Changes

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) is ostensibly a an anti-tax lobbying group that pushes for lower taxes founded 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. It Accessed July 8, 2014.</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>ATRAmericans for Tax Reform, [http://www.atr.org/aboutAbout Americans for Tax Reform], organization website, accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> ATR is an "associate" member of the [[State Policy Network]] self, a web of right-descriptionwing “think tanks” in every state across the country.<ref>State Policy Network, [https://spn.org/directory/ Directory], ''State Policy Network'', 2016.</ref> __TOC__

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> 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, [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> While AFP launched its PR campaign, ATR focused its attention on legislative tactics. AFP dispatched its director of state affairs, Patrick Gleason, to help the bill’s sponsors in both chambers of the legislature compromise on an identical bill.<ref name="taxsin"/> It also sent letters to members of the Tennessee House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee emphatically reminding them that ATR "will be educating constituents as to how their representatives in the state legislature vote on this important matter."<ref>Americans for Tax Reform, [http://www.atr.org/atr-urges-tennessee-legislators-support-hb-1367 ATR Urges Tennessee Legislators to Support HB 1367], organizational website, April 7, 2014.</ref> ==Recent Controversies== ===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.<ref>Center for Worker Freedom, [http://workerfreedom.org/about About], project website, accessed May 20, 2014.</ref> According to a report by MSNBC, the CWF is the recent successor of a previous ATR project called the Alliance for Worker Freedom ([[#Alliance for Worker Freedom|see below for more]]), which dated back to 1998.<ref>Timothy Noah, [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/grover-norquist-union-buster Why Has Grover Norquist Entered the Union-Busting Business?], ''MSNBC'', February 19, 2014.</ref> In February 2014, CWF intervened in the [[United Auto Workers]]' efforts to unionize a Volkswagen manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Although the [[National Right to Work Committee]] attempted to stall unionization with legal measures, the CWF engaged in a PR campaign against the union.<ref>Steven Greenhouse, [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/business/outsiders-not-auto-plant-battle-uaw-in-tennessee.html?action=click&module=Search&region=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, Battle U.A.W. in Tennessee], ''New York Times'', January 28, 2014.</ref>

===What is 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 [[TAXPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGEBarack 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>

The Americans ===IRS Complaint against ATR 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 businesses. The second part consists of an opposition to any net reduction or elimination of deductions credits. Both are required to withstand Disparity in the time of a legislators tenure, if he/she agrees to sign the pledge. From the 112th Congressional list, 235 Representatives and 41 Senators have signed on to it. Only three Democratic legislators and one Independent.<ref>112th Congress, [http://atr.org/current-list-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-a5597] Taxpayer Protection Pledge</ref>However, only 219 Representatives and 39 Senators of the 113th Congress signed onto the pledge.<ref>113th Congress, [http://taxfoundation.org/blog/chambliss-others-distance-themselves-atr-tax-pledge] Taxpayer Protection Pledge.</ref>Political Spending Reports (2012)===

Since 1986In 2012, under the Ronald Reagan administrationATR claimed, the Taxpayer Pledge has been utilized in GOP tax policies. according to documents from [[Grover NorquistCitizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] proposed the pledge to pressure other Republican politicians to support with President Reagan's tax agenda(CREW), that it spent $15. Norquist says, "If you want a politician to make a commitment and want 8 million on independent expenditures as it reported to matterthe Federal Election Commission. However, it can't be four paragraphs long. I can't have moving partson separate tax documents, you can't remember what's in ATR told the IRS itspent only $9." Once Reagan and congressional Republicans signed 8 million on to itits political campaigns that same year, Reagan's tax-reform bill passed and presenting a significant disparity between the pledge has prospered ever sincetwo reported totals. <refname="CREW"> Norquist's Tax Pledge: What It Is Citizens for Responsibility and How It StartedEthics in Washington, [http://abcnewswww.gocitizensforethics.comorg/blogslegal-filings/politicsentry/2012/11/norquistscrew-irs-taxdoj-pledgecomplaint-whatagainst-itamericans-isfor-andtax-howreform-itgrover-startednorquist CREW Files IRS and DOJ Complaint Against Americans for Tax Reform and Grover Norquist], organizational website, November 19, 2013.</] ABC Newsref> In response, CREW filed a complaint with the IRS and the Department of Justice in November 262013, alleging that "ATR and Mr. Norquist violated federal law by deliberately providing false information to the IRS when ATR filed its 2012Tax Form 990". <ref name="CREW"/ref>

