{"id":39763,"date":"2021-04-22T12:19:08","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T16:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalcenter.org\/?p=39763"},"modified":"2023-12-14T13:00:18","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T18:00:18","slug":"pfizer-ceo-retreats-from-opposition-to-georgia-voting-law-claims-neutrality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalcenter.org\/ncppr\/2021\/04\/22\/pfizer-ceo-retreats-from-opposition-to-georgia-voting-law-claims-neutrality\/","title":{"rendered":"Pfizer CEO Retreats from Opposition to Georgia Voting Law, Claims Neutrality"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, D.C.<\/em> – Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla claimed today that Pfizer is staying neutral regarding Georgia’s new election integrity law. This assertion, made in response to a question from the National Center for Public Policy Research’s Free Enterprise Project<\/a> (FEP), contradicted earlier reports that the company opposed the law.<\/p>\n

\"Davis<\/a>

Davis Soderberg<\/p><\/div>\n

At Pfizer’s annual virtual shareholder meeting, FEP Associate Davis Soderberg<\/a> submitted this question:<\/p>\n

Pfizer has joined the rush<\/a> to condemn Georgia’s voter-integrity law, a law designed to stop election fraud, as by requiring voters to provide ID. Could you explain in detail how requiring voters to show ID when they vote undermines any voting access or voting rights, and which other specific provisions of the bill you object to and why?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Bourla responded, in part:<\/p>\n

[O]ne of Pfizer’s values is equity\u2026. [E]nsuring every American citizen’s right to vote\u2026 is fundamental to our democracy. I firmly believe that all eligible voters should be afforded equal access and opportunity to cast their ballots. I urge policymakers to remain true to this principle and to work to ensure the right to vote is never compromised. And, of course, also I want to take the opportunity to encourage our colleagues to be informed, to speak out against policies that would hinder free and fair elections and to fully participate in the electoral process.<\/p>\n

We are not taking a position on specifics, on specific laws, but we are clearly stating our basic principle that access to vote is very important for the democracy and it’s very important for us as a company that operates in the health care sector.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Soderberg’s question, and Bourla’s full response, can be heard here<\/a>.<\/p>\n