HOW the LEFT PLANS to FLIP PENNSYLVANIA in 2020— PERMANENTLY by Hayden Ludwig and Kevin Mooney

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

HOW the LEFT PLANS to FLIP PENNSYLVANIA in 2020— PERMANENTLY by Hayden Ludwig and Kevin Mooney MARCH/APRIL 2020 HOW THE LEFT PLANS TO FLIP ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: PENNSYLVANIA A Peek into My Escape from Workers, Not Punishing the Mind of Venezuelan Organized Labor, Success IN 2020— 5 George Soros 23 Socialism: An 27 Are Potential 35 Interview with Allies of PERMANENTLY Andrés Guilarte Conservatives PAGE 13 www.CapitalResearch.org You’ve helped Capital Research Center achieve so much, supporting investiga- tions and reporting that exposes the ugly truth about the Left. We’re grateful for A Great all you’ve done for us. Now, there’s a new way you can support Capital Research Center, while also making a tax-free transfer directly to us from New Way your Individual Retirement Account. You can transfer up to $100,000 to 501 (c )(3) organizations like to Expose ours in this way… tax-free! : • Your IRA Charitable Transfer is excluded from gross income on your the Left federal income tax Form 1040. This can help keep you in a lower tax bracket. Support Capital • Your transfer also counts towards your required IRA minimum distribution. • And your Charitable Transfer is not taxed. Research Center Here are the requirements to give: with an IRA • You must be 72 years or older at the time of the gift to qualify. • You must make your IRA Charitable Transfer directly to Capital Charitable Transfer Research Center from your traditional IRA account. • Your IRA Charitable Transfer must be outright to Capital Research Center rather than to a donor-advised fund or charitable gift fund. Interested in giving in this way? Do you have any questions? If so, we’d love to hear from you. further. Thank you for your commitment to exposing the Left, and your interest in giving in this way. Checks can be mailed to Capital Research Center, 1513 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Capital Research Center’s federal tax ID number is 52-1289734. - ed as tax or legal advice. MARCH/APRIL 2020 CONTENTS Volume 5, Issue 3 ORGANIZATION TRENDS A Peek into the Mind 5 of George Soros 3 By Shane Devine COMMENTARY Based on Tax Filings, Bill Kristol’s Been a DECEPTION & MISDIRECTION Democrat for Years 11 How the Left Plans to Flip By Hayden Ludwig Pennsylvania in 2020— Permanently Capital Research is a monthly publication of the Capital Research By Hayden Ludwig and Kevin Mooney Center (CRC), a nonpartisan education and research organization, classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. CRC is an independent, tax-exempt institution governed by an independent SPECIAL REPORT board of trustees. We rely on private financial support from the general My Escape from Venezuelan public—individuals, foundations, 23 Socialism: An Interview with and corporations—for our income. We accept no government funds and Andrés Guilarte perform no contract work. By Sarah Lee CRC was established in 1984 to promote a better understanding of charity and philanthropy. We support the principles of individual liberty, a free market economy, and limited constitutional government—the cornerstones of LABOR WATCH American society, which make possible Workers, Not Organized Labor, wise and generous philanthropic giving. 27 Are Potential Allies of Conservatives CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER 1513 16th Street NW By Michael Watson Washington, DC 20036 202.483.6900 CapitalResearch.org [email protected] COMMENTARY Internship inquiries are welcome. Punishing Success Publisher, Scott Walter 35 By Scott Walter Editor-in-Chief, Kristen Eastlick Editor, Jon Rodeback Photo Editor, Gayle Yiotis Cover design: Lori Schulman COMMENTARY BASED ON TAX FILINGS, BILL KRISTOL’S BEEN A DEMOCRAT FOR YEARS By Hayden Ludwig Bill Kristol—son of the “godfather of neoconservatism” Irving Kristol, and founder and editor-at-large of The Weekly Standard, a now-defunct outlet—confirmed the suspicions of many observers recently when he tweeted that he (and maybe all conservatives?) is now a Democrat. “Not presumably forever; not perhaps for a day after Nov. 3, 2020; not on every issue or in every way until then. But for the time being one has to say: We are all Democrats now,” Kristol wrote. Apparently, Kristol’s new definition of Democrat also means being a “principled conservative” because on the heels of his curious tweet, Kristol announced an event—in partnership with a group called Stand Up Republic, which has inter- esting ties to the left—that purports to focus on “reviving principled conservatism in the United States.” https://bit.ly/2v1DPD8. License: Policy. School of Public R. Ford Gerald Credit: Is whiplash the hallmark of Never Trump? What goes on Bill Kristol, son of the “godfather of neoconservatism” Irving here? Turns out, it’s pretty simple. Kristol’s a Democrat— Kristol, confirmed the suspicions of many observers recently under the old definition, which has everything to do with when he tweeted that he is now a Democrat. who’s funding the agenda. It’s no secret Kristol has been moving left since Donald Trump declared his candidacy for president and later won the 2016 presidential campaign. But Kristol’s open admis- sister organization of his 501(c)(4) Defending Democracy sion that he’s jumped parties—and even that, by some Together (DDT), which runs the Never Trump attack group standards, he’s actually a liberal—was a welcome, if not Republicans for the Rule of Law. The Hopewell Fund, which wholly unexpected, development. is one of the four main nonprofits operating in Arabella’s shadowy network, forked out $75,000 to DDT in 2018. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been. Kristol, currently editor- at-large of the decidedly anti-Trump media outlet The Sarah Longwell, executive director of DDT and publisher Bulwark, has been funded from the start of his rebellion by of The Bulwark, says Kristol’s groups receive funds “from all big left-of-center donors such as Pierre Omidyar and the sorts of people who care about democracy and the rule of Hewlett Foundation. law,” but she declines to name any individual donors or any conservative foundations (which must disclose their grants). As of 2018, he’s also been backed by a nonprofit connected to a massive network of left-wing groups funding the anti- The foundations that send monies through the Hopewell Trump “Resistance.” That network of “dark money” is run Fund’s hands read like a Who’s Who of left-wing money: by a powerful for-profit company called Arabella Advisors, and its influence is far-reaching and virtually unreported by the mainstream media. A version of this commentary was published in the Federalist on February 19, 2020. Specifically, Kristol’s Bulwark website is run by the 501(c)(3) Defending Democracy Together Institute (DDTI), the Hayden Ludwig is a research analyst at CRC. CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER 3 The Susan Thompson Buffett of the projects hosted by the Foundation, which heavily funds As of 2018, Bill Kristol has four nonprofits—Hopewell plus Planned Parenthood and groups the New Venture Fund, Sixteen that push for population control; also been backed by a nonprofit Thirty Fund, and Windward the Silicon Valley Community connected to a massive network Fund—advocate for a solidly Foundation, a massive pass- left-wing agenda on issues such through that sends tech titans’ of left-wing groups funding the as President Trump’s judicial cash to activists at places such anti-Trump “Resistance.” nominees (including Brett as the American Civil Liberties Kavanaugh), abortion on Union and the Tides Founda- demand, net neutrality, and tion; and the Democracy Fund, the philanthropy of eBay more. They almost uniformly promote the expansion founder Omidyar, which has given to Common Cause of government. Education Fund and the Campaign Legal Center, both liberal stalwarts. In fact, Democracy Fund shows up again in Kristol hasn’t been much of a Republican or conservative this story: They gave DDT $1.6 million in 2018. for years. He’s attacked the Republican in the Oval Office as viciously and obsessively as any Democrat and taken money Capital Research Center has been investigating the Arabella from axe-grinding groups that prefer the Democrats’ increas- network for more than a year, reporting for example that ingly radical agenda. between 2013 and 2018 the network’s nonprofits spent nearly $1.9 billion and raised over $2.4 billion. In short, Kristol announcing his affinity for the Democratic Party should be the least surprising thing in the world. As more information comes to light, it becomes clearer that the line between philanthropy and political advocacy at Read previous articles from the Commentary series online Arabella is so blurry that it’s nearly indistinguishable. Most at https://capitalresearch.org/category/commentary/. 4 MARCH/APRIL 2020 ORGANIZATION TRENDS A PEEK INTO THE MIND OF GEORGE SOROS By Shane Devine Summary: In his latest book, George Soros explains and defends his philanthropic work and the philosophy driving it. By seeing Soros as a principled human being who has philosoph- ical ideas, we can critique Soros more productively, calmly and rationally taking on his philosophical ideas and combating them with our own. Billionaire philanthropist George Soros’s new book In https://bit.ly/39z7TVB. License: goodreads. Credit: Defense of Open Society reads like his last will and testament, an attempt to ensure that his philanthropic work will have a respected legacy. The book is a collection of previously published essays and speeches selected by Soros to explain his worldview, along with some unpublished writings and a preface. Anyone who has not been living under a rock these past few years would know that Soros has been widely criticized by right-of-center people all around the globe, so it makes sense that he would defend his actions, espe- cially when he openly admits that he is a “selfish man” who delights in recognition.