==Personnel =What Is the "[[Taxpayer Protection Pledge]]"?===

ATR The Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Pledge has two main parts. The first part is headed by [[Grover Norquist]], one 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 most connected members of 112th Congressional list, 235 Representatives and 41 Senators have signed on to it. Of the new signers, only three are Democratic legislators, and one is "Independent."<ref>Adam Radman, [[righthttp://atr.org/current-list-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-winga5597 Current List of Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers for the 112th Congress]] movement. He has close ties to the Republican Party, large UAmericans for Tax Reform, November 5, 2010.S. business interests</ref>However, only 219 Representatives and both 39 Senators of the 113th Congress signed onto the subsidized and regular Upledge.S<ref>Adam Radman, [http://atr. media. Norquist helped org/current-list-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-a5597 Current List of Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers for the [[Heritage Foundation]] write the Republican's 1994 [[Contract With America]112th Congress], Americans for Tax Reform, November 5, 2010. </ref>

Shortly thereafterSince 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 led says, "If you want a right wing charge 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."deOnce Reagan and congressional Republicans signed on to it, Reagan's tax-fund" reform bill passed and the leftpledge has been deployed since then.<ref>Chris Good, declaring that "We will hunt [these liberal groups] down one by one http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/norquists-tax-pledge-what-it-is-and extinguish their funding sources." -how-it-started/ Norquist has also worked as a [[lobbyist]] for clients including [[Microsoft]'s Tax Pledge: What It Is and How It Started], [[American Business for Legal Immigration]]ABC News, [[Distilled Spirits Council]], [[Edison Electric Institute]]November 26, [[Interactive Gaming Council]], and [[British Petroleum]]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]])

*[[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 <ref name="shenon"/> 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>  *[[Crossroads GPS]]: $30,400,000 (2010 and 2012)*[[Center to Protect Patient Rights]]: $4,539,000 (2010 and 2012)*[[Free Enterprise America]]: $813,000 (2011)*[[Walton Family Foundation]]: $658,500 (2001-2005)*[[Lynde and AATF Harry Bradley Foundation]]: $647,500 (1995-2012)*[[American Petroleum Institute]]: $525,000 (2008-2011)*[[John M. Olin Foundation]]: $525,000 (1995-2001)*[[Randolph Foundation]]: $439,250 (1999-2012)*[[Sarah Scaife Foundation]]: $375,000 (1996-2002)*[[Carthage Foundation]]: $325,000 (1994-2003)*[[Freedom Partners]]: $100,000 (2014) ===Contribution from Koch-tied Center to Protect Patients Rights=== In 2010, 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, accessed June 24, 2014.</ref> The Center's contribution amounted to approximately a cut third of funds 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 laudering 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 emoney 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.nytimespropublica.comorg/2006article/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> ===Koch Family Foundation Contribution to Americans for Tax Reform Foundation=== 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/03transaction/10claude-r-lambe-charitable-foundation2012-4/politicsClaude R. Lambe Foundation Financial Records], ConservativeTransparency.org, accessed June 24, 2014.</10abramoffref> (A complete review of family foundation donations has not been done.html?ei) ===Crossroads GPS Grants $26 Million to ATR=5070&en=1870d0e1b1c33db4&ex=1149998400&pagewanted 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.  According to ''Pro Publica'':  :"New tax documents...indicate that at least $11.2 million of the grant money given to the group 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, not the $74.5 million reported to the Internal Revenue Service. That's about 45 percent of its total expenditures."<ref name=print"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, 2013.</ref>  Spokespeople from both ATR and Crossroads didn't respond to ''Pro Publica'''s request for comment on the allegation.

