Americans for Prosperity: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox organization |
{{Infobox organization |
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| name = Americans for Prosperity |
| name = Americans for Prosperity |
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| image = AFProsperity.png |
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| caption = |
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| membership = 2.3 million (2013)<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114/> |
| membership = 2.3 million (2013)<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114/> |
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| type = Non-profit political advocacy group |
| type = Non-profit political advocacy group |
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| status = |
| status = |
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| purpose = Educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process.<ref name=about>{{cite web|title=About Americans for Prosperity|url=http://www.americansforprosperity.org/about|accessdate= |
| purpose = Educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process.<ref name=about>{{cite web|title=About Americans for Prosperity|url=http://www.americansforprosperity.org/about|accessdate=March 9, 2012}}</ref> |
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| headquarters = [[Arlington, Virginia]] |
| headquarters = [[Arlington, Virginia]] |
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| formation = 2004 |
| formation = 2004 |
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| website = [http://www.americansforprosperity.org americansforprosperity.org] |
| website = [http://www.americansforprosperity.org americansforprosperity.org] |
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'''Americans for Prosperity''' ('''AFP'''), founded in 2004, is a [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] political [[advocacy group]] in the [[United States]] |
'''Americans for Prosperity''' ('''AFP'''), founded in 2004, is a [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] political [[advocacy group]] in the [[United States]]. It is one of the most influential American conservative political advocacy organizations. |
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After the 2009 inauguration of President [[Barack Obama]], AFP helped transform the [[Tea Party movement]] into a political force. It organized significant opposition to Obama administration initiatives such as [[ |
After the 2009 inauguration of President [[Barack Obama]], AFP helped transform the [[Tea Party movement]] into a political force. It organized significant opposition to Obama administration initiatives such as [[emissions trading|cap and trade]], the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], the expansion of [[Medicaid]] and economic stimulus. AFP advocated for limits on the [[collective bargaining]] rights of [[Public-sector trade unions in the United States|public-sector trade unions]] and for [[right-to-work law]]s, and it opposed raising the federal [[minimum wage]]. AFP played an active role in the achievement of the Republican majority in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in 2010 and in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] in 2014. |
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AFP, an [[501(c) organization#501.28c.29.284.29|educational social welfare organization]], and the associated '''Americans for Prosperity Foundation''', a [[501(c) organization#501.28c.29.283.29|public charity]], are [[tax exemption|tax-exempt]] [[non-profit organization|non-profit]]s. |
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== |
== Founding and growth == |
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Americans for Prosperity was founded in 2004 when internal rivalries caused a split in the conservative political advocacy group [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE), |
Americans for Prosperity was founded in 2004 when internal rivalries caused a split in the conservative political advocacy group [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE), dividing it into Americans for Prosperity and [[FreedomWorks]].<ref name=guardian20090918>{{cite news |first=Ed |last=Pilkington |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/18/republicans-internet-barack-obama |title=Republicans steal Barack Obama's internet campaigning tricks |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 18, 2009 |accessdate=April 5, 2015}}</ref> CSE was renamed "Americans for Prosperity".<ref name=themachine>{{cite book |last=Fang |first=Lee |title=The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right |place=New York |year=2013 |isbn=9781595586391 |publisher=[[The New Press]]}}</ref>{{rp|105}} AFP's stated mission is "educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing citizens as advocates in the public policy process".<ref name=about/> According to FactCheck.org, "AFP seeks to support free markets and entrepreneurship by advocating lower taxes and limited government spending and regulation".<ref name=factcheck>{{cite web |publisher=[[FactCheck.org]] |title=Americans for Prosperity |date=October 10, 2011 |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |url=http://www.factcheck.org/2011/10/americans-for-prosperity-2/}}</ref> AFP viewed itself as a counterbalance to a network of liberal activist organizations and unions.<ref name=nationaljournal20140612/> |
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From 2004 to 2007, AFP was led by [[Nancy Pfotenhauer]] who was an advisor to Senator [[John McCain]]'s presidential campaign.<ref name=wp20100826>{{cite news | url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/who-is-americans-for-prosperit.html | title=Who is Americans for Prosperity? |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] | first=Felicia | last=Sonmez | date=August 26, 2010 |accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> In 2005, political strategist Tim Phillips was hired to work at AFP.<ref name=nytmag/> |
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AFP's stated mission is "educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing citizens as advocates in the public policy process".<ref name=about/> According to [[FactCheck.org]], "AFP seeks to support free markets and entrepreneurship by advocating lower taxes and limited government spending and regulation".<ref name=factcheck>{{cite web |publisher=[[FactCheck.org]] |title=Americans for Prosperity |date=October 10, 2011 |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |url=http://www.factcheck.org/2011/10/americans-for-prosperity-2/}}</ref> AFP viewed itself as a counterbalance to a network of liberal activist organizations and unions.<ref name=nationaljournal20140612/> |
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| ⚫ | AFP had a staff of 116 employees in September 2012,<ref name=presidential/> and the next year it had chapters in 34 states and claimed 2.3 million members.<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/14/americans-for-prosperity-2012_n_4275980.html |title=Americans For Prosperity Spent Record Cash In 2012 |first=Michael |last=Beckel |date=November 14, 2013 |accessdate=March 24, 2015 |publisher=[[The Huffington Post]] |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]]}}</ref> In June 2014, it had 240 employees in 32 states.<ref name=wp20140618>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=An expanding Koch network aims to spend $300 million to shape Senate fight and 2016 |first=Matea |last=Gold |date=June 18, 2014 |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/an-expanding-koch-network-aims-to-spend-300-million-to-shape-senate-fight-and-2016/2014/06/18/d42877ec-f703-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html}}</ref> AFP was active in national, state,<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114/><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Americans for Prosperity to add offices in 2 new states |first=Reid |last=Wilson |date=July 18, 2014 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/07/18/americans-for-prosperity-to-add-offices-in-2-new-states/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[National Journal]] |title=Americans for Prosperity Now Going After Democratic Governors |first=Scott |last=Bland |date=March 20, 2014 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/hotline-on-call/americans-for-prosperity-now-going-after-democratic-governors-20140320 }}</ref> and local elections.<ref name=kenosha20150422/><ref name=newsweek20110121/> AFP registered to [[Lobbying|lobby]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |title=Americans for Prosperity registers to lobby |first=Megan R. |last=Wilson |date=February 19, 2014 |url=http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/198767-americans-for-prosperity-registers-to-lobby |accessdate=May 17, 2015}}</ref> According to [[FactCheck.org]], by 2011, AFP had "emerged as one of the most influential conservative issue advocacy groups on the national and state political scene".<ref name="factcheck"/><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |first=Andy |last=Kroll |title=Americans for Prosperity Chief: We Don't Know If $27 Million in Anti-Obama Ads Has Any Effect |date=September 3, 2012 |accessdate=June 5, 2015 |url=http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/09/americans-for-prosperity-chief-obama-ads-27-million}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said AFP performed roles typical of national and state political parties.<ref name=lat20110206/> [[ABC News]] said in August 2014 that AFP was "poised to be the most influential conservative group in the nation this year, and among the most influential and heaviest spending across the political spectrum this year and into the looming presidential race".<ref>{{cite news |title=No Strategy |work=[[The Note (ABC News)|The Note]] |agency=[[ABC News]] |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/08/the-note-no-strategy/ |first=Chris |last=Good |date=August 29, 2014 |accessdate=June 1, 2015}}</ref> |
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From 2004 to 2007, AFP was led by [[Nancy Pfotenhauer]] who was an advisor to Senator [[John McCain]]'s presidential campaign.<ref name=wp20100826>{{cite news | url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/who-is-americans-for-prosperit.html | title=Who is Americans for Prosperity? |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] | first=Felicia | last=Sonmez | date=August 26, 2010 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |quote=AFP's previous president, Nancy Pfotenhauer, left to become an adviser to Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential bid. (Pfotenhauer had previously worked as a lobbyist for Koch Industries.)}}</ref><ref name=tc20130208>{{cite journal |title=‘To quarterback behind the scenes, third-party efforts’: the tobacco industry and the Tea Party |first1=Amanda |last1=Fallin |first2=Rachel |last2=Grana |first3=Stanton A. |last3=Glantz |url=http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2013/02/07/tobaccocontrol-2012-050815.full |journal=[[Tobacco Control (journal)|Tobacco Control]] |date=February 8, 2013 |accessdate=March 25, 2015}}</ref> In 2005, political strategist Tim Phillips was hired to work at AFP.<ref name=nytmag>{{cite news |title=How Billionaire Oligarchs Are Becoming Their Own Political Parties |first=Jim |last=Rutenberg |date=October 17, 2014 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/magazine/how-billionaire-oligarchs-are-becoming-their-own-political-parties.html |work=[[New York Times Magazine]] |quote=The Kochs hired Phillips in 2005 to make Americans for Prosperity into a force that could defeat liberalism and elect true free-market conservatives}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | AFP had a staff of 116 employees in September 2012,<ref name=presidential/> and the next year it had chapters in 34 states and claimed 2.3 million members.<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/14/americans-for-prosperity-2012_n_4275980.html |title=Americans For Prosperity Spent Record Cash In 2012 |first=Michael |last=Beckel |date=November 14, 2013 |accessdate=March 24, 2015 |publisher=[[The Huffington Post]] |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]]}}</ref> In June 2014, it had 240 employees in 32 states.<ref name=wp20140618>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=An expanding Koch network aims to spend $300 million to shape Senate fight and 2016 |first=Matea |last=Gold |date=June 18, 2014 |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/an-expanding-koch-network-aims-to-spend-300-million-to-shape-senate-fight-and-2016/2014/06/18/d42877ec-f703-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html}}</ref> AFP was active in national, state,<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114/><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Americans for Prosperity to add offices in 2 new states |first=Reid |last=Wilson |date=July 18, 2014 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/07/18/americans-for-prosperity-to-add-offices-in-2-new-states/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[National Journal]] |title=Americans for Prosperity Now Going After Democratic Governors |first=Scott |last=Bland |date=March 20, 2014 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/hotline-on-call/americans-for-prosperity-now-going-after-democratic-governors-20140320 }}</ref> and local elections.<ref name=kenosha20150422/><ref name=newsweek20110121/> AFP registered to [[Lobbying|lobby]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |title=Americans for Prosperity registers to lobby |first=Megan R. |last=Wilson |date=February 19, 2014 |url=http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/198767-americans-for-prosperity-registers-to-lobby |accessdate=May 17, 2015}}</ref> According to [[FactCheck.org]], by 2011, AFP had "emerged as one of the most influential conservative issue advocacy groups on the national and state political scene".<ref name="factcheck"/><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones |
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| ⚫ | [[Tim Phillips (political strategist)|Tim Phillips]] is president of both AFP and the AFP Foundation. AFP and the AFP Foundation share offices and staff.<ref name='LATimes2011-02'/><ref name="Abowd">{{cite news |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |title=Nonprofit profile: Americans for Prosperity |first=Paul |last=Abowd |date=June 21, 2012 |accessdate=April 28, 2015 |url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/06/21/9170/nonprofit-profile-americans-prosperity}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | [[Tim Phillips (political strategist)|Tim Phillips]] is president of both AFP and |
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===AFP=== |
===AFP=== |
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New Jersey businesswoman [[Frayda Levin]] chairs the board of directors of AFP.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kochs’ Network Wrestles With Expectations for Presidential Primaries |last=Confessore |first=Nicholas |date=August 30, 2014 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=April 26, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/us/politics/kochs-network-wrestles-with-expectations-for-presidential-primaries.html}}</ref> Other directors include Pfotenhauer, [[Richard Fink]], former [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]] mayor [[James E. Stephenson]], and former Reagan [[United States Office of Management and Budget|Budget Director]] [[James C. Miller]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Directors |publisher=Americans for Prosperity |url=http://americansforprosperity.org/directors/ |accessdate=July 18, 2014}}</ref> AFP is a [[501(c)(4)]] non-profit, tax-exempt, social welfare organization.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |title=Mystery Money: Your Guide to Campaign Finance in 2014 |first=Rebecca |last=Ballhaus |date=September 25, 2014 |accessdate=June 7, 2015 |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/09/25/mystery-money-your-guide-to-campaign-finance-in-2014/}}</ref> |
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New Jersey businesswoman [[Frayda Levin]] chairs the board of directors of AFP.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kochs’ Network Wrestles With Expectations for Presidential Primaries |last=Confessore |first=Nicholas |date=August 30, 2014 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=April 26, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/us/politics/kochs-network-wrestles-with-expectations-for-presidential-primaries.html}}</ref> Other directors include Pfotenhauer, executive vice president of Koch Industries [[Richard Fink]], former [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]] mayor [[James E. Stephenson]], and former Reagan [[United States Office of Management and Budget|Budget Director]] [[James C. Miller]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Directors |publisher=Americans for Prosperity |url=http://americansforprosperity.org/directors/ |accessdate=2014-07-18}}</ref> Filing with the [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS) as a [[501(c)(4)]] non-profit, tax-exempt, social welfare organization,<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |title=Mystery Money: Your Guide to Campaign Finance in 2014 |first=Rebecca |last=Ballhaus |date=September 25, 2014 |accessdate=June 7, 2015 |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/09/25/mystery-money-your-guide-to-campaign-finance-in-2014/}}</ref> contributions to AFP are not tax deducible, and AFP is legally required to operate as non-partisan, neither endorsing nor opposing political candidates; its primary purpose may not be political;<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114/><ref name=factcheck/><ref name=guardian20121018>{{cite news |title=Koch-backed activists use power of data in bid to oust Obama from White House |first=Ed |last=Pilkington |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=October 18, 2012 |accessdate=March 24, 2015 |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/18/koch-backed-activists-americans-for-prosperity |quote=Classified a non-profit "social welfare" organisation, AFP is legally obliged to project itself as a non-partisan campaign that neither endorses nor opposes candidates for public office. }}</ref><ref name=nyt20100921>{{cite news |title=Donor Names Remain Secret As Rules Shift |first1=Michael |last1=Luo |first2=Stephanie |last2=Strom |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=September 21, 2010 |page=A1 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/us/politics/21money.html |quote=They include 501(c)(4) “social welfare” organizations, like Crossroads, which has been the top spender on Senate races, and Americans for Prosperity, another pro-Republican group that has been the leader on the House side; 501(c)(5) labor unions, which have been supporting Democrats; and 501(c)(6) trade associations, like the United States Chamber of Commerce, which has been spending heavily in support of Republicans. Charities organized under Section 501(c)(3) are largely prohibited from political activity because they offer their donors tax deductibility....The elections commission could, theoretically, step in and rule that groups like Crossroads GPS should register as political committees, which would force them to disclose their donors. }}</ref> it must be primarily engaged in social welfare activities, according to a 1959 IRS regulation;<ref name=wp20140212/><ref name=wp20140618/> no more than half of its expenditures may be political.<ref name=nyt20100921/><ref name=newsweek20140930/> |
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===AFP Foundation=== |
===AFP Foundation=== |
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[[David H. Koch]] chairs the board of directors of the AFP Foundation.<ref name=mj20140205>{{cite news |title=The Koch Brothers Left a Confidential Document at Their Donor Conference |first1=Andy |last1=Kroll |first2=Daniel |last2=Schulman |date=February 5, 2014 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/02/koch-brothers-palm-springs-donor-list |magazine=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]}}</ref> Other directors include Pfotenhauer, Fink, and economist [[Walter E. Williams]]. |
