A recent report by the US SIF Foundation found that disclosure of lobbying and political spending has emerged as the “greatest single concern of shareholders among environmental and social issues,” with more than 100 resolutions being filed annually on the subject in 2011 and 2012.[1] Reflecting investors’ interest in enhanced disclosure, the S.E.C. announced on Dec. 21, 2012, that it is considering a rule to require public companies to disclose their spending on politics and lobbying.

While the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and the unprecedented amount of political spending in the 2012 elections have attracted a great deal of media attention, company expenditures on federal lobbying far exceed political election contributions by approximately a nine-to-one ratio. A 2011 study by Si2, funded by the IRRC Institute, found that in 2010, S&P 500 companies spent a total of $1.1 billion on political contributions and lobbying, of which $979.3 million was spent on federal lobbying[2]. These figures do not include state level lobbying expenditures by companies, where there is incomplete disclosure and yearly spending exceeds $1 billion.

Moreover, lobbying by trade associations is indirectly supported by corporate contributions that are substantial and largely unreported. For example the Chamber of Commerce spent more than $500 million on lobbying since 2009, making it the country’s largest lobbying spender. The majority of companies do not disclose the portions of their trade association payments used for lobbying. These payments can create reputational risks for companies. Lobbying disclosure proponents believe companies need to manage these risks by assessing whether their memberships in trade associations accurately represent their corporate interests and policy positions, and that shareholders need to understand their companies’ expenditures for trade association lobbying and the risks they might represent.

The resolutions therefore also ask companies to disclose support for and membership in tax-exempt organizations that write and endorse model legislation, which includes the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC approved model legislation based on Florida’s Stand Your Ground law that gained national attention after the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin. In response to investor and grassroots pressure, 42 companies, including Amgen, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Walgreens and Yum! Brands, evaluated the risk to their corporate reputations, compared to the benefits, of continuing membership, and made the decision to leave ALEC.

Thomas DiNapoli, comptroller of the state of New York and an active proponent of corporate disclosure of both political spending and lobbying, stated, “As a fiduciary, it’s important that companies in which the New York State Common Retirement Fund invest are open, transparent and demonstrate high standards of governance.” Mr. DiNapoli’s office oversees the $133.8 billion state fund. “Thus we have joined once again in 2013 filing resolutions urging companies to report to their investors about their lobbying priorities, oversight and corporate dollars spent.”

Lee Saunders, president of AFSCME and chair of the AFSCME Employees Pension Plan’s Pension Committee, stated, “These proposals are based on the simple principle that what gets disclosed gets managed. Corporate payments for lobbying are a use of shareholder assets. Disclosure will help ensure these expenditures are in the company and shareholders’ best interest.”

Timothy Smith, director of environmental, social and governance (ESG) shareowner engagement at Walden Asset Management and one of the coordinators of this initiative, stated, “Over the last six years, investors increasingly have urged companies to disclose their spending aimed at influencing elections. This year investors have once again taken a logical next step and asked companies to disclose their direct and indirect lobbying activities. Whether the issue is environmental impact, consumer protection, financial reform or shareholder rights, it is important for investors to understand how company dollars are spent to influence our laws and regulations by lobbying activities. While many companies have modest government affairs budgets, others spend tens of millions of dollars annually on lobbying directly and through trade associations. In addition, many companies work through lobbying organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to influence legislation and regulation at the state level. We believe it is timely and appropriate for companies to be much more transparent.”

More than 60 investors joined in filing and co-filing the resolution seeking comprehensive disclosure of corporate lobbying, among them are the AFL-CIO; the AFSCME Employees Pension Plan; Benedictine Sisters of Virginia; Boston Common Asset Management; Christopher Reynolds Foundation; CtW Investment Group; Dignity Health; First Affirmative Financial Network; Green Century Funds; Mercy Investments; Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate; Nathan Cummings; Needmor Fund; New York State Common Retirement Fund; Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order; Responsible Endowments Coalition; Sisters of St. Francis; Trillium Asset Management; UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust; Unitarian Universalist Association; United Steelworkers and Walden Asset Management. This unique investor network is organized by the AFSCME Employees Pension Plan and Walden Asset Management, a division of Boston Trust & Investment Management Company.

Specifically, the resolution asks for disclosure of:

1. Company policy and procedures governing lobbying, including that done on our company’s behalf by trade associations.
2. Payments used for lobbying as well as grassroots lobbying communications.
3. Membership in and payments to any tax-exempt organization that writes and endorses model legislation.
4. Decision-making processes and oversight by management and the Board.