Big tobacco companies used Norquist's tax pledge as a cover to lobby lawmakers against cigarette taxes. That was in the 1990s. Now, however, 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 [[Center to Protect Patient Rights]] donated <big>2015</big>'''<ref name="2016 990"/>* Total Revenue: $4,189892,000 to ATR in 2010, 34 percent of the total amount of funding. [[Crossroads GPS]] donated 045* Total Expenses: $4,000487,000 to ATR in the same year, 32.46 percent of the budget. The staggering amount of money these billionaire-backed organizations donated accounts for well over half the total budget. <ref>[http326* Net Assets://www.thenation.com/blog/171475/analysis-grover-norquists-budget-largely-financed-just-two-billionaire-backed-nonprofits#] Grover Norquist's Budget is Largely Financed by Two Billionaire-backed Nonprofits, Lee Fang$9, November 27100, 2012.</ref>535

'''<big>2013</big>'''<ref name== History =="2013 990">Americans for Tax Reform, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2014_12_EO/52-1403587_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

In a May 25'''Grants to Other Organizations'''<ref name="ab">American Bridge, 1989, memo to the Steering Committee of [http://conservativetransparency.org/donor/americans-for-tax-reform/ Americans for Tax Reform &#8211; a document that was curiously found in the files of the now defunct Tobacco Institute &#8211; Grover Norquist excitedly reported progress on the &#8216;anti-tax front&#8217;. Not only had a swag of member of Congress promised to veto any tax increaseTransactions], Norquist reported, there had been &#8220;three ''American Bridge'', 2016.</ref>*[[Wall Street JournalIndependent Women's Voice]]'' editorials highlighting the importance of ATR&#8217;s pledge campaign in stopping tax hikes&#8221;.: $260,000*Texans for Fiscal Responsibility: $25,000*Citizens for Limited Taxation: $11,400

He also reported that an article in the ''[[Washington Times]]'<big>2012</big>''' &#8220;which kindly quotes an agreement that I will have input into the question of what is a &#8216;duck&#8217; &#8211; ie tax increase<ref name="2013 990"/>* Total Revenue: $30,975, and what is not&#8221;. [http283* Total Expenses://tobaccodocuments.org/ti/TITX0034731.html]$30,915,010* Net Assets: $8,110,700

[[Newt Gingrich|Gingrich]], as Republican whip in the House of Representatives, negotiated an agreement with the then President [[George Walker Bush|George Bush]] '''Grants to vet any budget proposals. Under the deal, Gingrich would advise on whether proposed revenue raising proposals were in fact tax increases, or Other Organizations''ducks' as Gingrich termed them.<ref name="ab"/>&#8220;It is fair to say*New Hampshire Advantage Coalition: $15, in dealing with [[Richard Darman|Darman]] [White House Budget Director] and the administration in general on what is and isn&#8217;t a duck000*Citizens for Limited Taxation: $10, I would lean very heavily on [[Richard H. Rahn|Richard Rahn]] (chief economist for the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]])800*CA Term Limits: $5, [[Jeff Eisenach]] and Grover Norquist &#8230; They have a very good sense of the distinction between ducks and geese&#8221;000*Nebraskans Against Amendment 3: $5, Gingrich said.000

==Wining and dining with In a May 25, 1989, memo to the Steering Committee of Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist==excitedly reported progress on the "anti-tax 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."