[[David H. Koch]] chairs the board of directors of the AFP Foundation.<ref name=mj20140205>{{cite news |title=The Koch Brothers Left a Confidential Document at Their Donor Conference |first1=Andy |last1=Kroll |first2=Daniel |last2=Schulman |date=February 5, 2014 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/02/koch-brothers-palm-springs-donor-list |magazine=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]}}</ref> Other directors include Pfotenhauer, Fink, and economist [[Walter E. Williams]].<ref name=afpfdirs>{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |publisher=Americans for Prosperity Foundation |url=http://americansforprosperityfoundation.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ |accessdate=July 18, 2014}}</ref> The AFP Foundation is an associate member of the [[State Policy Network]], a national network of free-market oriented think tanks.<ref name=politico>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/koch-brothers-think-tank-report-99791.html |title=Report: Think tanks tied to Kochs |publisher=[[Politico]] |date=November 13, 2013 |first=Tal |last=Kopan |accessdate=February 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spn.org/directory/organizations.asp |title=Directory SPN Members |publisher=[[State Policy Network]] |accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> |
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=== Transparency === |
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Tax-exempt, non-profit charitable organizations such as AFP are generally not required to disclose their contributors, in contrast with [[political action committee]]s.<ref name=nyt20100921/><ref name=brennan20121005>{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Vandewalker |agency=[[Brennan Center for Justice]] |title=Rules May Change, But the Secret Money Game Remains the Same |date=October 5, 2012 |accessdate=June 7, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-vandewalker/campaign-finance-sec_b_1943826.html |quote=Super PACs have to report their donors, but groups like AFP and the Chamber do not....Voters deserve to know who is spending tens of millions of dollars to sway their votes.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dark money in the 2012 elections (so far) |first=Lee |last=Drutman |date=July 16, 2012 |accessdate=June 7, 2015 |publisher=[[Sunlight Foundation]] |url=https://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2012/07/16/dark-money/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Midwestern Bank PAC Funds Kochs’ Americans for Prosperity |first=Viveca |last=Novak |date=July 19, 2012 |agency=[[Center for Responsive Politics]] |accessdate=June 7, 2015 |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/07/midwestern-bank-pac-funds-kochs-ame/}}</ref> Most of the money spent by social welfare non-profits in 2010 came from conservative groups such as AFP.<ref name=propublica20120818>{{cite news |agency=[[ProPublica]] |date=August 18, 2012 |first=Kim |last=Barker |url=http://www.propublica.org/article/how-nonprofits-spend-millions-on-elections-and-call-it-public-welfare |title=How Nonprofits Spend Millions on Elections and Call it Public Welfare |accessdate=June 3, 2015}}</ref> Campaign finance [[watchdog journalism|watchdogs]] and Democrats have criticized AFP for its funding of political activities from undisclosed sources.<ref name=rift/> For example, the [[Sunlight Foundation]] and others have accused non-disclosing political groups like AFP of filing for nonprofit status solely to invoke the right to hide their donors.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Sunlight Foundation]] |title=Dark Money Organizations Change Strategies to Keep Donors Secret |first=Alex |last=Engler |date=September 25, 2012 |accessdate=June 2, 2015 |url=http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2012/09/25/dark-money-organizations-change-strategies-to-keep-donors-secret/}}</ref><ref name=newsweek20140930>{{cite news |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |title=As Dark Money Floods U.S. Elections, Regulators Turn a Blind Eye |first=Leah |last=McGrath Goodman |date=September 30, 2014 |accessdate=June 7, 2014 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2014/10/10/dark-money-floods-us-elections-regulators-turn-blind-eye-273951.html}}</ref> President Obama, speaking at a [[Democratic National Committee]] fund-raising dinner in August 2010, criticized AFP as an example of a group spending millions on political advertising and which did not want the public to know who were their donors.<ref name=wp20100826/><ref>{{cite news |title=Obama’s Bête Noire |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/386867/obamas-b-te-noire-eliana-johnson |publisher=[[National Review]] |first=Eliana |last=Johnson |date=September 2, 2014 |accessdate=March 21, 2015 |quote=As the 2010 midterms approached, President Obama warned his supporters about groups with “harmless-sounding names like Americans for Prosperity.” “They don’t want you to know who the Americans for Prosperity are, because they’re thinking about the next election,” he said.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Is the Tea Party Really A Grassroots Movement? |date=September 17, 2010 |accessdate=May 29, 2015 |agency=[[NPR]] |authorlink=Steve Inskeep |first=Steve |last=Inskeep |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129926390 |quote=Right now, all around this country, there are groups with harmless-sounding names like Americans for Prosperity, who are running millions of dollars of ads against Democratic candidates all across the country. And they don't have to say who exactly the Americans for Prosperity are. You don't know if it a foreign-controlled corporation. You don't know if it's a big oil company or a big bank.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[Politico]] |title=Koch-backed group links itself to IRS scandal |first=Tarini |last=Parti |date=May 13, 2013 |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/koch-backed-group-links-itself-to-irs-scandal-91268.html |accessdate=May 29, 2015 |quote=In 2010, Obama called out Americans for Prosperity and similar groups for their spending activities without financial disclosure. “Right now all around this country there are groups with harmless-sounding names like Americans for Prosperity, who are running millions of dollars of ads against Democratic candidates all across the country,” Obama said at an Aug. 2010 fundraiser. “And they don’t have to say who exactly the Americans for Prosperity are,” he added. “You don’t know if it’s a foreign-controlled corporation. You don’t know if it’s a big oil company, or a big bank. You don’t know if it’s a insurance company that wants to see some of the provisions in health reform repealed because it’s good for their bottom line, even if it’s not good for the American people.”}}</ref> The [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] filed a complaint with the IRS charging that the AFP Foundation had funded political advertisements in violation of the law applicable to the foundation's tax-exempt classification. AFP responded that the charges were without merit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Group Is Accused on Tax Exemption |first=Eric |last=Lichtblau |date=August 27, 2010 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/us/politics/28irs.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name=usa20100927>{{cite news |date=August 27, 2010 |title=Democrats file IRS complaint against Americans for Prosperity |first=Fredreka |last=Schouten |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/08/americans-for-prosperity-ads-/1 |accessdate=May 10, 2015}}</ref> |
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In 2010 and 2011, AFP reported to the IRS that it was not involved in political activities.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=As Anti-Climate Group's Activities Rise, So Do Questions About Its Secret Finances |first=Evan |last=Lehmann |agency=[[ClimateWire]] |date=October 12, 2011 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/10/12/12climatewire-as-anti-climate-groups-activities-rise-so-do-14988.html}}</ref> Questioned by a reporter before the [[Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election|2012 Wisconsin recall elections]], AFP's Wisconsin director said AFP was educating the public and not engaging in political activity.<ref name="Kroll"/><ref name=patch20120523>{{cite news |url=http://patch.com/wisconsin/hudson-wi/americans-for-prosperity-bus-tour-to-stop-in-hudson-on-june-1 |publisher=[[Patch Media]] |title=Americans For Prosperity Bus Tour to Stop in Hudson on June 1 |first=Micheal |last=Foley |date=May 23, 2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2015 |quote="We're not dealing with any candidates, political parties or ongoing races," Hilgemann said. "We're just educating folks on the importance of the reforms."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Americans for Prosperity campaigns without leaving a paper trail in Wisconsin |first=Kathy |last=Kiely |date=June 7, 2012 |accessdate=May 29, 2015 |url=http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2012/06/07/americans-prosperity-campaigns-without-leaving-paper-trail-wisco/ |publisher=[[Sunlight Foundation]] |quote="We're not dealing with any candidates, political parties or ongoing races," AFP's Wisconsin director, Luke Hilgemann, told an online news site in Wisconsin. "We're just educating folks on the importance of reforms."}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Rachel Maddow Show]] |title=AFP fails the straight-face test |date=May 30, 2012 |authorlink=Rachel Maddow |first=Rachel |last=Maddow |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/afp-fails-the-straight-face-test |accessdate=May 29, 2015 |quote=“We’re not dealing with any candidates, political parties, or ongoing races”}}</ref> In 2014, an AFP spokesperson said AFP had the right to keep its donors private, citing ''[[NAACP v. Alabama]]'', a 1958 [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] ruling that protected [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP) donors from potential harassment.<ref name=AlpertDonors>{{cite news |last1=Alpert |first1=Bruce |title=Americans for Prosperity on why it keeps donors secret and SEC won't appeal Stanford ruling: On the Hill|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/americans_for_prosperity_on_wh.html |accessdate=27 April 2015 |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]] |date=September 6, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, AFP president Phillips said that protecting donors' identities was prudent given the Obama administration's ideology-based [[IRS targeting controversy|IRS targeting]] of citizens.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 11, 2014 |title=AFP’s Tim Phillips on Harry Reid, GOP Senate Chances and Disclosing Donors |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/08/11/afps-tim-phillips-on-harry-reid-gop-senate-chances-and-disclosing-donors/ |accessdate=May 10, 2015 |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |work=Newsmakers |date=August 8, 2014 |url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?320921-1/newsmakers-tim-phillips |accessdate=May 10, 2015 |title=Tim Phillips}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Confessore |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=Secret Money Fueling a Flood of Political Ads |date=October 10, 2014 |accessdate=June 3, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/11/us/politics/ads-paid-for-by-secret-money-flood-the-midterm-elections.html |quote=“Given the record of this administration in using regulatory agencies like the I.R.S. in a retaliatory fashion, then it’s understandable that there’s concern about disclosure from a lot of individuals,” said Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity, a conservative organization that combines field efforts with large advertising campaigns.}}</ref> The AFP Foundation said its supporters have received serious threats. In February 2015, a federal judge granted the Foundation's motion for a preliminary injunction staying California Attorney General [[Kamala Harris]]'s request for the names and addresses of Foundation donors, pending resolution of the legality of the request.<ref name=PetterssonDonors>{{cite web|last1=Pettersson|first1=Edvard|title=Koch Group Gets to Keep Donors Secret in California Lawsuit|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-17/koch-group-wins-order-blocking-california-donor-data-demand|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=27 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite court |litigants=Americans for Prosperity v. Kamala Harris |date=February 23, 2015 |url=http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/cacdce/2:2014cv09448/605958/33 |court=California Central District Court |accessdate=May 2, 2015}}</ref> |
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While AFP does not disclose its funding sources, some supporters have acknowledged their contributions and [[investigative journalism]] has documented others. |
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At AFP's 2009 Defending the Dream summit, David Koch said he and his brother Charles provided the initial funding for AFP.<ref name=npr20110225/><ref name=npr20100219>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123859296 |title=Who's Raising Money For Tea Party Movement? |first=Peter |last=Overby |date=February 19, 2010 |publisher=[[National Public radio]] |quote="Five years ago my brother Charles and I provided the funds to start the Americans for Prosperity. And it's beyond my wildest dreams how the AFP has grown into this enormous organization," David Koch said}}</ref><ref name=citizenkoch>{{cite AV media |title=[[Citizen Koch]] |people=[[Tia Lessin|Lessin, Tia]] and [[Carl Deal|Deal, Carl]] |date=2013 |medium=Motion picture}}</ref> In initial funding, David Koch was the top contributor to the founding of the AFP Foundation at $850,000.<ref name=nj20130924/><ref name=ibt20130924/> Several major American companies also donated hundreds of thousands to the initial funding of the AFP Foundation, including $275,000 from [[State Farm Insurance]] and lesser amounts from [[1-800 Contacts]], medical products firm [[Johnson & Johnson]], and carpet and flooring manufacturer [[Shaw Industries]].<ref name=nj20130924/><ref name=ibt20130924/> |
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The AFP Foundation received $3 million from the [[Koch family foundations#Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation|Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]] between 2005 and 2007, <ref name=toronto>{{cite news |title=Big money fuels health battle; U.S. attack ad linked to brothers who spend a fortune lobbying for libertarian agenda |last=Smith |first=Joanna |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |location=[[Toronto, Ontario]] |date=August 1, 2009 |page=A6 |url=http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2009/08/01/big_money_fuels_health_care_battle.html |accessdate=March 30, 2015 |quote=Charles Koch is a director at the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation, which is a major benefactor of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation. According to IRS documents, the Lambe foundation gave a total of just over $3.17 million in grants to the Americans for Prosperity Foundation from 2005 to 2007 to cover general operating costs.}}</ref> $1 million in 2008 to AFP from the [[Koch family foundations#David H. Koch Charitable Foundation|David H. Koch Charitable Foundation]],<ref name=npq20100915>{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Cohen |title=The Starfish and the Tea Party, Part II |date=September 15, 2010 |accessdate=June 18, 2015 |url=http://nonprofitquarterly.org/2010/09/15/the-cohen-report-the-starfish-and-the-tea-party-part-ii/ |publisher=[[Institute for Nonprofit News]] |magazine=Nonprofit Quarterly |quote=The Koch family does show up as a major funder of another of the national Tea Party infrastructure, Americans for Prosperity.}}</ref> $4.2 million through 2011 from the [[Center to Protect Patient Rights]],<ref name=churn>{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/11/americans-for-prosperity-helped-churn-koch-linked-money/ |title=Americans for Prosperity Helped Churn Koch-Linked Money |last1=Maguire |first1=Robert |last2=Novak |first2=Viveca |date=15 November 2013 |website=opensecrets.org |publisher=[[Center for Responsive Politics]] |accessdate=17 November 2013 |quote=In previous years, AFP has been the beneficiary of grants from CPPR, to the tune of $4.2 million}}</ref> and $32.3 million in 2012 and $1.5 million in 2013 from [[Freedom Partners]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Exclusive: The Koch brothers' secret bank |first1=Mike |last1=Allen |first2=Jim |last2=Vandehei |date=September 11, 2013 |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/behind-the-curtain-exclusive-the-koch-brothers-secret-bank-96669.html |publisher=[[Politico]] |quote=The group, Freedom Partners, and its president, Marc Short, serve as an outlet for the ideas and funds of the mysterious Koch brothers}}</ref><ref>{{citation |first=Paul |last=Blumenthal |title=Koch Central Bank Freedom Partners Distributed Millions In Dark Money In 2013 |date=September 18, 2014 |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |publisher=[[Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/18/freedom-partners-koch_n_5840152.html |quote=Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, the central hub of the political empire of the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, reported raising $57.5 million in 2013 and disbursing $41.7 million to organizations in the Koch network.Freedom Partners, founded under the radar in 2011, emerged in 2012 as the main bank for Koch-related political operations.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=Tax Filings Hint at Extent Of Koch Brothers' Reach |last=Confessore |first=Nicholas |date=September 13, 2013 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/13/us/politics/tax-filings-hint-at-extent-of-koch-brothers-reach.html |accessdate=April 26, 2015 |quote=Freedom Partners, as the group is now known, is playing a bigger role for the Kochs as the brothers seek a tighter rein over the advocacy groups and political organizations that their donor network finances and expand their involvement in Republican political causes.}}</ref> Of the $140M AFP raised in the 2012 election cycle, $44M came from Koch-linked funds.<ref name=wp20140105>{cite news |title=The players in the Koch-backed $400 million political donor network |first=Matea |last=Gold |date=January 5, 2014 |accessdate=May 9, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-players-in-the-koch-backed-400-million-political-donor-network/2014/01/05/714451a8-74b5-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html |quote=Americans for Prosperity , the Virginia-based nonprofit that finances grass-roots activities across the country and ran an early and relentless television ad assault against President Obama during the 2012 campaign. More than $44 million of the $140 million the organization raised in the last cycle came from the Koch-linked feeder funds.}}</ref> |
