{"id":90420,"date":"2015-10-11T10:37:29","date_gmt":"2015-10-11T16:37:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=90420"},"modified":"2015-10-12T15:27:04","modified_gmt":"2015-10-12T21:27:04","slug":"corporations-improve-reporting-of-political-activity-with-exceptions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2015\/10\/corporations-improve-reporting-of-political-activity-with-exceptions\/","title":{"rendered":"Corporations improve reporting of political activity \u2014 with exceptions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_90777\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 771px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cantoni\/10715878456\/in\/photolist-hjVFk7-enTcZ-bnucm-5Ad8Vy-97wvEk-arYEFW-2gF5Aj-2gF5jQ-peawCw-9RLct3-4AThK5-vZqDA4-7iPrST-54UAEn-2a3TCG-2QVdcT-53xZNB-5W9a7h-akkE1o-24m3o2-3e6spn-4H4s3U-941S4q-bBUGPg-4Xj3sW-cisnRo-3ebj5L-34DH3Y-8MPzvd-24m3oZ-9A6sey-9HKJ46-b2kBzr-3eaSpJ-7pCcqg-4m7k6S-nghJpt-nxNsHh-nghUqb-nghHV2-nvJzcb-nxup1F-nghBHk-nxwvZC-nghSrQ-nxwvCA-nvJyoh-nxNrdU-HCnHX-6nsULr\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-90777 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Netflix-771x468.jpg\" alt=\"Cutline goes here. (photo cc info)\" width=\"771\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Netflix-771x468.jpg 771w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Netflix-336x204.jpg 336w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Netflix-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Netflix-1170x710.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Netflix.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Brian Cantoni \/ Creative Commons<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Netflix may be in homes across America, but it&#8217;s among the worst corporations for disclosing ways in which it may be involved in influencing our political process, according to the study. (<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">photo cc info<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Each episode of the political drama \u201cHouse of Cards\u201d drips with secretive shenanigans and shady government dealings.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s apropos, then, that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/2014\/02\/18\/14263\/netflix-stacking-deck-capitol-hill\" target=\"_blank\">Netflix<\/a>, the <a href=\"http:\/\/recode.net\/2015\/08\/26\/here-are-the-original-shows-netflix-viewers-say-theyre-watching\/\" target=\"_blank\">hit show<\/a>\u2019s distributor, is itself a black box, <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.documentcloud.org\/documents\/2451478\/cpa-zicklin-index-2015.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">according to a new study<\/a>\u00a0on corporate political transparency by the nonpartisan\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.politicalaccountability.net\/index.php?ht=d\/sp\/i\/870\/pid\/870\" target=\"_blank\">Center for Political Accountability<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lgst.wharton.upenn.edu\/research\/research-centers\/the-carol-and-lawrence-zicklin-center-for-business-ethics-research\/\" target=\"_blank\">Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research<\/a>\u00a0at the University of Pennsylvania\u2019s Wharton School.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"module align-left half type-aside\">\n<h3>About this article<\/h3>\n<p>This story is from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Center for Public Integrity<\/a>, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative media organization in Washington, D.C.\u00a0<a title=\"http:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/ Ctrl+Click or tap to follow the link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Read more<\/a>\u00a0of their investigations on the influence of money in politics or follow them on\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/publici\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Netflix joins other household names including clothier Ralph Lauren Corp., financial firm Charles Schwab Corp., Monster Beverage Corp., Urban Outfitters Inc. and Warren Buffett holding company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in scoring a goose egg on the annual study&#8217;s 70-point scale measuring companies\u2019 political disclosure practices and published accountability policies.<\/p>\n<p>The study, which for the first time ranked all companies listed on the S&amp;P 500 stock index, also gives low marks to the likes of retailer Nordstrom Inc., travel booker Expedia Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., Whole Foods Market Inc. and toy maker Mattel Inc., creator of \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.toyswill.com\/barbie-i-can-be-president-barbie-doll-p-3589.html\" target=\"_blank\">Barbie<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But on balance, most of the nation\u2019s largest corporations are showing \u201csustained, concrete progress\u201d toward volunteering more information about how they interact with governments, politicians and campaigns, the study asserts.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Tech giant Microsoft Corp., power generator Exelon Corp., computer chip maker Intel Corp. and wireless technology outfit Qualcomm all ranked within the disclosure index\u2019s top 20 companies.<\/p>\n<p>Shipper United Parcel Service Inc., confectioner The Hershey Co., bank JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co., tobacco conglomerate Altria Group Inc. and eBay Inc. also ranked highly.<\/p>\n<p>In between the extremes? The Walt Disney Co. (44 points), Facebook Inc. (37), Exxon Mobil Corp. (35), Amazon.com Inc. (25) and Google (23), posted mediocre scores. Among media giants, News Corp. (34) and CBS Corp. (8), underwhelmed.<\/p>\n<p>The Center for Political Accountability\/Zicklin index\u2019s 24 categories award points to companies that, for example, voluntarily disclose contributions to certain nonprofit groups, publish policies that govern political expenditures from its corporate treasury and reveal money spent to influence state-level ballot initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>Such disclosures generally exceed what\u2019s required of corporations by law, such as regularly filing disclosure reports about a political action committee or congressional lobbying activity.