Among companies receiving lobbying disclosure resolutions for 2013 are:

3M (MMM)
Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
Accenture (ACN)
Allergan (AGN)
Alliance One International (AOI)
Alliant Techsystems (ATK)
Allstate (ALL)
Altria Group (MO)
American Electric Power (AEP)
AT&T (T)
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY)
Chevron (CVX)
Cigna (CI)
Citigroup -C-
ConocoPhillips (COP)
Corrections Corporation of America (CXW)
CVS Caremark (CVS)
DaVita (DAV)
Devon Energy (DVN)
Dupont (DD)
EBay Inc. (EBAY)
Endo Health Solutions (ENDP)
Entergy (ETR)
Equity Lifestyle Properties (ELS)
ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM)
General Dynamics (GD)
GEO Group (GEO)
Goldman Sachs (GS)
IBM (IBM)
JPMorgan Chase (JPM)
Lockheed Martin (LMT)
Lorillard (LO)
Marathon Oil (MRO)
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)
Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Nucor Corporation (NUE)
Peabody Energy (BTU)
PepsiCo (PEP)
Pfizer (PFE)
Philip Morris (PM)
Reynolds American (RAI)
SLM Corporation (Sallie Mae) (SLM)
Time Warner Cable (TWC)
Union Pacific (UNP)
United Parcel Service (UPS)
UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Universal Corporation (UVV)
Verizon Communications (VZ)
VISA U.S.A. (V)
Walgreen (WAG)
Wells Fargo (WFC)
WellPoint (WLP)
Xcel Energy (XEL)

Filers of Lobbying Disclosure Resolutions

Pension Funds
New York State Common Retirement Fund

Labor
AFSCME Employees Pension Plan
AFL-CIO
CTW Investment Group
Service Employees International Union
UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust
United Steelworkers

Asset Management Companies
Boston Common Asset Management
First Affirmative Financial Network
Green Century Funds
Jantz Morgan
PAX World Fund
Sustainability Group, Loring Wolcott & Coolidge
Trillium Asset Management
Walden Asset Management
Zevin Asset Management
 
Foundations
Brainerd Foundation
Center for Community Change, Washington, DC
Edward W. Hazen Foundation
The Funding Exchange
Haymarket Foundation
Lemmon Foundation
LKMC Aquinas Funds
Max and Anna Levinson Foundation
Merck Family Fund
Nathan Cummings Foundation
Needmor Fund
Oneida Tribe of Indians Trust Fund
Oxfam America
Responsible Endowments Coalition
Christopher Reynolds Foundation
Russell Family Foundation
Swift Family Foundation
Tides Foundation
 
Non-Profit Institutional Investors
Manhattan Country School
 
Religious Filers
Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore
Benedictine Sisters of Virginia
Catholic Health East
Catholic Health Initiatives
Community Church of New York
Congregation of Benedictine Sisters, Boerne, Texas
Congregation of Divine Providence, San Antonio, Texas
Congregation of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brighton
Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Indiana
Convent Academy of the Incarnate Word
Dignity Health
First Parish Unitarian Church, Cambridge, Ma.
Glenmary Home Missioners
Marianist Province of the United States
Mercy Investment Services
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Monasterio Pan Vida
Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, New Jersey
Sisters of the Holy Family
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Boston
Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Providence
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Sisters of St. Francis, Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester
Trinity Health
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
United Church Foundation
 
Individuals
Daniel Altschuler
Gwendolen Noyes
Gun Denhart
Carol Master

ConocoPhillips Lobbying Disclosure

Whereas, we rely on the information provided by our company to evaluate goals and objectives, and therefore have strong interest in full disclosure of our company’s lobbying to assess whether it is in the best interests of shareholders and long-term stockholder value.

Resolved, the shareholders of ConocoPhillips request the Board authorize the preparation of a report, updated annually, disclosing:

1.    Company policy and procedures governing lobbying, both direct and indirect, and grassroots lobbying communications.

1. Payments by ConocoPhillips used for (a) direct or indirect lobbying or (b) grassroots lobbying communications, in each case including the amount of the payment and the recipient.
2. ConocoPhillips’ membership in and payments to any tax-exempt organization that writes and endorses model legislation.
3. Description of the decision making process and oversight by management and the Board for making payments described in section 2 above.