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[[North Carolina]] philanthropist [[Art Pope]], a founding board member of AFP and a former AFP board chair,<ref>{{cite news |title=Conservative benefactor Art Pope stepping down as North Carolina’s budget chief |first=Matea |last=Gold |date=August 6, 2014 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/06/conservative-benefactor-art-pope-stepping-down-as-north-carolinas-budget-chief/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Samantha |last=Lachman |publisher=[[The Huffington Post]] |title=Controversial North Carolina Budget Director Art Pope Resigns |date=August 6, 2014 |accessdate=April 26, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/06/conservative-benefactor-art-pope-stepping-down-as-north-carolinas-budget-chief/}}</ref> is the second largest institutional backer of the AFP Foundation. <ref name=hp20101012/> In 2010, the AFP Foundation received $1.35 million from the [[John William Pope Foundation]], chaired by Pope,<ref>{{cite news |title=G.O.P.’s Full Control in Long-Moderate North Carolina May Leave Lasting Stamp |first=Kim |last=Severson |date=December 11, 2012 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/us/politics/gop-to-take-control-in-long-moderate-north-carolina.html |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> and AFP received half a million dollars from the [[Bradley Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=INSTITUTE INDEX: The money behind Americans for Prosperity |first=Sue |last=Sturgis |date=March 8, 2012 |url=http://www.southernstudies.org/2012/03/institute-index-the-money-behind-americans-for-prosperity.html |publisher=[[Institute for Southern Studies]] |accessdate=April 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Koch-Connected Group Shows Holes in Disclosure Requirements |first1=Viveca |last1=Novak |first2=Robert |last2=Maguire |date=March 5, 2012 |accessdate=May 20, 2015 |agency=[[Center for Responsive Politics]] |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/03/energy-industry-trade-groups/}}</ref> AFP received smaller grants in 2012 from tobacco company [[Reynolds American]] and in 2010 and 2012 from the [[American Petroleum Institute]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |title=Tobacco giant funded conservative nonprofit |first=Dave |last=Levinthal |date=May 30, 2013 |url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/05/30/12740/tobacco-giant-funded-conservative-nonprofits |accessdate=April 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chevron, Merck Disclose Funding to 2010 Attack-Ad Groups |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-03-29/chevron-merck-disclose-funding-to-2010-attack-ad-groups |first=Jonathan D |last=Salant |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |date=March 29, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/11/20/13791/dark-money-groups-give-big-similar-nonprofits |title='Dark money' groups give big to similar nonprofits |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |first=Julie |last=Patel |date=November 20, 2013 |accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |first=Michael |last=Beckel |date=November 14, 2013 |url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/11/14/13712/koch-backed-nonprofit-spent-record-cash-2012 |accessdate=April 26, 2015 |title=Koch-backed nonprofit spent record cash in 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |first=Michael |last=Beckel |date=November 10, 2014 |url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/11/10/16257/koch-backed-nonprofit-raised-44-million-2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2015 |title=Koch-backed nonprofit raised $44 million in 2013}}</ref> The [[donor-advised fund]] [[Donors Trust]] granted $11 million to AFP between 2002 and 2010 and $7 million to the AFP Foundation in 2010.<ref name=nbc>{{cite news |title=Koch-funded charity passes money to free-market think tanks in states |first=Paul |last=Abowd |url=http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/14/16939114-koch-funded-charity-passes-money-to-free-market-think-tanks-in-states |accessdate=March 11, 2015 |date= February 14, 2013 |work=[[NBC News]] |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]]}}</ref><ref name=Guardian021413>{{cite news|title=How Donors Trust distributed millions to anti-climate groups |url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/feb/14/donors-trust-funding-climate-denial-networks |accessdate=March 5, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=February 14, 2013 |authorlink=Suzanne Goldenberg |first=Suzanne |last=Goldenberg}}</ref> |
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== Tea Party and 2010 midterm election== |
== Tea Party and 2010 midterm election== |
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[[File:Sarah Palin, Americans for Prosperity 2011 zoomed out.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Sarah Palin]] at the Americans for Prosperity-run Wisconsin 2011 Tax Day [[tea party movement|Tea Party]] Rally on April 16, 2011.]] |
[[File:Sarah Palin, Americans for Prosperity 2011 zoomed out.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Sarah Palin]] at the Americans for Prosperity-run Wisconsin 2011 Tax Day [[tea party movement|Tea Party]] Rally on April 16, 2011.]] |
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AFP helped transform the nascent [[Tea Party movement]] into a political force.<ref name=nj20130924>{{cite news |title=David Koch Seeded Major Tea-Party Group, Private Donor List Reveals |first=Alex |last=Seitz-Wald |date=September 24, 2013 |accessdate=March 20, 2015 |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/david-koch-seeded-major-tea-party-group-private-donor-list-reveals-20130924 |publisher=[[National Journal]] |
AFP helped transform the nascent [[Tea Party movement]] into a political force.<ref name=nj20130924>{{cite news |title=David Koch Seeded Major Tea-Party Group, Private Donor List Reveals |first=Alex |last=Seitz-Wald |date=September 24, 2013 |accessdate=March 20, 2015 |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/david-koch-seeded-major-tea-party-group-private-donor-list-reveals-20130924 |publisher=[[National Journal]]}}</ref><ref name=ibt20130924>{{cite news |title=Money In Politics: The Companies Behind David Koch’s Americans For Prosperity |first=Pema |last=Levy |date=September 24, 2013 |accessdate=March 20, 2015 |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/money-politics-companies-behind-david-kochs-americans-prosperity-1410408 |publisher=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref> |
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AFP supported the Tea Party movement by obtaining permits and supplying speakers for rallies.<ref>{{cite news |authorlink= David Weigel |first=David |last=Weigel |title=Koch Industries distances itself from tea parties |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/05/koch_industries_distances_itse.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=June 3, 2015 |date=May 11, 2010}}</ref> AFP helped organize and publicize a "Porkulus"-themed protest on the state capitol steps in Denver, Colorado on February 17, 2009, in conjunction with Obama signing the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]].<ref name=themachine/>{{rp|31}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-Stimulus Protests Sprout-Up |first=David |last=Hogberg |newspaper=[[Investor's Business Daily]] |date=February 20, 2015 |url=http://news.investors.com/economy/022009-469322-anti-stimulus-protests-sprout-up.htm |accessdate=April 28, 2015}}</ref> Within hours of [[CNBC]] on-air editor [[Rick Santelli]]'s [[Rick Santelli#"Chicago Tea Party" remarks|remarks]] on February 19, 2009, that criticized the Act and called for a "Chicago tea party," AFP registered and launched the website "TaxDayTeaParty.com," calling for protests against Obama.<ref name=themachine/>{{rp|32}} |
AFP supported the Tea Party movement by obtaining permits and supplying speakers for rallies.<ref>{{cite news |authorlink= David Weigel |first=David |last=Weigel |title=Koch Industries distances itself from tea parties |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/05/koch_industries_distances_itse.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=June 3, 2015 |date=May 11, 2010}}</ref> AFP helped organize and publicize a "Porkulus"-themed protest on the state capitol steps in Denver, Colorado on February 17, 2009, in conjunction with Obama signing the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]].<ref name=themachine/>{{rp|31}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-Stimulus Protests Sprout-Up |first=David |last=Hogberg |newspaper=[[Investor's Business Daily]] |date=February 20, 2015 |url=http://news.investors.com/economy/022009-469322-anti-stimulus-protests-sprout-up.htm |accessdate=April 28, 2015}}</ref> Within hours of [[CNBC]] on-air editor [[Rick Santelli]]'s [[Rick Santelli#"Chicago Tea Party" remarks|remarks]] on February 19, 2009, that criticized the Act and called for a "Chicago tea party," AFP registered and launched the website "TaxDayTeaParty.com," calling for protests against Obama.<ref name=themachine/>{{rp|32}} AFP was one of the leading organizers of the September 2009 [[Taxpayer March on Washington]], also known as the "9/12 Tea Party," according to ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name=guardian20090918/> On April 16, 2011, former Republican vice presidential candidate [[Sarah Palin]] was the keynote speaker at an AFP annual tax day tea party rally at the state capitol in [[Madison, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Schultz |first=Zac |title=Sarah Palin Travels To Madison |url=http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Sarah_Palin_to_Visit_Madison_119856054.html |accessdate=May 8, 2012 |publisher=[[WMTV]] |date=April 16, 2011 |location=[[Madison, Wisconsin]]}}</ref> |
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In the [[United States elections, 2010|2010 midterm elections]], AFP played a |
In the [[United States elections, 2010|2010 midterm elections]], AFP played a role in achieving a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] majority in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. AFP supported tea party groups, purchased political advertisements,<ref name=rift>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/us/cato-institute-and-koch-in-rift-over-independence.html |title=Cato Institute Is Caught in a Rift Over Its Direction |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=March 6, 2012 |accessdate=March 24, 2015 |first=Eric |last=Lichtblau}}</ref> and sponsored a nationwide bus tour themed "November is Coming" to recruit organizers and [[canvassing|canvassers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Conservative Group Pushes to Enlist Thousands After Obama Suggests It's Foreign Influenced |date=August 12, 2010 |publisher=[[Fox News]] |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/12/americans-prosperity-slams-obama-suggesting-foreign-influence/ |accessdate=May 1, 2015}}</ref> In October 2010, AFP sponsored a workshop on the political use of the internet at a Tea Party convention in Virginia.<ref name="Pilkington">{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/13/tea-party-americans-for-prosperity |title=Americans For Prosperity sponsors Tea Party workshop |date=October 13, 2010 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |first=Ed |last=Pilkington |location=London |accessdate=March 24, 2015}}</ref> Of the six freshman Republican members of the [[United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce|House Committee on Energy and Commerce]] in 2010, five received AFP advertisements.<ref name='LATimes2011-02'>{{cite news | first = Tom | last = Hamburger |author2=Kathleen Hennessey |author3=Neela Banerjee |title=Koch brothers now at heart of GOP power | date = February 6, 2011 | publisher = [[Tribune Company]] | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-koch-brothers-20110206,0,4692342,full.story | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] | accessdate = February 6, 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110217132904/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-koch-brothers-20110206,0,4692342,full.story| archivedate= February 17, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref> |
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[[David Weigel]] wrote in ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' that AFP "in the Tea Party era evolved into one of the most powerful conservative organizations in electoral politics."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/03/01/behind_the_cato_koch_kerfuffle.html |title=Behind the Cato-Koch Kerfuffle |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=March 1, 2012 |accessdate=March 24, 2015 |first=David |last=Weigel |authorlink=David Weigel}}</ref> AFP and the Tea Party share many of the same principles.<ref name=cnn20120604/> In 2010, AFP was one of the most influential organizations in the Tea Party movement, and the largest in terms of membership and spending.<ref name=nj20100204>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/12-tea-party-players-to-watch-20100204 |title=12 Tea Party Players To Watch |
[[David Weigel]] wrote in ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' that AFP "in the Tea Party era evolved into one of the most powerful conservative organizations in electoral politics."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/03/01/behind_the_cato_koch_kerfuffle.html |title=Behind the Cato-Koch Kerfuffle |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=March 1, 2012 |accessdate=March 24, 2015 |first=David |last=Weigel |authorlink=David Weigel}}</ref> AFP and the Tea Party share many of the same principles.<ref name=cnn20120604/> In 2010, AFP was one of the most influential organizations in the Tea Party movement, and the largest in terms of membership and spending.<ref name=nj20100204>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/12-tea-party-players-to-watch-20100204 |title=12 Tea Party Players To Watch |magazine=[[National Journal]] |date=February 4, 2010 |accessdate=April 17, 2015 |first1=Christopher |last1=Snow Hopkins |first2=Siddhartha |last2=Mahanta |first3=Theresa |last3=Poulson}}</ref><ref name="top_players">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/09/26/GR2010092600175.html |title=The top national players in the tea party |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 26, 2010 |accessdate=April 17, 2015}}</ref> |
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== |
==Obama re-election== |
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| ⚫ | AFP ran an early television advertising campaign opposing Obama's re-election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Record Political Ad Spending Powered by Special Interests |first=Julia |last=Boorstin |date=November 8, 2011 |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/45212597 |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |publisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref><ref name=outside/> Previously AFP had run [[issue advocacy ads|issue advertising]] that opposed Obama's programs, in August 2012 the organization shifted to [[Issue advocacy ads#Express advocacy|express advocacy]], which explicitly called for his defeat.<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity steps up campaign against Obama|date=August 24, 2012 |first=Matea |last=Gold |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/24/news/la-pn-americans-for-prosperity-against-obama-20120824 |accessdate=May 8, 2015 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=Non-profit: Americans for Prosperity |url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/campaign-finance/pac/americans-for-prosperity |year=2012 |first1=Jeremy |last1=Ashkenas |first2=Matthew |last2=Ericson |first3=Alicia |last3=Parlapiano |first4=Derek |last4=Willis}}</ref> AFP raised $140 million in the 2012 election cycle, and it spent $122 million, more than in all the previous eight years since its founding. The organization spent more than $33.5 million on television advertisements opposing Obama's re-election.<ref name=presidential>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/conservative-groups-reaching-new-levels-of-sophistication-in-mobilizing-voters/2012/09/20/3c3cd8e8-026c-11e2-91e7-2962c74e7738_story.html| title=Conservative groups reaching new levels of sophistication in mobilizing voters | work=[[Washington Post]] | author1=Peter Wallsten |author2=Tom Hamburger| date=September 20, 2012|accessdate=September 21, 2012}}</ref><ref name=churn>{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/11/americans-for-prosperity-helped-churn-koch-linked-money/ |title=Americans for Prosperity Helped Churn Koch-Linked Money |last1=Maguire |first1=Robert |last2=Novak |first2=Viveca |date=November 15, 2013 |website=opensecrets.org |publisher=[[Center for Responsive Politics]] |accessdate=November 17, 2013}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | AFP advocates for a reduction in [[Public-sector trade union|public sector union]] benefits and pensions, in conjunction with curtailments of public sector [[collective bargaining]] rights.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Michael |first2=Steven |last2=Greenhouse |title=Unions debate what to give to save bargaining |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/us/28unions.html |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |date=February 27, 2011 |page=A1}}</ref><ref name=npr20110225>{{cite news |title=Billionaire Brothers In Spotlight In Wis. Union Battle |date=February 25, 2011 |first=Peter |last=Overby |agency=[[NPR]] |accessdate=May 13, 2015 |url=http://www.npr.org/2011/02/25/134040226/in-wis-union-battle-focus-on-billionaire-brothers |quote=The Koch brothers provided the seed money for Americans for Prosperity a decade ago — and more than $1 million overall.}}</ref> AFP has opposed raising the [[minimum wage]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Republicans block Democratic push to raise minimum wage |first=Alan |last=Fram |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 30, 2014 |publisher=[[PBS]] |work=[[PBS NewsHour]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/senate-republicans-block-democratic-push-raise-minimum-wage/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Kaplan |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=April 30, 2014 |title=Minimum wage bill dies in Senate |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/minimum-wage-bill-dies-in-senate/ |accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In 2011 and 2012, AFP spent $8.4 million in [[swing state]]s on television advertisements denouncing a loan guarantee the Department of Energy had made to [[Solyndra]], a manufacturer of solar panels. Solyndra was the first recipient of such a guarantee under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the company went bankrupt.<ref name=bloomberg1>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-10-17/solyndra-lenders-ahead-of-government-won-t-recover-fully |title=Solyndra Lenders Ahead of Government Won't Recover Fully |first=Michael |last=Bathon |date=October 17, 2012 |work=[[Bloomberg Business]] |accessdate=November 14, 2014}}</ref> AFP sent a bus on a nationwide tour condemning Obama's economic policies called the "Obama's Failing Agenda Tour."<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity puts big money on legislative races in Arkansas |first=T. W. |last=Farnam |date=October 1, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=June 1, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/americans-for-prosperity-puts-big-money-on-legislative-races-in-arkansas/2012/10/01/5169598a-0686-11e2-a10c-fa5a255a9258_story.html}}</ref> |
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=== Wisconsin collective bargaining === |
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| ⚫ | In April 2011 in New Hampshire, AFP sponsored an informal gathering of five Republican presidential candidates, including [[Mitt Romney]], [[Tim Pawlenty]], [[Michele Bachmann]], [[Rick Santorum]], and [[Herman Cain]].<ref>{{cite news |date=April 29, 2011 |title=Republicans jockey for position in New Hampshire |first=Steve |last=Holland |agency=[[Reuters]] |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/30/us-usa-campaign-republicans-idUSTRE73S7FD20110430}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 2, 2011 |title=Romney will sit out first Republican presidential debate |first=Michael |last=O'Brien |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/158621-romney-will-sit-out-first-republican-presidential-debate |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)]] |accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> AFP employed methodologies developed in its efforts in support of [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]] during his [[Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election|attempted recall]], including deploying a [[smartphone]] application called "Prosperity Knocks" to canvassers.<ref name=presidential/> AFP canvassers utilized "Themis," an online voter database of millions of Americans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Karl Rove vs. the Koch brothers |first=Kenneth P. |last=Vogel |authorlink=Kenneth Vogel |date=October 10, 2011 |accessdate=March 24, 2015 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65504.html |publisher=[[Politico]]}}</ref> |
