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===What is The groups pursued various tactics to push the bill through. AFP's state arm in Tennessee collected signatures from members of the state legislature as a pledge to support the bill. Additionally, AFP ran a radio spot criticizing Haslam in the days leading to a vote on the bill, running three times an hour on half a dozen stations in several media markets.<ref>Niraj Chokshi, [[Taxpayer Protection Pledge]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/04/12/the-koch-brothers-take-on-tennesees-republican-governor/ The Koch brothers take on Tennessee's Republican governor]?===, ''Washington Post'', April 12, 2014.</ref>
The Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Pledge has essentially two parts. The first part indicates an unequivocal pledge to oppose all efforts to marginal income tax for individuals and/or businessesWhile AFP launched its PR campaign, ATR focused its attention on legislative tactics. The second part consists AFP dispatched its director of an opposition state affairs, Patrick Gleason, to any net reduction or elimination of deductions credits. Both are required to withstand help the bill’s sponsors in the time both chambers of a legislators tenure, if he/she agrees to sign the pledge. From the 112th Congressional list, 235 Representatives and 41 Senators have signed legislature compromise on to it. Only three Democratic legislators and one Independentan identical bill.<refname="taxsin"/>112th CongressIt also sent letters to members of the Tennessee House Finance, [http://atr.org/current-list-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-a5597] Taxpayer Protection Pledge</ref>HoweverWays, only 219 Representatives and 39 Senators of Means Committee emphatically reminding them that ATR "will be educating constituents as to how their representatives in the 113th Congress signed onto the pledgestate legislature vote on this important matter."<ref>113th CongressAmericans for Tax Reform, [http://taxfoundationwww.atr.org/blog/chamblissatr-othersurges-distancetennessee-themselveslegislators-atrsupport-taxhb-pledge1367 ATR Urges Tennessee Legislators to Support HB 1367] Taxpayer Protection Pledge, organizational website, April 7, 2014.</ref>
Since 1986, under the Ronald Reagan administration, the Taxpayer Pledge has been utilized in GOP tax policies. [[Grover Norquist]] proposed the pledge to pressure other Republican politicians to support with President Reagan's tax agenda. Norquist says, "If you want a politician to make a commitment and want it to matter, it can't be four paragraphs long. I can't have moving parts, you can't remember what's in it." Once Reagan and congressional Republicans signed on to it, Reagan's tax-reform bill passed and the pledge has prospered ever since. <ref> Norquist's Tax Pledge: What It Is and How It Started, [http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/norquists-tax-pledge-what-it-is-and-how-it-started/] ABC News, November 26, 2012. </ref>==Recent Controversies==
Shortly thereafterIn February 2014, Norquist led a right wing charge to "de-fund" CWF intervened in the left, declaring that "We will hunt [these liberal groups] down one by one and extinguish their funding sources." Norquist has also worked as a [[lobbyistUnited Auto Workers]] for clients including ' efforts to unionize a Volkswagen manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Although the [[MicrosoftNational Right to Work Committee]]attempted to stall unionization with legal measures, the CWF engaged in a PR campaign against the union.<ref>Steven Greenhouse, [[American Business for Legal Immigration]]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/business/outsiders-not-auto-plant-battle-uaw-in-tennessee.html?action=click&module=Search®ion=searchResults&mabReward=relbias%3As&url=http%3A%2F%2Fquery.nytimes.com%2Fsearch%2Fsitesearch%2F%3Faction%3Dclick%26region%3DMasthead%26pgtype%3DHomepage%26module%3DSearchSubmit%26contentCollection%3DHomepage%26t%3Dqry443%23%2Fcenter%2520for%2520worker%2520freedom&_r=0 Outsiders, Not Auto Plant, [[Distilled Spirits Council]Battle U.A.W. in Tennessee], [[Edison Electric Institute]]''New York Times'', [[Interactive Gaming Council]]January 28, and [[British Petroleum]]2014.</ref>
== Funding ==CWF's aggressive public relations campaign included several billboards and radio ad buys tying unions to Democratic politicians and economic failure in Detroit.<ref>Matt Patterson, Americans for Tax Reform, [http://www.atr.org/center-worker-freedom-launches-anti-uaw-a8120 Center for Worker Freedom Launches Anti-UAW Billboard Campaign in Chattanooga], organizational blog, February 4, 2014.</ref> Among other things, one ad depicted the UAW as a mouthpiece for [[Barack Obama]], whose approval ratings at the time were low, and another showed a dilapidated building in Detroit, which had filed for bankruptcy months earlier, claiming the city's economic decline was due to the union and its policies.<ref>Kevin Drawbaugh and Nick Carey, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/22/us-autos-uaw-election-analysis-idUSBREA1L13220140222 Thirteen billboards, one paint-shop worker helped defeat union at VW plant in Chattanooga], ''Reuters'', February 22, 2014.</ref>
Big tobacco companies used Norquist's tax pledge as a cover to lobby lawmakers against cigarette taxes. That was in the 1990s. Now*[[Crossroads GPS]]: $30, however400, it's questioning that the ATR group still remains somewhat in control of the Republican party. An inside look at the funding for Norquist's group reveals that 66 percent is coming from only two non-profit organizations. The 000 (2010 and 2012)*[[Center to Protect Patient Rights]] donated : $4,189539,000 to ATR in (2010, 34 percent of the total amount of funding. and 2012)*[[Crossroads GPSFree Enterprise America]] donated : $4813,000(2011)*[[Walton Family Foundation]]: $658,000 to ATR in the same year500 (2001-2005)*[[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]: $647, 32.46 percent of the budget. The staggering amount of money these billionaire500 (1995-backed organizations donated accounts for well over half the total budget. <ref>2012)*[[httpAmerican Petroleum Institute]]://www$525,000 (2008-2011)*[[John M.thenation.com/blog/171475/analysisOlin Foundation]]: $525,000 (1995-grover2001)*[[Randolph Foundation]]: $439,250 (1999-norquists2012)*[[Sarah Scaife Foundation]]: $375,000 (1996-budget2002)*[[Carthage Foundation]]: $325,000 (1994-largely-financed-just-two-billionaire-backed-nonprofits#2003)*[[Freedom Partners]] Grover Norquist's Budget is Largely Financed by Two Billionaire-backed Nonprofits: $100, Lee Fang, November 27, 2012.</ref>000 (2014)
He also reported that an article in the ''[[Washington Times]]'' “which kindly quotes an agreement that I will have input into the question of what is a ‘duck’ – ie tax increase, and what is not”. [http://tobaccodocuments.org/ti/TITX0034731.html]===Koch Family Foundation Contribution to Americans for Tax Reform Foundation===
“The president has agreed the administration team will consult with the House Republicans and that for my part I will, as whip, in turn consult with these three people regarding the duck test,” he said. [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/vuw32f00]===Crossroads GPS Grants $26 Million to ATR===
==Wining and dining with Norquist==In November 2013, ''Pro Publica'' reported that in 2012, Karl Rove's [[Crossroads GPS]] gave $26.4 million in grants earmarked for "social welfare" to ATR. The money was instead spent on political activities.