For purposes of this proposal, a “grassroots lobbying communication” is a communication directed to the general public that (a) refers to specific legislation or regulation, (b) reflects a view on the legislation or regulation and (c) encourages the recipient of the communication to take action with respect to the legislation or regulation. “Indirect lobbying” is lobbying engaged in by a trade association or other organization of which ConocoPhillips is a member.

Both “direct and indirect lobbying” and “grassroots lobbying communications” include efforts at the local, state and federal levels.

The report shall be presented to the Audit Committee or other relevant oversight committees of the Board and posted on the company’s website.  

Supporting Statement

As shareholders, we encourage transparency and accountability in the use of staff time and corporate funds to influence legislation and regulation both directly and indirectly.
 
This resolution received 25 percent voting support in 2011.
 
ConocoPhillips sits on the Board of the United States Chamber of Commerce, which is noted as “by far the most muscular business lobby group in Washington” (“Chamber of Secrets,” Economist, April 21, 2012). In 2010 and 2011 the Chamber spent $198 million on lobbying. Yet ConocoPhillips does not disclose its trade association payments nor the portions used for lobbying on its website.  
 
ConocoPhillips spent approximately $40.2 million in 2010 and 2011 on direct federal lobbying activities, according to disclosure reports (Senate Records). These figures may not include grassroots lobbying to directly influence legislation by mobilizing public support or opposition and do not include lobbying expenditures to influence legislation or regulation in states that do not require disclosure.  
 
Also, ConocoPhillips does not disclose its contributions to tax-exempt organizations that write and endorse model legislation, such as a $10,000 contribution to the American Legislative Exchange Council (“ALEC”) annual meeting.
 
According to the Wall Street Journal (Oct. 26, 2012) the oil industry, including ConocoPhillips, spent “tens of millions of dollars” related to the 2012 election to galvanize employees to support their industry’s agenda and elect sympathetic candidates. We also believe the costs of these programs should also be fully disclosed.

_______________________________

[1]“Report on Sustainable and Responsible Investing Trends in the United States 2012,” US SIF Foundation.

[2] Heidi Welsh and Robin Young, “Corporate Governance of Political Expenditures: 2011 Benchmark Report on S&P 500 Companies,” Sustainable Investments Institute & IRRC Institute, November 2011 (www.irrcinstitute.org)

“Immigrant rights are worker rights, and AFSCME will be on the frontlines of the march toward comprehensive immigration reform. We know that real reform will bring a fair path to citizenship and protection of jobs and job opportunities for all workers in our country.

“It is time for hard-working immigrants and their children to be able to stop living in fear of deportation. They came to this country in search of freedom and opportunity and have already contributed to our economy and social fabric.  When they are able to come out of the shadows, they will be able to reach their full potential, which will benefit all of us.

“AFSCME will do whatever it takes to ensure that a comprehensive and common sense plan is enacted into law so that we can all come together and share all of the rights and responsibilities that make us Americans.”

“Our union is heartened by the release of a bipartisan framework from eight United States Senators for comprehensive immigration reform. While many important policies and details remain to be debated, the framework release is an important first step in Congress moving forward on fixing our broken immigration system.

“AFSCME strongly supports a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. and commends the group of Senators for including this policy as one of its four basic legislative pillars. These immigrants who call America home came to our country in search of freedom and opportunity and are working hard to achieve the American dream. 

“Immigrant rights are worker rights. As the Congress moves forward on comprehensive immigration reform, AFSCME will be advocating for a bill that protects the jobs and job opportunities of all workers in our country.

“AFSCME is looking forward to working with Congress and the President in the weeks and months to come to craft immigration reform legislation that makes it possible for everyone to share in all of the rights and responsibilities that make us Americans.”

“We are grateful for Secretary Solis’ extraordinary commitment to working men and women. At a time when powerful, moneyed forces have come together to pursue a virulent, anti-union agenda, she focused the Department of Labor’s attention on putting Americans back to work, making the workplace safer and healthier, and protecting and preserving the rights of union members and working families. Secretary Solis is an ally, a friend and a tireless advocate. She will be missed.”

“The bipartisan agreement passed by the Senate and House brings much-needed revenue by requiring the wealthiest to pay more in taxes, offers an economic lifeline to millions of long-term unemployed Americans and their families, and extends significant tax credits for working Americans. These are important, equitable steps to move our country forward, and now we can turn the page on this fiscal debate and concentrate on reviving the economy.