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AFP's activities in Wisconsin developed the state into the nation's foremost conservative-progressive battleground,<ref name=nationaljournal20140612/><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |title=A Conservative Juggernaut's Long Game |date=June 16, 2014 |accessdate=May 29, 2015 |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/the-koch-brothers-pac-is-just-warming-up/372851/ |first=Alex |last=Roarty}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Wisconsin's Legacy of Labor Battles |first=Kate |last=Zernike |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 5, 2011}}</ref> and AFP used tactics in Wisconsin that were applied in later campaigns.<ref name=presidential/> |
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==Health care and 2014 midterm== |
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AFP has been a major supporter of Republican Wisconsin Governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]].<ref name=kenosha20150422>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Kenosha News]] |title=Americans for Prosperity throws its weight into Kenosha Unified School Board race |date=March 24, 2014 |first=Deneen |last=Smith |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |url=http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/americans_for_prosperity_throws_its_weight_into_kenosha_unified_school_board_race_476239373.html }}</ref> In 2009 and 2010, AFP helped raise the statewide profile of Walker, then [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County]] [[county executive]], by inviting him to address its rallies.<ref name=kochworld>{{cite news |title=Scott Walker Is King of Kochworld |date=February 17, 2015 |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-02-17/scott-walker-is-king-of-kochworld |accessdate=April 20, 2015 |first=Julie |last=Bykowicz |work=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref> In 2011, when Walker's agenda of reduced spending, cuts to union benefits, and limits on public-sector collective bargaining drew thousands in opposition to the streets around the state capitol in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], AFP bussed in hundreds to counter-protest.<ref name=NYT01>{{cite news |last=Lipton |first=Eric |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/us/22koch.html |title=Billionaire Brothers' Money Plays Role in Wisconsin Dispute |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=February 21, 2011 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |page=A16}}</ref> AFP spent $320,000 on television advertisements and sponsored a website and bus tour themed "Stand Against Spending, Stand With Walker."<ref name="Kroll"/><ref name=patch20120523/><ref>{{cite news |title=Wisconsin gov. caught in prank by caller posing as donor |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-23-wisconsin-public-unions_N.htm |accessdate=April 20, 2015 |date=February 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=February 26, 2011 |title=Analysis: Koch brothers a force in anti-union effort |first=Andrew |last=Stern |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-usa-wisconsin-koch-idUSTRE71P28W20110226 |accessdate=May 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pro-Walker bus tour ends in Madison as protests at Capitol continue |date=March 7, 2011 |first1=Doug |last1=Erickson |first2=Ron |last2=Seely |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |url=http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/pro-walker-bus-tour-ends-in-madison-as-protests-at/article_7aba1f46-4854-11e0-b468-001cc4c03286.html |accessdate=April 20, 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | AFP |
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| ⚫ | AFP has described itself as the nation’s largest grassroots champion for health care freedom.<ref name=factcheck/> In May 2009, AFP launched Patients United Now, which opposed a [[single-payer health care system]] and a government-funded [[health insurance]] option. It purchased television advertisements warning of "government-controlled health care" or a "Washington takeover" of health care.<ref name=Missoulian/> In one Patients United Now television advertisement, a Canadian woman, [[Shona Holmes health care incident|Shona Holmes]], said she could not get timely treatment in Canada and ultimately was treated in the U.S.<ref name="Lazarus">{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/09/business/fi-lazarus9 |title=Healthcare debate framed by fear-mongering ads|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=August 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 21, 2010|first=David|last=Lazarus}}</ref> Patients United Now staged more than three hundred rallies to oppose the Obama administration's proposed [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], also known as Obamacare.<ref>{{cite news |title= The billionaire brothers bankrolling the get-Obama-out campaign |first=Lara |last=Marlowe |date=November 12, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |location=[[Dublin, Ireland]] |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/the-billionaire-brothers-bankrolling-the-get-obama-out-campaign-1.10983 |accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> |
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=== Michigan right-to-work === |
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| ⚫ | In summer 2009, Patients First sponsored a six-week "Hands Off My Health Care" bus tour.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bus Tour, Campaign-Style Events to Promote Health-Care Reform |first=Dan |last=Eggen |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 31, 2009 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/30/AR2009083002654.html |accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> Hands Off My Health Care events included rallies protesting against the health care plan and collected signatures in an effort to raise awareness about free-market-based health care reforms.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.twcnews.com/archives/nc/charlotte/2009/07/22/group-protests-obama-s-push-for-health-care-reform-NC_612300.old.html |title=Group protests Obama's push for health care reform |date=July 22, 2009 |accessdate=March 30, 2015 |publisher=[[Time Warner Cable News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wect.com/story/10865825/americans-for-prosperity-protest-the-presidents-health-care-plan |title=Americans for Prosperity protest the President's health care plan |date=August 7, 2009 |publisher=[[WECT]] |location=[[Wilmington, North Carolina]]}}</ref> AFP held Hands Off My Health Care events in more than 250 cities, according to AFP president Phillips.<ref>{{cite web |authorlink=Tim Phillips |last=Phillips |first=Tim |title=President Obama's health care law is unraveling |url=http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/29/president-obamas-health-care-law-is-unraveling/ |website=[[The Daily Caller]] |date=February 29, 2012 |accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Americans for Prosperity's Wisconsin campaign |
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| ⚫ | After the [[Affordable Care Act|ACA]] became law, AFP worked for its repeal<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114/> and campaigned to block states from accepting federal funds made available under the law to expand [[Medicaid]]. State legislators who supported Medicaid expansion were targeted, including Republican Virginia state senators [[Emmett Hanger]] and [[John Watkins (Virginia politician)|John Watkins]]. AFP bussed in volunteers to a hearing in the state capital and to call constituents, distribute flyers, and send mailings.<ref name="NYT-20131018">{{cite news |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |title=States Are Focus of Effort to Foil Health Care Law |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/19/us/politics/states-are-focus-of-effort-to-foil-health-care-law.html |date=October 18, 2013 |work=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=October 19, 2013 }}</ref> AFP campaigned against Medicaid expansion in Michigan, Louisiana, and Nebraska<ref name=wp20140227>{{cite news |title=How Americans for Prosperity’s Obamacare attacks could backfire on GOP |first=Greg |last=Sargent |date=February 27, 2014 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/02/27/how-americans-for-prosperitys-obamacare-attacks-could-backfire-on-gop/ |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> and helped defeat Medicaid expansion in Florida. AFP president Phillips said AFP advocated for repeal of the ACA to keep the issue "in front of the public" and to use the threat of a [[presidential veto]] to portray Obama as "unwilling to take some reasonable commonsense reforms."<ref name=nationaljournal20140612>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity Is Just Getting Started |first=Alex |last=Roarty |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/americans-for-prosperity-is-just-getting-started-20140612 |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |magazine=[[National Journal]] |date=June 12, 2014}}</ref> Phillips told the ''New York Times'' that a broader goal of AFP's anti-ACA advertising spending was to present the ACA as a "social welfare boondoggle" which would foster opposition to spending on climate change.<ref>{{cite news |title=Koch Group, Spending Freely, Hones Attack on Government |first1=Carl |last1=Hulse |first2=Ashley |last2=Parker |date=March 20, 2014 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/us/politics/koch-group-seeks-lasting-voice-for-small-government.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The next health-care debate |first=E.J. |last=Dionne Jr. |authorlink=E. J. Dionne |date=March 23, 2014 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne-the-next-health-care-debate/2014/03/23/5492a1cc-b12d-11e3-95e8-39bef8e9a48b_story.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=The real goal of all those anti-Obamacare ads |date=March 21, 2014 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/03/21/the-real-goal-of-all-those-anti-obamacare-ads/ |first=Greg |last=Sargent}}</ref> In March 2012, AFP, with support from the California-based [[Tea Party Express]], organized a rally at the Capitol during the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]'s oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of the ACA.<ref name=ppacarallies>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/us/politics/white-house-works-to-shape-debate-over-health-law.html |title=White House Works to Shape Debate Over Health Law | first=Robert | last=Pear | date=March 9, 2012 | newspaper=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | AFP had opposed Michigan Governor [[Rick Snyder]], a Republican, on a number of issues, including the Detroit River International Crossing Bridge project, an expansion of [[Medicaid]] funded by the federal |
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| ⚫ | AFP played a major role in the [[United States elections, 2014|2014 midterm elections]],<ref name=wp20140212>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=IRS plan to curb politically active groups is threatened by opposition from both sides |first=Matea |last=Gold |date=February 12, 2014 |accessdate=May 28, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/irs-plan-to-curb-politically-active-groups-threatened-by-opposition-from-both-sides/2014/02/12/99dcfd2a-932a-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html}}</ref> helping Republicans achieve a majority in the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity President: GOP Budget Could 'Blow Their Majority Up' |first=Scott |last=Bland |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/americans-for-prosperity-president-gop-budget-could-blow-their-majority-up-20150315 |magazine=[[National Journal]] |accessdate=May 13, 2015 |date=March 15, 2015}}</ref> AFP targeted legislators who had supported the ACA four years earlier.<ref name=outside>{{cite news |title=Outside Money Drives a Deluge of Political Ads |first=Ashley |last=Parker |date=July 27, 2014 |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/28/us/politics/deluge-of-political-ads-is-driven-by-outside-money.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> AFP's first campaign advertisement aired in September 2013,<ref>{{cite news |title=Koch-backed group launches new attack on health care law |first=Fredreka |last=Schouten |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=September 19, 2013 |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/19/affordable-care-act-advertising-exchanges-health-care-president-obama-americans-for-prosperity-koch-brothers/2833979/}}</ref> and by January 2014 the organization had spent $20 million,<ref name=nyt20140115>{{cite news |title=Ads Attacking Health Law Stagger Outspent Democrats |first=Carl |last=Hulse |date=January 15, 2014 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/us/politics/ads-attacking-on-health-law-stagger-outspent-democrats.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref> by May, $35 million,<ref>{{cite news |title=$10-million ad campaign joins 'avalanche' of anti-Obamacare ads |first=Maeve |last=Reston |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-new-10-million-ad-campaign-avalanche-obamacare-ads-20140520-story.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> and by July, $44 million,<ref name=outside/> amounts unprecedented so early in a political campaign cycle.<ref name=nationaljournal20140612/> Senators targeted [[Kay Hagan]], [[Mary Landrieu]], [[Mark Begich]], and [[Jeanne Shaheen]], all Democrats.<ref name=nyt20140115/> In early 2014, AFP ran nationwide advertisements featuring stories victims of Obamacare, people whose health care had been compromised by Obamacare."<ref name=afp20140304/> |
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==Obama re-election== |
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| ⚫ | Between January 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014, in the campaign to control the Senate, AFP aired more than 27,000 television advertisements, about one in every 16 ads.<ref>{{cite news |title=GOP’s Senate hopes energized by Koch network ad blitz |first=Michael |last=Beckel |date=September 4, 2014 |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |accessdate=May 2, 2015 |url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/09/04/15459/gop-s-senate-hopes-energized-koch-network-ad-blitz}}</ref> AFP was one of the leading spenders on political advertising in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=In key election states, conservative groups build a ground game |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-na-afp-data-wars-20141026-story.html |first=Maeve |last=Reston |date=October 25, 2014 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> AFP lead all non-[[political action committees]] in terms of spending on television air time for political advertisements in the 2014 election cycle through April.<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Center for Responsive Politics]] |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2014/04/dark-money-spending-three-times-more-than-at-same-time-in-2012-cycle-crp-testifies/ |accessdate=May 8, 2015 |title=Dark Money Spending Three Times More Than at Same Time in 2012 Cycle, CRP Testifies |date=April 30, 2014}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | AFP ran an early television advertising campaign opposing Obama's re-election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Record Political Ad Spending Powered by Special Interests |first=Julia |last=Boorstin |date=November 8, 2011 |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/45212597 |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |publisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref><ref name=outside/ |
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| ⚫ | In 2011 and 2012, AFP spent $8.4 million in [[swing state]]s on television advertisements denouncing a loan guarantee the Department of Energy had made to [[Solyndra]], a manufacturer of solar panels. Solyndra was the first recipient of such a guarantee under the |
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| ⚫ | In April 2011 in New Hampshire, AFP sponsored an informal gathering of five Republican presidential candidates, including [[Mitt Romney]], [[Tim Pawlenty]], [[Michele Bachmann]], [[Rick Santorum]], and [[Herman Cain]].<ref>{{cite news |date=April 29, 2011 |title=Republicans jockey for position in New Hampshire |first=Steve |last=Holland |agency=[[Reuters]] |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/30/us-usa-campaign-republicans-idUSTRE73S7FD20110430}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 2, 2011 |title=Romney will sit out first Republican presidential debate |first=Michael |last=O'Brien |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/158621-romney-will-sit-out-first-republican-presidential-debate |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)]] |accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> AFP |
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==Programs and advocacy== |
==Programs and advocacy== |
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===Energy and environment=== |
===Energy and environment=== |
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AFP supports oil and gas development and opposes regulation, including environmental restrictions.<ref name=aj20140812>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity: Koch brothers’ advocacy gets local in Colorado |date=August 12, 2014 |first=Sandra |last=Fish |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/8/12/colorado-kochtopusamericansprosperity.html |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |agency=[[Al Jazeera]]}}</ref> |
AFP supports oil and gas development and opposes over-regulation, including environmental restrictions.<ref name=aj20140812>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity: Koch brothers’ advocacy gets local in Colorado |date=August 12, 2014 |first=Sandra |last=Fish |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/8/12/colorado-kochtopusamericansprosperity.html |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |agency=[[Al Jazeera]]}}</ref> <ref name=Missoulian>{{cite news|title=Montana Republicans join fight against Obama health care reforms |last=Dennison |first=Mike |newspaper=[[Missoulian]] |location=[[Missoula, Montana]] |date=May 30, 2009 |url=http://missoulian.com/news/local/montana-republicans-join-fight-against-obama-health-care-reforms/article_f0b6e594-76f5-51eb-b1e8-e2f5d0f59def.html |page=A1}}</ref> AFP was important in creating the Tea Party movement and in encouraging the movement to focus on [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dryzek |first1=John S. |authorlink1=John Dryzek |first2=Richard B. |last2=Norgaard |authorlink2=Richard Norgaard |first3=David |last3=Schlosberg |title=The Oxford Handbook of Climate Change and Society |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2011 |isbn=9780199683420 |page=154}}</ref> AFP helped defeat proposed U.S. legislation embracing [[cap and trade]].<ref name=nytmag/><ref name=Holmberg>{{cite web | url=http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/the_koch_club/story/Koch_climate_pledge_strategy/ | title=Koch: Climate pledge strategy continues to grow | work=Investigative Reporting Workshop, | publisher=American University School of Communication | date=July 1, 2013 | accessdate=March 23, 2015 | last1=Holmberg | first1=Eric |first2=Alexia |last2=Fernandez Campbell }}</ref> |