While corporate funding for ATR may have been volatile, Norquist had success on another front. In a letter According to invitation to PM’s Washington-based Legislative Council, Ms Beverley McKittrick, Norquist reported that during 1997, 1997 and 1998 a series of ATR hosted dinner discussions on tax issues had all been sold out. The earlier dinners had featured speakers such as former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, Congressman John Kasich and Congressman Bill Thomas. ''Pro Publica'':
Norquist offered McKittrick a subscription :"New tax documents...indicate that at least $11.2 million of the grant money given to the 1999 series of six dinners – with Congressmen Armeygroup Americans for Tax Reform was spent on political activities expressly advocating for or against candidates. This means Crossroads spent at least $85.7 million on political activities in 2012, Chairman Archer and not the Speaker of $74.5 million reported to the House Denny Hastert amongst the invited speakers – “for a modest contribution Internal Revenue Service. That's about 45 percent of $10its total expenditures."<ref name="Pro Publica">Kim Baker, [http://www.propublica.org/article/new-tax-return-shows-karl-roves-group-spent-more-on-politics-than-it-said New Tax Return Shows Karl Rove's Group Spent Even More On Politics Than It Said], ''Pro Publica'', November 25,000”2013. </ref>
“Only 24 business leaders will be in attendance,” Norquist assured McKittrick. The series of dinners, Norquist wrote, were chaired by Bill Roesing of Seagram & Sons Spokespeople from both ATR and co-chaired by Chuck Crowders of Lucent Technologies.[http://legacy.library.ucsfCrossroads didn't respond to ''Pro Publica'''s request for comment on the allegation.edu/tid/jqo83c00]
By 1999 PM’s contribution to ATR had grown to ===Core Financials==='''<big>2016</big>'''<ref name="2016 990">Americans for Tax Reform, [Paper copy on file with CMD, 2016 990 IRS Form] organizational tax filing, Nov 15, 2017</ref> * Total Revenue: $1605,663,481* Total Expenses: $5,703,000. [http190* Net Assets://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2065281658-1661.html] The Tobacco Institute contributed another $10,000 in 1999. [http://tobaccodocuments.org/lor/86599571-9649.html]580,582
In March 1999'''<big>2015</big>'''<ref name="2016 990"/>* Total Revenue: $4, Norquist was active lobbying members of the Senate Budget Committee in defence of the tobacco industry. “The Tobacco industry is a lawful industry subject to an excessive tax burden892, already 41 cents per packet to state governments for re-imbursement of smoking related illness and over a dollar per pack taxes (depending on the state045* Total Expenses: $4, some taxes are much higher0. That is already one-third tax burden on a legal product. Furthermore they employ thousands of Americans487, which educates326* Net Assets: $9, feeds and clothes families across this nation”100, Norquist wrote. [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ifo60d00]535
The following week ATR was claiming to legislators that a Senate Budget resolution seeking to remove the tax-deductibility of payments made by the tobacco industry to settle the legal actions taken against it by State Attorney General’s would breach ATR’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The second paragraph of the pledge, ATR said, required supporters to “oppose any further reduction or elimination of deductions and credits'''<big>2013</big>'''<ref name="2013 990">Americans for Tax Reform, unless matched dollar for dollar further reducing tax rates”.[http://legacy.librarypdfs.ucsfcitizenaudit.eduorg/tid2014_12_EO/mvi02d0052-1403587_990O_201312.pdf 2013 IRS form 990], organizational tax filing, November 17, 2014. Accessed June 23, 2014.</ref>* Total Revenue: $4,322,947* Total Expenses: $4,024,431* Net Assets: $8,409,216
ATR’s role also extended '''Grants to facilitating the introduction of one Republican political aspirant to RJROther Organizations'''<ref name="ab">American Bridge, [http://conservativetransparency. “[[Bethany Noble]] from org/donor/americans-for-tax-reform/ Americans for Tax Reform will be bringing Kevin Kellems (republican candidate to oppose Baron Hill in IndTransactions], ''American Bridge'', 2016. 9) by </ref>*[[Independent Women's Voice]]: $260,000*Texans for a brief visit at 3.00 today. Kellems is a tobacco farmerFiscal Responsibility: $25, and has a pretty fair shot at unseating Hill,” Donald Foreman000*Citizens for Limited Taxation: $11, an RJR staffer, wrote in an e-mail to his colleagues. 400
There was potential for embarrassment however'''<big>2012</big>'''<ref name="2013 990"/>* Total Revenue: $30, as RJR had donated 975,283* Total Expenses: $500 to Hill. Despite this30,915, Foreman suggested “this is a race we may want to keep an eye on and see how it look [sic] in a few months”. [http010* Net Assets://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/fxj82a00]$8,110,700
A 1999 RJR Corporate Affairs plan identified one of the key strategies as being '''Grants to “mobilize key third party groups (such as Americans Other Organizations'''<ref name="ab"/>*New Hampshire Advantage Coalition: $15,000*Citizens for Tax reformLimited Taxation: $10, CART800*CA Term Limits: $5, NSA and others) to ensure that RJR’s message is effectively communicated000*Nebraskans Against Amendment 3: $5, reinforced and understood by key opinion leaders”.000
“We seek forums, in the media or with third parties who help us fight onerous legislation/regulation, to balance hyperbolic accusations of well financed critics whose credibility with key audiences is greater than hours”, the document stated. [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/mum50d00]==History==
===Nationalization In a May 25, 1989, memo to the Steering Committee of Virginia state Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist excitedly reported progress on the "anti-tax issues===front." Not only had a swath of members of Congress promised to veto any tax increase, Norquist reported, but there had been "three ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' editorials highlighting the importance of ATR's pledge campaign in stopping tax hikes."
