Through our Framework for Action, we are committed to standing together and mobilizing our people, passion, scale and resources to transform our culture and our communities. The Kroger Family of companies is offering grants of up to $125,000 to Nonprofit Organizations that provide programs and services in the areas of hunger relief, diversity & inclusion, health & nutrition or strong communities. Political contributions. This tension between our ideals and individuals lived reality demands our constant vigilance as citizens. [LinkedIn, 4/14/21]. Deloitte: Companies That Hold Themselves Accountable To Their Stakeholders By Increasing Transparency [Regarding Environmental And Social Concerns] Will Be More Viable And Valuable In The Long Term. The business landscape today has been transformed by environmental and social concerns. At least 357 sitting Republican legislators in closely contested battleground states have used the power of their office to discredit or try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to a review of legislative votes, records and official statements by The New York Times. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged U.S. senators to reject a voting reform bill passed by the Democratic House and the powerful business lobby warned that it might highlight where they stand on the issue. It Is Also A Right That Has Too Often Been Denied To Citizens, Especially People Of Color. The right to vote is sacred and the bedrock of our system of self-government. 538, AR H.B. After obtaining additional information about the way in which NV S.B. The New York Times: 24 Percent Of Republican Lawmakers In Closely Contested Battleground States Voted For An Outside, Partisan Review Of The 2020 Election (Often Referred To As An Audit). Neither Kroger Nor Its Executives Signed On To The April 2021 New York Times Ad Of Corporations Claiming To Stand For Democracy And Against Restrictive Voting Bills. Last year, the Foundation directed $12.7 million in grants to more than 322 nonprofit organizations across the country to end hunger, advance racial equity and help communities recover from disasters. Unnecessary restrictions on the right to vote strike at the heart of representative government. As understanding grows about the risk and value creation opportunities that ESG presents, the demand for ESG disclosure has accelerated. Progressive activists are calling on Ford, Target, Google, Bank of America and other major companies that have pledged to support voting rights to cut ties with the US Chamber of Commerce, CNN Business has learned. Despite increased focus on ESG matters from stakeholders and the need to internally mobilize to create a robust ESG strategy and governance structure, less than a quarter (21% of survey respondents) currently have an ESG council or working group in place to drive strategic attention to ESG topics; however, more than half (57% of survey respondents) are actively working to establish one. Only two House Republicans Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois voted Wednesday to create a select committee to investigate the deadly January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Create an account If you have any technical support questions, please contact technical support . Business Roundtable members believe state laws must safeguard and guarantee the right to vote. [Business Roundtable, 3/31/21], Business Roundtable CEOs: Paid Time Off And Flexibility For Voting Are Best Practices. [Business Roundtable, 7/21/20], The Business Roundtable Released A Statement Saying The Strength Of Our Democracy Depends On The Integrity And Fairness Of Our Nations Elections, Welcoming Efforts To Address Barriers To Voting At The State Level. It has about 3,650 stores in 31 states. The country's most conservative companies include: Murray Energy, Saint Clairsville, Ohio - 99 percent Republican South State Bank, Columbia, S.C. - 98 percent Republican J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc., Hackensack, N.J. - 97 percent Republican Service Corporation International, Houston, Texas - 97 percent Republican More than a third of all restrictive voting laws enacted since then were passed this year. [Brennan Center for Justice. As a company, Sprouts does not donate to political campaigns or make contributions to political candidates. Our book shows that when voters are poorly informed, enough voters are more likely to make mistakes at the polls. Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. who lives in cherry hills village; buffalo st patrick's day parade 2021; gabriella made in chelsea net worth; are shelley long and bette midler friends In December 2021, The Brennan Center Identified That Between January 1 And December 7, At Least 19 States Passed 34 Laws Restricting Access To Voting. Between January 1 and December 7, at least 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to voting. kroger political donations. View history William Rodney McMullen (born 1961) is an American businessman who has been the CEO of Kroger, the third-largest general retailer in the US, since January 1, 2014. Furthermore, in a 2021 survey by Howard University Digital Informers, a slim majority (51.5%) of respondents believe that Black Americans are targets of fake news. [The Brookings Institution. Accountable.US conducted Nexis and Google searches using Krogers name combined with the terms disinformation and each of the following: election, 2020, ballot, vote, and voting. Accountable.US also ran the same searches with the term misinformation. As of August 11, 2022, Kroger does not appear to have enabled the sharing of electoral misinformation/disinformation nor allowed its platform to be used to share electoral misinformation/disinformation since the 2020 election cycle. Kroger gave $42,000 to federal candidates in the 2006 election through its political action committee - 5% to Democrats and 95% to Republicans. /. As of December 2021, the Brennan Center reported that 19 states passed 34 restrictive laws in 2021. [] Tensions were already running high when lawmakers gathered early Wednesday afternoon for the constitutionally mandated counting of the Electoral College results, in which Biden defeated Trump, 306-232. [AP. The Kroger Co. Foundation, established in 1987, is the company's private foundation. 2332, KY H.B. The tally accounts for 44 percent of the Republican legislators in the nine states where the presidential race was most narrowly decided. As documented by the Los Angeles Times, in the fall of 1988, Kroger announced a $3.77 billion restructuring plan involving substantial but unspecified bank loans, paying shareholders $48 in cash and securities per share, and allowing them to keep their stock. At least 18 companies have donated or pledged to donate money to the BLM Global Network Foundation, according to a list compiled by the Washington-based Capital Research Center, which monitors. [Accountable.US, Corporate Anti-Democracy Donations Database, accessed 7/8/22]. [Accountable.US, Corporate Anti-Democracy Donations Database, accessed 7/8/22]. The vote was 49 to 51. Let your friends and followers know how Kroger is performing in supporting our democracy, and encourage them to take action. It said Oath Keepers was an IRS-approved non-profit organization and was . [Govtrack, Accessed 2/7/22], The Freedom To Vote: John R. Lewis Act, A Combination Of The Freedom To Vote Act And The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Failed In The Senate After It Was Tacked On To A NASA Bill That Required A Simple Majority To Proceed To Debate. On January 6, 2021, A Violent Mob Stormed The U.S. Capitol In Response To Congress Constitutionally Mandated Counting Of The Electoral College Results In A Stunning Attempt To Overturn Americas Presidential Election. A violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday and forced lawmakers into hiding, in a stunning attempt to overturn Americas presidential election, undercut the nations democracy and keep Democrat Joe Biden from replacing Trump in the White House. After the Capitol riot and a Republican push to pass restrictive voting laws that disproportionately affect racial minorities, investors want to know more about where a companys political donations end up. [The New York Times. All proceeds must be 100% for charitable contributions that serve the communities around Kroger. 12, WY H.B. Corporate Contributions Occasionally and where permitted by law, The Kroger Co. may make modest political contributions directly to state or local candidates using corporate funds. Join us. [Time To Vote, Accessed. The numbers on this page are based on contributions of $200 or more from PACs and individuals to federal candidates and from PAC, individual and soft money donors to political parties, as reported to the Federal Election Commission. Just six GOP senators joined with the Democrats, leaving the measure short of the 60 votes needed to proceed. [NPR, 5/28/21], On June 30, 2021, Reps. Adam Kinzinger And Liz Cheney Were The Only House Republicans Who Voted To Create A Select Committee To Investigate January 6. 