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Progress for America

January 01, 1970

Progress for America (PFA) (a 501(c)(4)) and its affiliate Progress for America Voter Fund (PFA-VF) (a 527 committee) are national tax-exempt organizations in the United States. PFA was established in 2001 to support George W. Bush's "agenda for America". The PFA Voter Fund, which was set up in 2004, raised US$38 million in support of Bush's 2004 election bid.

History edit

PFA was registered as a 501(c)(4) group in February 2001 by Tony Feather, a political director of the Bush-Cheney 2000 campaign and partner at DCI Group as well as at the affiliated telemarketing and fundraising firm of Feather Larson Synhorst-DCI (FLS-DCI). Feather set up PFA as a "grassroots organization that mobilizes the public to contact their members of Congress about pending legislation and to write local newspapers to publicize the White House's agenda," the Center for Public Integrity wrote in 2002. During the first part of the Bush administration, it led campaigns to support tax cuts, conservative judicial appointments and energy legislation.

Feather told The Washington Post in August 2002 that PFA was simply a vehicle for building grassroots support for Bush administration policies. However others said it was intended to accept soft money donations which political parties were barred from accepting starting in 2002.[1] Feather left PFA in 2003 after receiving a legal opinion that his involvement with it and the Bush-Cheney campaign could violate regulations barring coordination between the entities.[2]

PFA spin-offs and projects edit

Progress for America Voter Fund edit

On July 21, 2004, complaints were filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by Democracy 21, the Campaign Legal Center, and OpenSecrets. The Complaints charged that Progress for America Voter [3] Fund (PFA-VF) was illegally raising and spending soft money to influence the 2004 presidential elections.

On February 28, 2007, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reached a settlement with Progress for America related to its activities in 2004.[4] In the 2004 election cycle, the Fund had raised US$45 million. Under the terms of the settlement, PFA-VF did not admit to any wrongdoing, and agreed to pay US$750,000 and to register as a political committee if it undertakes any activities similar to those in 2004. The FEC stated: "Over US$41 million of those funds consisted of excessive contributions from individuals, while over US$2 million came from sources prohibited from making contributions . . . ."[5]

Ashley and friends edit

PFA-VF spent US$14.2 million on ad time for "Ashley's Story", which ran on cable stations and in nine key states. According to USA Today, the ad was supported by ashleysstory.com, as well as "e-mails, automated phone calls and 2.3 million brochures" mailed to voters.[6]

Push for privatized Social Security edit

After winning re-election in 2004, Bush emphasized changes in Social Security as a major domestic goal of his second term. He called for partial privatization of the system. PFA "has estimated it will spend US$20 million promoting private accounts. It has run a series of ads on cable television, including a spot that invokes the legacy of Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt, who signed the legislation creating the retirement system", the Houston Chronicle reported in February 2005.[7]

In late February 2005, the Houston Chronicle reported that Texas A&M University economics professor Thomas R. Saving had joined up with Progress for America as an advisor and spokesman. Saving, however, is serving as one of seven trustees for the Social Security Administration, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest between his advocacy work at PFA and his role as a Social Security "trustee". Saving is also a fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis. According to the Chronicle, former US Treasurer Rosario Marin joined PFA as an advisor as well.[8]

"I'm interested in the issues and I'm working on them and I'll continue to work on them", Saving told the Chronicle. "I already do an awful lot of speeches about Social Security and Medicare."

Federal judicial battles edit

In May 2005, PFA began running ads targeted at pressuring Republicans Senators into supporting a ban on Senate filibusters for judicial nominations. Associated Press reported that PFA would spend US$350,000 on "radio ads on Christian stations" and US$1.5 million on television ads to be run in Alaska, Arkansas, Maine, North Dakota, Nebraska and Rhode Island as well as nationally.[9]

In June 2005, The Hill reported that PFA intended to "spend at least US$18 million on the expected fight to replace William Rehnquist, chief justice of the US Supreme Court". PFA's campaign would include "national cable-news and broadcast-television ads in targeted states. The group will also coordinate grassroots organizers and public-relations specialists in eighteen states, including states represented by centrist Republican senators such as Arizona, Maine and Oregon" The Hill wrote. The groups will also use phone-bank and direct-mail in its campaign. "Before Senate confirmation of Owen and Brown, PFA claims to have helped generate nearly 80,000 telephone calls supporting their nominations", The Hill reported. PFA will work closely with the Judicial Confirmation Network and the Committee for Justice on the campaign.[10]

On June 22, 2005, PFA issued a press release announcing a US$700,000 campaign in anticipation of a Supreme Court Justice vacancy during the Court's summer break. The campaign included buys on big newspapers' internet websites, and a roll-out of a new website: upordownvote.com.