Starting He also reported that an article in 2004, ATF launched a national letterwriting campaign to persuade Virginia legislators to fight Democratic Governor the ''[[Mark WarnerWashington Times]]'s plan to raise taxes to maintain ' "which kindly quotes an agreement that I will have input into the statequestion of what is a 'duck's AAA bond raising and meet commitments to K-12 and higher education funding, among other purposes- i.e. Warner had inherited budget shortfalls from his predecessortax increase, Republican [[George Allen]] and had already cut spending to avoid a deficitwhat is not. "<ref>Grover Norquist, [http://www.washingtonposttobaccodocuments.com/wp-srv/metroorg/dailyti/graphics/virginia_money_022504TITX0034731.html?referrer=emaillinkProgress on the Anti-Tax Front], Americans for Tax Reform, May 25, 1989.</ref>
When 34 [[Newt Gingrich]], as Republican legislators worked whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, negotiated an agreement with Virginia’s Democratic governor then-President [[George Walker Bush|George W. Bush]] to secure passagevet any budget proposals. Under the deal, they issued a Norquist would advise on whether proposed revenue-raising proposals were in fact tax increases, or 'ducks' as Norquist termed them. "VirginiaIt is fair to say, in dealing with [[Richard Darman|Darman]] [White House Budget Director] and the administration in general on what is and isn's Least Wanted" poster targeting those Republicanst a duck, I would lean very heavily on [[Richard H. Rahn|Richard Rahn]] (chief economist for the [[U.S. On April 24Chamber of Commerce]]), 2005[[Jeff Eisenach]] and Grover Norquist ... They have a very good sense of the distinction between ducks and geese, ATF issued a press release touting those legislators that had signed a pledge not to increase taxes" Gingrich said.<ref name="duckhunters">Ralph Z.Hallow, [http://wwwlegacy.atrlibrary.orgucsf.edu/tid/contentvuw32f00/pdf/2005/mar/prHouse 'Duck Hunters' Given Tax-va-primariesBill Hammer], The Washington Times, April 20, 1989.pdf]</ref>
On June 15, 2005, after "The president has agreed the state primary, ATR issued a press release claiming that "Taxpayer advocates believe administration team will consult with the two scalps they claimed last night – those of Gary Reese (H-67), who was defeated by newcomer Chris Craddock, House Republicans and James Dillard (H-41)that for my part I will, who retired rather than face a strong challenge from Michael Golden – are only their latest wins against the pro-tax 'Republicans.' Last Septemberas whip, Sen. Ken Stolle (S-8) was denied a seat in Congress because of his pro-tax vote; anti-tax Delegate Thelma Drake took turn consult with these three people regarding the seat in Congress instead. In the special election to succeed Thelma Drakeduck test, Republican Michael Ball lost by less than 100 votes because " he tried to finesse the tax issuesaid.<ref name="duckhunters"[http://www.atr.org/content/pdf/2005/jun/061505pr-va-postprimary.pdf]>
However, ===Ties to the strategy may have backfired. Both the Dillard and Reese seats, which had been Republican, ended up as Democratic seats in the general election. In fact in the Craddock-Caputo race in Virginia's 67th District, Norquist became a target in the campaign.Tobacco Industry===
==Tax In a letter of invitation to [[Philip Morris]]' (PM) Washington-based Legislative Council, Beverley McKittrick, Norquist reported that during 1997, 1997, and spend .1998, a series of ATR-hosted dinner discussions on tax issues had all been sold out.The earlier dinners had featured speakers such as former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, Congressman John Kasich, and Congressman Bill Thomas. for war==
Shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City, the ''New Republic'' reported that Norquist had been working offered McKittrick a subscription to broker a "strange alliance" between the Republican Party and radical Islam.[http://www.tnr.com/111201/foer111201.html] In February 20031999 series of six dinners -- with Congressmen Armey, howeverChairman Archer, ATR weighed in to support and Speaker of the Bush administration's war drive against Iraq. According to House Denny Hastert amongst the ''New York Times'', invited speakers -- "Grover Norquist, president for a modest contribution of Americans for Tax Reform$10, said his organization had sent every state legislature a proposed measure for adoption the day fighting starts that supports Mr. Bush's actions000."[http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/01/politics/01PEAC.html?ex=1045136269&ei=1&en=f7706b72d4e51e34]
==KStreetProject.com==K Street Project is "non-partisan research of political affiliation, employment backgroundBy 1999, and political donations of members in Washington DCPM's premier lobbying firmscontribution to ATR had grown to $160, trade associations000.<ref>The Tobacco Institute, and industries[http://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2065281658-1661." Ironicallyhtml 1999 Public Policy Contributions], it shares its name with the organizational document, May 3, 1999.</ref> The [[K Street Project|projectTobacco Institute]] by the Republican Party to pressure Washington lobbying firms to hire Republicans contributed another $10,000 in top positions1999.<ref>The Tobacco Institute, and to reward loyal GOP lobbyists with access to influential officials[http://tobaccodocuments.org/lor/86599571-9649. That projects was launched in 1995html 1999 Budget - State Activities Division], organizational document, August 27, by Republican strategist and ATF founder Grover Norquist working with former House majority leader Tom DeLay1998. </ref>