“We must remain vigilant over the next several weeks. Republican congressional leaders have vowed to continue their demands for deep, drastic cuts to vital programs that protect our communities – from air traffic control to public schools to veterans’ benefits, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – and are relied upon by millions of Americans in order to keep their heads above water during these tough times. Their proposals to slash services and earned benefits will inflict more suffering and undercut our economic recovery. We urge Congress and President Obama to work together and focus on job creation, which is the best way to stimulate the economy.”

The third in a major campaign to protect vital services, “Boehnerville” is a six figure television buy asking Americans to call their member of Congress and urge them to reject any proposal by Speaker Boehner that calls for devastating cuts to vital services like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and education.

“Speaker Boehner continues to demand huge sacrifices from the middle class by blocking their tax cut and demanding cuts to vital services like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security,” said Chuck Loveless, AFSCME Federal Government Affairs Director.  “Much like the fictional Mr. Potter, Speaker Boehner wants to hold hard working men and women hostage, cut their benefits and give more tax breaks to his wealthy contributors.  Speaker Boehner needs to get his priorities straight by protecting the middle class and maintaining vital services that so many middle class Americans depend upon.”

"Speaker Boehner must listen to the millions of Americans who said loud and clear on November 6 that they voted for protecting and expanding the middle class, not for cuts to vital services that millions of Americans rely on for their healthcare, child care and retirement security,” said Peter Colavito, SEIU Director of Government Relations. 

“Speaker Boehner’s plan  is more of the same: protect tax cuts for the very wealthiest while demanding even more from our students and seniors to extract even more cuts in education, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare," said Mary Kusler, NEA Director of Government Relations.  "Unlike the fictional movie on which this ad is based, there will be very real and damaging consequences for low-income and special education students and our most vulnerable citizens if Speaker Boehner gets his way. Congress needs to quickly reject his plan and stand up and protect what matters to most Americans.”

“Boehnerville” is the third TV spot that will run on National Cable, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana and Minnesota.  The spot can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_C3Op2-5z8

TV Script –

Narrator: What will happen if House Speaker John Boehner gets his way on the budget?

Welcome to Boehnerville,

where the rich won’t pay their fair share.

Our children’s educations will be cut.

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will be put at risk.

And the economic recovery would falter.

Call your member of Congress and tell them to stand up for middle class families.

Because in America everyone deserves a wonderful life

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers — not just corporations and CEOs — benefit from today's global economy. www.seiu.org

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. www.nea.org

The new ads are part of a significant six figure television buy that urge Virginia Senator Mark Warner, Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, Montana Representative Denny Rehberg and Ohio Representative Pat Tiberi to protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and education.

AFSCME, SEIU and NEA along with the AFL-CIO and over two dozen organizations have made thousands of phone calls, held dozens of events throughout the country and have planned hundreds of events for a National Day of Action on December 10.  From Maine to California, people will gather to further pressure Congress to pass a deal for all Americans that balances the budget and ensures Medicare, Medicaid and education funding remain intact.

“The formula for success to meet the important series of deadlines in Congress is simple: protect the very foundation of financial security hard working Americans depend upon, and ask the wealthiest 2% to pay their fair share of taxes,” said Chuck Loveless, AFSCME Federal Government Affairs Director.  “Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid would put the well-being of millions of families and children at stake.  Congress needs to pull together and pass a deal for all Americans, protect vital services and put us further down the path to prosperity.”

“As negotiations progress, it's important that we continue to communicate to all Members of Congress that any cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security which impact our seniors and hospitals are unacceptable components of a final budget deal,” said Peter Colavito, SEIU Director of Government Relations.

“These ads use a little humor to make a very serious point: the programs millions of middle class Americans depend on – Medicare and Medicaid - are in danger of being sacrificed for tax cuts that have done nothing to generate jobs or grow the economy and that the wealthy do not need," said Mary Kusler, NEA director of government relations.  "'Protect the Middle Class' is not just a campaign slogan.  The election is over – it's time for our senators and representatives to demonstrate real leadership and keep working families, seniors and students front and center in their minds during these critical negotiations."

“Cuts” is the second TV spot that will run in Virginia, Missouri, Montana and Ohio. Copies of the ad can be viewed at:

• Virginia – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqPmFco1eH4&feature=youtu.be
• Missouri – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssKbWCUCtY0&feature=youtu.be
• Montana – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpZ2H8sTRn8&feature=youtu.be
• Ohio – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlcbYi-XyWM&feature=youtu.be
• Spanish – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5rdC4tUTbI&feature=youtu.be
• Generic – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILRPUlsNejo&feature=youtu.be

TV Script –

Narrator: If the politicians in Washington negotiate a bad deal on the budget and deficit,

What do you think will happen to Medicare and Medicaid benefits?