Iraq War advertising campaign edit

Starting in 2006, Progress for America began an ad campaign in support of the Iraq War, with a US$1 million ad campaign in Minnesota.[11] Progress for America spokesman Stuart Roy said the group purchased "a saturation buy" in Minnesota and said that bolstering support for the war now "will be a major focus, if not the major focus of Progress for America".[11] These ads often feature war veterans speaking in support for the war and for then President Bush.

References edit

  1. ^ Edsall, Thomas B. (August 25, 2002). "New Ways To Harness Soft Money In Works; Political Groups Poised To Take Huge Donations". The Washington Post. p. A.01.
  2. ^ Edsall, Thomas B. (May 25, 2004). "GOP Creating Own '527' Groups; Unregulated Funds Can Be Raised". The Washington Post. p. A.15.
  3. ^ https://progressforamerica.org/
  4. ^ "Progress For America voter fund statement on the announced settlement with the Federal election commission" (PDF). Progress For America. February 28, 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  5. ^ http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/02/28/fec.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ Keen, Judy; Mark Memmott (2004-10-18). "Most expensive TV campaign ad goes for emotions". USA Today. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  7. ^ Bennett Roth (February 14, 2005). "Social Security lobbying war is on". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  8. ^ Don Jordan (February 24, 2005). "A&M professor to advise Social Security reformers". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  9. ^ Joel Roberts (May 2, 2005). "Judge Wars Hit Airwaves". CBS News. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  10. ^ Alexander Bolton (June 16, 2005). . The Hill. Archived from the original on 15 February 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  11. ^ a b Mike Dorning (28 February 2006). "TV Ads Push Iraq War Support". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 March 2010.

External links edit

  • "Progress for America", OpenSecrets.org.
  • Nicholas Confessore, Washington Monthly, May 1, 2004.
  • Glen Justice and Jim Rutenberg, "Advocacy Groups Step Up Costly Battle of Political Ads", The New York Times, September 25, 2004, A10.
  • Glen Justice, "New Pet Cause for the Very Rich: Swaying the Election", The New York Times, September 25, 2004, A10.
  • Thomas Edsall, "", Washington Post, October 17, 2004, page A17.
  • Laura Miller, PR Watch, 2005 (Vol. 12, No. 1).
  • Glen Justice, "Social Security Fight Begins, Over a Bill Still Nonexistent," New York Times, February 17, 2005.

