Economic Freedom Fund

The Economic Freedom Fund (EFF), based in Sacramento, California, is a "new deep-pocketed" conservative 527 committee, according to TPM Muckraker's Justin Rood. [1]

R. Keith Olberg, a former California Assemblyman, is EFF's president, according to the disclosure report filed October 1, 2006, by EFF with the Federal Election Commission. In October 2002, LA Weekly described Olberg, who was then running for California Secretary of State, as a "veteran Republican wonk and legislator." Olberg's wife, Delette Olberg, is "a $99,000-a-year official on the [California] Assembly GOP caucus staff." [2]

The group works with Meridian Pacific, Inc., "a two-year-old California consulting firm", Rood wrote September 14, 2006. As "further testament to its GOP bonafides," Meridian is "headed by" John Peschong, a "onetime senior Republican National Committee official [who] joined Meridian Pacific in 2005, after seven years as the Western States Director for the RNC," Rood wrote.

On September 14, 2006, EFF's "sole backer" was Texas millionaire Robert J. Perry, "who founded the infamous Swift Boat Veterans for Truth group during the 2004 elections," Rood wrote. [3]

Perry was joined September 21, 2006, by Carl H. Lindner, "part owner of the Cincinnati Reds and No. 133 on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans, [who] has ponied up $50,000 to EFF. More precisely, EFF has recorded a $50,000 donation from the same address as Lindner uses in other FEC reports," Josh Marshall wrote October 4, 2006.

EFF hired Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm, an Arlington, Virginia, "media firm, to prepare ads against" Democratic incumbents Reps. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) and Jim Marshall (D-GA), Paul J. Nyden reported September 14, 2006, for McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

SRC&P "also prepared the Swift Boat ads attacking [John] Kerry's military service in Vietnam, where he won a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts," Nyden wrote.

By the time the Economic Freedom Fund was only a month old, it had already been very active, dropping half a million bucks on negative TV ads against" Mollohan and Marshall, Paul Kiel of TPM Muckraker wrote September 14, 2006.

---

The Organization

FEC Filings

EFF is registered with the Federal Election Commission with FEC ID# C30000541. EFF's FEC files can be accessed here.

EFF Contact: Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk

Actual contact information for the Committee is limited. According to EFF's Form 9 filed with the Federal Election Commission, the organization's physical address is 455 Capitol Mall, Suite 801, Sacramento, California. The "Records Custodian" is Charles H. Bell, Jr., who "also happens to be the General Counsel for the California Republican Party," Paul Kiel wrote.

Bell, a partner in Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP (BM&H), which "specializes in campaign, election and administrative law and litigation at all levels of government," is also "Vice Chairman of The Federalist Society's free speech and election law practice group" [4] and "the Republican National Lawyers Association's vice president for the election education advisory council." [5]

"Who We Are"

Information about the "Committee" is limited. According to the EFF website: [6]

"Today Americans find themselves at a critical junction – we can either take steps forward and continue on a path of effective economic development or turn back the clock to higher taxes and burdensome government regulation. To help us get through this crucial period in time, we have taken a proactive step of setting up a committee called the Economic Freedom Fund.

"The specific purposes of this corporation are to educate the public concerning issues related to the preservation of economic freedom, the promotion of economic growth and prosperity for the people of the United States of America, which purposes are consistent with Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code."

Absolutely no information is provided on EFF's website about Committee members. The only information available is to be found in the FEC filing.

Controversy

Media Campaign: Direct Mail and TV Ads

The EFF website provides links for its latest Direct Mail and Television ads for West Virginia, Georgia and Iowa. There is no other information provided on the website as to who produced the ads.

From YouTube:

• Attributed to "Economic Freedom Fund: Jim Marshall" "from tpmmedia":

• "Cynthia's BlackMuslim anti-Semites" added August 9, 2006.
• "McKinney's supporters hurl epithets at the media" added August 10, 2006.

• Against John Barrow, posted September 20, 2006.

