FreedomWorks: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 17:58, 2 June 2010
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| Formation | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 527 |
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
Chairman | Dick Armey |
| Website | www.freedomworks.org |
FreedomWorks is a conservative non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., United States. FreedomWorks trains volunteer activists and wages campaigns to encourage them to mobilize, engage fellow citizens, and influence their political representatives. Several of FreedomWorks' campaigns have been described as "astroturfing," or projecting the false impression of grassroots organizing.[1][2][3] FreedomWorks' spokesmen have denied this characterization.
History
FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity both originated from a campaign called Citizens for a Sound Economy, which split in two in 2004. CSE was set up by businessman David Koch (Koch Industries), who has also promoted liberty and research organizations (Cato Institute and Reason Foundation).[4] Citizens for a Sound Economy (grassroots machine) merged with Empower America (policy expertise) in 2004 and was renamed FreedomWorks, with Dick Armey, Jack Kemp and C. Boyden Gray serving as co-chairmen, Bill Bennett focusing on school choice as a Senior Fellow, and Matt Kibbe as President and CEO.[5] Empower America was founded in 1993 by William Bennett, former Secretary of HUD Jack Kemp, former Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, and former Representative Vin Weber.[6] There is no relation today beteween FreedomWorks and the Koch family or foundation, despite its partial origins in Citizens for a Sound Economy. FreedomWorks has received no funding from the Koch family or foundations.[7]
FreedomWorks seeks to identify itself with two schools of thought: the Austrian School of economics and public choice theory. Through public choice theory, FreedomWorks legitimizes its mission and models itself after the Austrian School. [citation needed] Citizens for a Sound Economy is chaired by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Publisher Steve Forbes serves as Vice Chairman of Citizens for a Sound Economy.[citation needed]
President and CEO Matt Kibbe, a former aide to Republican Representative Dan Miller and a former staffer at the Republican National Committee, said that the group "will encourage Republicans -- and Democrats -- to take positions on issues of individual freedom." Armey said that "Ronald Reagan launched a political and intellectual revolution, and the Contract with America expanded it. Today, it’s time for the next wave. [citation needed]We have a rare window to make the big ideas of individual ownership and economic opportunity a political reality for all Americans. That’s the purpose of FreedomWorks."[citation needed]
In 2009, FreedomWorks responded to the growing number of Tea party protests across the United States, and is currently one of several groups active in the "Tea Party" tax protests.[8]
On August 14, 2009, after Armey's leadership of FreedomWorks became a problem to his employer, the lobbying and legal firm of DLA Piper, he was forced to resign from his job there. DLA Piper chairman Francis Burch responded that the firm serves clients “… who support enactment of effective health care reform this year and encourages responsible national debate." It is unknown whether this move will impact Armey's role with FreedomWorks.[9]
For the 2010 Congressional elections, FreedomWorks has endorsed a number of candidates, including Marco Rubio, Pat Toomey, and Rand Paul.[10]
Freedom Agenda
FreedomWorks calls the political changes that it supports the "Freedom Agenda". According to FreedomWorks, its six core issues are: Fundamental Tax Reform to scrap the federal tax code and make it simple, low, transparent, and flat; Social Security to include large Personal Retirement Accounts (PRAs) that individual workers own; Tort Reform to end lawsuit abuse; School Choice to increase parental control and competition in education; Economic Growth to push for pro-growth regulatory and trade policy changes; and Welfare Reform to emphasize work, personal responsibility, and greater access to capital.[citation needed]
The Freedom Agenda also includes numerous state issues including those on telecommunications, TABOR (taxpayer bill of rights), property rights, and decreasing local taxes. The group opposes network neutrality laws. Specifically, they advocate the right of network carriers to manage the content of their networks.[citation needed]
From the FreedomWorks web site: Members know that government goes to those who show up, and are leading the fight for lower taxes, less government, and more freedom. FreedomWorks recruits, educates, trains and mobilizes hundreds of thousands of volunteer activists to fight for less government, lower taxes, and more freedom. FreedomWorks believes individual liberty and the freedom to compete increases consumer choices and provides individuals with the greatest control over what they own and earn.
Funding
FreedomWorks is primarily funded by individual donations. According to the media watchdog group Media Matters for America, FreedomWorks has also received funding from Verizon and SBC (now AT&T).[11] Other FreedomWorks funders have included Philip Morris and foundations controlled by the conservative Scaife family, according to tax filings and other records.[12][13] It also receives funding through the sale of insurance policies through which policyholders automatically become members of FreedomWorks.[14]
FreedomWorks is closely tied to its founder, corporate lobbyist and former Republican Congressman Dick Armey, whose former lobbying firm DLA Piper that he resigned in August 2009, represents Bristol Myers Squibb, among other pharmaceutical companies.[15][16]
References
- ^ "Mortgage Bailout Infuriates Tenants (And Steve Forbes)". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Krugman, Paul (April 13, 2009). "Tea Parties Forever". New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- ^ ""Big Money Backs Renders' Campaign". NPR.
- ^ Ed Pilkington, Republicans steal Barack Obama's internet campaigning tricks, The Guardian, September 18, 2009
- ^ Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) and Empower America Merge to Form FreedomWorks FreedomWorks press release
- ^ Empower America RightWeb, April 17, 2008
- ^ http://www.kochind.com/ViewPoint/publicPolicy.aspx
- ^ "The Tea Party Movement: Who's In Charge?"
- ^ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26128_Page2.html#ixzz0ODAQyqUy Politico, Armey leaves firm amid health care flap, Aug 14 2009
- ^ http://politics.theatlantic.com/2010/01/a_tea-party_target_list_freedomworks_releases_its_races_for_2010.php
- ^ http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=1497377 Common Cause
- ^ Dan Eggen and Philip Rucker, Loose Network of Activists Drives Reform Opposition Washington Post, Aug 16 2009
- ^ Ed Pilkington, Republicans steal Barack Obama's internet campaigning tricks The Guardian, September 20, 2009
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/22/AR2006072200683.html Washington Post, "With Insurance Policy Comes Membership," July 23, 2006
- ^ http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/52559517.html?page=2&c=y Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Democrats getting an earful,” Aug 6 2009
- ^ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26128_Page2.html#ixzz0ODAQyqUy Politico, Armey leaves firm amid health care flap, Aug 14 2009