Alexandra Thornton is the senior director of financial regulation for Inclusive Economy at American Progress.
Before joining American Progress, Thornton was the executive vice president for policy, planning, and business affairs at the Jane Goodall Institute, where she advised the founder on international conservation issues and functioned as the institute’s general counsel. Previously, she was the executive director of a tax and economic policy nonprofit that focused on environmental taxation issues.
Thornton moved to the nonprofit world after spending nearly a decade as tax policy adviser to a U.S. senator who served on the Senate Finance Committee. In that position, she successfully shepherded the senator’s legislative initiatives through nine major tax and budget bills and also provided counsel on trade, banking, and securities issues.
Thornton began her career as a litigator practicing in Washington, D.C. She earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of William and Mary.
Executive Summary: How Exemptions From Securities Laws Put Investors and the Economy at Risk
A new report from the Center for American Progress explains why Congress and the SEC should roll back public registration and reporting exemptions that undermine the basic bargain of the securities laws.
How Exemptions From Securities Laws Put Investors and the Economy at Risk
Congress and the SEC should roll back public registration and reporting exemptions that undermine the basic bargain of the securities laws; companies seeking to raise capital from the public must first disclose reliable information about their operations, finances, and governance.
The Proposed Federal Acquisition Regulation Rule on Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk
Federal contractors’ disclosure of climate-related financial risks and greenhouse gas emissions data should be fully integrated into the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and the recent proposal to do so is a strong step in the right direction.
CAP’s Comment on the SEC Proposed Rule on Disclosures by Certain Investment Advisers and Companies About ESG Investment Practices
The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the commission’s proposed rule on enhanced disclosures by certain investment advisers and investment companies about ESG investment practices.
CAP’s Comment on the SEC Investment Company Names Proposed Rule
The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the commission’s proposed rule on investment company names.
The SEC’s Proposed Scope 3 Emissions Disclosure Will Not Affect Farms and Ranches
The SEC’s proposal to require certain large public companies to disclose their indirect greenhouse gas emissions, such as those from suppliers, is unlikely to affect farms and ranches.
Congress Must Not Provide Statutory Carveouts for Crypto Assets
Crypto assets are subject to existing federal statutes, and regulators should enforce those laws just as Congress has authorized; meanwhile, Congress should focus on filling in the statutory gaps.
The SEC’s Scope 3 Climate Emissions Rule Should Not Be Based on Materiality
The SEC’s forthcoming rule on climate risk disclosures should be released expeditiously and, among other items, require concrete and specific disclosure of a company’s Scope 3 emissions.
The SEC Should Write Its Own Environmental, Social, and Governance Rules
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission faces legal risks, as well as policy and administrative issues, if it delegates ESG standard-setting authority to a third party.
