Corporations are disclosing more information about their political contributions, study says

Many of the nation’s largest publicly traded companies are disclosing more information about their political contributions, according to a study from the Center for Political Accountability, a nonpartisan group that promotes greater transparency in corporate political spending. More corporations are also placing restrictions on political spending to candidates, parties, committees and so-called “dark money” groups, according to the report.

The move toward more transparency is happening at a time when political spending from outside groups is on a dramatic upswing -- and is expected to reach a record high for the 2016 presidential election -- following the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United, which allows corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money in direct advocacy for or against candidates. About half of the companies in 2015 disclosed some information about their contributions to candidates, parties and committees or have policies prohibiting such contributions. Forty-one percent of the companies disclosed information about their contributions to influence ballot measures or had policies against engaging in such activities.