Business Ethics

Is There Any Hope U.S. Will Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

The best hope to date was 2009’s American Clean Energy and Security Act, a bill that called for the implementation of a “cap-and-trade” system to limit carbon dioxide emissions. That bill failed to pass, and most experts say it’s inconceivable to think the next Congress – or President Obama – would even contemplate strong climate or clean energy legislation.

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.

Stripping U.S. EPA of Water Quality Regulatory Authority

EarthTalk®
E – The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to strip the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of its authority over state water quality. Why did they do this, what are the ramifications and what do leading green groups have to say about it? — Joseph Emory, York, PA
[...]

Financial Reform Bill Leaves Proxy Access Rules with SEC

After days of intense political drama, House and Senate negotiators on the financial reform bill agreed to toss a key shareholder governance issue — proxy access — back to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Senate Negotiators Move to Limit Proxy Access in Finance Bill

To the dismay of activist investor groups, Senate Banking Committee chairman Christopher Dodd proposed that investors seeking to nominate directors for shareholder votes be required to own at least a 5% interest in the company for two years. Few, if any, institutional investors would be able to meet such a requirement.

Finance Reform Bill Could Increase Whistleblower Payouts

The legislation would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to award whistleblowers up to 30 percent of the fines collected by the government for providing “original information” regarding violations of securities laws. Based on some recent cases involving the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, payouts could be in the tens of millions of dollars.

Democrats Introduce Political Contributions Legislation

Democrats officially launched their long-expected legislative response to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling freeing up corporations, unions and other groups to make political contributions. Five U.S. Senators released their version of the DISCLOSE Act – an acronym for the “Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections” Act. Similar legislation was introduced in the House. (File Photo)