And to our coverage?

Cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicare and Medicaid will short change the people who need it the most.

So if you don’t want seniors to come up empty,

Call (Senator Warner/McCaskill) (Representative Rehberg/Tiberi) and tell him/her don't make a bad deal that cuts our care.

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers — not just corporations and CEOs — benefit from today's global economy. www.seiu.org

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. www.nea.org

“On Election Day the American people were very clear. They want Congress to protect middle class programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, give middle class families a tax cut, and make the super-rich finally pay their fair share. Congress should follow the will of the voters.”

“Even worse, the company ruthlessly intimidates those who speak out against their destructive policies. Walmart’s campaign of intimidation hurts their employees and the communities where they have stores. They threaten workers who stand up and then count on the rest of us sitting back in silence. Their policies undermine the fundamental American values of fairness and decency.

“That is why this Black Friday, AFSCME members across the country will stand with Walmart’s workers in their efforts to get respect and a voice in the workplace. During this holiday season, it is time for all Americans to pull together and support the workers at Walmart.”

To find a Black Friday event near where you live, click this link: http://www.corporateactionnetwork.org/campaigns/black-friday/events

In addition to ads, AFSCME, SEIU and NEA have released results from a public poll that shows a majority of Americans opposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Education in order to balance the budget. A clear majority want neither a “grand bargain” nor cuts to vital services to reduce the budget deficit. More than half of Americans want to see the wealthy pay their fair share so Congress can invest in job creation and protect our national priorities. The poll was conducted by the Mellman Group between November 9-12, 2012.

“We cannot cut our way to job creation, balance the budget at the expense of the middle class, and destroy programs that provide a measure of economic security for millions of Americans,” said Chuck Loveless, AFSCME Federal Government Affairs Director. “Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are bedrock programs for American families, providing retirement income to seniors, keeping millions of Americans healthy and providing health care for the sick and the disabled. We need a balanced approach to the nation’s fiscal challenges which protects the benefits provided by these vital programs, continues the middle class tax cuts, invests in job creation and asks wealthier individuals to pay their fair share. Congress must pull together and pass legislation that protects the American Dream.”

“Elected officials from both parties need to listen to the will of the voters and focus on rebuilding the middle class and strengthening our economy by investing in jobs, not cuts. We will forcefully oppose any budget deal that puts working families and the economic recovery in jeopardy,” said Peter Colavito, SEIU Director of Government Relations.

“Members of Congress have to ask themselves who should make the bigger sacrifice—America’s school children and middle class families or corporations and wealthy CEOs? Are they looking out to preserve middle class tax cuts for hard working men and women, or tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthy?,” said Mary Kusler, NEA Director of Government Relations. “It makes no sense to rob Peter to pay Paul, especially when Peter is a five-year-old who simply is trying to learn in school. It’s short-sighted.”

“Jobs Not Cuts” is the first TV spot that will run in Colorado, Missouri and Virginia. Copies of the ad can be viewed at:

• Colorado — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHz__PWN1v4
• Missouri — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5mtWmCskOU
• Virginia — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N23XqxkTkec

“Can’t Wait” is the first radio spot running in Philadelphia, PA, Anchorage, AK, and Springfield, Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, MO.

The ad can be listened to at:

• Pennsylvania — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvzl3jcO9X8
• Alaska — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE-XrP-rAZY
• Missouri— http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogewzZE-BCI

TV Script – (Note, the Senators’ names vary via state. Colorado, Bennet and Udall, Virginia, Warner and Webb, Missouri, McCaskill)

Announcer: How do we move our country forward and reduce the deficit?

By creating jobs and growing our economy, not by cutting programs that families rely on most.

We need Senators LASTNAME and LASTNAME to continue to stand up for us by

investing in job creation,

extending the middle class tax cuts,

and protecting Medicare, Medicaid and education from cuts.

Because for working families, it’s all about putting Americans back to work, not cutting the things we rely on most

Radio Script – (Note, the Congressman’s names vary via state. Pennsylvania Congressmen Meehan and Fitzpatrick, Alaska at Large, Congressman Young, Missouri Congresswoman Emerson)

Announcer: There’s a debate going on in Washington about the best way to move the country forward and reduce the deficit.

But there’s one thing that both parties can agree on:

We shouldn’t raise taxes on the middle class.

But if Congress fails to act soon, that’s exactly what will happen.