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In 2008, AFP circulated the No Climate Tax Pledge to government officials at the federal, state, and local levels, a pledge to oppose any legislation including spending relating to climate change unless it also included an equivalent amount of tax cuts.<ref name=Holmberg/><ref name=ljw>{{cite news |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/ |title=Group against taxes seeks pledges from candidates |newspaper=[[Lawrence Journal-World]] |date=July 22, 2008 |location=[[Lawrence, Kansas]] |first=Scott |last=Rothschild |accessdate=May 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Mayer-130701">{{cite news |url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/koch-pledge-tied-to-congressional-climate-inaction |title=Koch Pledge Tied to Congressional Climate Inaction |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=July 1, 2007 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |last=Mayer |first=Jane |authorlink=Jane Mayer}}</ref> By July 2013, 411 lawmakers and candidates, including a quarter of U.S. Senators and more than a third of U.S. Representatives, primarily Republicans, had signed the pledge.<ref name=Holmberg/> Of the twelve Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2011, nine signed the pledge.<ref name=lat20110206>{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/06/nation/la-na-koch-brothers-20110206 |title=Koch brothers now at heart of GOP power |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=February 6, 2011 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |first1=Tom |last1=Hamburger |first2=Kathleen |last2=Hennessey |first3=Neela |last3=Banerjee}}</ref> |
In 2008, AFP circulated the No Climate Tax Pledge to government officials at the federal, state, and local levels, a pledge to oppose any legislation including spending relating to climate change unless it also included an equivalent amount of tax cuts.<ref name=Holmberg/><ref name=ljw>{{cite news |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/ |title=Group against taxes seeks pledges from candidates |newspaper=[[Lawrence Journal-World]] |date=July 22, 2008 |location=[[Lawrence, Kansas]] |first=Scott |last=Rothschild |accessdate=May 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Mayer-130701">{{cite news |url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/koch-pledge-tied-to-congressional-climate-inaction |title=Koch Pledge Tied to Congressional Climate Inaction |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=July 1, 2007 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |last=Mayer |first=Jane |authorlink=Jane Mayer}}</ref> By July 2013, 411 lawmakers and candidates, including a quarter of U.S. Senators and more than a third of U.S. Representatives, primarily Republicans, had signed the pledge.<ref name=Holmberg/> Of the twelve Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2011, nine signed the pledge.<ref name=lat20110206>{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/06/nation/la-na-koch-brothers-20110206 |title=Koch brothers now at heart of GOP power |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=February 6, 2011 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |first1=Tom |last1=Hamburger |first2=Kathleen |last2=Hennessey |first3=Neela |last3=Banerjee}}</ref> |
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AFP held more than eighty events in opposition to cap and trade, |
AFP held more than eighty events in opposition to cap and trade, including the nationwide Hot Air Tour, which involved floating hot air balloons in protest of what AFP described as "global warming alarmism."<ref name=wp20100826/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americansforprosperity.org/120310-hot-air-tour-live-cancun-full-broadcast |title=Hot Air Tour Live from Cancun |publisher=Americans for Prosperity |accessdate=January 25, 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110126005750/http://americansforprosperity.org/120310-hot-air-tour-live-cancun-full-broadcast| archivedate= January 26, 2011}}</ref> AFP flew its balloon over [[Al Gore]]'s house in Tennessee.<ref name=nytmag>{{cite news |title=How Billionaire Oligarchs Are Becoming Their Own Political Parties |first=Jim |last=Rutenberg |date=October 17, 2014 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/magazine/how-billionaire-oligarchs-are-becoming-their-own-political-parties.html |work=[[New York Times Magazine]]}}</ref> AFP described cap and trade as "the largest excise tax in history." AFP sponsored a Regulation Reality Tour to foment opposition to climate change legislation and federal regulation of [[carbon emissions]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Climate Change Doubt Is Tea Party Article of Faith |first=John M. |last=Broder |date=October 20, 2010 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/us/politics/21climate.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=March 24, 2015}}</ref> The tour involved "carbon cops" with badges in green [[Smart (automobile)|Smart cars]] with flashing lights who wrote citations for "carbon crimes" like running a lawn mower.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Case for EPA Action |first=Christian |last=Parenti |date=April 15, 2010 |accessdate=March 24, 2015 |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/case-epa-action |magazine=[[The Nation (magazine)|The Nation]]}}</ref> In 2011, AFP launched a Running on Empty website and national tour featuring a 14-foot inflatable gas pump intended to link rising gas prices to the Obama administration’s environmental regulations and to promote [[offshore drilling]] for oil.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 2011 |title=Big Oil drama returns to Colorado; left, right argue about energy and Grandma |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |newspaper=[[The Denver Post]] |url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2011/08/24/big-oil-drama-returns-to-colorado-left-right-argue-about-energy-and-grandma/37151/ |accessdate=April 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[Politico]] |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56297.html |title=Right aims to pin pump pain on W.H. |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |first=Ben |last=Smith |date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> Long lines formed in several states in 2012 when AFP offered drivers gas discounted to the price in effect when Obama took office.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hundreds line up for $1.84 gas at Mt. Morris Township gas station as part of political attention-getter |first=Jeremy |last=Allen |date=October 1, 2012 |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |url=http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/index.ssf/2012/10/hundreds_line_up_for_184_gas_a.html |newspaper=[[Booth Newspapers]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Booth Newspapers]] |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |first=Jeremy |last=Allen |url=http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/index.ssf/2012/10/americans_for_prosperity_direc.html |title=Americans for Prosperity directors say $1.84 gas 'was a successful event,' more planned}}</ref> In 2012, AFP campaigned against Republican political candidates who supported the theory of climate change.<ref>{{cite news |title=Large Companies Prepared to Pay Price on Carbon |first=Coral |last=Davenport |date=December 5, 2013 |accessdate=June 2, 2015 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/business/energy-environment/large-companies-prepared-to-pay-price-on-carbon.html}}</ref> |
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AFP advocates for the construction of the proposed [[Keystone Pipeline#Keystone XL|Keystone XL Pipeline]] |
AFP advocates for the construction of the proposed [[Keystone Pipeline#Keystone XL|Keystone XL Pipeline]]; in February 2015, AFP organized supporters to telephone the [[White House]] to urge Obama to sign legislation authorizing the project.<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity launch push for White House to sign Keystone bill |first=Laura |last=Barron-Lopez |date=February 13, 2015 |accessdate=May 13, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/232803-americans-for-prosperity-launch-push-for-white-house-to-sign}}</ref> AFP led an effort to repeal a federal [[tax credit]] for [[wind power]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A Kansas twister: Wind energy politics complicate governor’s race |date=September 19, 2014 |first=Jonathan M. |last=Katz |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/9/19/kansas-wind-energybrownback.html |accessdate=May 6, 2014 |publisher=[[Al Jazeera America]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Conservative groups seek limits during lame duck on wind energy subsidies |first=Tom |last=Hamburger |date=December 8, 2014 |accessdate=May 6, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/08/conservative-groups-seek-limits-during-lame-duck-on-wind-energy-subsidies/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, and other states, AFP campaigned to overturn [[renewable portfolio standard]]s, state laws that mandated a percentage of the state's electricity come from [[renewable resource]]s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ohio Poised to Break From U.S. Push for Renewable Energy |first=Mark |last=Niquette |date=May 20, 2014 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |magazine=[[Bloomberg Business]] |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-05-21/ohio-poised-to-break-from-u-s-push-for-renewable-energy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Renewable Energy: Kansas Gov Brownback Pushes Plan To Weaken State Mandate; Texas, North Carolina Advance Similar Bills |first=Maria |last=Gallucci |date=May 6, 2015 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |publisher=[[International Business Times]] |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/renewable-energy-kansas-gov-brownback-pushes-plan-weaken-state-mandate-texas-north-1911052}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |title=Green-Energy Mandates Find Improbable Allies |first=Ryan |last=Tracy |date=July 17, 2013 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324260204578584262604997312}}</ref> AFP announced plans to oppose Republican candidates who support a [[carbon tax]] in the 2016 [[United States presidential primary|presidential primaries]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Republicans Keep Telling Everyone They're Not Scientists|first=Coral|last=Davenport|date=October 30, 2014|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|accessdate=March 20, 2015|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/us/why-republicans-keep-telling-everyone-theyre-not-scientists.html}}</ref> |
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=== Labor issues === |
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| ⚫ | AFP advocates for a reduction in [[Public-sector trade union|public sector union]] benefits and pensions, in conjunction with curtailments of public sector [[collective bargaining]] rights.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Michael |first2=Steven |last2=Greenhouse |title=Unions debate what to give to save bargaining |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/us/28unions.html |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |date=February 27, 2011 |page=A1}}</ref><ref name=npr20110225>{{cite news |title=Billionaire Brothers In Spotlight In Wis. Union Battle |date=February 25, 2011 |first=Peter |last=Overby |agency=[[NPR]] |accessdate=May 13, 2015 |url=http://www.npr.org/2011/02/25/134040226/in-wis-union-battle-focus-on-billionaire-brothers |quote=The Koch brothers provided the seed money for Americans for Prosperity a decade ago — and more than $1 million overall.}}</ref> AFP has opposed raising the [[minimum wage]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Republicans block Democratic push to raise minimum wage |first=Alan |last=Fram |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 30, 2014 |publisher=[[PBS]] |work=[[PBS NewsHour]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/senate-republicans-block-democratic-push-raise-minimum-wage/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Kaplan |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=April 30, 2014 |title=Minimum wage bill dies in Senate |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/minimum-wage-bill-dies-in-senate/ |accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref> |
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AFP has described itself as the nation’s largest grassroots champion for health care freedom.<ref name=factcheck/> In August 2009, ''[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]'' magazine identified health care reform as one of the key domestic policy goals of the Obama administration, and identified AFP as one of the most prominent groups in opposition.<ref name=motherjones20090819/> AFP sponsored two other groups advocating against the Obama administration's proposed [[health care reform]], Patients United Now and Patients First.<ref name=motherjones20090819/> |
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| ⚫ | AFP's activities in Wisconsin developed the state into the nation's foremost conservative-progressive battleground,<ref name=nationaljournal20140612/><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |title=A Conservative Juggernaut's Long Game |date=June 16, 2014 |accessdate=May 29, 2015 |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/the-koch-brothers-pac-is-just-warming-up/372851/ |first=Alex |last=Roarty}}</ref> and AFP used tactics in Wisconsin that were applied in later campaigns.<ref name=presidential/> AFP has been a major supporter of Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.<ref name=kenosha20150422>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Kenosha News]] |title=Americans for Prosperity throws its weight into Kenosha Unified School Board race |date=March 24, 2014 |first=Deneen |last=Smith |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |url=http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/americans_for_prosperity_throws_its_weight_into_kenosha_unified_school_board_race_476239373.html }}</ref> AFP spent $3 million in opposition to the [[Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election|recall campaign against Walker]] in 2011–2012 and sent 75 trained canvassers to Wisconsin.<ref name=record>{{cite news |first1=Phil |last1=Hirschkorn |first2=Nancy |last2=Cordes |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=June 7, 2012 |title=A record amount of money spent on Wisconsin recall |accessdate=April 20, 2015 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-record-amount-of-money-spent-on-wisconsin-recall/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=On Politics: David Koch: 'We've spent a lot of money in Wisconsin. We're going to spend more.' |date=February 20, 2012 |accessdate=May 29, 2015 |first=Mary |last=Spicuzza |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |url=http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/on-politics/on-politics-david-koch-we-ve-spent-a-lot-of/article_dc909fe4-5bde-11e1-a0db-0019bb2963f4.html}}</ref> After the passage of Walker's signature legislation, the [[2011 Wisconsin Act 10]], which limited [[collective bargaining]] rights for most public employees, AFP ran advertisements and held town-hall meetings with the theme "It's Working Wisconsin!"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/its-rally-season-in-wisconsin-c24gjov-142091613.html |title=Capitol rally to mark one year since Act 10 |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |accessdate=March 30, 2015 |date=March 9, 2012 |first=Bill |last=Glauber}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity spending big in new ad touting Walker |date=May 27, 2014 |first=John |last=Beard |agency=[[WKOW]] |publisher=[[WGEM-TV]] |url=http://www.wgem.com/story/25619623/2014/05/27/americans-for-prosperity-spending-big-in-new-ad-touting-walker |location=[[Madison, Wisconsin]]}}</ref> Days before the recall election, AFP sponsored a ten-city bus tour themed "A Better Wisconsin."<ref name=cnn20120604>{{cite news |agency=[[CNN]] |title=Crunch time for recall volunteers |first=Chris |last=Welch |date=June 4, 2012 |accessdate=May 27, 2015 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/03/politics/wisconsin-recall-bus-tour/}}</ref> In the context of Walker's 2014 re-election campaign, AFP purchased television issue advertisements in support of Act 10.<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans For Prosperity Buys Airtime For New Political Ad |date=May 27, 2014 |first=Shawn |last=Johnson |publisher=[[Wisconsin Public Radio]] |url=http://www.wpr.org/americans-prosperity-buys-airtime-new-political-ad |accessdate=April 20, 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In May 2009, AFP launched Patients United Now, which opposed a [[single-payer health care system]] and a government-funded [[health insurance]] option. It purchased television advertisements warning of "government-controlled health care" or a "Washington takeover" of health care.<ref name=Missoulian/> In one Patients United Now television advertisement, a Canadian woman, [[Shona Holmes health care incident|Shona Holmes]], said she could not get timely treatment in Canada and ultimately was treated in the U.S.<ref name="Lazarus">{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/09/business/fi-lazarus9 |title=Healthcare debate framed by fear-mongering ads|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2009 |
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| ⚫ | In summer 2009, Patients First sponsored a six-week "Hands Off My Health Care" bus tour.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bus Tour, Campaign-Style Events to Promote Health-Care Reform |first=Dan |last=Eggen |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 31, 2009 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/30/AR2009083002654.html |accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> Hands Off My Health Care events included rallies protesting against the health care plan and collected signatures in an effort to raise awareness about free-market-based health care reforms.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.twcnews.com/archives/nc/charlotte/2009/07/22/group-protests-obama-s-push-for-health-care-reform-NC_612300.old.html |title=Group protests Obama's push for health care reform |date=July 22, 2009 |accessdate=March 30, 2015 |publisher=[[Time Warner Cable News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wect.com/story/10865825/americans-for-prosperity-protest-the-presidents-health-care-plan |title=Americans for Prosperity protest the President's health care plan |date=August 7, 2009 |publisher=[[WECT]] |location=[[Wilmington, North Carolina]]}}</ref> AFP held Hands Off My Health Care events in more than 250 cities, according to AFP president Phillips.<ref>{{cite web |authorlink=Tim Phillips |last=Phillips |first=Tim |title=President Obama's health care law is unraveling |url=http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/29/president-obamas-health-care-law-is-unraveling/ |website=[[The Daily Caller]] |date=February 29, 2012 |accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Americans for Prosperity's Wisconsin campaign regarding collective bargaining rights and turning back a recall demonstrated to AFP that similar efforts could succeed in Michigan.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=In Michigan, heart of organized labor, Republicans push to limit union power |first=Philip |last=Rucker |date=December 7, 2012 |accessdate=May 3, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-michigan-heart-of-organized-labor-republicans-push-to-limit-union-power/2012/12/07/a9583a2a-4098-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story.html}}</ref> A top priority of AFP in Michigan was [[Right-to-work law|right-to-work legislation]], which prohibited employers from deducting union dues from employee pay checks and prohibited labor contracts from excluding non-union members.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |title=Protesters swarm as Michigan pushes right-to-work measure |first=Andrea |last=Billups |date=December 6, 2012 |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/6/unions-explode-michigan-weighs-right-work-law/ |accessdate=May 29, 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | After the [[Affordable Care Act|ACA]] became law, AFP worked for its repeal<ref name=huffingtonpost20131114/> and campaigned to block states from accepting federal funds made available under the law to expand [[Medicaid]]. State legislators who supported Medicaid expansion were targeted, including Republican Virginia state senators [[Emmett Hanger]] and [[John Watkins (Virginia politician)|John Watkins]]. AFP bussed in volunteers to a hearing in the state capital and to call constituents, distribute flyers, and send mailings.