To date, a few well known large corporations have released public statements voicing opposition, in varying degrees, to the voter suppression laws being enacted in Republican controlled states across the country. At last count it stands at forty-three states making no effort to hide their racist, anti-democracy moves.
Network, cable and ‘beltway’ press are lauding these corporations. What news outlets are not broadcasting, publishing, nor informing, is just how meaningless the gestures by the corporations really are.
However, in a detailed report released Monday, April 5, Public Citizen lays bare how these very same corporations have in fact been supporting lawmakers behind the 250+ voter suppression moves.
A few highlights:
- Three-fourths of companies that paused some or all political contributions in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.
- AT&T has given the most to supporters of state-level voter suppression bills, at more than $811,000. AT&T is followed by Altria / Philip Morris ($679,000), Comcast ($440,000), UnitedHealth Group ($411,000), Walmart ($377,000), State Farm ($315,000) and Pfizer ($308,000).
- Among members of the Fortune 100, 81 companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $7.7 million.
- Among the Fortune 500, 45 percent of companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $12.8 million.
- Corporations have contributed $50 million since 2015 to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $22 million during the 2020 election cycle.
- Industry trade groups contributed $36 million to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $16 million during the 2020 election cycle.
From the Introduction:
“It should not be all that surprising that corporations were eager to distance themselves from officials who, following Trump’s lead, attempted to sabotage our democracy. Overturning democratic elections and suppressing votes are not, after all, positions easily defended.
Which is why it’s noteworthy that so many businesses and business associations backed the mostly Republican state lawmakers who are now pushing about 250 bills that would make voting in the next election more difficult – and which would disproportionately disenfranchise Black Americans and other groups of voters who typically support Democratic candidates”.