While corporate funding for ATR may He also reported that an article in the ''[[Washington Times]]'' "which kindly quotes an agreement that I will have been volatile, Norquist had success on another front. In input into the question of what is a letter to invitation to PM&#8217;s Washington'duck' --based Legislative Council, Ms Beverley McKittricki.e. tax increase, and what is not."<ref>Grover Norquist reported that during 1997, 1997 and 1998 a series of ATR hosted dinner discussions [http://tobaccodocuments.org/ti/TITX0034731.html Progress on tax issues had all been sold out. The earlier dinners had featured speakers such as former Speaker of the HouseAnti-Tax Front], Americans for Tax Reform, Newt GingrichMay 25, Congressman John Kasich and Congressman Bill Thomas1989. </ref>

[[Newt Gingrich]], as Republican whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, negotiated an agreement with then-President [[George Walker Bush|George W. Bush]] to vet any budget proposals. Under the deal, Norquist would advise on whether proposed revenue-raising proposals were in fact tax increases, or 'ducks' as Norquist offered McKittrick termed them. "It is fair to say, in dealing with [[Richard Darman|Darman]] [White House Budget Director] and the administration in general on what is and isn't a subscription to duck, I would lean very heavily on [[Richard H. Rahn|Richard Rahn]] (chief economist for the 1999 series [[U.S. Chamber of six dinners &#8211; with Congressmen ArmeyCommerce]]), Chairman Archer [[Jeff Eisenach]] and the Speaker Grover Norquist ... They have a very good sense of the distinction between ducks and geese," Gingrich said.<ref name="duckhunters">Ralph Z. Hallow, [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/vuw32f00/pdf House Denny Hastert amongst the invited speakers &#8211; &#8220;for a modest contribution of $10'Duck Hunters' Given Tax-Bill Hammer], The Washington Times, April 20,000&#8221;1989. </ref>

&#8220;Only 24 business leaders "The president has agreed the administration team will consult with the House Republicans and that for my part I will be in attendance,&#8221; Norquist assured McKittrick. The series of dinnersas whip, Norquist wrotein turn consult with these three people regarding the duck test, were chaired by Bill Roesing of Seagram & Sons and co-chaired by Chuck Crowders of Lucent Technologies.[http://legacy" he said.library.ucsf.edu/tid<ref name="duckhunters"/jqo83c00]>

By 1999 PM&#8217;s contribution ===Ties to ATR had grown to $160,000. [http://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2065281658-1661.html] The the Tobacco Institute contributed another $10,000 in 1999. [http://tobaccodocuments.org/lor/86599571-9649.html]Industry===

In March 1999a letter of invitation to [[Philip Morris]]' (PM) Washington-based Legislative Council, Beverley McKittrick, Norquist was active lobbying members of the Senate Budget Committee in defence of the tobacco industry. &#8220;The Tobacco industry is a lawful industry subject to an excessive tax burdenreported that during 1997, 1997, already 41 cents per packet to state governments for re-imbursement of smoking related illness and over 1998, a dollar per pack taxes (depending series of ATR-hosted dinner discussions on the state, some taxes are much higher0. That is already one-third tax burden on a legal productissues had all been sold out. Furthermore they employ thousands The earlier dinners had featured speakers such as former Speaker of Americansthe House, which educatesNewt Gingrich, Congressman John Kasich, feeds and clothes families across this nation&#8221;, Norquist wrote. [http://legacyCongressman Bill Thomas.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ifo60d00]

The following week ATR was claiming to legislators that Norquist offered McKittrick a Senate Budget resolution seeking subscription to remove the tax1999 series of six dinners --deductibility with Congressmen Armey, Chairman Archer, and Speaker of payments made by the tobacco industry to settle House Denny Hastert amongst the legal actions taken against it by State Attorney General&#8217;s would breach ATR&#8217;s Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The second paragraph invited speakers -- "for a modest contribution of the pledge, ATR said$10, required supporters to &#8220;oppose any further reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar further reducing tax rates&#8221;.[http://legacy.library.ucsf000.edu/tid/mvi02d00]"