Recommended publications
  • MAP Act Coalition Letter Freedomworks
    April 13, 2021 Dear Members of Congress, We, the undersigned organizations representing millions of Americans nationwide highly concerned by our country’s unsustainable fiscal trajectory, write in support of the Maximizing America’s Prosperity (MAP) Act, to be introduced by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.). As we stare down a mounting national debt of over $28 trillion, the MAP Act presents a long-term solution to our ever-worsening spending patterns by implementing a Swiss-style debt brake that would prevent large budget deficits and increased national debt. Since the introduction of the MAP Act in the 116th Congress, our national debt has increased by more than 25 percent, totaling six trillion dollars higher than the $22 trillion we faced less than two years ago in July of 2019. Similarly, nearly 25 percent of all U.S. debt accumulated since the inception of our country has come since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever, it is critical that legislators take a serious look at the fiscal situation we find ourselves in, with a budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2020 of $3.132 trillion and a projected share of the national debt held by the public of 102.3 percent of GDP. While markets continue to finance our debt in the current moment, the simple and unavoidable fact remains that our country is not immune from the basic economics of massive debt, that history tells us leads to inevitable crisis. Increased levels of debt even before a resulting crisis slows economic activity -- a phenomenon referred to as “debt drag” -- which especially as we seek recovery from COVID-19 lockdowns, our nation cannot afford.
    [Show full text]
  • A Financial System That Creates Economic Opportunities Asset Management and Insurance
    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY A Financial System That Creates Economic Opportunities A Financial System That T OF EN TH M E T T R R A E A Financial System P A E S D U R E That Creates Economic Opportunities Y H T Asset Management and Insurance 1789 Asset Management and Insurance TREASURY OCTOBER 2017 2018-03031 (Rev. 1) • Department of the Treasury • Departmental Offices • www.treasury.gov 2018-03031 EO ASSET MGT COVER vSILVER.indd 1 11/2/17 12:27 PM T OF T OF EN TH EN TH M E M E T T T T R R R R A E A E P P A A E E S S D D U U R R E E Y Y H H T T 1789 1789 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY A Financial System That Creates Economic Opportunities Asset Management and Insurance Report to President Donald J. Trump Executive Order 13772 on Core Principles for Regulating the United States Financial System Steven T. Mnuchin Secretary Craig S. Phillips Counselor to the Secretary T OF EN TH M E T T R R A E P A E S D U R E Y H T 1789 Staff Acknowledgments Secretary Mnuchin and Counselor Phillips would like to thank Treasury staff members for their contributions to this report. The staff’s work on the report was led by Jared Sawyer and Dan Dorman, and included contributions from Joseph Dickson, Rebekah Goshorn, Sharon Haeger, Alex Hart, Gerry Hughes, W. Moses Kim, Daniel McCarty, Bimal Patel, Bill Pelton, Frank Ragusa, Jessica Renier, Bruce Saul, Steven Seitz, Brian Smith, James Sonne, Mark Uyeda, and Darren Vieira.