<ref name="NYT-20131018">{{cite news |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |title=States Are Focus of Effort to Foil Health Care Law |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/19/us/politics/states-are-focus-of-effort-to-foil-health-care-law.html |date=October 18, 2013 |work=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=October 19, 2013 }}</ref> AFP campaigned against Medicaid expansion in Michigan, Louisiana, and Nebraska<ref name=wp20140227>{{cite news |title=How Americans for Prosperity’s Obamacare attacks could backfire on GOP |first=Greg |last=Sargent |date=February 27, 2014 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/02/27/how-americans-for-prosperitys-obamacare-attacks-could-backfire-on-gop/ |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> and helped defeat Medicaid expansion in Florida. AFP president Phillips said AFP advocated for repeal of the ACA to keep the issue "in front of the public" and to use the threat of a [[presidential veto]] to portray Obama as "unwilling to take some reasonable commonsense reforms."<ref name=nationaljournal20140612>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity Is Just Getting Started |first=Alex |last=Roarty |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/americans-for-prosperity-is-just-getting-started-20140612 |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |magazine=[[National Journal]] |date=June 12, 2014}}</ref> Phillips told the ''New York Times'' that a broader goal of AFP's anti-ACA advertising spending was to present the ACA as a "social welfare boondoggle" which would foster opposition to spending on climate change.<ref>{{cite news |title=Koch Group, Spending Freely, Hones Attack on Government |first1=Carl |last1=Hulse |first2=Ashley |last2=Parker |date=March 20, 2014 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/us/politics/koch-group-seeks-lasting-voice-for-small-government.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The next health-care debate |first=E.J. |last=Dionne Jr. |authorlink=E. J. Dionne |date=March 23, 2014 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne-the-next-health-care-debate/2014/03/23/5492a1cc-b12d-11e3-95e8-39bef8e9a48b_story.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=The real goal of all those anti-Obamacare ads |date=March 21, 2014 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/03/21/the-real-goal-of-all-those-anti-obamacare-ads/ |first=Greg |last=Sargent}}</ref> In March 2012, AFP, with support from the California-based [[Tea Party Express]], organized a rally at the Capitol during the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]'s oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of the ACA.<ref name=ppacarallies>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/us/politics/white-house-works-to-shape-debate-over-health-law.html |title=White House Works to Shape Debate Over Health Law | first=Robert | last=Pear | date=March 9, 2012 | newspaper=[[New York Times]] |accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | AFP had opposed Michigan Governor [[Rick Snyder]], a Republican, on a number of issues, including the Detroit River International Crossing Bridge project, an expansion of [[Medicaid]] funded by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a road bill which raised taxes,<ref name=wp20140227/> but they sided with Snyder on the issue of right-to-work in Michigan.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Nichols |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |title=GOP, Koch Brothers Sneak Attack Guts Labor Rights in Michigan |date=December 6, 2012 |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |magazine=The Nation |url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/171641/gop-koch-brothers-sneak-attack-guts-labor-rights-michigan}}</ref> On the morning of December 6, during a [[lame duck (politics)|lame duck]] session of the Republican-controlled Michigan legislature, Snyder called a joint press conference with the legislative leadership to announce fast-track right-to-work legislation. The legislation passed both houses of the Michigan legislature that day, as protesters and counterprotesters demonstrated outside.<ref name=ap20121207>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[Fox News]] |title=Michigan legislators defy unions, OK right-to-work |date=December 7, 2012 |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |url=http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20286272/michigan-legislators-defy-unions-ok-right-to-work}}</ref> On December 10, President Obama visited [[Daimler AG]]'s [[Detroit Diesel]] factory in [[Redford, Michigan]], and told employees the legislation was about the "right to work for less money."<ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[CBS News]] |title=Obama takes on union fight in Michigan |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-takes-on-union-fight-in-michigan/ |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |date=December 10, 2012 |first=Brian |last=Montopoli}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=How Michigan’s Right-To-Work Law Came to Be |date=December 11, 2012 |first=Theresa |last=Riley |url=http://billmoyers.com/2012/12/11/how-michigans-right-to-work-law-came-to-be/ |accessdate=May 5, 2015 |publisher=Public Affairs Television |work=[[Moyers & Company]]}}</ref> Snyder signed the legislation on December 11.<ref name=ap20121207/><ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[CBS News]] |first=Brian |last=Montopoli |date=December 11, 2012 |title=Right-to-work signed into law in Michigan |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/right-to-work-signed-into-law-in-michigan/ |accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> In 2014, Snyder ran for re-election and AFP posted an online advertisement praising his legislative record.<ref>{{cite news |title=Michigan Political Points: Americans for Prosperity touts common ground with Gov. Rick Snyder |first=Jonathan |last=Oosting |date=November 1, 2014 |accessdate=May 4, 2015 |url=http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/11/michigan_political_points_amer_1.html |publisher=[[Booth Newspapers]]}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | AFP played a major role in the [[United States elections, 2014|2014 midterm elections]],<ref name=wp20140212>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=IRS plan to curb politically active groups is threatened by opposition from both sides |first=Matea |last=Gold |date=February 12, 2014 |accessdate=May 28, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/irs-plan-to-curb-politically-active-groups-threatened-by-opposition-from-both-sides/2014/02/12/99dcfd2a-932a-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html}}</ref> helping Republicans achieve a majority in the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity President: GOP Budget Could 'Blow Their Majority Up' |first=Scott |last=Bland |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/americans-for-prosperity-president-gop-budget-could-blow-their-majority-up-20150315 |magazine=[[National Journal]] |accessdate=May 13, 2015 |date=March 15, 2015}}</ref> AFP targeted legislators who had supported the ACA four years earlier.<ref name=outside>{{cite news |title=Outside Money Drives a Deluge of Political Ads |first=Ashley |last=Parker |date=July 27, 2014 |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/28/us/politics/deluge-of-political-ads-is-driven-by-outside-money.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> AFP's first campaign advertisement aired in September 2013,<ref>{{cite news |title=Koch-backed group launches new attack on health care law |first=Fredreka |last=Schouten |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=September 19, 2013 |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/19/affordable-care-act-advertising-exchanges-health-care-president-obama-americans-for-prosperity-koch-brothers/2833979/}}</ref> and by January 2014 the organization had spent $20 million,<ref name=nyt20140115>{{cite news |title=Ads Attacking Health Law Stagger Outspent Democrats |first=Carl |last=Hulse |date=January 15, 2014 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/us/politics/ads-attacking-on-health-law-stagger-outspent-democrats.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref> by May, $35 million,<ref>{{cite news |title=$10-million ad campaign joins 'avalanche' of anti-Obamacare ads |first=Maeve |last=Reston |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-new-10-million-ad-campaign-avalanche-obamacare-ads-20140520-story.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> and by July, $44 million,<ref name=outside/> amounts unprecedented so early in a political campaign cycle.<ref name=nationaljournal20140612/> Senators targeted [[Kay Hagan]], [[Mary Landrieu]], [[Mark Begich]], and [[Jeanne Shaheen]], all Democrats.<ref name=nyt20140115/> In early 2014, AFP ran nationwide advertisements featuring stories |
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| ⚫ | Between January 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014, in the campaign to control the Senate, AFP aired more than 27,000 television advertisements, about one in every 16 ads.<ref>{{cite news |title=GOP’s Senate hopes energized by Koch network ad blitz |first=Michael |last=Beckel |date=September 4, 2014 |agency=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |accessdate=May 2, 2015 |url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/09/04/15459/gop-s-senate-hopes-energized-koch-network-ad-blitz}}</ref> AFP was one of the leading spenders on political advertising in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=In key election states, conservative groups build a ground game |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-na-afp-data-wars-20141026-story.html |first=Maeve |last=Reston |date=October 25, 2014 |accessdate=May 11, 2015 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> AFP lead all non-[[political action committees]] in terms of spending on television air time for political advertisements in the 2014 election cycle through April.<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Center for Responsive Politics]] |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2014/04/dark-money-spending-three-times-more-than-at-same-time-in-2012-cycle-crp-testifies/ |accessdate=May 8, 2015 |title=Dark Money Spending Three Times More Than at Same Time in 2012 Cycle, CRP Testifies |date=April 30, 2014}}</ref> |
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===Fiscal policy |
===Fiscal policy=== |
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AFP advocates [[limited government]].<ref name=nyt20100406/> Within two days of Obama's inauguration in February |
AFP advocates [[limited government]].<ref name=nyt20100406/> Within two days of Obama's inauguration in February 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched a television advertising campaign and a website "nostimulus.com" which featured an online "No Stimulus" petition addressed to U.S. Senators, notifying them that the vote on Obama's first major legislative initiative, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, would be included in AFP's congressional rankings and urging a "no" vote. The petition stated the Act as "dramatically increasing federal debt and spending...under the pretense of stimulus or recovery." Internet traffic overwhelmed the website.<ref name=themachine/>{{rp|109}}<ref>{{cite news |date=February 9, 2009 |title=‘No Stimulus’ Petition Illustrates Public Anger Over Plan |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/02/09/no-stimulus-petition-illustrates-public-anger-over-plan/}}</ref> In 2011, AFP opposed the extension of [[unemployment benefits]], writing that unemployment benefits increase unemployment.<ref>{{cite news |title=It's Time for Congress to Stop Paying People Not to Work |authorlink1=Phil Kerpen |first1=Phil |last1=Kerpen |first2=Adam |last2=Berkland |date=December 5, 2011 |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/12/05/its-time-for-congress-to-stop-paying-people-not-to-work.html |publisher=[[Fox News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Economic Follies of Extending Unemployment Insurance |date=December 10, 2013 |first=Casey |last=Given |url=http://americansforprosperity.org/article/the-economic-follies-of-extending-unemployment-insurance |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |publisher=Americans for Prosperity}}</ref> In late 2012, AFP opposed a proposed federal relief bill after [[Hurricane Sandy]], the second-costliest hurricane in United States history.<ref>{{cite book |authorlink=Naomi Klein |last=Klein |first=Naomi |title=[[This Changes Everything|This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate]] |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |date=2014 |isbn=978-1-4516-9738-4}}</ref><ref name=nation20121222>{{cite news |magazine=[[The Nation]] |first=Lee |last=Fang |authorlink=Lee Fang |title=David Koch Now Taking Aim at Hurricane Sandy Victims |date=December 22, 2012 |url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/171906/david-koch-now-taking-aim-hurricane-sandy-victims |accessdate=April 29, 2015}}</ref> AFP's New Jersey director questioned the federal government's role in natural disaster relief, saying it should be limited to the repair of federal buildings.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[NJTV]] |title=Americans for Prosperity NJ Director Disagrees with $60B Sandy Aid, Changes to Gun Control Laws |date=December 17, 2012 |url=http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/americans-for-prosperity-nj-director-disagrees-with-60b-sandy-aid-changes-to-gun-control-laws/ |accessdate=April 29, 2015}}</ref> AFP opposed smoking bans in Texas and Virginia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Smoking ban debate renewed in Texas House |first=Kristen |last=Mack |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=March 14, 2007 |accessdate=June 1, 2015 |url=http://www.chron.com/news/article/Smoking-ban-debate-renewed-in-Texas-House-1792390.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Anita |last=Kumar |date=February 5, 2009 |accessdate=June 1, 2015 |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/02/legislators_targeted.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Legislators Targeted On Smoking Ban}}</ref> |
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[[File:AmericansForProsperityRally.jpeg|300px|thumb|[[Michele Bachmann]] speaking at the "Cut the spending now" rally at the [[United States Capitol]] in Washington, D.C., on April 6, 2011 sponsored by Americans for Prosperity.]] |
[[File:AmericansForProsperityRally.jpeg|300px|thumb|[[Michele Bachmann]] speaking at the "Cut the spending now" rally at the [[United States Capitol]] in Washington, D.C., on April 6, 2011 sponsored by Americans for Prosperity.]] |
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"Government overspending is the greatest threat to economic prosperity," according to AFP.<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans For Prosperity: Sequestration Will Help Economy |publisher=[[The Huffington Post]] |first=Bonnie |last=Kavoussi |date=March 4, 2013 |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/04/americans-for-prosperity-sequestration_n_2807981.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sequestration will restore balance: Opposing view |authorlink=Tim Phillips (political_strategist) |first=Tim |last=Phillips |date=February 28, 2013 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/02/28/sequestration-americans-for-prosperity/1955271/?tr=y&auid=12197563}}</ref> In 2013, AFP launched a |
"Government overspending is the greatest threat to economic prosperity," according to AFP.<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans For Prosperity: Sequestration Will Help Economy |publisher=[[The Huffington Post]] |first=Bonnie |last=Kavoussi |date=March 4, 2013 |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/04/americans-for-prosperity-sequestration_n_2807981.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sequestration will restore balance: Opposing view |authorlink=Tim Phillips (political_strategist) |first=Tim |last=Phillips |date=February 28, 2013 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/02/28/sequestration-americans-for-prosperity/1955271/?tr=y&auid=12197563}}</ref> In 2013, AFP launched a "Spending Accountability Project" which supported letting the $85 billion in [[budget sequestration|automatic cuts]] to [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] spending required by the [[Budget sequestration in 2013|budget sequestration]] take effect.<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans for Prosperity campaigns to let the sequester take effect in March |first=T.W. |last=Farnam |date=February 14, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/americans-for-prosperity-campaigns-to-let-the-sequester-take-effect-in-march/2013/02/14/fa339670-76cf-11e2-95e4-6148e45d7adb_story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Conservative groups urge GOP to let budget cuts go forward |date=February 28, 2013 |first=Matea |last=Gold |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/28/news/la-pn-conservative-groups-gop-sequestration-20130228 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> AFP opposed the [[Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013]], also known as the [[Paul Ryan|Ryan]]-[[Patty Murray|Murray]] deal, which proposed $40 billion in spending in excess of the sequestration. AFP called the deal "not just bad policy, it is bad politics" and noted the loss of the "hard-won bipartisan spending limits set by the sequester."<ref>{{cite news |title=House Passes Bipartisan Budget Deal |first=Laura |last=Matthews |date=December 12, 2013 |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/house-passes-bipartisan-budget-deal-1506818 |newspaper=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Budget deal breaks through partisan gridlock |first=Terence |last=Burlij |date=December 11, 2013 |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/budget-deal-breaks-through-partisan-gridlock/ |publisher=[[PBS]] |work=[[PBS NewsHour]]}}</ref> |
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AFP advocates for lower taxes.<ref name=factcheck/><ref name=ljw/> AFP opposed a 2006 cigarette tax hike in Indiana<ref>{{cite news |title=All Taxpayers Pay When Politicians Raise Tobacco Taxes for Bigger Government, Says Americans for Prosperity |url=http://www.newson6.com/story/5698655/all-taxpayers-pay-when-politicians-raise-tobacco-taxes-for-bigger-government-says-americans-for-prosperity |publisher=[[KOTV-DT]] |accessdate=June 1, 2015 |date=November 17, 2006}}</ref> and helped fund the "No on 29" effort in opposition to [[California Proposition 29 (2012)]], which would have placed a $1 [[excise|excise tax]] on tobacco products |
AFP advocates for lower taxes.<ref name=factcheck/><ref name=ljw/> AFP opposed a 2006 cigarette tax hike in Indiana<ref>{{cite news |title=All Taxpayers Pay When Politicians Raise Tobacco Taxes for Bigger Government, Says Americans for Prosperity |url=http://www.newson6.com/story/5698655/all-taxpayers-pay-when-politicians-raise-tobacco-taxes-for-bigger-government-says-americans-for-prosperity |publisher=[[KOTV-DT]] |accessdate=June 1, 2015 |date=November 17, 2006}}</ref> and helped fund the "No on 29" effort in opposition to [[California Proposition 29 (2012)]], which would have placed a $1 [[excise|excise tax]] on tobacco products.<ref>{{cite news |title=Proposition 29 could raise $735M; Opponents question fund use |date=May 11, 2012 |accessdate=June 1, 2015 |first=John |last=North |location=[[Sacramento, California]] |agency=[[ABC News]] |url=http://abc7.com/archive/8658901/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[Forbes]] |title=Billionaires (Including Mike Bloomberg) Vs. Big Tobacco In California Ballot Measure To Boost Cigarette Tax |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2012/06/05/billionaires-including-mike-bloomberg-vs-big-tobacco-in-california-ballot-measure-to-boost-cigarette-tax/ |first=Kerry A. |last=Dolan |date=June 5, 2012 |accessdate=June 1, 2015}}</ref> In 2013 in Indiana AFP ran a television advertising campaign in support of Governor [[Mike Pence]]'s ten percent state [[income tax]] cut.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tea Party Group Advocating For Pence Tax Cut |first=Brandon |last=Smith |date=March 7, 2013 |accessdate=May 5, 2015 |url=http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/tea-party-group-advocating-pence-tax-cut-46200/ |publisher=[[WTIU]]}}</ref> AFP advocates for the repeal of the [[Estate tax in the United States|estate tax]], which many opponents call the "[[Estate tax in the United States#The term "death tax"|death tax]]".<ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=August 8, 2014 |title=The House should vote to kill the death tax |first=Christine |last=Harbin Hanson |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/214610-the-house-should-vote-to-kill-the-death-tax |accessdate=June 5, 2015 |agency=Americans for Prosperity}}</ref> |