While many In March 1999, Norquist actively lobbied members of the Senate Budget Committee in defense of the resources tobacco industry. "The Tobacco industry is a lawful industry subject to an excessive tax burden, already 41 cents per packet to state governments for reimbursement of smoking related illness and over a dollar per pack taxes (depending on this site appear non-partisanthe state, there some taxes are much higher). That is also already a prominent link to [[Daniel Jone-third tax burden on a legal product. Flynn]]'s report on liberal bias in higher educationFurthermore, they employ thousands of Americans, which educates, feeds and clothes families across this nation," Norquist wrote. <ref>George Norquist, [http://wwwlegacy.library.kstreetprojectucsf.comedu/tid/indexifo60d00 Letter to Senator Olympia Snowe], Americans for Tax Reform, March 13, 1999.php?content=KSTProject]</ref>
Author The following week, ATR claimed to legislators that a Senate Budget resolution seeking to remove the tax-deductibility of payments made by the tobacco industry to settle the legal actions taken against it by State Attorneys General would breach ATR''Intellectual Morons: How Ideology Makes Smart People Fall s "Taxpayer Protection Pledge." The second paragraph of the pledge, ATR said, required supporters to "oppose any further reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar further reducing tax rates."<ref>Americans for Stupid Ideas'' (Crown ForumTax Reform, 2004) and ''Why the Left Hates America[http: Exposing the Lies That Have Obscured Our Nation//legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/mvi02d00/pdf SPECTER/HARKIN amendment to S.CON RES 20 Violates Taxpayer Protection Pledge], organizational document, March 24, 1999.</ref> ATR's Greatness'' (role also extended to facilitating the introduction of one Republican political aspirant to RJR. "[[Prima ForumBethany Noble]], 2002from Americans for Tax Reform will be bringing Kevin Kellems (Republican candidate to oppose Baron Hill in Ind. 9)by for a brief visit at 3. The latter 00 today. Kellems is a Crown imprint which publishes conservativetobacco farmer, and has a pretty fair shot at unseating Hill," Donald Foreman, an RJR staffer, wrote in an email to his colleagues. There was potential for embarrassment, however, current event titlesas RJR had donated $500 to Hill. Despite this, Foreman suggested that "this is a race we may want to keep an eye on and see how it look [sic] in a few months."<ref>Donald Foreman, [http://wwwlegacy.library.randomhouseucsf.comedu/crowntid/crownforumfxj82a00/pdf Ind. 9] , email, October 26, 1999.</ref> A 1999 RJR Corporate Affairs plan identified one of the key strategies as being to "mobilize key third party groups (such as FlynnAmericans for Tax reform, CART, NSA and others) to ensure that RJR's message is effectively communicated, reinforced and understood by key opinion leaders." "We seek forums, in the media or with third parties who help us fight onerous legislation/regulation, to balance hyperbolic accusations of well financed critics whose credibility with key audiences is greater than hour," the document stated.<ref>RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/mum50d00/pdf Mission Statement Review], organizational document, 1999.</ref> ===National Campaign against Virginia State Tax Increase=== Starting in 2004, ATF launched a national letter-writing campaign to persuade Virginia legislators to fight Democratic Governor [[Ann CoulterMark Warner]] 's plan to raise taxes to maintain the state's AAA bond raising and meet commitments to K-12 and higher education funding, among other purposes. Warner had inherited budget shortfalls from his predecessor, Republican [[Brent Bozell|L. Brent Bozell IIIGeorge Allen]], founder and president of the had already cut spending to avoid a deficit.<ref>The Washington Post, [[Media Research Center]]http://www.washingtonpost. Flynn served from 1994com/wp-1997 as program officer for [[Young Americasrv/metro/daily/graphics/virginia_money_022504.html?referrer=emaillink Virginia's FoundationMoney Plans], organizational chart, 2004.</ref> When 34 Republican legislators worked with Virginia’s Democratic governor to secure passage, they issued a "Virginia's Least Wanted" poster targeting those Republicans. On April 24, 2005, ATF issued a press release touting those legislators that had signed a pledge not to increase taxes.<ref>Americans for Tax Reform, [http://web.archive.org/web/20080706124401/http://www.atr.org/content/pdf/2005/mar/pr-va-primaries.pdf Virginia Signers of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge], from 1997press release -2003 as executive director accessed through the Wayback Machine, April 5, 2005.</ref> On June 15, 2005, after the state primary, ATR issued a press release claiming that "Taxpayer advocates believe the two scalps they claimed last night – those of [[Accuracy in Academia]]Gary Reese (H-67), who was defeated by newcomer Chris Craddock, and James Dillard (H-41), who retired rather than face a strong challenge from 2004Michael Golden – are only their latest wins against the pro-tax 'Republicans.' Last September, Sen. Ken Stolle (S-2005 as director 8) was denied a seat in Congress because of his pro-tax vote; anti-tax Delegate Thelma Drake took the Campus Leadership Program at seat in Congress instead. In the special election to succeed Thelma Drake, Republican Michael Ball lost by less than 100 votes because he tried to finesse the tax issue."<ref>Americans for Tax Reform, [[Leadership Institute]]http://web.archive.[org/web/20061002200607/http://www.flynnfilesatr.comorg/content/pdf/2005/jun/bio061505pr-va-postprimary.phppdf Taxpayers Win in Virginia Primaries], press release - accessed through the Wayback Machine, June 15, 2005.</ref> However, the strategy may have backfired. Both the Dillard and Reese seats, which had been Republican, ended up as Democratic seats in the general election. In fact, in the Craddock-Caputo race in Virginia's 67th District, Norquist became a target in the campaign. ==ATR Projects== ===Ronald Reagan Legacy Project===
==Ronald Reagan Legacy Project==
