The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility

Tag Archive for ‘Congress’

The Better Light Bulb Debate

The Better Use of Light Bulbs (BULB) Act (H.R. 2417) was a failed attempt in July 2011 by some Republicans in the House to repeal a 2007 law mandating increased efficiency for light bulbs sold anywhere in the U.S. Sponsors of the bill cited the 2007 bulb efficiency requirements—whereby light bulbs must be 25 to 30 percent more efficient by 2014 and then as much as 60 percent more efficient by 2020—as a key example of how government overreaches its authority.

Senate Bill Changes Rules for Boards, Executive Pay

The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 59-39, requires directors to win by majority vote in uncontested elections, gives the SEC authority to grant shareholders proxy access to nominate directors and gives shareholders the right to a nonbinding vote on executive pay. The measure must be reconciled with a House bill.

Financial Reform Bill Includes New Governance Measures

Among other things, the measure would give shareholders a say on pay by permitting a non-binding vote on executive pay. And it would give the SEC authority to grant shareholders proxy access to nominate directors.

Game Change: Environmentalists Advise WalMart on Sustainability

When the Environmental Defense Fund first fought for a ban on the pesticide DDT more than 40 years ago, the non-profit organization went to court and sued. Times have changed. These days, EDF staff members work directly with companies like WalMart to address sustainability issues.

Climate Change: Will Carbon Tax Unite ExxonMobil and Its Critics?

The only hope for a new carbon-cutting law from the U.S. Congress in 2010 could involve what has long been thought of as the least politically viable approach: a tax on carbon. But achieving that might very well require an alliance of strange bedfellows – including environmental advocates and ExxonMobil, long a chief climate change skeptic.