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AFP advocates for [[free market]] solutions.<ref name=wp20140618/> In 2011, AFP sent mailings and funded radio advertisements criticizing the proposed construction of a [[Detroit River International Crossing]] bridge, a publicly financed project that would compete with the nearby privately owned [[Ambassador Bridge]] linking Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario; AFP charged that the project would be a waste of taxpayer money if toll revenues did not cover debt service.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |title=Is Span Plan a Bridge Too Far? |first=Joseph B. |last=White |date=October 10, 2011 |accessdate=April 19, 2015 |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203791904576609282656749982}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[Bloomberg Business]] |title=Detroit Span Owner Keeps Canada Crossing With Koch Aid |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-09-14/detroit-bridge-owner-gets-kochs-backing-to-keep-canada-crossing-his-alone |first=Chris |last=Christoff |accessdate=April 19, 2015 |date=September 16, 2011}}</ref> |
AFP advocates for [[free market]] solutions.<ref name=wp20140618/> In 2011, AFP sent mailings and funded radio advertisements criticizing the proposed construction of a [[Detroit River International Crossing]] bridge, a publicly financed project that would compete with the nearby privately owned [[Ambassador Bridge]] linking Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario; AFP charged that the project would be a waste of taxpayer money if toll revenues did not cover debt service.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |title=Is Span Plan a Bridge Too Far? |first=Joseph B. |last=White |date=October 10, 2011 |accessdate=April 19, 2015 |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203791904576609282656749982}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |magazine=[[Bloomberg Business]] |title=Detroit Span Owner Keeps Canada Crossing With Koch Aid |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-09-14/detroit-bridge-owner-gets-kochs-backing-to-keep-canada-crossing-his-alone |first=Chris |last=Christoff |accessdate=April 19, 2015 |date=September 16, 2011}}</ref> |
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AFP advocated the dissolution of the [[Export-Import Bank of the United States]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/15/opinion/joe-nocera-export-import-bank-big-companies-compete.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=Helping Big Companies Compete |date=July 14, 2014 |authorlink=Joe Nocera |first=Joe |last=Nocera |accessdate=May 10, 2015 |
AFP advocated the dissolution of the [[Export-Import Bank of the United States]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/15/opinion/joe-nocera-export-import-bank-big-companies-compete.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=Helping Big Companies Compete |date=July 14, 2014 |authorlink=Joe Nocera |first=Joe |last=Nocera |accessdate=May 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/tim-phillips-1402869142 |title=End Corporate Welfare? Start With the Ex-Im Bank |authorlink=Tim Phillips (political strategist) |first=Tim |last=Phillips |date=June 15, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |accessdate=May 7, 2015}}</ref> |
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===Other |
===Other policies=== |
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According to AFP's North Carolina state director, in 2009 AFP did voter education and supplied volunteers in school board-elections in [[Wake County, North Carolina]]. Wake County includes the state capital, [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]], and has the 18th largest school district in the US. AFP supported a slate of candidates that opposed [[desegregation busing]], which AFP has called "forced busing."<ref name=newsweek20110121>{{cite news |title=Weak Tea Party Connection to Wake County, N.C., School Board |first=Ben |last=Adler |date=January 21, 2011 |accessdate=May 13, 2015 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/weak-tea-party-connection-wake-county-nc-school-board-210530 |magazine=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Republican school board in N.C. backed by tea party abolishes integration policy |first=Stephanie |last=McCrummen |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 12, 2011 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011107063.html |accessdate=May 13, 2015}}</ref> AFP ran phone banks and canvassed in another school board election in [[Kenosha, Wisconsin]] in 2014.<ref name=kenosha20150422/> |
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AFP is a member of the [[Internet Freedom Coalition]], which opposes [[net neutrality]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/conservative-group-takes-aim-at-net-neutrality-2011-03-09?mod=wsj_share_tweet|title=Net neutrality under fire from conservative group|author=John Letzing|work=MarketWatch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internetfreedomcoalition.com/?p=419 |title=RELEASE: Internet Freedom Coalition Opposes the Left’s Campaign to Regulate the Internet |publisher=Internet Freedom Coalition |date=April 26, 2010 |accessdate=May 10, 2015 |
AFP is a member of the [[Internet Freedom Coalition]], which opposes the Obama administration's regulations on [[net neutrality]]. AFP's vice president for policy [[Phil Kerpen]] chaired the Coalition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/conservative-group-takes-aim-at-net-neutrality-2011-03-09?mod=wsj_share_tweet|title=Net neutrality under fire from conservative group|author=John Letzing|work=MarketWatch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internetfreedomcoalition.com/?p=419 |title=RELEASE: Internet Freedom Coalition Opposes the Left’s Campaign to Regulate the Internet |publisher=Internet Freedom Coalition |date=April 26, 2010 |accessdate=May 10, 2015}}</ref> AFP supported January 2014's federal appeals court ruling against the [[Federal Communication Commission]]'s authority to enforce net neutrality.<ref name=nyt20100406>{{cite news |last=Wyatt |first=Edward |title=US court curbs FCC authority on Web traffic |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=A1 |date=April 6, 2010 |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/technology/07net.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://americansforprosperity.org/article/court-ruling-on-net-neutrality-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction |title=Net Neutrality Court Ruling |publisher=Americans for Prosperity |date=January 22, 2014 |first=Kuper |last=Jones |accessdate=May 7, 2015}}</ref> AFP urged Congress to legislatively pre-empt regulation of the internet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/morningtech/0514/morningtech13962.html |title=What happens next on net neutrality |first=Alex |last=Byers |work=[[Politico]] |date=May 16, 2014 |accessdate=May 5, 2015}}</ref> |
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===Annual events=== |
===Annual events=== |
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In 2007, AFP began hosting a yearly Defending the American Dream Summit, now the second-largest annual gathering of conservatives in Washington, D.C. |
In 2007, AFP began hosting a yearly Defending the American Dream Summit, now the second-largest annual gathering of conservatives in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite news |title=An insider's guide to the upcoming week |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 1, 2007 |page=A.2 |first=Rachel |last=Dry}}</ref> In conjunction with the July 2008 [[Netroots Nation]] conference in Austin, Texas, AFP hosted RightOnline, a conference of conservative [[bloggers]] and activists aimed at developing conservative social media strategies,<ref name=Vargas>{{cite news |first=Jose Antonio|last=Vargas |title=In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662_pf.html |publisher=''[[The Washington Post]]'' |date=July 18, 2008 |accessdate=April 17, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121634010883763999 | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=In Online Politicking, Republicans Play Catch-Up | first=Amy | last=Schatz | date=July 18, 2008}}</ref> which become an annual event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/06/conservative-fun-with-andrew-breitbart-et-al-at-right-online/240646/ |title=Conservative Fun with Andrew Breitbart et al. at Right Online |first=Tina |last=Dupuy |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |accessdate=May 10, 2015 |date=June 18, 2011}}</ref> |
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==Voter information efforts== |
==Voter information efforts== |
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In June 2011, AFP placed |
In June 2011, AFP placed [[Eviction|eviction notices]] on doors in [[Delray, Detroit|the Delray neighborhood]] of Detroit, stating that homes might be taken to make way for the [[Gordie Howe International Bridge|New International Trade Crossing bridge]] project (NITC). While not real, the organization said they were intended to "startle" the residents of the neighborhood, and get them to contact their local officials to learn more about the effects of the NITC.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Gallagher |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20110607/BUSINESS06/110607025/Conservative-group-Fake-eviction-notices-were-meant-startle-people- |title=Conservative group: Fake eviction notices were 'meant to startle people' |newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=June 7, 2011 |accessdate=April 21, 2015 |publisher=[[Gannett]]}}</ref> |
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In August 2011, AFP mailed absentee voter applications to [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] voters in at least two [[Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011|recall elections in Wisconsin]] that included a filing deadline two days after the election. |
In August 2011, AFP mailed absentee voter applications to [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] voters in at least two [[Wisconsin Senate recall elections, 2011|recall elections in Wisconsin]] that included a filing deadline two days after the election. In addition, the return envelopes were addressed to an "Absentee Ballot Application Processing Center" with the post office box number of Wisconsin Family Action, a pro-family group, rather than to the clerk's office.<ref>{{cite web|last=Catanese |first=David |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0811/AFP_Wisconsin_ballots_have_late_return_date.html?showall |title=AFP Wisconsin ballots have late return date |publisher=[[Politico]] |date=August 1, 2011 |accessdate=May 3, 2012}}</ref><ref name=Opoien>{{cite web |url=http://www.isthmus.com/news/news/unofficial-absentee-ballot-mailings-raise-voter-intimidation-issues-in-wisconsin-recall-elections/ |title=Unofficial absentee ballot mailings raise voter intimidation issues in Wisconsin recall elections |first=Jessica |last=Opoien |accessdate=March 21, 2015 |newspaper=[[Isthmus (newspaper)|Isthmus]] |location=[[Madison, Wisconsin]] |date=August 2, 2011}}</ref> Responding to charges of [[voter suppression]], AFP said the incorrect date was a printing mistake and were intended only for voters in the two districts where Democrats were set to face recalls on a later date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60515.html |title=Americans for Prosperity: Wrong date a 'printing mistake' |first=David |last=Catanese |publisher=[[Politico]] |date=August 2, 2011 |accessdate=March 24, 2015}}</ref> |
||
In 2013 in Virginia |
In 2013 in Virginia, the AFP Foundation, along with other organizations such as the left-leaning [[The Voter Participation Center|Voter Participation Center]], mailed "voter history report cards," which included the public-record voting history of both the addressee and its neighbors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Public voter report card upsets eastern Henrico neighborhood |date=November 8, 2013 |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |first=Ashley |last=Monfort |url=http://www.nbc12.com/story/23920012/public-voter-report-card-upsets-eastern-henrico-neighborhood |publisher=[[NBC]] |location=Richmond, Virginia}}</ref> |
||
A 2014 television advertisement targeting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate [[Gary Peters (politician)|Gary Peters]] of Michigan for his support of the |
A 2014 television advertisement targeting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate [[Gary Peters (politician)|Gary Peters]] of Michigan for his support of the Affordable Care Act featured leukemia patient Julie Boonstra, who said she could no longer afford the cost of her treatment after the ACA.<ref name=afp20140304/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/24/cancer-patient-defends-obamacare-criticism-after-dem-goes-after-ad/ | work=Fox News | title=Cancer patient defends ObamaCare criticism after Dem goes after ad | date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> A ''Washington Post'' blog reported that the advertisement made "a claim that doesn't add up."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2014/03/11/update-julia-boonstras-claim-her-obamacare-plan-is-unaffordable-gets-downgraded-to-three-pinocchios/ | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | title=A hard-hitting anti-Obamacare ad makes a claim that doesn’t add up |accessdate=March 30, 2015 |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |date=February 20, 2014}}</ref> Other critics claim that Boonstra would actually save at least $1,000 a year under Obamacare, although those numbers have not been verified.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 11, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Detroit News]] |title=Policy for patient in ad $1K cheaper |first=Marisa |last=Schultz }}</ref> AFP aired another television advertisement in which Boonstra said Peters was trying to silence her.<ref name=afp20140304>{{cite web |publisher=Americans for Prosperity |date=March 4, 2014 |accessdate=May 15, 2015 |url=http://americansforprosperity.org/article/new-afp-ad-obamacare-victim-not-backing-down-from-shameful-peters-tactics |title=New AFP ad: ObamaCare victim Not Backing Down from Shameful Peters Tactics}}</ref><ref name=silence>{{cite news |title=Conservative Group Counters Criticism of Ad Against Health Law |first=Carl |last=Hulse |date=March 3, 2014 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/us/politics/conservative-group-counters-criticism-of-ad-against-health-law.html |accessdate=March 31, 2015}}</ref> AFP apologized for another television advertisement that criticized Obamacare and Democratic Senator [[Mark Udall]], a candidate for reelection, which used images of a somber Obama and Udall from their visit to [[Aurora, Colorado]], in the wake of the [[2012 Aurora shooting]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.com/politicsnation/americans-for-prosperity-obamacare-ad-controversy |title= Conservative group under fire for latest anti-Obamacare ad |last1=Whitaker |first1=Morgan |date=April 23, 2014 |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |accessdate=March 31, 2015}}</ref> |
||
In April 2014, AFP |
In April 2014, AFP conducted a mailing which they claimed was a non-partisan [[get out the vote]] effort targeting unregistered voters in at least eight counties in West Virginia. Democrat opponents claimed that the mailers might have caused confusion in some voters, leading them to believe they were ineligible to vote in an upcoming primary election.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140422/GZ01/140429746 |date=April 22, 2014 |title=Voters getting misleading info from group, Tennant says |first=Paul J. |last=Nyden |accessdate=March 23, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Charleston Gazette]]}}</ref> |
||
In September 2014, AFP was investigated by the state board of elections of North Carolina after the state Democratic Party filed a complaint regarding an AFP voter registration mailing |
In September 2014, AFP was investigated by the state board of elections of North Carolina after the state Democratic Party filed a complaint regarding an AFP voter registration mailing labeled "official application form", which contained conflicting information, including an incorrect filing deadline which was five days before the actual deadline.<ref>{{cite news |title=NC residents mailed incorrect voter registration information |first=Amanda |last=Albright |date=September 25, 2014 |accessdate=March 22, 2015 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article10071788.html |newspaper=[[The News & Observer]] |location=[[Raleigh, North Carolina]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=NC elections board investigating AFP's error-filled mailer to voters |first=Lynn |last=Bonner |date=September 29, 2014 |accessdate=March 22, 2015 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article10077713.html |newspaper=[[The News & Observer]] |location=[[Raleigh, North Carolina]]}}</ref> AFP stated the mistakes in the North Carolina mailings were "administrative errors."<ref>{{cite news |title=AFP says administrative errors behind mistakes in voter registration forms |first=Amanda |last=Albright |date=September 26, 2014 |accessdate=March 22, 2015 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article10073624.html |newspaper=[[The News & Observer]] |location=[[Raleigh, North Carolina]]}}</ref> |
||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
{{portal|Conservatism}} |
{{portal|Conservatism}} |
||
* ''[[Citizens United v. FEC]]'' |
|||
* [[Mark Block]], former AFP Wisconsin state director |
* [[Mark Block]], former AFP Wisconsin state director |
||
* [[Political activities of the Koch brothers]] |
* [[Political activities of the Koch brothers]] |
||
Revision as of 03:29, 28 June 2015
| Predecessor | Citizens for a Sound Economy |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2004 |
| Type | Non-profit political advocacy group |
| Purpose | Educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process.[1] |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Virginia |
Membership | 2.3 million (2013)[2] |
President | Tim Phillips |
Chief Operating Officer | Luke Hilgemann |
| Website | americansforprosperity.org |
Americans for Prosperity (AFP), founded in 2004, is a conservative political advocacy group in the United States. It is one of the most influential American conservative political advocacy organizations.
After the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama, AFP helped transform the Tea Party movement into a political force. It organized significant opposition to Obama administration initiatives such as cap and trade, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the expansion of Medicaid and economic stimulus. AFP advocated for limits on the collective bargaining rights of public-sector trade unions and for right-to-work laws, and it opposed raising the federal minimum wage. AFP played an active role in the achievement of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives in 2010 and in the Senate in 2014.
AFP, an educational social welfare organization, and the associated Americans for Prosperity Foundation, a public charity, are tax-exempt non-profits.
