U.S. campaign finance system rocked as major firms pause or halt political contributions after ...

Source: Washington Post


U.S. campaign finance system rocked as major firms pause or halt political contributions after election results challenged

Some companies target GOP politicians who voted against certifying Biden’s win, others say they will stop giving to all federal campaigns

By Todd C. Frankel, Jeff Stein and Tony Romm
Jan. 11, 2021 at 1:32 p.m. EST

The funding of U.S. political campaigns is being rocked as major firms such as Facebook, BlackRock, Marriott and Dow announced plans to halt some or all political contributions as a result of last week’s insurrection at the Capitol — a sign of corporate America’s growing uneasiness with the election doubts and violent attacks inspired by President Trump.

Major companies that collectively pour millions of dollars annually into campaigns through employee-funded political action committees are registering their worry and anger about last week’s chaos by pledging to reexamine their role in American politics.

Facebook and Microsoft said they will halt all political donations while they reviewed their giving. BlackRock made a similar announcement in a memo to its employees, noting its decision was spurred by “the horrific events in the nation’s capital.” Others, such as Marriott, announced more targeted action: A pause to the campaign cash flowing to Republicans who voted against certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s win.

Marriott, the world’s largest hotel chain, said its decision suspending donations to 147 Republican U.S. representatives and senators was motivated by “the destructive events at the Capitol to undermine a legitimate and fair election.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/01/10/marriott-campaign-donations-congress/