<\/p>\n<p>But federal law does not compel companies to publicly reveal whether they\u2019re pumping cash into a \u201csocial welfare\u201d nonprofit organization that, in turn, advocates for the election of, say, Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton as the nation\u2019s next president.<\/p>\n<p>Nor does it mandate companies publicize whether they give money to politically active trade associations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/2015\/03\/30\/17000\/us-chamber-doubling-down-political-juggernaut\" target=\"_blank\">routinely endorses and promotes<\/a>\u00a0a slate of congressional candidates.<\/p>\n<p>Officials at several companies that do reveal much more about their politicking than is legally required generally say it\u2019s good business to do so.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.csx.com\/index.cfm\/about-csx\/company-overview\/\" target=\"_blank\">CSX<\/a>\u2019s score of 68 out of 70 \u2014 tied for 1st place \u2014 reflects the train and transportation company\u2019s \u201ccommitment to transparent reporting, corporate social responsibility and accountability to its shareholders,\u201d spokeswoman Melanie Cost said.<\/p>\n<p>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/2014\/01\/16\/14107\/top-us-corporations-funneled-173-million-political-nonprofits\" target=\"_blank\">Center for Public Integrity investigation<\/a>\u00a0last year\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/2014\/01\/16\/14121\/pulling-back-veil-corporate-contributions#company\/csx-corp\" target=\"_blank\">showed that CSX<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/2014\/01\/16\/14121\/pulling-back-veil-corporate-contributions#nonprofit\/u-s-chamber-of-commerce\" target=\"_blank\">among dozens<\/a>\u00a0of the nation\u2019s large corporations that voluntarily discloses payments made to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other trade or political groups.<\/p>\n<p>Becton, Dickinson and Co., a medical supplies firm, and Noble Energy Inc., also earned 68 points.<\/p>\n<p>Calling the Center for Political Accountability\/Zicklin transparency index \u201chighly credible,\u201d Monsanto spokeswoman Charla Lord expressed pride in the agribusiness company\u2019s ranking increasing from within the top fifth of all companies in 2014 to within top 10 companies overall \u2014 it received 66 points.<\/p>\n<p>Lee Anderson, spokesman for food company General Mills, which scored a 65, made no apologies for his company involving itself in public policy debates.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut at the same time, we strive to be transparent. It\u2019s the right thing to do,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n<p>An official at coffee company Keurig Green Mountain Inc., which scored 8 out of 70 possible points, said the company \u201cwill continue to consider\u201d how it discloses its political activity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlthough we note there is no current legal obligation to make any such disclosure, we consistently review our disclosures and policies,\u201d spokeswoman Suzanne DuLong said.<\/p>\n<p>Representatives for Netflix, along with those at several other companies that posted low scores, did not return requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>The Center for Political Accountability\/Zicklin index has itself a prominent detractor in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation\u2019s largest trade group.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/about-us\/about-us-chamber\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. Chamber of Commerce<\/a>\u00a0officials, who have\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicintegrity.org\/2013\/10\/25\/13597\/business-groups-assail-political-transparency\" target=\"_blank\">long criticized<\/a>\u00a0the index as unfair to business, argue the push for corporate disclosure isn\u2019t coming from typical corporate investors in the name of good corporate governance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRather, disclosure is a tool employed by activist investors \u2014 in coordination with CPA and other ideologically aligned parties \u2014 to generate information about a company\u2019s lobbying and political activities that can then be used by those same activist investors to harass and pressure the company into disengaging from political debates,\u201d U.S. Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Blair Latoff Holmes said. \u201cWe don\u2019t think this is good for businesses or, ultimately, the millions of investors who do not share the activists\u2019 extreme and narrowly focused political agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nonsense, said Bruce Freed, president of the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/politicalaccountability.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">Center for Political Accountability<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is strong momentum for corporate disclosure because more and more corporations see it as good policy,\u201d Freed said. \u201cCompanies ask us all the time, \u2018How can we improve our score?\u2019 Together, they keep getting more transparent every year we do this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>This story was co-published with <a href=\"http:\/\/america.aljazeera.com\/articles\/2015\/10\/8\/corporations-improve-transparency.html\" target=\"_blank\">Al Jazeera America<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most of the nation\u2019s largest corporations are moving toward volunteering more information about how they interact with governments, politicians and campaigns, the study asserts. But Netflix is among those that are not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":90777,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[705,706,116],"class_list":["post-90420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-money-in-politics","tag-transparency","tag-washington"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}