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Center members leading efforts for transparency about political activity
By Tim Wilson, Editor & Writer, Boston College Center
Politicians have long been scrutinized by the media and watchdog groups over every cent they accept from “special interests” – be they trade unions or political action committees. Now some of the Boston College Center’s key members are leading efforts to heed a call that corporations be more transparent about contributions they make to trade associations and other political lobbying groups.
Center members Microsoft, Time Warner and Campbell Soup are joining Wisconsin Energy in agreeing to detail their trade-association donations, along with other political spending. Dan Bross, Microsoft’s senior director of corporate citizenship, told USA Today that the company wanted “to lead by example.” The software giant has posted its political-related association dues online for the first time.
USA Today reported that while ethics rules passed by Congress in 2007 expanded the amount of information corporate interests must reveal about Washington lobbying, companies still do not have to detail how much they give to trade associations. Microsoft, Time Warner and Campbell Soup now join a handful of companies that have reached an agreement with the nonprofit Center for Political Accountability to be more open about political spending.
To date, 50 companies have voluntarily agreed to disclose payments to trade groups, and 24 have started doing so on the Internet, Center for Political Accountability Research Director Maureen O’Brien told USA Today. Among them are Boston College Center members Aetna and Merck, which started disclosing association dues in 2008.
Merck spokeswoman Amy Rose said the company believes the “best way to address concerns, risks and questions facing our business is to … be more transparent about the way we operate,” USA Today reported.
It’s clear companies like these Center members recognize that today in the public’s eyes, what’s good for the political goose is good for the corporate gander.