ATR"Only 24 business leaders will be in attendance," Norquist assured McKittrick. The series of dinners, Norquist wrote, were chaired by Bill Roesing of Seagram &#8217;s role also extended to facilitating the introduction Sons and co-chaired by Chuck Crowders of one Republican political aspirant Lucent Technologies.<ref>Grover Norquist, [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/jqo83c00/pdf Letter to RJRMs . &#8220;[[Bethany NobleBeverly McKittrick]] from , Americans for Tax Reform will be bringing Kevin Kellems (republican candidate to oppose Baron Hill in Ind. 9) by for a brief visit at 3.00 today. Kellems is a tobacco farmer, and has a pretty fair shot at unseating Hill,&#8221; Donald Foreman, an RJR stafferFebruary 2, wrote in an e-mail to his colleagues1999. </ref>

There was potential for embarrassment howeverBy 1999, as RJR PM's contribution to ATR had donated grown to $500 to Hill160,000.<ref>The Tobacco Institute, [http://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2065281658-1661. Despite thishtml 1999 Public Policy Contributions], organizational document, Foreman suggested &#8220;this is a race we may want to keep an eye on and see how it look May 3, 1999.</ref> The [[sicTobacco Institute]] contributed another $10,000 in a few months&#8221;1999. <ref>The Tobacco Institute, [http://legacytobaccodocuments.libraryorg/lor/86599571-9649.ucsfhtml 1999 Budget - State Activities Division], organizational document, August 27, 1998.edu/tid</fxj82a00]ref>

A In March 1999 RJR Corporate Affairs plan identified one , Norquist actively lobbied members of the Senate Budget Committee in defense of the key strategies as being tobacco industry. "The Tobacco industry is a lawful industry subject to &#8220;mobilize key 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 the state, some taxes are much higher). That is already a one-third party groups (such as tax burden on a legal product. Furthermore, they employ thousands of Americans for Tax reform, CARTwhich educates, NSA feeds and others) clothes families across this nation," Norquist wrote.<ref>George Norquist, [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ifo60d00 Letter to ensure that RJR&#8217;s message is effectively communicatedSenator Olympia Snowe], Americans for Tax Reform, March 13, reinforced and understood by key opinion leaders&#8221;1999.</ref>

&#8220;We seek forumsThe following week, in ATR claimed to legislators that a Senate Budget resolution seeking to remove the tax-deductibility of payments made by the media or with third parties who help us fight onerous legislation/regulationtobacco industry to settle the legal actions taken against it by State Attorneys General would breach ATR's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge." The second paragraph of the pledge, ATR said, required supporters to balance hyperbolic accusations "oppose any further reduction or elimination of well financed critics whose credibility with key audiences is greater than hours&#8221;deductions and credits, the document statedunless matched dollar for dollar further reducing tax rates. "<ref>Americans for Tax Reform, [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/mum50d00mvi02d00/pdf SPECTER/HARKIN amendment to S.CON RES 20 Violates Taxpayer Protection Pledge], organizational document, March 24, 1999.</ref>

== Nationalization ATR's role also extended to facilitating the introduction of Virginia state tax issues ==one Republican political aspirant to RJR. "[[Bethany Noble]] from Americans for Tax Reform will be bringing Kevin Kellems (Republican candidate to oppose Baron Hill in Ind. 9) by for a brief visit at 3.00 today. Kellems is a tobacco farmer, and has a pretty fair shot at unseating Hill," Donald Foreman, an RJR staffer, wrote in an email to his colleagues.

