On February 8, 2016, CfA, on behalf of activist investor Stephen Silberstein, petitioned the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to order the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to act on Mr. Silberstein’s pending request for an SEC rule that would require corporations to disclose their political contributions and other corporate political spending.
On February 3, 2016, CfA filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) requesting an investigation into illegal coordination between the campaign of Andrew Heaney, who is running for Congress in New York’s 19th district, and a super PAC he appears to have established, New York Jobs Council.
On December 16, 2015, congressional leaders unveiled an omnibus spending bill that prohibits the SEC from requiring corporations to disclose their political spending. Congressional negotiators included the provision, known as a “policy rider,” despite overwhelming public support for increased disclosure of campaign contributions.