Founding and growth
Americans for Prosperity was founded in 2004 when internal rivalries caused a split in the conservative political advocacy group Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), dividing it into Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks.[3] CSE was renamed "Americans for Prosperity".[4]: 105 AFP's stated mission is "educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing citizens as advocates in the public policy process".[1] According to FactCheck.org, "AFP seeks to support free markets and entrepreneurship by advocating lower taxes and limited government spending and regulation".[5] AFP viewed itself as a counterbalance to a network of liberal activist organizations and unions.[6]
From 2004 to 2007, AFP was led by Nancy Pfotenhauer who was an advisor to Senator John McCain's presidential campaign.[7] In 2005, political strategist Tim Phillips was hired to work at AFP.[8]
AFP had a staff of 116 employees in September 2012,[9] and the next year it had chapters in 34 states and claimed 2.3 million members.[2] In June 2014, it had 240 employees in 32 states.[10] AFP was active in national, state,[2][11][12] and local elections.[13][14] AFP registered to lobby in 2014.[15] According to FactCheck.org, by 2011, AFP had "emerged as one of the most influential conservative issue advocacy groups on the national and state political scene".[5][16] The Los Angeles Times said AFP performed roles typical of national and state political parties.[17] ABC News said in August 2014 that AFP was "poised to be the most influential conservative group in the nation this year, and among the most influential and heaviest spending across the political spectrum this year and into the looming presidential race".[18]
Leadership and structure
Tim Phillips is president of both AFP and the AFP Foundation. AFP and the AFP Foundation share offices and staff.[19][20]
AFP
New Jersey businesswoman Frayda Levin chairs the board of directors of AFP.[21] Other directors include Pfotenhauer, Richard Fink, former Ann Arbor, Michigan mayor James E. Stephenson, and former Reagan Budget Director James C. Miller.[22] AFP is a 501(c)(4) non-profit, tax-exempt, social welfare organization.[23]
AFP Foundation
David H. Koch chairs the board of directors of the AFP Foundation.[24] Other directors include Pfotenhauer, Fink, and economist Walter E. Williams.[25] The AFP Foundation is an associate member of the State Policy Network, a national network of free-market oriented think tanks.[26][27]
Tea Party and 2010 midterm election
AFP helped transform the nascent Tea Party movement into a political force.[28][29]
AFP supported the Tea Party movement by obtaining permits and supplying speakers for rallies.[30] AFP helped organize and publicize a "Porkulus"-themed protest on the state capitol steps in Denver, Colorado on February 17, 2009, in conjunction with Obama signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[4]: 31 [31] Within hours of CNBC on-air editor Rick Santelli's remarks on February 19, 2009, that criticized the Act and called for a "Chicago tea party," AFP registered and launched the website "TaxDayTeaParty.com," calling for protests against Obama.[4]: 32 AFP was one of the leading organizers of the September 2009 Taxpayer March on Washington, also known as the "9/12 Tea Party," according to The Guardian.[3] On April 16, 2011, former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was the keynote speaker at an AFP annual tax day tea party rally at the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.[32]
In the 2010 midterm elections, AFP played a role in achieving a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. AFP supported tea party groups, purchased political advertisements,[33] and sponsored a nationwide bus tour themed "November is Coming" to recruit organizers and canvassers.[34] In October 2010, AFP sponsored a workshop on the political use of the internet at a Tea Party convention in Virginia.[35] Of the six freshman Republican members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2010, five received AFP advertisements.[19]
David Weigel wrote in Slate that AFP "in the Tea Party era evolved into one of the most powerful conservative organizations in electoral politics."[36] AFP and the Tea Party share many of the same principles.[37] In 2010, AFP was one of the most influential organizations in the Tea Party movement, and the largest in terms of membership and spending.[38][39]
Obama re-election
AFP ran an early television advertising campaign opposing Obama's re-election.[40][41] Previously AFP had run issue advertising that opposed Obama's programs, in August 2012 the organization shifted to express advocacy, which explicitly called for his defeat.[42][43] AFP raised $140 million in the 2012 election cycle, and it spent $122 million, more than in all the previous eight years since its founding. The organization spent more than $33.5 million on television advertisements opposing Obama's re-election.[9][44]
In 2011 and 2012, AFP spent $8.4 million in swing states on television advertisements denouncing a loan guarantee the Department of Energy had made to Solyndra, a manufacturer of solar panels. Solyndra was the first recipient of such a guarantee under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the company went bankrupt.[45] AFP sent a bus on a nationwide tour condemning Obama's economic policies called the "Obama's Failing Agenda Tour."[46]
In April 2011 in New Hampshire, AFP sponsored an informal gathering of five Republican presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Herman Cain.[47][48] AFP employed methodologies developed in its efforts in support of Scott Walker during his attempted recall, including deploying a smartphone application called "Prosperity Knocks" to canvassers.[9] AFP canvassers utilized "Themis," an online voter database of millions of Americans.[49]
Health care and 2014 midterm
AFP has described itself as the nation’s largest grassroots champion for health care freedom.[5] In May 2009, AFP launched Patients United Now, which opposed a single-payer health care system and a government-funded health insurance option. It purchased television advertisements warning of "government-controlled health care" or a "Washington takeover" of health care.[50] In one Patients United Now television advertisement, a Canadian woman, Shona Holmes, said she could not get timely treatment in Canada and ultimately was treated in the U.S.[51] Patients United Now staged more than three hundred rallies to oppose the Obama administration's proposed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.[52]
In summer 2009, Patients First sponsored a six-week "Hands Off My Health Care" bus tour.[53] Hands Off My Health Care events included rallies protesting against the health care plan and collected signatures in an effort to raise awareness about free-market-based health care reforms.[54][55] AFP held Hands Off My Health Care events in more than 250 cities, according to AFP president Phillips.[56]
After the ACA became law, AFP worked for its repeal[2] and campaigned to block states from accepting federal funds made available under the law to expand Medicaid. State legislators who supported Medicaid expansion were targeted, including Republican Virginia state senators Emmett Hanger and John Watkins. AFP bussed in volunteers to a hearing in the state capital and to call constituents, distribute flyers, and send mailings.[57] AFP campaigned against Medicaid expansion in Michigan, Louisiana, and Nebraska[58] and helped defeat Medicaid expansion in Florida. AFP president Phillips said AFP advocated for repeal of the ACA to keep the issue "in front of the public" and to use the threat of a presidential veto to portray Obama as "unwilling to take some reasonable commonsense reforms."[6] Phillips told the New York Times that a broader goal of AFP's anti-ACA advertising spending was to present the ACA as a "social welfare boondoggle" which would foster opposition to spending on climate change.[59][60][61] In March 2012, AFP, with support from the California-based Tea Party Express, organized a rally at the Capitol during the Supreme Court's oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of the ACA.[62]
AFP played a major role in the 2014 midterm elections,[63] helping Republicans achieve a majority in the U.S. Senate.[64] AFP targeted legislators who had supported the ACA four years earlier.[41] AFP's first campaign advertisement aired in September 2013,[65] and by January 2014 the organization had spent $20 million,[66] by May, $35 million,[67] and by July, $44 million,[41] amounts unprecedented so early in a political campaign cycle.[6] Senators targeted Kay Hagan, Mary Landrieu, Mark Begich, and Jeanne Shaheen, all Democrats.[66] In early 2014, AFP ran nationwide advertisements featuring stories victims of Obamacare, people whose health care had been compromised by Obamacare."[68]
Between January 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014, in the campaign to control the Senate, AFP aired more than 27,000 television advertisements, about one in every 16 ads.[69] AFP was one of the leading spenders on political advertising in 2014.[70] AFP lead all non-political action committees in terms of spending on television air time for political advertisements in the 2014 election cycle through April.[71]
Programs and advocacy
Energy and environment
AFP supports oil and gas development and opposes over-regulation, including environmental restrictions.[72] [50] AFP was important in creating the Tea Party movement and in encouraging the movement to focus on climate change.[73] AFP helped defeat proposed U.S. legislation embracing cap and trade.[8][74]
In 2008, AFP circulated the No Climate Tax Pledge to government officials at the federal, state, and local levels, a pledge to oppose any legislation including spending relating to climate change unless it also included an equivalent amount of tax cuts.[74][75][76] By July 2013, 411 lawmakers and candidates, including a quarter of U.S. Senators and more than a third of U.S. Representatives, primarily Republicans, had signed the pledge.[74] Of the twelve Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2011, nine signed the pledge.[17]
AFP held more than eighty events in opposition to cap and trade, including the nationwide Hot Air Tour, which involved floating hot air balloons in protest of what AFP described as "global warming alarmism."[7][77] AFP flew its balloon over Al Gore's house in Tennessee.[8] AFP described cap and trade as "the largest excise tax in history." AFP sponsored a Regulation Reality Tour to foment opposition to climate change legislation and federal regulation of carbon emissions.[78] The tour involved "carbon cops" with badges in green Smart cars with flashing lights who wrote citations for "carbon crimes" like running a lawn mower.[79] In 2011, AFP launched a Running on Empty website and national tour featuring a 14-foot inflatable gas pump intended to link rising gas prices to the Obama administration’s environmental regulations and to promote offshore drilling for oil.[80][81] Long lines formed in several states in 2012 when AFP offered drivers gas discounted to the price in effect when Obama took office.[82][83] In 2012, AFP campaigned against Republican political candidates who supported the theory of climate change.[84]
AFP advocates for the construction of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline; in February 2015, AFP organized supporters to telephone the White House to urge Obama to sign legislation authorizing the project.[85] AFP led an effort to repeal a federal tax credit for wind power.[86][87] In Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, and other states, AFP campaigned to overturn renewable portfolio standards, state laws that mandated a percentage of the state's electricity come from renewable resources.[88][89][90] AFP announced plans to oppose Republican candidates who support a carbon tax in the 2016 presidential primaries.[91]
Labor issues
AFP advocates for a reduction in public sector union benefits and pensions, in conjunction with curtailments of public sector collective bargaining rights.[92][93] AFP has opposed raising the minimum wage.[94][95]
Wisconsin
AFP's activities in Wisconsin developed the state into the nation's foremost conservative-progressive battleground,[6][96] and AFP used tactics in Wisconsin that were applied in later campaigns.[9] AFP has been a major supporter of Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.[13] AFP spent $3 million in opposition to the recall campaign against Walker in 2011–2012 and sent 75 trained canvassers to Wisconsin.[97][98] After the passage of Walker's signature legislation, the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, which limited collective bargaining rights for most public employees, AFP ran advertisements and held town-hall meetings with the theme "It's Working Wisconsin!"[99][100] Days before the recall election, AFP sponsored a ten-city bus tour themed "A Better Wisconsin."[37] In the context of Walker's 2014 re-election campaign, AFP purchased television issue advertisements in support of Act 10.[101]
Michigan
Americans for Prosperity's Wisconsin campaign regarding collective bargaining rights and turning back a recall demonstrated to AFP that similar efforts could succeed in Michigan.[102] A top priority of AFP in Michigan was right-to-work legislation, which prohibited employers from deducting union dues from employee pay checks and prohibited labor contracts from excluding non-union members.[103]
AFP had opposed Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, on a number of issues, including the Detroit River International Crossing Bridge project, an expansion of Medicaid funded by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a road bill which raised taxes,[58] but they sided with Snyder on the issue of right-to-work in Michigan.[104] On the morning of December 6, during a lame duck session of the Republican-controlled Michigan legislature, Snyder called a joint press conference with the legislative leadership to announce fast-track right-to-work legislation. The legislation passed both houses of the Michigan legislature that day, as protesters and counterprotesters demonstrated outside.[105] On December 10, President Obama visited Daimler AG's Detroit Diesel factory in Redford, Michigan, and told employees the legislation was about the "right to work for less money."[106][107] Snyder signed the legislation on December 11.[105][108] In 2014, Snyder ran for re-election and AFP posted an online advertisement praising his legislative record.[109]
Fiscal policy
AFP advocates limited government.[110] Within two days of Obama's inauguration in February 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched a television advertising campaign and a website "nostimulus.com" which featured an online "No Stimulus" petition addressed to U.S. Senators, notifying them that the vote on Obama's first major legislative initiative, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, would be included in AFP's congressional rankings and urging a "no" vote. The petition stated the Act as "dramatically increasing federal debt and spending...under the pretense of stimulus or recovery." Internet traffic overwhelmed the website.[4]: 109 [111] In 2011, AFP opposed the extension of unemployment benefits, writing that unemployment benefits increase unemployment.[112][113] In late 2012, AFP opposed a proposed federal relief bill after Hurricane Sandy, the second-costliest hurricane in United States history.[114][115] AFP's New Jersey director questioned the federal government's role in natural disaster relief, saying it should be limited to the repair of federal buildings.[116] AFP opposed smoking bans in Texas and Virginia.[117][118]
"Government overspending is the greatest threat to economic prosperity," according to AFP.[119][120] In 2013, AFP launched a "Spending Accountability Project" which supported letting the $85 billion in automatic cuts to federal spending required by the budget sequestration take effect.[121][122] AFP opposed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, also known as the Ryan-Murray deal, which proposed $40 billion in spending in excess of the sequestration. AFP called the deal "not just bad policy, it is bad politics" and noted the loss of the "hard-won bipartisan spending limits set by the sequester."[123][124]
AFP advocates for lower taxes.[5][75] AFP opposed a 2006 cigarette tax hike in Indiana[125] and helped fund the "No on 29" effort in opposition to California Proposition 29 (2012), which would have placed a $1 excise tax on tobacco products.[126][127] In 2013 in Indiana AFP ran a television advertising campaign in support of Governor Mike Pence's ten percent state income tax cut.[128] AFP advocates for the repeal of the estate tax, which many opponents call the "death tax".[129]
AFP advocates for free market solutions.[10] In 2011, AFP sent mailings and funded radio advertisements criticizing the proposed construction of a Detroit River International Crossing bridge, a publicly financed project that would compete with the nearby privately owned Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario; AFP charged that the project would be a waste of taxpayer money if toll revenues did not cover debt service.[130][131]
AFP advocated the dissolution of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.[132][133]
Other policies
According to AFP's North Carolina state director, in 2009 AFP did voter education and supplied volunteers in school board-elections in Wake County, North Carolina. Wake County includes the state capital, Raleigh, and has the 18th largest school district in the US. AFP supported a slate of candidates that opposed desegregation busing, which AFP has called "forced busing."[14][134] AFP ran phone banks and canvassed in another school board election in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 2014.[13]
AFP is a member of the Internet Freedom Coalition, which opposes the Obama administration's regulations on net neutrality. AFP's vice president for policy Phil Kerpen chaired the Coalition.[135][136] AFP supported January 2014's federal appeals court ruling against the Federal Communication Commission's authority to enforce net neutrality.[110][137] AFP urged Congress to legislatively pre-empt regulation of the internet.[138]
Annual events
In 2007, AFP began hosting a yearly Defending the American Dream Summit, now the second-largest annual gathering of conservatives in Washington, D.C.[139] In conjunction with the July 2008 Netroots Nation conference in Austin, Texas, AFP hosted RightOnline, a conference of conservative bloggers and activists aimed at developing conservative social media strategies,[140][141] which become an annual event.[142]
Voter information efforts
In June 2011, AFP placed eviction notices on doors in the Delray neighborhood of Detroit, stating that homes might be taken to make way for the New International Trade Crossing bridge project (NITC). While not real, the organization said they were intended to "startle" the residents of the neighborhood, and get them to contact their local officials to learn more about the effects of the NITC.[143]
In August 2011, AFP mailed absentee voter applications to Democratic voters in at least two recall elections in Wisconsin that included a filing deadline two days after the election. In addition, the return envelopes were addressed to an "Absentee Ballot Application Processing Center" with the post office box number of Wisconsin Family Action, a pro-family group, rather than to the clerk's office.[144][145] Responding to charges of voter suppression, AFP said the incorrect date was a printing mistake and were intended only for voters in the two districts where Democrats were set to face recalls on a later date.[146]
In 2013 in Virginia, the AFP Foundation, along with other organizations such as the left-leaning Voter Participation Center, mailed "voter history report cards," which included the public-record voting history of both the addressee and its neighbors.[147]
A 2014 television advertisement targeting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Gary Peters of Michigan for his support of the Affordable Care Act featured leukemia patient Julie Boonstra, who said she could no longer afford the cost of her treatment after the ACA.[68][148] A Washington Post blog reported that the advertisement made "a claim that doesn't add up."[149] Other critics claim that Boonstra would actually save at least $1,000 a year under Obamacare, although those numbers have not been verified.[150] AFP aired another television advertisement in which Boonstra said Peters was trying to silence her.[68][151] AFP apologized for another television advertisement that criticized Obamacare and Democratic Senator Mark Udall, a candidate for reelection, which used images of a somber Obama and Udall from their visit to Aurora, Colorado, in the wake of the 2012 Aurora shooting.[152]
In April 2014, AFP conducted a mailing which they claimed was a non-partisan get out the vote effort targeting unregistered voters in at least eight counties in West Virginia. Democrat opponents claimed that the mailers might have caused confusion in some voters, leading them to believe they were ineligible to vote in an upcoming primary election.[153]
In September 2014, AFP was investigated by the state board of elections of North Carolina after the state Democratic Party filed a complaint regarding an AFP voter registration mailing labeled "official application form", which contained conflicting information, including an incorrect filing deadline which was five days before the actual deadline.[154][155] AFP stated the mistakes in the North Carolina mailings were "administrative errors."[156]
See also
- Mark Block, former AFP Wisconsin state director
- Political activities of the Koch brothers
References
- ^ a b "About Americans for Prosperity". Retrieved March 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Beckel, Michael (November 14, 2013). "Americans For Prosperity Spent Record Cash In 2012". The Huffington Post. Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Pilkington, Ed (September 18, 2009). "Republicans steal Barack Obama's internet campaigning tricks". The Guardian. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Fang, Lee (2013). The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right. New York: The New Press. ISBN 9781595586391.
- ^ a b c d "Americans for Prosperity". FactCheck.org. October 10, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Roarty, Alex (June 12, 2014). "Americans for Prosperity Is Just Getting Started". National Journal. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ a b Sonmez, Felicia (August 26, 2010). "Who is Americans for Prosperity?". Washington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
- ^ a b c Rutenberg, Jim (October 17, 2014). "How Billionaire Oligarchs Are Becoming Their Own Political Parties". New York Times Magazine. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Peter Wallsten; Tom Hamburger (September 20, 2012). "Conservative groups reaching new levels of sophistication in mobilizing voters". Washington Post. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ a b Gold, Matea (June 18, 2014). "An expanding Koch network aims to spend $300 million to shape Senate fight and 2016". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ Wilson, Reid (July 18, 2014). "Americans for Prosperity to add offices in 2 new states". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ Bland, Scott (March 20, 2014). "Americans for Prosperity Now Going After Democratic Governors". National Journal. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ a b c Smith, Deneen (March 24, 2014). "Americans for Prosperity throws its weight into Kenosha Unified School Board race". Kenosha News. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ a b Adler, Ben (January 21, 2011). "Weak Tea Party Connection to Wake County, N.C., School Board". Newsweek. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ Wilson, Megan R. (February 19, 2014). "Americans for Prosperity registers to lobby". The Hill. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Kroll, Andy (September 3, 2012). "Americans for Prosperity Chief: We Don't Know If $27 Million in Anti-Obama Ads Has Any Effect". Mother Jones. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- ^ a b Hamburger, Tom; Hennessey, Kathleen; Banerjee, Neela (February 6, 2011). "Koch brothers now at heart of GOP power". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ Good, Chris (August 29, 2014). "No Strategy". The Note. ABC News. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- ^ a b Hamburger, Tom; Kathleen Hennessey; Neela Banerjee (February 6, 2011). "Koch brothers now at heart of GOP power". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Abowd, Paul (June 21, 2012). "Nonprofit profile: Americans for Prosperity". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ Confessore, Nicholas (August 30, 2014). "Kochs' Network Wrestles With Expectations for Presidential Primaries". The New York Times. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ^ "Directors". Americans for Prosperity. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ^ Ballhaus, Rebecca (September 25, 2014). "Mystery Money: Your Guide to Campaign Finance in 2014". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
- ^ Kroll, Andy; Schulman, Daniel (February 5, 2014). "The Koch Brothers Left a Confidential Document at Their Donor Conference". Mother Jones. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Americans for Prosperity Foundation. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
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The Koch brothers provided the seed money for Americans for Prosperity a decade ago — and more than $1 million overall.
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Americans for Prosperity.
- Americans for Prosperity website
- Americans for Prosperity Foundation website
- Tax information on Americans for Prosperity, Pro Publica
- Tax information on Americans for Prosperity Foundation, Pro Publica
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Categories:
- Organizations established in 2004
- Economic advocacy groups in the United States
- Political advocacy groups in the United States
- 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations
- Koch family
- Conservatism in the United States
- Tea Party movement
- Healthcare reform advocacy groups in the United States
- Labor relations in the United States