Starting in 2004There was potential for embarrassment, however, as RJR had donated $500 to Hill. Despite this, ATF launched Foreman suggested that "this is a national letterwriting campaign to persuade Virginia legislators race we may want to fight Democratic Governor [[Mark Warner]]'s plan to raise taxes to maintain the state's AAA bond raising and meet commitments to K-12 keep an eye on and higher education funding, among other purposes. Warner had inherited budget shortfalls from his predecessor, Republican see how it look [[George Allensic]] and had already cut spending to avoid in a deficitfew months. "<ref>Donald Foreman, [http://wwwlegacy.washingtonpostlibrary.com/wp-srv/metroucsf.edu/dailytid/graphicsfxj82a00/virginia_money_022504pdf Ind.html?referrer=emaillink9], email, October 26, 1999.</ref>

When 34 Republican legislators worked with Virginia’s Democratic governor A 1999 RJR Corporate Affairs plan identified one of the key strategies as being to secure passage"mobilize key third party groups (such as Americans for Tax reform, CART, they issued a "VirginiaNSA and others) to ensure that RJR's Least Wanted" poster targeting those Republicans. On April 24, 2005message is effectively communicated, ATF issued a press release touting those legislators that had signed a pledge not to increase taxesreinforced and understood by key opinion leaders.[http://www.atr.org/content/pdf/2005/mar/pr-va-primaries.pdf]"

On June 15"We seek forums, 2005, after in the state primarymedia or with third parties who help us fight onerous legislation/regulation, ATR issued a press release claiming that "Taxpayer advocates believe the two scalps they claimed last night – those to balance hyperbolic accusations of Gary Reese (H-67), who was defeated by newcomer Chris Craddock, and James Dillard (H-41), who retired rather well financed critics whose credibility with key audiences is greater than face a strong challenge from Michael Golden – are only their latest wins against the pro-tax 'Republicans.' Last Septemberhour, Sen. Ken Stolle (S-8) was denied a seat in Congress because of his pro-tax vote; anti-tax Delegate Thelma Drake took " the seat in Congress insteaddocument stated. In the special election to succeed Thelma Drake<ref>RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Republican Michael Ball lost by less than 100 votes because he tried to finesse the tax issue."[http://wwwlegacy.library.atrucsf.orgedu/contenttid/pdfmum50d00/2005/jun/061505pr-va-postprimary.pdfMission Statement Review], organizational document, 1999.</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 ===National Campaign against Virginia's 67th District, Norquist became a target in the campaign.State Tax Increase===

==Tax Starting in 2004, ATF launched a national letter-writing campaign to persuade Virginia legislators to fight Democratic Governor [[Mark 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 [[George Allen]], and spend had already cut spending to avoid a deficit.<ref>The Washington Post, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/graphics/virginia_money_022504. for war=html?referrer=emaillink Virginia's Money Plans], organizational chart, 2004.</ref>

Shortly after the September 11When 34 Republican legislators worked with Virginia’s Democratic governor to secure passage, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City, the ''New Republic'' reported that Norquist had been working to broker they issued a "strange allianceVirginia's Least Wanted" between the Republican Party and radical Islamposter targeting those Republicans.[http://www.tnr.com/111201/foer111201.html] In February 2003On April 24, however2005, ATR weighed in ATF issued a press release touting those legislators that had signed a pledge not to support the Bush administration's war drive against Iraqincrease taxes. According to the ''New York Times'', "Grover Norquist, president of <ref>Americans for Tax Reform, said his organization had sent every state legislature a proposed measure for adoption the day fighting starts that supports Mr[http://web. Bush's actionsarchive."[org/web/20080706124401/http://www.nytimesatr.comorg/2003content/02pdf/012005/politicsmar/01PEACpr-va-primaries.html?ex=1045136269&ei=1&en=f7706b72d4e51e34pdf Virginia Signers of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge], press release - accessed through the Wayback Machine, April 5, 2005.</ref>

==KStreetProjectHowever, the strategy may have backfired.com==K Street Project is "non-partisan research of political affiliation Both the Dillard and Reese seats, employment backgroundwhich had been Republican, and political donations of members ended up as Democratic seats in Washington DC's premier lobbying firms, trade associations, and industriesthe general election." Ironically In fact, it shares its name with in the [[K Street Project|project]] by the Republican Party to pressure Washington lobbying firms to hire Republicans Craddock-Caputo race in top positionsVirginia's 67th District, and to reward loyal GOP lobbyists with access to influential officials. That projects was launched Norquist became a target in 1995, by Republican strategist and ATF founder Grover Norquist working with former House majority leader Tom DeLaythe campaign.