Because if Congress fails to act by the end of the year, everyone’s taxes will automatically go up –

including the ninety-eight percent of Americans who make less than two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year.

Middle class families can’t afford that. And our economy can’t afford that, either.

Congress should act quickly to preserve the middle class tax cuts.

And that will take leaders willing to put people ahead of partisan politics.

Leaders like Congressmen Pat Meehan and Mike Fitzpatrick.

Call Congressman/woman XXX and XXX at 888-997-2750 and urge them to preserve the middle class tax cuts.

Because working families can’t wait.

Paid for by AFSCME, NEA and SEIU.

**Note, the 888 number is different for each state

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers — not just corporations and CEOs — benefit from today's global economy. www.seiu.org

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. www.nea.org

Citigroup’s shares have consistently traded below book value since late 2008, it failed the Federal Reserve’s CCAR stress tests in March 2012, and regulators continue to forbid it from returning significant capital to stockholders due to concerns over its financial stability.

“Despite some positive steps taken since the start of the financial crisis, we believe Citigroup’s progress toward simplifying and de-risking its business has been slow and incomplete. Citigroup boasts many attractive attributes, but remains burdened by excessive complexity, as well as the stigma and risks associated with being named a ‘too big to fail’ institution.”, said Matthew Patsky, CEO of Trillium Asset Management. “These factors could threaten stockholder return through breakdowns in risk management, increased regulatory scrutiny, higher litigation expense, greater capital requirements and poor public perception, among other challenges”.

The resolution specifically requests that the Board of Directors appoint a committee, composed exclusively of independent directors, to explore extraordinary transactions that could enhance stockholder value, including the separation of one or more of Citigroup’s businesses. The resolution also requests that the committee publicly report on its analysis to stockholders no later than 120 days after the Citigroup’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

“There is a gap of almost $50 billion between what Citi says its assets are worth and what the market is saying,” said Lee Saunders, Chairman of the AFSCME Employees Pension Plan’s Board of Trustees. “It is high time that the board gave shareholders a plan for recovering this value.”

At this time, the Board of Directors of Citigroup would best serve their shareholders by studying the merits of various strategic restructuring scenarios closely to determine the correct path forward.

About Trillium Asset Management, LLC

Trillium Asset Management, LLC is the oldest independent investment advisor devoted exclusively to sustainable and responsible investing. With over $1 billion in assets under management, Trillium has been managing equity and fixed income investments for high net worth individuals, foundations, endowments, religious institutions, and other nonprofits, since 1982. A leader in shareholder advocacy and public policy work, Trillium’s goal is to deliver both impact and performance to its investors.

About the AFSCME Employees Pension Plan

The AFSCME Employees Pension Plan provides retirement benefits for employees of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, a public services employees union with more than 1.6 million members who provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations — from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.

The views expressed are those of the authors as of the date referenced and are subject to change at any time based on market or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. These views may not be relied upon as investment advice. The information provided in this material should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities mentioned. It should not be assumed that investments in such securities have been or will be profitable. To the extent specific securities are mentioned, they have been selected by the authors on an objective basis to illustrate views expressed in the commentary and do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended for advisory clients. The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by us as to its timeliness or accuracy, and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data. This piece is for informational purposes and should not be construed as a research report.

“I want to thank Pres. Barack Obama for his remarks today pledging to fight for the middle class and tax fairness. President Obama’s victory on Tuesday sent a clear sign that voters want our leaders to pull together to find real solutions to this country’s economic problems. The House of Representatives should enact the middle-class tax cut that has already passed the U.S. Senate. The voters also sent a clear message that they do not support cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Cuts in these vital insurance programs would only place a greater burden on the people who rely on them for their health care and retirement security. Instead of cuts, these programs need to be strengthened.”

“The total damage done by the torrential rains and powerful winds of Sandy is not yet fully known, but it should be clear to everyone that once again our nation’s first responders have done a remarkable job under the most trying and difficult circumstances. AFSCME members are proud of the brave efforts of our sisters and brothers who have pulled together to meet the challenges faced by communities up and down the eastern region of the country.

“In the coming days, weeks, and even months public service workers, electrical crews, transit workers, health care professionals, sanitation workers and so many others will work tirelessly to put our devastated cities and towns back together. There will be many days and nights of hard, difficult and heavy work. I know that AFSCME members across the country will be mobilizing to provide help and support for those who have suffered during this devastating storm. We will, as always, do our part to help repair the damage and rebuild the communities impacted by this disaster.”