==Alliance for Worker Freedom==The "Alliance for Worker Freedom" is This now defunct project claimed its mission was providing a "special project" of Americans for Tax Reformvoice to people.. The name is really a misnomer, as the Alliance opposes unions. At the Web site of in the AWF, it says public policy debates that impact"AWF works savings and investments. This included opposition to raise awareness of labor union abuses within the political system by educating movement conservatives on the threats to liberty posed by labor unions.estate tax and a "fairer, simpler," AWF opposes collective bargaininge.<ref>Alliance for Worker Freedom [http://wwwg.workerfreedomless progressive tax rate.org/Collective-Bargaining-a2785 Collective Bargaining]Other former endeavors included fighting net neutrality, organizational Web siteopposing limitations on "grassroots" internet lobbying, accessed August 27extending lower taxes on capital gains and dividends, 2010</ref> AWF opposes the Employee Free Choice Act.<ref>Alliance supporting Samuel Alito for Worker Freedom [http://wwwU.workerfreedomS.org/Card-Check--The-Employee-Supreme Court, and supporting the Central American Free-Choice-Act-a2784 The Employee Free Choice Act]Trade Agreement (CAFTA). In their words, "Approving CAFTA will reward the democracies in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, organizational Web siteCosta Rica and the Dominican Republic for rejecting the Communists, accessed August 27and will send the message to the region and the world that those who adopt free market policies will prosper, 2010</ref> [http://wwwand those who adopt Leftist anti-American protectionist policies will fail.workerfreedom.org/index.php?content=mission]"{{fact}}
==The American Shareholders Project==This project has ATR is headed by [[Grover Norquist]], "one of the mission of providing a Republican Party's most influential policy strategists,"voice according to peoplethe ''New York Times''.<ref name="shenon"/> He has close ties to the Republican Party, large U.S.in business interests, and both the public policy debates that impact" savings subsidized and investmentscorporate U. S. media. Norquist helped the [[Heritage Foundation]] write the Republican's 1994 [[Contract With America]].<ref> "[http://www.americanshareholderstheweek.com/aboutarticle/index/217015/] This includes opposition to grover-norquist-the estate -man-who-killed-tax and a -increases Grover Norquist: The man who killed tax increases],"fairer''The Week'', simpler"July 8, e2011.gAccessed July 8, 2014. less progressive tax rate.[http:<//www.americanshareholders.com/policy/awardvotes.php]ref>
===Conservative Movement Maps===Norquist has led a right wing charge to "de-fund" the left, declaring that "We will hunt [these liberal groups] down one by one and extinguish their funding sources."<ref> "[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-08-19/news/9508190001_1_non-profits-lobbying-defense-spending A Dangerous Curb On Free Speech]," ''Chicago Tribune'', August 19, 1995. Accessed July 8, 2014.</ref>
"As a resource to our friends and supporters, we have provided issue maps that describe the 50 states in terms of where they are in the issues that most affect Conservatives" such as voting trends, but also government pensions, home schooling and official English laws.[http://www.atr.org/special/maps/index.html]===Staff===
===Action Alerts===As of July 2016:<ref>Americans for Tax Reform, [http://capwizwww.atr.comorg/atr-staff ATR Staff]. ''Americans for Tax Refore'', July 11, 2016.</issues/?style=Dref>*[[Grover Norquist]], President====End the Estate Tax====*Christopher Butler, Chief of Staff====Fight Net Neutrality====*Holly Jackson, Director of Development====Oppose any limitations on "Grassroots" Internet Lobbying====*John Kartch, VP of Communications====Extend lower taxes on capital gains *Candice N. Boyer, Director of Scheduling and dividends====Outreach*Alex Hendrie, Federal Affairs Manager====Suport Alito for the Supreme Court==== *Justin Sykes, Federal Affairs Manager====Support the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)====*Katie McAuliffe, Federal Affairs Manager "Approving CAFTA will reward the democracies in El Salvador*Lorenzo Montanari, NicaraguaInternational Programs Manager*Patrick Gleason, GuatemalaDirector of State Affairs*Paul Blair, HondurasState Affairs Manager*Miriam Roff, Costa Rica State Affairs Coordinator*Adam L. Radman, Grassroots Campaigns Manager*Megan McChesney, Senior Manager of Finance and the Dominican Republic for rejecting the CommunistsOperations*Rayanne Matlock, Operations Manager and will send the message to the region and the world that those who adopt free market policies will prosperInternship Coordinator*Jorge Marin, Policy Specialist*Matthew Patterson, and those who adopt Leftist anti-American protectionist policies will fail."[http://capwiz.com/atr/issues/alert/?alertidExecutive Director of Worker Freedom ==Contact Information=7840526&type=CO]
==Contact information==
1920 L Street 722 12th ST NW<br>Suite 200400<br>Washington, DC 2003620005<br>
==Articles and resources==* [https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed ALECexposed.org]
===External resources===
===External articles===
Americans for Tax Reform''' (ATR) is ostensibly a an anti-tax lobbying group that pushes for lower taxesfounded in 1985 by [[Grover Norquist]], whom the ''New York Times'' has called "one of the Republican Party's most influential policy strategists."<ref name="shenon">Philip Shenon, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/politics/10abramoff.html $25,000 to Lobby Group Is Tied to Access to Bush]," ''New York Times'', March 10, 2006. Accessed July 8, 2014. It </ref> ATR has close ties to the [[Republican Party]] and has frequently allied itself with the [[tobacco industry]]. ATR describes itself as a group that "believes in a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today. The government's power to control one's life derives from its power to tax. We believe that power should be minimized."<ref>Americans for Tax Reform, [http://www.atr.org/about About Americans for Tax Reform], organization website, accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> ATR is an "associate" member of the [[State Policy Network]], a web of right-wing “think tanks” in every state across the country.<ref>State Policy Network, [https://spn.org/directory/ Directory], ''State Policy Network'', 2016.</ref> __TOC__
