Author: James McAllister
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Oklahoma pension system pushes back against treasurer’s ESG opposition
The Oklahoma Public Employees’ Retirement System (OPERS) recently voted to continue contracting with BlackRock and State Street—the managers of most of the state’s pension assets. Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ (R) published a letter arguing against the decision and saying it could violate state laws opposing ESG. OPERS last week responded to Russ’ letter with a…
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U.S. weekly unemployment insurance claims rise to 231,000
New applications for U.S. unemployment insurance benefits rose 13,000 for the week ending Nov. 11 to a seasonally adjusted 231,000. The previous week’s figure was revised up by 1,000 to 218,000. The four-week moving average as of Nov. 11 rose 7,750 from the previous week’s revised average to 220,250. The number of continuing unemployment insurance…
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House Republicans continue pushback against ESG considerations in retirement plans
House Republicans again pushed back on the Biden administration’s rule allowing ESG considerations in investments governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the matter on November 7. The Republicans on the committee released a statement after the hearing arguing that, in…
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House Judiciary Committee subpoenas ESG supporters
The House Judiciary Committee last week subpoenaed certain organizations that support ESG to investigate whether the groups have violated antitrust laws, according to the committee. The first subpoena went to As You Sow, which the committee said did not respond to previous voluntary requests for documents and information. The committee also subpoenaed the Glasgow Financial…
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State attorneys general appeal challenge to labor department’s ESG rule
The state attorneys general who sued the Biden administration to overturn its rule allowing ESG considerations in Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)-governed pension plans filed an appeal on October 26. The case was previously thrown out in a federal district court. Ballotpedia tracks support for and opposition to the environmental, social, and…
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SEC deprioritizes ESG enforcement
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) publicly named ESG enforcement as one of its top priorities after President Joe Biden (D) took office and has been active on the issue ever since. But the commission’s annual priorities list for 2024 did not mention ESG, indicating the SEC is shifting its compliance priorities. Ballotpedia tracks support…
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House Oversight Committee seeks documents from SEC
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R) sent a letter late last week to Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler saying the committee would subpoena the commission if it did not comply with congressional document requests. Ballotpedia tracks support for and opposition to the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing movement. To…
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SEC emissions disclosure rule could come later than expected
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) spokesperson Mellissa Campbell Duru said last week the expected October release date for the commission’s emissions disclosure rule was a best estimate that could be inaccurate, according to a Bloomberg Law report. Campbell Duru also said the SEC—like BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and others in the capital markets—wants to limit…