“Working men and women across this country know that President Obama is fighting for them and for the survival of the middle class. President Obama has been tough on trade and brought more successful challenges to China’s trade practices during his first term than the Bush administration brought in eight years. He saved our auto industry against the advice of Governor Romney and his allies on Capitol Hill. President Obama knew that those jobs were essential to America’s economic future and our national security. No amount of Romnesia can change the fact that had we followed Governor Romney’s policies, the American auto industry and millions of jobs would now be lost forever.”

America's working women don't need patronizing suggestions. They demand and deserve equal pay for equal work, something that Pres. Barack Obama supported when he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as his first act in office. Mitt Romney's campaign once said it would "get back [to]" the American people about whether Romney supported equal pay protection. It was clear last night that Romney still has no answer.

More than 54 percent of AFSCME members are women. We know that equal pay is directly connected to economic stability for our families and the American economy. When it’s time to vote, we won't forget Romney's refusal to stand up for our rights. We’ll cast a vote for the candidate who supports equal pay, access to quality, affordable health care, funding for cervical and breast cancer screening providers, and reproductive freedom for women. That candidate is Pres. Barack Obama.” 

Says Hayes in the video: “We’re kind of like the invisible people. He doesn’t realize, you know, the service we provide… When I’m 55, 60 years old I know my body’s gonna be breaking down. Mitt Romney doesn’t care about that.”

The “Meet Richard Hayes” video is one in a series of videos juxtaposing the personal stories with Romney’s dismissal of nearly half of all Americans (in the now-famous video released by “Mother Jones”) and his agenda to cut and privatize public services.

The second video, “Meet Temo” features Temo Fuentes, a City of San Diego employee who fixes the fire trucks that service Mitt Romney’s neighborhood.  (Fuentes’ mother used to clean houses in the area.) Long-time City of San Diego sanitation worker Joan Raymond is featured in the third video. The videos were produced by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, and the workers featured are AFSCME members.

The videos can be viewed at:
http://www.afscme.org/MeetRichard
http://www.afscme.org/MeetTemo
http://www.afscme.org/MeetJoan

“Most people know of Mitt Romney’s oceanfront home, because he paid $12 million dollars for it and he plans to install an elevator for his cars.  We know his house because it is in La Jolla, one of the wealthiest communities in America. People like Richard Hayes keep that neighborhood beautiful and running,” said AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders.

“Mitt Romney says his job is not to care about nearly half of America. Whatever your political stripe, no one should disregard, dismiss, and disrespect half of the country. So we want to put a face on the hard-working men and women who Mitt relies on for public services,” added Saunders.

“We’ve now had a federal and state judge say this law was unconstitutional and that it violated not only the state constitution but the US Constitution as well. The working men and women from across this state deserve to have their rights, which Scott Walker stole from them, restored and today’s ruling gave them hope. We believe any ruling that recognizes the right to collectively bargain is proper under the state and federal constitution” concluded Marty Beil, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 24.

“Governor Walker’s blatant abuse of powers was dealt yet another blow by the courts today. The rights of the hard working men and women to collectively bargain and to organize are fundamental, and today, the Dane County Court agreed. AFSCME will continue to fight to make sure this ruling is upheld by all courts,” added Rick Badger, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 40.

“As the American Federation of Teachers has noted, the strike comes only after long and intense negotiations failed to lead to an agreement that would give CTU members the tools they need to help all their students succeed. This strike comes on the heels of numerous steps that left teachers feeling disrespected, including the district's unilateral decision to strip teachers and paraprofessionals of an agreed-upon 4% raise – an affront to collective bargaining rights.”

“While teachers would clearly prefer to be in the classroom, they are doing what they feel they must to have their voices heard in the decision-making process. And we believe that’s crucial to building a great public education system that makes the American Dream accessible to all.”

“Mitt Romney was a disaster as governor of Massachusetts, where he tried to raise fees on everyone from the blind to the veterans getting care in the Chelsea Soldiers Home,” Owen Jr. said.  “His record of outsourcing jobs and destroying American companies says something about his plans for the U.S. economy.  So does the fact that he continues to hide his tax returns, even after we’ve learned that he parks millions of dollars overseas in shell companies and tax shelters.

“He’s succeeded in making millions of dollars, but he doesn’t understand that Main Street Americans want to come together to work on real solutions to our problems, not more tax cuts for billionaires.  He wants us to return to the Bush policies of the past which got us into this economic crisis.  That’s not the way to go.  President Obama wants everyone to pay their fair share in taxes so that we can reduce the deficit and create new jobs.  Romney and his corporate-backed allies in Washington would only make matters worse.”