==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
ATR is a member of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).<ref name="Noble Ellington NPR">Noble Ellington, [http://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/138575665/national-chairman-of-alec-responds-to-report National Chairman Of ALEC Responds To Report], "Fresh Air" Interview with Terry Gross, ''NPR'', July 21, 2011.</ref> {{about_ALEC}}==Ties to the Koch Brothers== ATR has several significant ties to the [[Koch brothers]] and their network of conservative donors. In 2010, ATR received $4,189,000 from the Koch-linked [[Center to Protect Patient Rights]] (CPPR) ([[#Funding|see below for more]]).<ref>American Bridge, [http://conservativetransparency.org/transaction/1467947center-to-protect-patient-rightsamericans-for-tax-reform/ Center to Protect Patient Rights Financial Records], ConservativeTransparency.org, accessed June 24, 2014.</ref> The Center's contribution amounted to approximately a third of ATR's revenue in 2010, which was almost $12.4 million.<ref name="2010 990">GuideStar, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/521/403/2010-521403587-07b65925-9O.pdf Americans for Tax Reform 2010 Form 990], GuideStar.org, accessed June 24, 2014.</ref> The CPPR, a [[501(c)(4)]] group now known as [[American Encore]], receives the bulk of its funding from the Koch-backed funding organizations [[TC4 Trust]] and [[Freedom Partners]], and is overseen by "Koch operative" [[Sean Noble]].<ref>American Bridge, [http://conservativetransparency.org/results/?q=Center+to+Protect+Patient+Rights&sf Center to Protect Patient Rights Financial Records], ConservativeTransparency.org, accessed June 24, 2014.</ref><ref>Kim Baker, [http://www.propublica.org/article/the-dark-money-man-how-sean-noble-moved-the-kochs-cash-into-politics-and-ma The Dark Money Man: How Sean Noble Moved the Kochs' Cash into Politics and Made Millions], ''Pro Publica'', February 14, 2014.</ref> ATR has also received money directly from the Kochs. In 2012, Americans for Tax Reform's [[501(c)(3)]] arm, the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation, accepted $50,000 from the [[Claude R. Lambe Foundation]], one of the [[Koch Family Foundations]].<ref>American Bridge, [http://conservativetransparency.org/transaction/claude-r-lambe-charitable-foundation2012-4/ Claude R. Lambe Foundation Financial Records], ConservativeTransparency.org, accessed June 24, 2014.</ref>{{Template:KochConnection}} ==Americans for Prosperity and ATR Launch Anti-Tax Effort in Tennessee (2014)== In 2014, the Kochs' [[Americans for Prosperity]] and ATR, along with other conservative interests, launched an effort to thwart Tennessee's Republican governor, Bill Haslam, and a small group of legislators who opposed a bill in the state legislature that would have repealed investment and savings funds taxes, the only form of personal income tax there.<ref name="taxsin">Rachel Bade, [http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/grover-norquist-koch-brothers-tennessee-republicans-investment-tax-104919.html Norquist, Koch group take on Tennessee Republicans for tax sin], ''Politico'', March 24, 2014.</ref> Both ATR and AFP supported the measure and made efforts to see the bill through. In a joint press conference with the bill’s sponsors, AFP president [[Tim Phillips]] and Grover Norquist spoke in favor of the bill.<ref>[http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/3/4/271046/Marc-Gravitt-Praises-Effort-To-End-Hall.aspx Marc Gravitt Praises Effort to End Hall State Income Tax], ''The Chattanoogan'', March 4, 2014.</ref>
==Personnel =ATR Group Fights Effort to Unionize Auto Workers (2014)===
According to its website, the Center for Worker Freedom (CWF) is "a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to warning the public about the causes and consequences of unionization," a "special project" of ATR is headed by .<ref>Center for Worker Freedom, [[Grover Norquist]http://workerfreedom.org/about About], one of project website, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> According to a report by MSNBC, the CWF is the most connected members recent successor of a previous ATR project called the new Alliance for Worker Freedom ([[right-wing#Alliance for Worker Freedom|see below for more]] movement. He has close ties ), which dated back to the Republican Party, large U.S1998. business interests<ref>Timothy Noah, and both the subsidized and regular U[http://www.S. mediamsnbc. com/msnbc/grover-norquist-union-buster Why Has Grover Norquist helped Entered the [[Heritage FoundationUnion-Busting Business?]] write the Republican, ''MSNBC''s 1994 [[Contract With America]], February 19, 2014. </ref>
===IRS Complaint against ATR for Disparity in Political Spending Reports (2012)=== In 2012, ATR claimed, according to documents from [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] (CREW), that it spent $15.8 million on independent expenditures as it reported to the Federal Election Commission. However, on separate tax documents, ATR told the IRS it spent only $9.8 million on its political campaigns that same year, presenting a significant disparity between the two reported totals.<ref name="CREW">Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, [http://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-filings/entry/crew-irs-doj-complaint-against-americans-for-tax-reform-grover-norquist CREW Files IRS and DOJ Complaint Against Americans for Tax Reform and Grover Norquist], organizational website, November 19, 2013.</ref> In response, CREW filed a complaint with the IRS and the Department of Justice in November 2013, alleging that "ATR and Mr. Norquist violated federal law by deliberately providing false information to the IRS when ATR filed its 2012 Tax Form 990".<ref name="CREW"/> ===What Is the "[[Taxpayer Protection Pledge]]"?