84 And LA H.B. Political parties should be funded from the public purse, and there should be no private donations above $1000, said the Liberal Party's state president, Michael Kroger. While our ballots may have been divided, our support for the democratic process and the peaceful transition of power must be unequivocal. [Business Roundtable, 1/7/21], Kroger Has Made A Statement Opposing The Events Of January 6, 2021, Saying We Are Against Violence In All Its Forms, Including The Riots Last Week In Washington, D.C. We are against violence in all its forms, including the riots last week in Washington, D.C. We are pausing PAC donations while we review our PAC-giving philosophy, saidMatt Perin, Krogers head of government relations, in a statement. After Senate Republicans Blocked A Bill To Establish An Independent Commission To Investigate The January 6th Attack, The House Narrowly Passed Legislation Establishing A Select Committee To Do The Same. Events, Webcams and more. Kroger Community Grant. Kroger Did Not Join The Business For Voting Rights Coalition. We plan to resume contributions once this assessment is completed. [Cincinnati Enquirer. [Govtrack, 1/13/22], In January 2022, All Republican Members Of The Senate Voted To Block The Freedom To Vote: John R. Lewis Act. But most Republicans also oppose the more targeted Lewis-named legislation, which would restore key provisions of the Voting Rights Act that were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013. [Politico. The site shows shoppers what percentage of a company's political spending went. The duo allegedly sought to buy political influence on behalf of Ukrainian and Russian individuals. As a pro-Trump protest turned into a violent attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 last year, four people in the crowd died. [New York Times, 1/5/22], 147 Members Of Congress Objected To Certifying The 2020 Presidential Election. In three states, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, state lawmakers successfully pushed for investigations that sowed doubt about the results and tested the boundaries of their oversight. [The New York Times, 5/22/22], The New York Times: Election And Democracy Experts Say They See The Rise Of Anti-Democratic Impulses In Statehouses As A Clear, New Threat To The Health Of American Democracy. Election and democracy experts say they see the rise of anti-democratic impulses in statehouses as a clear, new threat to the health of American democracy. The right to vote is sacred and the bedrock of our system of self-government. [Govtrack, 10/20/22], In November 2021, All Republican Senators, Except For Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Voted To Block The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 319, NH H.B. All Americans who qualify should be able to exercise this right free from unnecessary hurdles. [Business Roundtable. Business Roundtable members believe state laws must safeguard and guarantee the right to vote. [Business Roundtable. 84, NY S.B. political involvement. 285, AL H.B. The Number Of Public Companies That Disclose Or Prohibit Political Spending Hit A Record In 2021. Companies That Increase Transparency On Environmental And Social Concerns Will Be More Viable And Valuable In The Long Term While Those That Fail To Release Thorough Disclosures Risk Investors Shunning A Stock Or Organizing Public Rebukes. They also cannot be used for legal or administrative purposes. Republican lawmakers attempted to challenge the results of Arizona and Pennsylvania, two swing states Biden won, during and after a violent and deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. [Govtrack, Accessed 2/7/22], Of The 212 Republican Members Of The House Of Representatives, 203 Voted To Block The Freedom To Vote: John R. Lewis Act, While Nine Did Not Vote. [] Congress has the legal and constitutional power to ward off these attacks by passing the Freedom to Vote Act, which would set national standards to protect the freedom to vote, counter election sabotage, end partisan redistricting, and fix our broken campaign finance system. [Brennan Center for Justice, 9/20/21], The Freedom To Vote Act Would Restore Federal Voting Rights To Formerly Incarcerated Citizens Upon Their Release And Removes The Vestiges Of Restrictions Born Out Of Jim Crow. The Freedom to Vote Act [] Voting rights restoration: The bill restores federal voting rights to formerly incarcerated citizens upon their release, establishing a bright-line standard to replace the confusing patchwork of state laws and removing the vestiges of restrictions born out of Jim Crow. [Brennan Center for Justice, 9/20/21], The Freedom To Vote Act Would Require Each State To Ensure That Individuals With Disabilities Have The Same Access To Absentee Ballots And Applications As Other Voters, As Well As Making Them Electronically Accessible To Voters With Disabilities. The Freedom to Vote Act [] Protections for individuals with disabilities: The bill would address some of the biggest challenges to voting access that Americans with disabilities face. [United States Senate, 11/3/21], November 2021: Senate Republicans, Except For Sen. Murkowski, Blocked The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act With A 50-49 Procedural Vote On Whether To Open Debate