    [Show full text]
  • An Open Letter to the House: No Farm Bill in The
    November 13, 2012 An Open Letter to the House: No Farm Bill in the Lame Duck! Dear Representative, Our organizations urge you to oppose consideration of a five-year Farm Bill in a lame duck session of Congress and to ensure that any extension of current law does not include renewal of direct payments. While our organizations have varying goals for farm and food policy, we are united in our conviction that this Congress cannot and should not address a Farm Bill that could cost taxpayers nearly $1 trillion over the next ten years in a lame duck session. A five-year bill will have sweeping fiscal, social, and environmental impacts and should be the result of careful and transparent deliberation. In our view, this Congress simply does not have the time to undertake such legislation this year. We urge you to honor your commitment to ensure that any farm and food legislation, including any extension, be subject to open rules so that legislators will have the opportunity to offer perfecting amendments. Sincerely, Andrew Moylan Ryan Alexander R Street Institute Taxpayers for Common Sense Phil Kerpen Grover Norquist American Commitment Americans for Tax Reform James Valvo Tim Lee Americans for Prosperity Center for Individual Freedom Chris Chocola Mattie Duppler Club for Growth Cost of Government Center Tom Schatz Matt Kibbe Council for Citizens Against FreedomWorks Government Waste Tim Chapman Duane Parde Heritage Action for America National Taxpayers Union David Williams Taxpayers Protection Alliance .
    [Show full text]
  • A New Conservative Approach to Immigration Enforcement
    CONTENTS Introduction 1 Conservatism and “Zero Tolerance” Immigration Policy 1 Zero Tolerance and the History of Criminal Immigration Enforcement 2 Zero Tolerance and Due Process 4 The Public Safety Implications of Zero Tolerance 4 A Poor Return on Taxpayer Investment 5 Fear and the Formulation of Immigration Enforcement Policy 6 Conclusion 7 About the Authors 7 Departments of Justice and Homeland Security met on mul- tiple occasions to craft a plan, which they knew would sepa- R STREET POLICY STUDY NO. 212 rate migrant children from their parents, with the explicit November 2020 goal of deterring illegal border crossings. The resulting outrage eventually prompted President Trump to partially rescind the “zero tolerance” policy and fueled the political left’s opposition to the Trump administration’s handling of immigration laws.5 As a new administration takes A NEW CONSERVATIVE APPROACH office, immigration advocates have produced an exhaustive TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT list of border policies for the Biden White House to repeal, but this administration will have to prioritize which of the By Jonathan Haggerty and Arthur Rizer Trump-era immigration regulations to address first.6 And, while the political left undoubtedly presents a strong INTRODUCTION case against the “zero tolerance” prosecutions undertaken fter the Trump administration implemented its by its predecessor, a robust set of conservative arguments “zero tolerance” immigration policy in early 2018, against this policy offers the Biden administration ample, stories of children
    [Show full text]
  • Et..J Pj--(\7,.,...Uv,1 Lit1oners Counse ,Ort Wit
    ,.,, \ ; . VIRGIN I A: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND CHRISTOPHER HORNER, et al, ) ) Petitioners, ) ) v. ) Case No. CL15004712-00 ) RECTOR AND VISITORS OF ) GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY ) ) Respondent. ) ORDER RELEASING MATERIAL THIS DAY CAME counsel for the Petitioners and moved that this Court release the ma- terial the respondent has filed with the Court, to the Petitioners, as provided in this Court's orders entered April 22, 2016 and May 13, 2016. The Clerk of this Court will release the records to Pe- .. , I" h .. L. ,i.... • 1- lv0..' A k~ et..J pJ--(\7,.,...uv,1 lit1oners counse ,ort wit,,. 11 '>(-7""'-=7 • " U v. j '{_~ V\e,~ °'r~,-u-'"'{ w L~ -~ C.~!,......X a/-{:,...... r-<"<->fl""-~. r-~J:;;-:~ SO ORDERED this the ." ay of May, 2016. t,J·-1 "'.,_\ ..1.. f' .... ,..,.'"'-\-p;, d\v lt. i; IJ... • Richmond Circuit Judge . JEWETT, CLERK I ask for this: Seen and ______. Ma thew D. Hardin David Drummey, VSB# 87482 University Counsel 314 West Grace Street, Suite 304 4400 University Drive, MS 23A Richmond, VA 23220 Fairfax, VA 22030 Telephone: 804-608-64"56 Telephone: 703-993-2619 4 From: Edward W Maibach To: Sheldon Whitehouse; Barry KOnaer Cc: Kevin Irenberth; Cane Mark; J....S.b..uls!a; John P Holdren@osto eop gov; eatricia M Mel auohlin@ostp eop oov; eaul A P!rmever; eaul S Schoof; David M Strairs; Edward Sarachik; Mike Wallace; Roback Alan; Kalnav Eugenia; KJrtman Ben; Dr Bill I au; Professor IN Krishnamurti; Dr vasubandhu Misra; Dr Robert Dickinson; m.a.suw ..M.imel.a.; Goddard Lisa; Dr Alan Betts; loseoh Maikut; l ara Ollint Subject: Re: Letter to President, AG, and OSTP Director Date: Friday, October 02, 2015 7:11:27 PM From: Sheldon Whitehouse <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 1:39 PM To: Barry Klinger Cc: Edward W Maibach; Kevin Trenberth; Cane Mark; J Shukla; [email protected]; [email protected]; Paul A Dirmeyer; Paul S Schopf; David M.