=== The Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Pledge has two main parts. The first part is an unequivocal pledge to oppose all efforts to marginal income tax for individuals and/or businesses. The second part consists of an opposition to any net reduction or elimination of deductions credits. From the 112th Congressional list, 235 Representatives and 41 Senators have signed on to it. Of the signers, only three are Democratic legislators, and one is "Independent."<ref>Adam Radman, [http://atr.org/current-list-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-a5597 Current List of Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers for the 112th Congress], Americans for Tax Reform, November 5, 2010.</ref>However, only 219 Representatives and 39 Senators of the 113th Congress signed onto the pledge.<ref>Adam Radman, [http://atr.org/current-list-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-a5597 Current List of Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers for the 112th Congress], Americans for Tax Reform, November 5, 2010.</ref> Since 1986, under the Ronald Reagan administration, the Taxpayer Pledge has been used in GOP tax policies. [[Grover Norquist]] proposed the pledge to pressure other Republican politicians to support with President Reagan's tax agenda. Norquist says, "If you want a politician to make a commitment and want it to matter, it can't be four paragraphs long. I can't have moving parts, you can't remember what's in it." Once Reagan and congressional Republicans signed on to it, Reagan's tax-reform bill passed and the pledge has been deployed since then.<ref>Chris Good, [http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/norquists-tax-pledge-what-it-is-and-how-it-started/ Norquist's Tax Pledge: What It Is and How It Started], ABC News, November 26, 2012.</ref> ==Funding== ATR has received funding from a number of corporate interests and major right-wing organizations, including: *the Koch-affiliated [[Claude R. Lambe Foundation]]*the Koch-affiliated [[Center to Protect Patient Rights]]*[[Karl Rove]]'s [[Crossroads GPS]]*[[Donors Trust]], a Koch conduit*the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]*the Carthage Foundation; (see [[Scaife Foundations]])*the [[JM Foundation]]*the [[John M. Olin Foundation]]*the Sarah Scaife Foundation; (see [[Scaife Foundations]])
*[[R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company|R.J. Reynolds]]
*[[Philip Morris]](now [[Altria]])*the [[Tobacco Institute]]*[[Jack Abramoff]]'s clients, the Chiefs of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and the Coushattas tribe Tribe of Louisiana , both gave $25,000 in 2001 and AATF received a cut of funds for laudering the emoney [http:<ref name="shenon"//www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/politics/10abramoff.html?ei=5070&en=1870d0e1b1c33db4&ex=1149998400&pagewanted=print]>
Based on data collected by Media Matters' Conservative Transparency Project, the top ten overall contributors to AFT and the AFT Foundation are:<ref>Media Matters, [http://conservativetransparency.org/recipient/americans-for-tax-reform/?og_tot=24&order_by=contribution+DESC Americans for Tax Reform], top contributors report, accessed July 12, 2016.</ref>
== History =Contribution from Koch-tied Center to Protect Patients Rights===
In a May 252010, ATR received $4,189,000 from the Koch-linked [[Center to Protect Patient Rights]] (CPPR).<ref>American Bridge, [http://conservativetransparency.org/transaction/1467947center-to-protect-patient-rightsamericans-for-tax-reform/ Center to Protect Patient Rights Financial Records], ConservativeTransparency.org, 1989accessed June 24, memo 2014.</ref> The Center's contribution amounted to the Steering Committee approximately a third of ATR's revenue in 2010, which was almost $12.4 million.<ref>GuideStar, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/521/403/2010-521403587-07b65925-9O.pdf Americans for Tax Reform – 2010 Form 990], GuideStar.org, accessed June 24, 2014.</ref> The CPPR, a document that was curiously found in [[501(c)(4)]] group now known as [[American Encore]], receives the files bulk of its funding from the now defunct Tobacco Institute – Grover Norquist excitedly reported progress on the ‘antiKoch-tax frontbacked funding organizations [[TC4 Trust]] and [[Freedom Partners]], and is overseen by "Koch operative" [[Sean Noble]].<ref>American Bridge, [http://conservativetransparency.org/results/?q=Center+to+Protect+Patient+Rights’sf Center to Protect Patient Rights Financial Records], ConservativeTransparency. Not only had a swag of member of Congress promised to veto any tax increaseorg, accessed June 24, Norquist reported2014.</ref><ref>Kim Baker, [http://www.propublica.org/article/the-dark-money-man-how-sean-noble-moved-the-kochs-cash-into-politics-and-ma The Dark Money Man: How Sean Noble Moved the Kochs' Cash into Politics and Made Millions], there had been “three ''[[Wall Street Journal]]Pro Publica'' editorials highlighting the importance of ATR’s pledge campaign in stopping tax hikes”, February 14, 2014.</ref>
In 2012, Americans for Tax Reform's [[Newt Gingrich|Gingrich501(c)(3)]]arm, as Republican whip in the House of RepresentativesAmericans for Tax Reform Foundation, accepted $50, negotiated an agreement with 000 from the then President [[George Walker Bush|George BushClaude R. Lambe Foundation]] to vet any budget proposals. Under , one of the deal, Gingrich would advise on whether proposed revenue raising proposals were in fact tax increases, or 'ducks' as Gingrich termed them.“It is fair to say, in dealing with [[Richard Darman|DarmanKoch Family Foundations]] [White House Budget Director] and the administration in general on what is and isn’t a duck.<ref>American Bridge, I would lean very heavily on [[Richard Hhttp://conservativetransparency.org/transaction/claude-r-lambe-charitable-foundation2012-4/ Claude R. Rahn|Richard RahnLambe Foundation Financial Records]] (chief economist for the [[U, ConservativeTransparency.Sorg, accessed June 24, 2014. Chamber </ref> (A complete review of Commerce]]family foundation donations has not been done.), [[Jeff Eisenach]] and Grover Norquist … They have a very good sense of the distinction between ducks and geese”, Gingrich said.
