Republican complaints about “ESG investing” have been building in recent years. But they have not always been clear about what they want to do about it besides complain.
The whole concept of ESG investing — which puts great weight on environmental, social and corporate-governance considerations when allocating capital — can be amorphous. And for good reasons and bad, Republicans are reluctant to have the government interfere in the workings of capital markets.
They still don’t have a complete answer, which is probably just as well. But come January, when they will control the House, they will be able to do more than complain. I spoke last week to Representative Andy Barr of Kentucky, one of the top Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee.
