ST. PAUL
Stung by protests over a $150,000 political donation, Target Corp. has altered its corporate policy "to ensure that a variety of factors and perspectives are taken into consideration before decisions are made."
Under its new policy, contributions must be pre-approved by a new panel of senior executives who will report to Target's board. But the policy falls short of what critics demanded: that Target quit using corporate money in political campaigns.
Jessica Carlson, a Target spokeswoman, said Thursday that the policy emerged from a board-ordered review following the 2010 election cycle. Last summer, Target donated $150,000 in corporate funds to MNForward, a pro-business group that advocated the election of Republican Tom Emmer as Minnesota governor.
Gay and lesbian employees were stunned that a gay-friendly company would use corporate money to help a candidate with an anti-gay-rights record. Their objections led to wider protests that drew nationwide media coverage, petitions and a boycott.
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Last year, a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed corporate money to be used in campaigns, and Target was among the first to make contributions.
Gregg Steinhafel, Target's chief executive, later apologized for the donation.
Under its new policy, reviewers must balance Target's business interests "with any other considerations that may be important to our team members, guests or other stakeholders."
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