"Only 24 business leaders will be in attendance," Norquist assured McKittrick. The series of dinners, Norquist wrote, were chaired by Bill Roesing of Seagram & Sons and co-chaired by Chuck Crowders of Lucent Technologies.<ref>Grover Norquist, [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/jqo83c00/pdf Letter to Ms . Beverly McKittrick], Americans for Tax Reform, February 2, 1999.</ref>
The [[Ronald Reagan Legacy Project]] is a project of Americans for Tax Reform. It is a project to put Reagan's image on U.S. ten dollar bill and to "dedicate more things after Reagan." It promotes a Ronald Reagan Day and naming landmarks after Reagan. <ref>Americans for Tax Reform [http://www.atr.org/ronald-reagan-legacy-project-a4499 about the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project], organizational Web site, accessed August 27, 2010</ref>
===Property Rights Alliance=== This group works to influence legislation in opposition to the estate tax,[http://www.propertyrightsalliance.org/index.php?content=cwa_alert] environmental protection, licensing restrictions, Federal federal purchase of land for national parks and wildlife areas, broadcast requirements for multicssting "multicasting," and drug importation, as well as seizure by eminent domain. <ref>Property Rights Alliance, [http://www.propertyrightsalliance.org/indexabout About], organizational website, accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> {{Template:AntiEnvironmentalArchives}} ===Alliance for Worker Freedom=== The "Alliance for Worker Freedom" is a "special project" of Americans for Tax Reform. The name is really a misnomer, as the Alliance opposes unions. At the Web site of the AWF, it says "AWF works to raise awareness of labor union abuses within the political system by educating movement conservatives on the threats to liberty posed by labor unions." AWF opposes collective bargaining.<ref>Alliance for Worker Freedom [http://www.workerfreedom.org/Collective-Bargaining-a2785 Collective Bargaining], organizational Web site, accessed August 27, 2010</ref> AWF opposes the Employee Free Choice Act, which the [[SEIU]] describes as a bill that would "make it easier for workers to unite on the job, imposing stiff penalties for corporations who fire or intimidate workers who try to form unions."<ref>Alliance for Worker Freedom [http://www.workerfreedom.org/Card-Check--The-Employee-Free-Choice-Act-a2784 The Employee Free Choice Act], organizational Web site, accessed August 27, 2010</ref><ref>Service Employees International Union, "[http://www.seiu.org/a/what-is-the-employee-free-choice-act.phpWhat Is the Employee Free Choice Act?content]," organizational website, accessed July 29, 2014.</ref> ===The Media Freedom Project===issues The Media Freedom Project was a partner project of Americans for Tax Reform, operating from a now defunct website.<ref>Media Freedom Project, [http://web.archive.org/web/20090126123012/http://mediafreedomproject.org/ Home], organizational website - accessed by the Wayback Machine, archived January 26, 2009.</ref> ===The American Shareholders Project===
==The Media Freedom ProjectPersonnel==Advocating free market solutions to media, technology and telecommunications policy issueshttp://www.mediafreedomproject.org/index.php?content=aboutus
Americans for Tax Reform<br>
Phone: (202) 785-0266<br>
Fax: (202) 785-0261<br>
Email: friends AT ideas@atr.org<br>Press contactWebsite: http: John Kartch, jkartch AT //www.atr.org/<br>Twitter: https://twitter.com/taxreformer<br>WebsiteFacebook: httphttps://www.atrfacebook.orgcom/americansfortaxreform ==Articles and Resources==
===Related SourceWatch articles===
{{Template:Koch Related SW Articles}}
*[[Americans for Tax Reform and Jack Abramoff]]
*[[Americans for Tax Reform and Big Tobacco]]
*[[Peter Cleary]]
===ReferencesExternal Articles===<references/>
*BBC News, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8493936.stm Why does Taxing the rich make ordinary voters angry], Feb. 3, 2010.
*Reuters, [http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2010/02/02/tea-party-warriors-take-aim-at-florida-senate-race/ "Tea Party Warriors Take aim at Florida Senate Race], Feb. 2, 2010.
* Dennis Whitfield, ACU Executive Vice President, [http://www.conservative.org/pressroom/2008/StatementfromACU.asp "Statement from ACU regarding false headline by Washington publication POLITICO "], Media Release, July 17, 2009.
*Tom Hamburger and James Oliphant, [http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-fallout22-2010jan22,0,5914423.story], "Court Ruling on Campaign Spending could Pay off for GOP."
* Tea Party movement gains steam across the country, [http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20100123/OPINION09/301230001], January 23, 2010. ===References===<references/> [[Category:United States]][[category:Health]][[Category:Politics (US)]][[Category:ALEC Exposed]][[Category:ALEC Non-Profits]][[Category:Koch Connection]]