“The discrimination that LGBT public sector workers still face is deplorable,” said Lee Saunders, president of AFSCME. “While some states have passed laws prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, a majority of state workers can still be legally fired for being gay. No worker should be subjected to these high rates of harassment or be forced into unemployment, deprived of health insurance for themselves and for their families. This is a wrong that we need to right, right now.”

This joint AFSCME and CAP report finds that 57.4 percent of Americans working in state government do not have legal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Only a minority of state employees (just over four in 10, or 42.6 percent) work in a state with a law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation; only three in 10 (31.8 percent) work in a state with a law also prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.

“On top of denying basic workplace protections to all LGBT workers, taxpayers are footing the bill for this discrimination that all too often continues to go unchecked, said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress. “Simply put, it is financially irresponsible to evaluate workers based on any characteristics that are not directly relevant to job performance, especially at a time when state and local budgets are in the red. If we want to get serious about improving the economy, we need to get serious about reducing discrimination in the public sector and the numerous inefficiencies that it introduces into the functioning of state and local governments.”

To protect these workers from discrimination, Congress should pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, to ensure that gay and transgender workers in the public and private sector in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are afforded substantive legal protections from employment discrimination. For their part, states should continue to enact workplace nondiscrimination laws as well as extend relationship recognition rights to same-sex couples to ensure equal access to workplace benefits.

Read “Gay and Transgender Discrimination in the Public Sector”

Related Resources:

• The Costly Business of Discrimination
• Workplace Fairness for Gay and Transgender Workers
• The Top 10 Economic Facts of Diversity in the Workplace
• FAQ: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act
• The State of Diversity in Today’s Workforce

To speak with CAP experts, please contact Christina DiPasquale at 202.481.8181 or cdipasquale@americanprogress.org. To speak with AFSCME experts, please contact Chris Fleming at 202.429.1053 or cfleming@afscme.org.

Wisconsin retiree Tom Thornton offered this comment on his home state congressman:

“Paul Ryan has been a leading voice in the worst Congress in history. His radical budget proposals would turn Medicare into a risky voucher program for the next generation of retirees and cut so much from Medicaid that millions of seniors may be thrown out of nursing homes. He would tear seniors’ safety net to shreds.

“Paul Ryan has spent his time in Congress representing the Koch brothers and the Wall Street billionaires instead of fighting for the middle class. That’s why he supports privatizing Social Security and overturning the important benefits passed under Obamacare. Now, Ryan wants us to believe he cares about jobs and seniors, but his record is far different than his rhetoric. No one should be fooled,” Thornton concluded.

“By choosing Chris Christie to open the convention, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are signaling that they, like the governor, will try to bully working Americans into paying for corporate tax cuts by slashing Medicare and Social Security.”

“America is at a crossroads. We can help Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan further rig the system to favor the super-rich, or we can support President Obama and Vice President Biden’s plan to give everyone a shot at the American Dream.”

Jean Fightmaster, an OCSEA retiree from Columbus, Ohio, commented on Kasich’s appearance at the convention:

“Governor Kasich knows all too well how voters in our state feel about the Romney-Ryan attacks on working Ohioans. Last year, voters rejected Kasich’s attempt to steal the rights of working people by a two-to-one margin. Romney endorsed that attack, so you better believe we will turn out this November to vote for the candidates who will put Main Street ahead of Wall Street.

“John Kasich’s appearance tonight reminds us where the candidates for president stand. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are not on the side of working Ohioans. President Obama and Vice President Biden will protect the rights and freedoms of the working middle class. The choice is clear.”

Jim Garity, a highway department truck driver from Palmyra, Wisconsin, blasted Scott Walker’s appearance at the convention:

“Americans saw firsthand the dirty, ‘divide and conquer’ politics Scott Walker employed to steal rights away from Wisconsin’s teachers, EMTs, corrections officers and other public sector workers. The Koch brothers may have Governor Walker on speed dial, but for the sake of working Americans everywhere, let’s make sure they don’t get an open line to the White House.

“Like Scott Walker, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will continue the war on working people by ramming through an agenda that lowers taxes on the rich, raises them on everyone else, and robs seniors of Medicare and Social Security. President Obama and Vice President Biden will unite us to secure an economy where everyone has a fair chance at success and economic security.”