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Advance America (advocacy group)

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This article is about the Indiana political advocacy group. For the payday loan provider, see Grupo Elektra § Advance America.

Advance America (formerly Citizens Concerned for the Constitution[1]) is a conservative political advocacy group in the U.S. state of Indiana. Advance America claims that it is a "non-partisan tax exempt, educational organization."[1] It claims affiliation with approximately 4,000 Indiana churches,[2] nearly one third of all churches in the state of Indiana.[3]

History and governance

Advance America was founded in 1980 by Eric Miller, an attorney from Indianapolis, with the help of ten other people.[1][3] It shares space and employees with Miller's law office.[3][2] It is governed by a seven member board of directors consisting entirely of pastors.[3]

Activities

Advance America publishes an annual voter's guide informing voters of the stance of various candidates for local office on issues Advance America is concerned about.[1][4] These voter guides are distributed primarily through mail, e-mail, and churches.[5][3]

Advance America attempts to keep people informed about what bills and issues the state legislature is considering through mailings, e-mails, voting record summaries, pastor and citizen briefings, and speaking engagements (frequently in churches).[1][2][3]

Advance America claims that their staff reviews each bill to come before the state legislature.[1][2] They testify before legislative committees, talk to legislators, draft amendments and bills, and mobilize the public to contact legislators.[2][3]

Issues

Advance America regularly campaigns for issues that they perceive affect the family and religious freedom. They supported the controversial Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act[6] as well as pushing to uphold the state's same sex marriage ban.[6] They have opposed legislation permitting transgender persons to use the bathroom of their choice.[7][8][6] They have opposed extending regulations on daycares to include those daycares run by churches.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "About Us". Advance America. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e McPhee, Laura (7 March 2007). "Evangelical Lobbyist Eric Miller: The Most Powerful Man in the Indiana Statehouse". Nuvo. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Schneider, Mary; King, Robert (20 January 2014). "Day care reform opponent wields clout". Indianapolis Star. Gannett. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Get Your 2016 Voter Guides". Advance America. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Is The Gig Up On Eric Miller's "Nonpartisan" Voter Guides?". Advance Indiana™. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Morrison, Aaron (1 April 2015). "Meet The Christian Group Behind Indiana's Religious Freedom Bill: Eric Miller, Advance America Have National Conservative Supporters". International Business Times. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  7. ^ Ball, Carol (11 March 2016). "Religious leaders oppose LGBT protections at community meeting". Kokomo Tribune. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  8. ^ Wang, Stephanie (26 December 2015). "Bathroom politics amp up LGBT rights debate". Indianapolis Star. Gannett. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
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