November 26, 2012
Dear members of the Securities and Exchange Commission:
I am writing to urge the SEC to issue a rule requiring publicly traded corporations to publicly disclose all their political spending.
Both shareholders and the public must be fully informed as to how much the corporation spends on politics and which candidates are being promoted or attacked. Disclosures should be posted promptly on the SEC's web site.
I'd like to add a personal note: In the words of Justice Brandeis, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant." While anonymity may enable individuals to make their opinions known without fear of reprisal, publicly held companies hold the power which enables their voices to be heard because of the financial support of shareholders. This means that companies have an obligation to make their identities known when engaging in political discourse. Shareholders' support should not be enlisted without knowledge or consent.
Thank you for considering my comment.
Sincerely,
Andrew Wendel