Allstate 2013 Annual Report Download - page 89

Proposal 6
Stockholder proposal on reporting lobbying expenditures
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of report shall be presented to the Audit Committee of the
Industrial Organizations Reserve Fund, 815 Sixteenth Board or other relevant oversight committees of the Board
Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 20006, beneficial owner of and posted on Allstate’s website.
360 shares of Allstate common stock as of December 11, Supporting Statement
2012, intends to propose the following resolution at the
annual meeting. We encourage our Board to require comprehensive
disclosure related to direct, indirect and grassroots
To be approved, a majority of the shares present in lobbying. Corporate lobbying can expose Allstate to risks
person or represented by proxy at the meeting and that could affect the company’s stated goals, objectives,
entitled to vote on the proposal must be voted ‘‘for.’’ and ultimately shareholder value. Shareholders have a
Abstentions will be counted as shares present at the strong interest in full disclosure of our company’s lobbying
meeting and will have the effect of a vote against the to assess whether Allstate’s lobbying is consistent with its
proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted as shares expressed goals and in the best interests of shareholders.
entitled to vote on the matter and will have no impact on
the vote’s outcome. As shareholders, we encourage transparency and
accountability in the use of staff time and corporate funds
The Board of Directors does not support the adoption of to influence legislation and regulation, both directly and
this proposal and asks stockholders to consider indirectly. We believe such disclosure is in shareholders’
management’s response following the proponent’s best interests. Absent a system of accountability,
statement. The Board recommends that stockholders company assets could be used for objectives contrary to
vote against this proposal. Allstate’s long-term interests.
Resolved: Shareholders of Allstate Corporation According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Allstate
(‘‘Allstate’’) urge the Board of Directors (the ‘‘Board’’) to spent $3.3 million on direct federal lobbying activities in
authorize the preparation of a report, updated annually, 2011. (http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/
disclosing: clientsum.php?id=D000000632&year=2011). These
figures do not include lobbying expenditures in states.
1. Company policy and procedures governing lobbying, Allstate had 109 lobbyists in 39 states in 2011, according
both direct and indirect, and grassroots lobbying to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.
communications. (http://www.followthemoney.org/database/
2. Payments by Allstate used for (a) direct or indirect lobbyistclient.phtml?lc=101065&y=2011&s=0#11ink).
lobbying or (b) grassroots lobbying communications, Allstate also contributed almost $3.2 million to national
in each case including the amount of the payment trade associations in 2011, of which $1.5 million was
and the recipient. attributed to lobbying efforts, according to the Allstate
Corporate Involvement in Public Policy 2011 Annual
3. Allstate’s membership in and payments to any Report. (http://www.allstate.com/Allstate/content/
tax-exempt organization that writes and endorses refreshattachments/Social-Responsibility/
model legislation. Allstate_CIPP_2011.pdf).
For purposes of this proposal ‘‘grassroots lobbying We welcome the fact that Allstate has disclosed the total
communication’’ is communication directed to the general amount of its 2011 lobbying contributions, including the
public that (a) refers to specific legislation or names of trade associations that Allstate is a member.
regulation (b) reflects a view on the legislation or However, Allstate has not disclosed a breakdown of how
regulation and (c) encourages the recipient of the much it contributes to each individual trade association
communication to take action with respect to the for lobbying activities. We believe that providing this
legislation or regulation. ‘‘Indirect lobbying’’ is lobbying information will ensure that Allstate is fully transparent
engaged in by a trade association or other organization of and accountable to shareholders for its lobbying activities.
which Allstate is a member. Both ‘‘direct and indirect
lobbying’’ and ‘‘grassroots lobbying communications’’ For these reasons, we urge you to vote FOR this
include efforts at the local, state and federal levels. The resolution.
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Stockholder Proposals
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