Earlier this month, AT&T quietly published an extraordinary document, a “political congruency report,” covering the year 2022. This report looks at the state and federal elected officials to whom AT&T or its Employee PACs have made political contributions and compares their voting record to the company’s stance. Popular Information has previously documented how AT&T’s political donations conflicted with its stated values over several years.
For instance, while claiming to support LGBTQ rights, AT&T donated over $1.3 million to anti-LGBTQ legislators between January 2022 and June 2023. Similarly, AT&T’s support for voting rights contradicts its financial contributions to politicians behind voter suppression legislation in Texas and Georgia.
A group of shareholders introduced a resolution in April 2022, urging AT&T to publish a report analyzing the congruence of its political and electioneering expenditures against publicly stated values. While the resolution received significant support, AT&T voluntarily agreed in April 2023 to produce a report on the extent to which its political contributions align with the company’s stated political engagement priorities.
However, AT&T’s 2022 Political Congruency Report has significant flaws, notably for not addressing how politicians financially supported by AT&T align with the company’s positions on voting rights, LGBTQ equality, or women’s empowerment. The report focuses on AT&T’s “political priorities” and “sustainability priorities” rather than addressing these key issues. Additionally, the report excludes relevant climate change legislation and takes a narrow view of AT&T’s political priorities.
AT&T’s report represents a notable step in recognizing the importance of aligning political spending with stated values, but it falls short in addressing key concerns, leaving room for improvement in transparency and accountability.