Mutual funds’ support for corporate political disclosure dipped slightly in 2012 from its record high in the previous year, according to an analysis by the Center for Political Accountability. The review looked at how 40 of the largest mutual fund families voted on CPA’s model shareholder resolution that asked companies to disclose their political spending…
This CPA Report provides a guide on how to manage corporate political spending in a risky new environment. Business leaders are educated on how to avoid the business and reputational risks that come with undisclosed political spending. The risks, as seen with the recent Target controversy, are not always obvious.
Mutual funds’ support for corporate political spending disclosure reached a new high in 2011. Average percent of votes cast by 40 of the largest U.S. mutual fund firms FOR the 32 Center for Political Accountability (CPA) model political spending resolutions moved up to 34%, compared with votes cast AGAINST or ABSTAIN. This continues an eight-year…
In an important milestone, a majority of mainstream mutual funds voted for the first time either ‘For’ or ‘Abstain’ on the Center for Political Accountability’s model political disclosure resolution in the recently concluded 2010 proxy season. This came as the CPA-coordinated resolution garnered increased support for the seventh consecutive year.[1] Funds in 25 different families…
This Handbook on Corporate Political Activity explains the ways in which companies’ political expenditures may inadvertently invite problems, and describes concrete steps that companies can take to steer clear of them. It recognizes that companies will want to fashion their political spending strategies to fit their individual needs. Its central point is that thoughtful political…
Taking Initiative is the first comprehensive study of how corporations put themselves and shareholder value at risk by failing to critically examine their contributions to ballot measures. It explores the proliferation of the initiative in American politics as a means of polarizing and galvanizing voters, and takes a close look at how initiative campaigns have…
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 rarely subject to oversight…
Members of boards of directors view political spending as a potentially risky pursuit and an overwhelming majority supports disclosure of corporate political activity, according to this survey of 225 directors commissioned by the CPA and conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. Ironically, an overwhelming majority of directors possess little knowledge of the rules and regulations…
A company’s political spending can expose it to serious risks. Wrongheaded spending can compromise a corporation’s reputation, or worse, expose it to criminal liability. Open Windowsshares a survey of S&P 100’s that shows how few have created codes of conduct or other publicly stated policies that would help safeguard them from unsound political spending decisions.…
Trade associations have become the Swiss bank accounts of American politics. Through them, corporations spend millions of dollars on political activities that can ultimately lead to a decline in shareholder value and compromise the reputations of corporations and their leaders. Hidden Riversuses case studies of hotly contested judicial elections to show how corporations, via trade…