    [Show full text]
  • James I. Wallner
    JAMES I. WALLNER Home Address: Office Address: 101 W. Augusta Pl. 1212 New York Ave. NW Greenville, South Carolina 29605 Suite 900 202-536-7663 Washington, D.C. 20005 [email protected] [email protected] ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS Professorial Lecturer, Department of Government, American University, 2018-Present. Adjunct Professor, Department of Politics, Catholic University of America, 2012-2020. Lecturer, Department of Politics, Catholic University of America, 2010-2012. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Governance Project Senior Fellow, R Street Institute, 2017-Present. Editor-in-Chief, Legislative Procedure, 2018-Present. Host, Politics In Question, 2019-Present. Group Vice President for Research, Heritage Foundation, 2016-2017. Executive Director, Senate Steering Committee, 2012-2016. Legislative Director, Senator Pat Toomey, 2011-2012. Legislative Director, Senator Jeff Sessions, 2008-2011. Legislative Assistant, Senator Jeff Sessions, 2007-2008. Legislative Assistant, Congressman Terry Everett, 2005-2007. FELLOWSHIPS & OTHER EXPERIENCE FELLOWSHIPS: Member, Task Force on the Judicial Nomination and Confirmation Process, The Constitution Project and the Project on Government Oversight, 2019-present. 1 Kluge Fellow, John W. Kluge Center, Library of Congress, 2019-2020 (conducted research for forthcoming manuscript, American Socrates: James Madison and the Virtue of Political Conflict). Fellow, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, American University, 2018-Present. Senior Visiting Fellow, Center for the Study of Statesmanship, Catholic University of America, 2019-2020. Julia Araiza and James Rosenthal Fellow, Claremont Institute, 2017. OTHER EXPERIENCE: Contributor, Law and Liberty, 2017-Present. Contributor, Washington Examiner, 2017-Present. Contributor, Daily Caller, 2020-Present. EDUCATION Ph.D. Politics, Catholic University of America, awarded with Distinction, 2012. M.A. Politics, Catholic University of America, awarded with Distinction, 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • MODERNIZING the CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE AUTHORITY 1 for Mortgages­ That Are Backed by Taxpayers
    CONTENTS R STREET POLICY STUDY NO. 32 Executive summary 1 January 2015 Introduction 2 How earthquake insurance works 2 Earthquake peril, past and present 3 California Earthquake Authority 5 The need for change 9 Problems and solution 9 Points of caution 11 INSURING A WAY OUT: Conclusion 12 MODERNIZING THE CALIFORNIA About the author 13 TABLE 1 3 EARTHQUAKE AUTHORITY Figure 1 5 Figure 2 9 Ian Adams EXECUTIVE SUMMARY alifornia faces severe earthquake risk, yet consumers Increasing the take-up rate is an important objective. Risk routinely choose not to purchase insurance products that is not maintained in private hands will become a public to cover this risk. Low earthquake insurance take- burden. But to achieve higher take-up rates with a repur- up rates create a scenario in which a major event posed CEA, the organization’s structure needs to evolve. Ccould result in significant personal, societal, governmental Disincentives to marketing earthquake insurance need to and financial disruptions. The problem is real and serious, be removed and replaced with sales incentives. Mitigation although understanding its precise magnitude will require incentives need to be linked with policy sales in a financially more research. attractive way. Finally, tax incentives, coupled with regula- tory updates, are needed to address a current perverse incen- More than one-third of California’s earthquake risk is held by tive to self-insure. the California Earthquake Authority. The CEA is a publicly managed but privately funded state instrumentality founded In addition to the affirmative steps California must take to stabilize the state’s homeowners insurance market in the to increase the earthquake insurance take-up rate, it also midst of an availability crisis following 1994’s Northridge must avoid potential missteps.
