STATEHOUSE – New York City Comptroller Brad Lander sent letters demanding the CEOs of Walmart, Costco, Kroger, and other large retailers immediately start dispensing the abortion drug, Mifepristone, in every state where the drug is legal to maximize sales and long-term shareholder value.
Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla sees this as a faulty fiduciary duty argument.
“If we take this reasoning of the NYC Comptroller to its natural conclusion, there may be short-term gain from drug sales, but there would be lifetimes of loss in the decreased sales of diapers, formula, food, clothing, school supplies, and on and on,” said Comptroller Nieshalla.
NYC Comptroller Lander, the custodian, and trustee of $1.32 billion in total pension assets invested in these retail corporations, threatened divestment if the drug was not made for sale.
“This pressure campaign by the NYC Comptroller disregards all the factors companies consider when deciding whether to sell a particular product,” states Comptroller Nieshalla. “The leaders of Albertsons, Kroger, McKesson, Costco, and Walmart should determine what goods best serve their customer base and shareholders (free markets) without coercion from an elected official.”
Costco recently conveyed they had no material demand for the abortion drug.
Comptroller Nieshalla and 15 other state financial officers sent a letter to each pharmaceutical leader urging support to disregard the NYC Comptroller’s recent demands, prioritizing political advocacy over fiduciary duty.