While many of the resources on this site appear non-partisan, there is also a prominent link to [[Daniel J. Flynn]]'s report on liberal bias in higher education. [http://www.kstreetproject.com/index.php?content=KSTProject]=ATR Projects==

===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=== This now defunct project claimed its mission was providing a "voice to people...in the public policy debates that impact" savings and investments. This included opposition to the estate tax and a "fairer, simpler," e.g. less progressive tax rate. Other former endeavors included fighting net neutrality, opposing limitations on "grassroots" internet lobbying, extending lower taxes on capital gains and dividends, supporting Samuel Alito for U.S. Supreme Court, and supporting the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). In their words, "Approving CAFTA will reward the democracies in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic for rejecting the Communists, and will send the message to the region and the world that those who adopt free market policies will prosper, and those who adopt Leftist anti-American protectionist policies will fail."{{fact}} ==Personnel== ATR is headed by [[Grover Norquist]], "one of the Republican Party's most influential policy strategists," according to the ''New York Times''.<ref name="shenon"/> He has close ties to the Republican Party, large U.S. business interests, and both the subsidized and corporate U.S. media. Norquist helped the [[Heritage Foundation]] write the Republican's 1994 [[Contract With America]].<ref> "[http://theweek.com/article/index/217015/grover-norquist-the-man-who-killed-tax-increases Grover Norquist: The man who killed tax increases]," ''The Week'', July 8, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2014.</ref> 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>

==Alliance for Worker Freedom=Staff==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.<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> [http://www.workerfreedom.org/index.php?content=mission]

==The Media Freedom Project==Advocating free market solutions to mediaAs of July 2016:<ref>Americans for Tax Reform, technology and telecommunications policy issues[http://www.mediafreedomprojectatr.org/indexatr-staff ATR Staff].php?content=aboutus''Americans for Tax Refore'', July 11, 2016.</ref>*[[Grover Norquist]], President*Christopher Butler, Chief of Staff*Holly Jackson, Director of Development*John Kartch, VP of Communications*Candice N. Boyer, Director of Scheduling and Outreach*Alex Hendrie, Federal Affairs Manager*Justin Sykes, Federal Affairs Manager*Katie McAuliffe, Federal Affairs Manager *Lorenzo Montanari, International Programs Manager*Patrick Gleason, Director of State Affairs*Paul Blair, State Affairs Manager*Miriam Roff, State Affairs Coordinator*Adam L. Radman, Grassroots Campaigns Manager*Megan McChesney, Senior Manager of Finance and Operations*Rayanne Matlock, Operations Manager and Internship Coordinator*Jorge Marin, Policy Specialist*Matthew Patterson, Executive Director of Worker Freedom

==The American Shareholders ProjectContact Information==This now defunct project had the mission of providing a "voice to people...in the public policy debates that impact" savings and investments. This included opposition to the estate tax and a "fairer, simpler", e.g. less progressive tax rate. Other former endeavors included, fighting net neutrality, opposing limitations on "grassroots" internet lobbying, extending lower taxes on capital gains and dividends, supporting Samuel Alito for Supreme Court, and supporting the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).In their words, "Approving CAFTA will reward the democracies in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic for rejecting the Communists, and will send the message to the region and the world that those who adopt free market policies will prosper, and those who adopt Leftist anti-American protectionist policies will fail."

1920 L Street 722 12th ST NW<br>Suite 200400<br>Washington, DC 2003620005<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==

===References===<references/> ===External resourcesArticles===

* 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]]