January 01, 1970
progress, america, affiliate, voter, fund, committee, national, exempt, organizations, united, states, established, 2001, support, george, bush, agenda, america, voter, fund, which, 2004, raised, million, support, bush, 2004, election, contents, history, spin,. Progress for America PFA a 501 c 4 and its affiliate Progress for America Voter Fund PFA VF a 527 committee are national tax exempt organizations in the United States PFA was established in 2001 to support George W Bush s agenda for America The PFA Voter Fund which was set up in 2004 raised US 38 million in support of Bush s 2004 election bid Contents 1 History 2 PFA spin offs and projects 2 1 Progress for America Voter Fund 2 2 Ashley and friends 2 3 Push for privatized Social Security 2 4 Federal judicial battles 2 5 Iraq War advertising campaign 3 References 4 External linksHistory editPFA was registered as a 501 c 4 group in February 2001 by Tony Feather a political director of the Bush Cheney 2000 campaign and partner at DCI Group as well as at the affiliated telemarketing and fundraising firm of Feather Larson Synhorst DCI FLS DCI Feather set up PFA as a grassroots organization that mobilizes the public to contact their members of Congress about pending legislation and to write local newspapers to publicize the White House s agenda the Center for Public Integrity wrote in 2002 During the first part of the Bush administration it led campaigns to support tax cuts conservative judicial appointments and energy legislation Feather told The Washington Post in August 2002 that PFA was simply a vehicle for building grassroots support for Bush administration policies However others said it was intended to accept soft money donations which political parties were barred from accepting starting in 2002 1 Feather left PFA in 2003 after receiving a legal opinion that his involvement with it and the Bush Cheney campaign could violate regulations barring coordination between the entities 2 PFA spin offs and projects editProgress for America Voter Fund edit On July 21 2004 complaints were filed with the Federal Election Commission FEC by Democracy 21 the Campaign Legal Center and OpenSecrets The Complaints charged that Progress for America Voter 3 Fund PFA VF was illegally raising and spending soft money to influence the 2004 presidential elections On February 28 2007 the Federal Election Commission FEC reached a settlement with Progress for America related to its activities in 2004 4 In the 2004 election cycle the Fund had raised US 45 million Under the terms of the settlement PFA VF did not admit to any wrongdoing and agreed to pay US 750 000 and to register as a political committee if it undertakes any activities similar to those in 2004 The FEC stated Over US 41 million of those funds consisted of excessive contributions from individuals while over US 2 million came from sources prohibited from making contributions 5 Ashley and friends edit PFA VF spent US 14 2 million on ad time for Ashley s Story which ran on cable stations and in nine key states According to USA Today the ad was supported by ashleysstory com as well as e mails automated phone calls and 2 3 million brochures mailed to voters 6 Push for privatized Social Security edit After winning re election in 2004 Bush emphasized changes in Social Security as a major domestic goal of his second term He called for partial privatization of the system PFA has estimated it will spend US 20 million promoting private accounts It has run a series of ads on cable television including a spot that invokes the legacy of Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt who signed the legislation creating the retirement system the Houston Chronicle reported in February 2005 7 In late February 2005 the Houston Chronicle reported that Texas A amp M University economics professor Thomas R Saving had joined up with Progress for America as an advisor and spokesman Saving however is serving as one of seven trustees for the Social Security Administration raising questions about potential conflicts of interest between his advocacy work at PFA and his role as a Social Security trustee Saving is also a fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis According to the Chronicle former US Treasurer Rosario Marin joined PFA as an advisor as well 8 I m interested in the issues and I m working on them and I ll continue to work on them Saving told the Chronicle I already do an awful lot of speeches about Social Security and Medicare Federal judicial battles edit In May 2005 PFA began running ads targeted at pressuring Republicans Senators into supporting a ban on Senate filibusters for judicial nominations Associated Press reported that PFA would spend US 350 000 on radio ads on Christian stations and US 1 5 million on television ads to be run in Alaska Arkansas Maine North Dakota Nebraska and Rhode Island as well as nationally 9 In June 2005 The Hill reported that PFA intended to spend at least US 18 million on the expected fight to replace William Rehnquist chief justice of the US Supreme Court PFA s campaign would include national cable news and broadcast television ads in targeted states The group will also coordinate grassroots organizers and public relations specialists in eighteen states including states represented by centrist Republican senators such as Arizona Maine and Oregon The Hill wrote The groups will also use phone bank and direct mail in its campaign Before Senate confirmation of Owen and Brown PFA claims to have helped generate nearly 80 000 telephone calls supporting their nominations The Hill reported PFA will work closely with the Judicial Confirmation Network and the Committee for Justice on the campaign 10 On June 22 2005 PFA issued a press release announcing a US 700 000 campaign in anticipation of a Supreme Court Justice vacancy during the Court s summer break The campaign included buys on big newspapers internet websites and a roll out of a new website upordownvote com Iraq War advertising campaign edit Starting in 2006 Progress for America began an ad campaign in support of the Iraq War with a US 1 million ad campaign in Minnesota 11 Progress for America spokesman Stuart Roy said the group purchased a saturation buy in Minnesota and said that bolstering support for the war now will be a major focus if not the major focus of Progress for America 11 These ads often feature war veterans speaking in support for the war and for then President Bush References edit Edsall Thomas B August 25 2002 New Ways To Harness Soft Money In Works Political Groups Poised To Take Huge Donations The Washington Post p A 01 Edsall Thomas B May 25 2004 GOP Creating Own 527 Groups Unregulated Funds Can Be Raised The Washington Post p A 15 https progressforamerica org Progress For America voter fund statement on the announced settlement with the Federal election commission PDF Progress For America February 28 2007 Retrieved 8 March 2010 http i a cnn net cnn 2007 images 02 28 fec pdf bare URL PDF Keen Judy Mark Memmott 2004 10 18 Most expensive TV campaign ad goes for emotions USA Today Retrieved 8 March 2010 Bennett Roth February 14 2005 Social Security lobbying war is on Houston Chronicle Retrieved 8 March 2010 Don Jordan February 24 2005 A amp M professor to advise Social Security reformers Houston Chronicle Retrieved 8 March 2010 Joel Roberts May 2 2005 Judge Wars Hit Airwaves CBS News Retrieved 8 March 2010 Alexander Bolton June 16 2005 Conservative groups to spend over 20M on Supreme Court The Hill Archived from the original on 15 February 2006 Retrieved 8 March 2010 a b Mike Dorning 28 February 2006 TV Ads Push Iraq War Support The Chicago Tribune Retrieved 9 March 2010 External links editOfficial website Progress for America OpenSecrets org Nicholas Confessore Bush s Secret Stash Washington Monthly May 1 2004 Glen Justice and Jim Rutenberg Advocacy Groups Step Up Costly Battle of Political Ads The New York Times September 25 2004 A10 Glen Justice New Pet Cause for the Very Rich Swaying the Election The New York Times September 25 2004 A10 Thomas Edsall After Late Start Republican Groups Jump Into the Lead Washington Post October 17 2004 page A17 Laura Miller The Fix Behind Fixing Social Security PR Watch 2005 Vol 12 No 1 Glen Justice Social Security Fight Begins Over a Bill Still Nonexistent New York Times February 17 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Progress for America amp oldid 1164855396, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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