Comcast may be harming its reputation by failing to reveal all of its lobbying activities, including its involvement in trade associations and lobbying at the state level, a group of shareholders says in a proposal that asks for more lobbying disclosures.
Comcast's disclosures for its lobbying of state governments "are often cursory or non-existent," and Comcast's failure to disclose its involvement in trade associations means that "investors have neither an accurate picture of the company's total lobbying expenditures nor an understanding of its priorities, interests, or potential risks from memberships," the proposal said. "Comcast's lack of transparency around its lobbying poses risks to its already troubled reputation, which is concerning in a highly regulated industry, especially given the rise of public Internet alternatives."
The proposal is on the ballot for Comcast's June 5 annual shareholder meeting and was filed by Friends Fiduciary, which "invest[s] based on Quaker values" and says it "actively screen[s] companies for social responsibility." Friends Fiduciary and other investors who joined the proposal collectively hold "over 1 million shares of Comcast stock," they said.
The shareholder resolution would be non-binding even if it passed. It asks for an annual report disclosing, among other things, "Payments by Comcast used for (a) direct or indirect lobbying or (b) grassroots lobbying communications" and information on "Comcast's membership in and payments to any tax-exempt organization that writes and endorses model legislation."
[...] Comcast's board unanimously recommended that shareholders vote against the Friends Fiduciary resolution, saying that Comcast "already disclose[s] most of our government lobbying interactions" as required by law. "[O]ur Board believes that the requirements in this proposal are burdensome and an unproductive use of our resources and are not in the best interests of our shareholders," Comcast said in a rebuttal included in its proxy statement [PDF].
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Saturday May 25 2019, @12:18AM (6 children)
Just read the voting records in the senate and the house, and match it up with the public donor information on a site like opensecrets.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 5, Insightful) by PartTimeZombie on Saturday May 25 2019, @12:43AM
Or stop calling it lobbying and start calling it bribing.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 25 2019, @08:06AM (4 children)
There. FTFY.
Most of the decisions that affect Comcast are made at the state an local levels, which is explicitly stated in TFS. In fact, the major premise of the article is that Comcast lobbies in so many jurisdictions it can't seem to keep it all straight.
As you say, it's easy peasy, right? Why don't you get back to us with a report. That shouldn't take more than an hour, right?
We're looking forward to what you find.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Saturday May 25 2019, @02:02PM (3 children)
It is easy peasy. All it takes is the push of lever, button, etc. Local, state, fed, it makes no difference. It's all there on the ballot.
Peoples' choice, man... What could be easier? If you don't vote for Comcast, they will disappear.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 26 2019, @10:11PM (2 children)
I haven't seen Comcast on any ballot. Yet they still exist. I'm confused. Not about why Comcast isn't on any electoral ballots, but why you're such a tool.
How does that punchline go again?
"...And Descartes says, 'I think not!' and disappeared."
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Sunday May 26 2019, @11:49PM (1 child)
I haven't seen Comcast on any ballot.
Your denial notwithstanding, you see their representatives on the ballot. So yes, Comcast is on the ballot.
How does that punchline go again?
"... de Monet! de Monet!"
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 27 2019, @08:40AM
They give the corporations more monopolies, and they give the voters pot/abortion/gay marriage (or not depending on the voters).
Comcast doesn't give a damn about abortion or pot. Most voters care more about the legality of pot/abortion/gay marriage than about corporations extending their monopolies.
So if the politicians win they get what they want, the corporations supporting them get what they want the most, their voters get what they want the most (out of the media allowed hot button choices). Win-win-win. Capitalist "Democracy" working as designed...
p.s. this is why corporations often lobby both Democrats and Republicans. Both sides can often give them what they want. The military industrial complex would have been served just as well whether by Bush, Obama or Clinton. Actually Trump was probably more inconvenient than Clinton would have been.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Saturday May 25 2019, @01:24AM (1 child)
"Comcast may be harming its reputation..."
Is it possible for Comcast to make their reputation any worse?
"It is easier to fool someone than it is to convince them that they have been fooled" Mark Twain
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 25 2019, @03:16AM
Is it possible for Comcast to make their reputation any worse?
Apparently.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bzipitidoo on Saturday May 25 2019, @01:36AM (3 children)
2008: Too Big to Fail.
2019: Too Big to Track.
The logical intersection is "Too Big".
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 25 2019, @02:13AM (2 children)
The logical intersection is "Too Big".
Yeah! Like American Butts! So big, you gotta capitalize it!
And Big Ass Fries!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 25 2019, @03:53AM
That's Freedom Fries Comrade.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 25 2019, @08:12AM
Wow! Flamebait? No way! [soylentnews.org]