    [Show full text]
  • U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress
    U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress Updated October 30, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R44891 U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress Summary The U.S. role in the world refers to the overall character, purpose, or direction of U.S. participation in international affairs and the country’s overall relationship to the rest of the world. The U.S. role in the world can be viewed as establishing the overall context or framework for U.S. policymakers for developing, implementing, and measuring the success of U.S. policies and actions on specific international issues, and for foreign countries or other observers for interpreting and understanding U.S. actions on the world stage. While descriptions of the traditional U.S. role in the world since the end of World War II vary in their specifics, it can be described in general terms as consisting of four key elements: global leadership; defense and promotion of the liberal international order; defense and promotion of freedom, democracy, and human rights; and prevention of the emergence of regional hegemons in Eurasia. The issue for Congress is whether the U.S. role in the world has changed, and if so, what implications this might have for the United States and the world. A change in the U.S. role could have significant and even profound effects on U.S. security, freedom, and prosperity. It could significantly affect U.S. policy in areas such as relations with allies and other countries, defense plans and programs, trade and international finance, foreign assistance, and human rights.
    [Show full text]
  • Electoral Politics As Team Sport: Advantage to the Democrats
    Electoral Politics as Team Sport: Advantage to the Democrats David B. Magleby Department of Political Science Brigham Young University [email protected] Paper prepared for delivery at “The State of the Parties: 2008 & Beyond” Ray C. Bliss Institute, The University of Akron Akron, Ohio October 15–16, 2009 Electoral Politics as Team Sport: Advantage to the Democrats* David B. Magleby Brigham Young University While much of the public’s attention in election campaigns remains on the candidates, the reality is that electoral politics has shifted to become a sport with multiple players all seeking to elect or defeat certain candidates. In an earlier era, political machines and their interest group allies were also central to electoral politics. Later, elections became more candidate centered.1 Today’s team politics are more transparent than in the earlier era of political machines, and candidates today remain more independent of their parties and interest group allies. Because the focal point of voters and the media in elections is the candidates, the involvement and importance of their teammates can be overlooked. This essay examines the ways electoral politics have become more a team sport since the surge in soft money and issue advocacy in 1996 through 2002; and the continued importance of the teamwork approach under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), which took effect beginning with the 2004 election cycle. Our electoral rules of single-member districts and winner-takes-all elections along with our tradition of relatively weak political parties have had the effect of making American electoral politics candidate centered.2 For example, selecting nominees through primaries elevates candidates over political parties, open primaries do this even more than closed primaries, and *Research assistance for this paper was provided by Stephanie Curtis, Bret Evans, Haley Frischknecht, Maren Gardiner, David Lassen, Virginia Maynes, Kristen Orr and Case Wade.
