and that the company "gave to conduits that, in turn, contributed to controversial groups" such as Texans for a Republican Majority and the Traditional Values Coalition. The latter opposes gay rights, abortion rights and the teaching of...

U.P. political gifts are questioned

Fri, 16 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 16, 2004
World-Herald
By Stacie Hamel
The Washington, D.C.-based center distributed information this week reporting that U.P. made $1,032,022 in corporate contributions in the 2002 election cycle and that the company "gave to conduits that, in turn, contributed to controversial groups" such as Texans for a Republican Majority and the Traditional Values Coalition. The latter opposes gay rights, abortion rights and the teaching of...

Union Pacific Shareholders Press Company to Disclose Political Contributions

Mon, 12 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 12, 2004
Washington, DC - As part of a campaign to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political contributions, the Center for Political Accountability (CPA) is urging Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) shareholders to support a resolution that asks to disclose and explain the business purpose of its political donations.

Center for Political Accountability Urges SEC to Require Corporate Political Disclosure

Thu, 08 Apr 2004 00:00:00 CDT
April 8, 2004
Washington, DC - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) has called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require public companies disclose their political contribution policies and practices.

RightWing 527s in Temporary Hiatus

Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:00 CST
RightWing 527s in Temporary Hiatus

The Republican hard money advantage and temporary conservative and corporate donor skittishness have delayed the growth of conservative 527 political committees in the current election cycle, according to Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Congress.

The paper reports "little planning" to create right-wing political committees and "sparse...

Right Wing 527s in Temporary Hiatus

Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:00 CST
March 1, 2004
Roll Call
By Chris Cillizza
The Republican hard money advantage and temporary conservative and corporate donor skittishness have delayed the growth of conservative 527 political committees in the current election cycle, according to Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Congress.