On The Bill. As a pro-Trump protest turned into a violent attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 last year, four people in the crowd died. [The New York Times, 1/5/22], Following January 6, Several Corporations Suspended Donations To The 147 Lawmakers Who Objected To Certifying The Results Of The 2020 Presidential Election And Some Temporarily Paused Donations To Assess Their Political Giving Policies. Senate Republicans blocked the John Lewis Voting Rights Act from advancing on Wednesday when the Senate took a procedural vote on whether to open debate on the legislation. As business leaders and employers of, collectively, over 15 million people, we believe no American including our employees should have to choose between keeping their job and casting their vote. [Business Roundtable. [Business Roundtable, Accessed 3/22/22], The Business Roundtable Has Released Statements Condemning Unnecessary Restrictions On The Right To Vote And Has Advocated For Paid Time Off For Voting, Saying The Strength Of Our Democracy Depends On The Integrity And Fairness Of Our Nations Elections., The Business Roundtable Released A Statement Condemning Unnecessary Restrictions On The Right To Vote, Which It Said Strikes At The Heart Of Representative Government. As changes to voting laws are under consideration in multiple state legislatures, Business Roundtable today issued the following statement on principles that should guide policymakers: The right to vote is the essence of a democratic society, and the voice of every voter should be heard in fair elections that are conducted with integrity. Elections in the United States fall on workdays for millions of Americans, making it difficult for some to participate in a civic process that is core to our democracy. [The New York Times, 1/7/21], In May 2021, Only 35 House Republicans Joined The Majority Of House Members In Voting For An Independent Commission To Investigate The January 6 Insurrection. Thirty-five House Republican broke ranks Wednesday evening to support legislation that would establish an independent commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Senate Republicans blocked the John Lewis Voting Rights Act from advancing on Wednesday when the Senate took a procedural vote on whether to open debate on the legislation. Kroger fired a couple of workers in Arkansas over this stuff, and are now facing an EEOC suit: Kroger is being accused of violating federal law for allegedly firing two employees who refused to. Both GOP lawmakers, who are frequent critics of former President Donald Trump, were among the 35 House Republicans who voted to establish an independent commission, which was blocked by Senate Republicans. [CNN, 6/30/21], The Select Committee On January 6 Aims To Investigate The Attack At The Capitol On January 6, 2021. We plan to resume contributions once this assessment is completed. [Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/12/21]. 2020 Election Audits Efforts Perpetuated The Big Lie With Baseless Claims Of Election Fraud. The reviews have been used to justify new voting laws and efforts to decertify the 2020 election. [The New York Times. In light of those events, some companies are temporarily suspending any political action committee (PAC) donations to all lawmakers as they assess their policies. [The Hill. The Senate was unable to move the For the People Act to the floor for a debate. In light of those events, some companies are temporarily suspending any political action committee (PAC) donations to all lawmakers as they assess their policies. [The Hill, 1/12/21], During The 2022 Election Cycle, Kroger Has Contributed At Least $33,000 To Members Of Congress Who Did Not Support The Formation Of A January 6th Commission Or The Committee To Investigate January 6th. "Given the concerning nature of the allegations against this organization, we have immediately removed the group from receiving customer-directed funds," Kroger said in a statement. [] The legislation would make it significantly easier to vote, limit gerrymandering of congressional districts, require third-party groups to reveal secret donors and reform an election watchdog, among other changes. Our book shows that when voters are poorly informed, enough voters are more likely to make mistakes at the polls. [Kroger, Accessed 3/18/22]. [Accountable.US, Corporate Anti-Democracy Donations Database, accessed 7/8/22]. Kroger Does Not Appear To Have Enabled The Sharing Of Electoral Misinformation/Disinformation Nor Allowed Its Platform To Be Used To Share Electoral Misinformation/Disinformation Since The 2020 Election Cycle. Grocery magnate Charles Butt tries to tap into his natural optimism when thinking about the future of public schools and Texas' children. [United States Senate, 11/3/21], In January 2022, 