    [Show full text]
  • When Political Mega-Donors Join Forces
    WHEN POLITICAL MEGA-DONORS JOIN FORCES: How the Koch Network and the Democracy Alliance Influence Organized U.S. Politics on the Right and Left Running head: When Political Mega-Donors Join Forces Alexander Hertel-Fernandez Assistant Professor School of International and Public Affairs Columbia University [email protected] (212) 854-5717 Theda Skocpol Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology Harvard University [email protected] Jason Sclar Graduate Student Department of Government Harvard University [email protected] Abstract As economic inequalities have skyrocketed in the United States, scholars have started paying more attention to the individual political activities of billionaires and multi-millionaires. Useful as such work may be, it misses an important aspect of plutocratic influence: the sustained efforts of organized groups and networks of political mega-donors, who work together over many years between as well as during elections to reshape politics. Our work contributes to this new direction by focusing on two formally organized consortia of wealthy donors that have recently evolved into highly consequential forces in U.S. politics. We develop this concept and illustrate the importance of organized donor consortia by presenting original data and analyses of the right-wing Koch seminars (from 2003 to the present) and the progressive left-leaning Democracy Alliance (from 2005 to the present). We describe the evolution, memberships, and organizational routines of these two wealthy donor collectives, and explore the ways in which each has sought to reconfigure and bolster kindred arrays of think tanks, advocacy groups, and constituency efforts operating at the edges of America’s two major political parties in a period of intensifying ideological polarization and growing conflict over the role of government in addressing rising economic inequality.
    [Show full text]
  • BCRA and the 527 Groups
    5 BCRA and the 527 Groups Stephen R. Weissman and Ruth Hassan In the wake of the 2004 election, press commentary suggested that rising ‘‘527 groups’’ had undermined the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act’s ban on unlimited corporate, union, and individual contributions to political parties and candidates. According to the National Journal, backers of the new law who had ‘‘sought to tamp down dire warnings’’ that close to $500 million in banned soft money ‘‘would simply migrate from the parties to 527 organizations’’ were now ‘‘singing a different tune’’ (Carney 2004a). A New York Times editorial lamented ‘‘No sooner had the [campaign finance reform] bill become law than party financiers found a loophole and created groups known as 527s, after the tax- code section that regulated them’’ (New York Times 2004c). The Federal Election Commission (FEC) had refused to subject 527s to contribution restrictions so long as their stirring campaign ads and voter mobilization programs steered clear of formal candidate endorsements such as ‘‘vote for’’ and ‘‘vote against.’’ The result, reported the Washington Post, was a new pattern of soft money giving, with ‘‘corporate chieftains and companies such as Microsoft, Boeing, and Gen- eral Electric’’ displaced as ‘‘key contributors’’ by ‘‘two dozen superwealthy and largely unknown men and women . each giving more than $1 million’’ (Gri- maldi and Edsall 2004). Billionaire George Soros would top the list at $24 mil- lion. While there is considerable truth in this emerging portrait, it is vastly incom- plete and significantly distorted. Deeper analysis reveals that while 527 soft money was important in 2004, new 527 dollars did not replace most of the party soft money banned by BCRA.
    [Show full text]
  • Restoring Congress As the First Branch
    R STREET POLICY STUDY NO. 50 CONTENTS January 2016 Introduction 1 No longer the first branch 2 Congress lobotomizes itself 3 A Congress without its own knowledge RESTORING CONGRESS AS THE is a dependent Congress 5 Rebuild the machinery 6 FIRST BRANCH Will Ryan’s reforms strengthen the House? 8 Kevin R. Kosar and Various Authors Four steps for reviving the first branch 10 INTRODUCTION 1 Kevin R. Kosar “[a]ll legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a n late 2014, the R Street Institute launched the Gover- Congress of the United States.” These include fundamental nance Project. Its task is large: to assess and improve the powers of governance, such as establishing currency and fix- state of America’s system of national self-governance, ing its value, regulating economic activity among the states with particular attention to Congress. and with other nations, declaring war, taxing the public and I spending those funds. Our national charter also empowers The need for such inquiry should be obvious. Our federal Congress to conduct oversight to ensure our tax dollars are republic is showing signs of dyspepsia, if not outright dys- well-spent and our laws “faithfully executed” by the presi- function. National public-policy issues, such as immigration dent and the bureaucracy. Hence, to remedy the ills of our reform, long have been deadlocked. Various government federal government necessitates improving Congress. agencies – such as the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Defense – The R Street Institute’s Governance Project takes an institu- have been in the headlines due to major scandals and man- tional approach to the problem of governance.
    [Show full text]