Axios: “The state of play: The letter urges corporate America to publicly oppose new legislation that would limit voting rights, calling on companies to use their reputation, money and lobbyists to sway lawmakers.
- The effort, led by former American Express CEO Ken Chenault and outgoing Merck CEO Ken Frazier, comes in the wake of Georgia’s recent passage of a law that opponents say will make it harder for Black people and other disadvantaged communities to vote.
- Few major corporations spoke out against the Georgia bill in the weeks leading up to its final passage. “Georgia is the leading edge of a movement all around this country to restrict voting access,” Frazier told CNBC, calling the restrictions “a prototype for a lot of bad laws.”
- Signees to the letter include TIAA chief executive Roger Ferguson Jr., Ariel Investments co-chief executives Mellody Hobson and John Rogers Jr., Vista Equity Partners chief executive Robert F. Smith and Raymond McGuire, a former Citigroup executive who is running for mayor in New York.
What they’re saying: “Fundamentally, if you can’t oppose this legislation — that’s the lifeblood for black Americans, the right to vote. We can’t be silent, and corporate America can’t be silent. And if they can’t speak out on this issue, what can they speak out on?” Chenault said on CNBC.”