203 Republican Members Of The House Of Representatives Voted To Block The Freedom To Vote: John R. Lewis Act, While Nine House Republicans Did Not Vote. Texas-based H-E-B, No. 1111, TX S.B. Because the freedom to vote is everyones business. [Business For Voting Rights, Accessed. Because the NASA bill had already been considered by both chambers, it proceeded to debate with a simple majority instead of the usual 60 votes required to advance to debate. [Business Insider, 1/20/22], All Congressional Republicans, Except For Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Voted To Block The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Which Would Have Restored Key Provisions Of The Voting Rights Act That Were Struck Down In 2013 By The Supreme Court., All Republican Members Of The House Of Representatives Voted To Block The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021. In January 2021, a number of companies halted their political contributions in the United States, primarily in response to some Republican legislators' objections to certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count and the ensuing mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol.All of these companies announced suspension of donations to legislators and/or executive branch members who . [Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol, Accessed 3/3/21], During The 2022 Election Cycle, Kroger Does Not Appear To Have Contributed To State Officials Who Voted For Anti-Voter Legislation. It passed the House, 220 to 210, last month as Republican lawmakers in several states advanced legislation that would impose new rules and restrictions on voting. [Bloomberg. Voting rights restoration: The bill restores federal voting rights to formerly incarcerated citizens upon their release, establishing a bright-line standard to replace the confusing patchwork of state laws and removing the vestiges of restrictions born out of Jim Crow. [Brennan Center for Justice. It cant be overstated how much the events of this year have put the focus on political spending, said Shelley Alpern, the director of shareholder advocacy at Rhia Ventures, a social impact investment firm. 3920, TX S.B. Keep Our Groceries Tax OH WI Fred Meyer OR 2/12/2018 Yes! J.Crew and Starbucks remained strictly bipartisan in their affiliation, but American Apparel skewed far into the Democratic range: 83% of its stores were . The complete list of participating stores is below: 12501 Shelbyville Road, Middletown, Ky. 5929 Timber Ridge Drive, Prospect, Ky. 9080 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, Ky. A beautifully American ideal, but a reality denied to many for much of this nations history. At issue is the Chamber of Commerces fierce opposition to the Democratssweeping voting bill known as the For the People Act,whichadvocates say would counter effortsby Georgia and other states to impose new voting restrictions. [CNN, 04/21/21], The For The People Act Would Make It Easier To Vote, Limit Gerrymandering Of Congressional Districts, Require Third-Party Groups To Reveal Secret Donors and Reform An Election Watchdog. [Kroger, Accessed 3/21/22], The Chamber Of Commerce Is A Political Donor, Having Given Millions To Political Candidates In Recent Elections. . Thirty-five House Republican broke ranks Wednesday evening to support legislation that would establish an independent commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. POLITICAL SPENDING 1/1/2018-12/31/2018 Division State Date Recipient Party Office Sought or Description Amount Source Fred Meyer OR 2/5/2018 Yes! [emailprotected] Three different election investigations are underway in Wisconsin: an investigation initiated by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a separate so-called forensic audit modeled after Arizona by GOP Rep. Janel Brandtjen and an investigation by the states nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau, which the Republican-led legislature asked it to conduct. Kroger Co. has suspended its political contributions to candidates in the wake of rioting and violence at the U.S. Capitol last week. 1819, FL S.B. In short, it would be the most significant federal expansion of voting rights in a generation. [The Hill. As a pro-Trump protest turned into a violent attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 last year, four people in the crowd died. [The New York Times. The funds cannot be used for political purposes. Facebook executives have played down the companys role in the Jan. 6 attack and have resisted calls, including from its own Oversight Board, for a comprehensive internal investigation. In 2016, Julia Jenkins Fancelli's sister Carol Jenkins Barnett donated . We consider these best practices, which we encourage more companies to adopt. [Business Roundtable.