Political Contributions

2010 – UnitedHealth Group Inc.

 

 

RESOLVED, that the shareholders of UnitedHealth Group (the “Company”) hereby request that the Company provide a report, updated annually, disclosing the Company’s:

 

1. Policies and procedures for lobbying contributions and expenditures (both direct and indirect) made with corporate funds and payments (both direct and indirect) used for direct lobbying and grassroots lobbying communications.

 

2. Payments (both direct and indirect) used for direct lobbying and grassroots lobbying communications as defined in 26 CFR § 56.4911-2.

 

3. The report shall include the following:

 

a. Identification of the person or persons in the Company who participated in making the decisions to make the direct lobbying contributions or expenditures;

b. Identification of the person or persons in the Company who participated in making the decision to make the payments for grassroots lobbying expenditures; and

c. The internal guidelines or policies, if any, for engaging in direct and grassroots lobbying communications.

   

The report shall be presented to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) or other relevant oversight committee of the Board and posted on the Company’s website to reduce costs to shareholders.

 

Supporting Statement: As long-term UnitedHealth Group shareholders, we support transparency and accountability in corporate spending to influence legislation.  These activities include direct and indirect spending to influence legislation as well as grassroots lobbying communications to influence legislation.

 

Disclosure is consistent with public policy, is in the Company’s and its shareholders’ best interest, and critical for compliance with recent federal ethics legislation.  Absent a system of accountability, Company assets can be used for policy objectives that may be inimical to the long-term interests of and may pose risks to the Company and its shareholders.

 

UnitedHealth Group spent about $8.4 million in 2008 and 2009 on direct lobbying  activities, according to the Company’s disclosure reports.  [U.S. Senate Office of Public Records] This figure may not include grassroots lobbying, which may indirectly influence legislation.

 

Publicly available data does not provide a complete picture of the Company’s lobbying expenditures.  The Company’s Board and its shareholders need complete disclosure to be able to evaluate the use of corporate assets for direct and grassroots lobbying and the risks the spending poses.

     

We urge you to vote FOR this proposal.