Media Buys

According to Federal Election Commission disclosure reports for Committee ID: C30000541, the Economic Freedom Fund received two initial contributions totaling $5 million from Bob J. Perry of Texas. With the addition of the $50,000 contributed by Carl H. Lindner, all payments for media buys were made by EFF from these funds exclusively to Meridian Pacific, Inc. either for television production or television buys. Note: To access records, click on 'PDF' link for each date or date cluster.

Media buys to date, as reported on a FEC Form 9, target five Democrat House candidates: Alan Mollohan, West Virginia 1st District; Jim Marshall, Georgia 8th District; Leonard Boswell, Iowa 3rd District; John Barrow, Georgia 12th District; and Darlene Hooley, Oregon 5th District.

The last reported media buy was October 16, 2006, according to disclosure reports.

• For August 23, 2006, and August 29, 2006, four media buys:

• $105,000.00 and $9,946.00 for "Television Buy - To Be Continued" re Alan Mollohan
• $105,000.00 for "Television Buy - Chapter 2" re Alan Mollohan
• $75,000.00 for "Television Buy - Take a Guess" re Jim Marshall

• For September 5, 2006, two media buys:

• $105,000.00 for "Television Buy - Road Trip" re Alan Mollohan
• $75,000.00 for "Television Buy - Double Life" re Jim Marshall

• For September 5, 2006, for two media buys:

• $12,096.02 for "Television Production - Chapter 2" re Alan Mollohan
• $12,960.17 for "Television Production - Take a Guess" re Jim Marshall

• For September 8, 2006, for two media buys:

• $711.15 for "Television Production - Even More" re Alan Mollohan
• $638.93 for "Television Production - Who Is This" re Jim Marshall

• For September 11, 2006, one media buy:

• $151,200.00 for "Television Buy - Taxman" re Leonard Boswell

• For September 11, 2006, one media buy:

• $120,058.00 for "Television Buy - Forehead" re John Barrow

• For September 18, 2006, seven media buys:

• $151,220.00, $3,666.73 and $27,500.00 for "Television Buy - Side" re Leonard Boswell
• $9,309.50 for "Television Production - Another Georgian" re Jim Marshall
• $1,951.35 for "Television Production - Double Life" re Jim Marshall
• $9,200.77 for "Television Production - Just the Facts" re Alan Mollohan
• $9,877.03 for "Television Production - Cheek" re John Barrow

• For September 18, 2006, four media buys:

• $75,000.00 for "Television Buy - Another Georgian" re Jim Marshall
• $120,900.00 for "Television Buy - Cheek" re John Barrow
• $2806.32 for "Television Production - Take A Guess" re Jim Marshall
• $15,977.09 for "Television Production - Taxman" re Leonard Boswell

• For September 18, 2006, four media buys:

• $105,000.00 for "Television Buy - Just the Facts" re Alan Molohan
• $11,537.87 for "Television Production - Forehead" re John Barrow
• $13,106.71 for "Television Production - Road Trip" re Alan Molohan
• $16,513.77 for "Television Production - Double Life" re Jim Marshall

• For October 1, 2006, three media buys:

• $75,000.00 and $49,385.00 for "Television Buy - Nothing Wrong" re Jim Marshall
• $6,956.34 for "Television Production - Side" re Leonard Boswell

• For October 2, 2006, one media buy:

• $165,000.00 "Television Buy - Social Security" re Darlene Hooley

• For October 4, 2006, five media buys:

• $151,200.00 "Television Buy - Liberal Leonard" re Leonard Boswell
• $120,988.00 "Television Buy - Chin" re John Barrow
• $13,612.06 "Television Production - Nothing Wrong" re Jim Marshall
• $2,288.00 "Television Buy - Check" re John Barrow
• $10,880.22 "Television Buy - Chin" re John Barrow

• For October 4, 2006, one media buy:

• $165,000.00 "Television Buy - National Defense" re Darlene Hooley

• For October 6, 2006, one media buy:

• 7,562.97 "Television Production - Liberal Leonard" re Leonard Boswell

• For October 9, 2006, one media buy:

• $5,013.70 "Television Production - To Be Continued" re Alan Molohan

• For October 10, 2006, two media buys:

• $13,500.00 "Radio Ad - Dirty Little Secret" re Leonard Boswell
• 15,605.00 "Radio Ad - Fooling Georgia" re Jim Marshall

• For October 16, 2006, three media buys:

• $9,331.00 "Television Production - National Defense" re Darlene Hooley
• $32,548.93 "Television Buy - Social Security" re Darlene Hooley
• $9, 331.00 "Television Production - Social Security" re Darlene Hooley

Push Polling

Calls made on behalf of the Economic Freedom Fund, with a Braddock, VA, address, were made on August 30 and September 1, 2006. See Comments posted for WhoCalled.US "Lookup" for 571 522-1575 and 571 226-6400.

For background, see Mark Blumenthal's February 23, 2006, "The Roboscam Calls" in the TPM Cafe Blog.

EFF Contributions

Those desirous of contributing to EFF are provided little real information. The EFF website asks that contributions be mailed "to our Treasurer" at the Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP address. A form can be printed out and mailed with a contribution.

However, no information is provided as to the form in which a contribution should be made—check, cash, money order or credit card—and there is no online payment method provided.

Domain Name

The domain name ECONOMICFREEDOMFUND.COM was created August 22, 2006, with private registration through GoDaddy.com to Domains by Proxy, Inc.

Contact Information

Physical Address:
455 Capitol Mall
Suite 801
Sacramento, California 95814
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 191005
Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916 296-0844
Email: Info AT economicfreedomfund.com
Website: http://www.economicfreedomfund.com/

Related SourceWatch Resources

• political microtargeting
• swiftboating
• U.S. congressional elections in 2006

External links

• Economic Freedom Fund in the Wikipedia.
• Electronic Freedom Fund Federal Election Commission filing, posted by Talking Points Memo.
• New This Week: 527s, Open Secrets, Week of August 22, 2006.
• Paul J. Nyden, "Out-of-state group's ad targets Mollohan," Charleston Gazette (W.Va.) (posted on U.S. Chamber of Commerce website), August 31, 2006.
• Lawrence Messina, "Mollohan attacks Wakim on gambling," Associated Press (Charleston Daily Mail (W.Va.)), August 31, 2006.
• Robert B. Bluey, "WV-01: Alan Mollohan Targeted in New Ad," The Ballot Box/Human Events Online, September 1, 2006.
• O. Kay Henderson, "What the Bush team wants to know," Radio Iowa, September 6, 2006.
• KL Snow, "More unethical practices: One (maybe two) push polls," Diary of a political madman Blogspot, September 6, 2006.
• Rich Hardwick, "Truth Test: Hidden Republicans Attack Marshall," WMAZ.com (Macon, GA), September 7, 2006.
• "GA-08: GOP 527 Ties Dems to Long-Gone McKinney," TPM Cafe, September 8, 2006.
• "Hill calls on Sodrel to denounce illegal automated calls," Baron2006.com, September 13, 2006.
• Kerry Corum, "Political Telemarketing: GOP Lobbyists Taped," 14WFIE.com (IN), September 14, 2006.
• Ben Evans, "Swift Boat Ads Backer Funds New Group," Washington Post, September 14, 2006.
• Justin Rood, "New GOP Attack Group Used Ad Firm with Party Ties," TPM Muckraker, September 14, 2006.
• Paul Kiel, "Swift Boat Redux: Wealthy GOP Donor Drops $5 Mil for New Group" and "Shadowy 527 Behind Calls Hitting Democrats in Several States," TPM Muckraker, September 14, 2006.
• Taylor Marsh, "Robert J. Perry is Back," The Patriot Project, September 14, 2006.
• "Former Swift Boat attack-ad backer takes on Marshall," WTVM.com (GA), September 14, 2006.
• Chris Woods (poster), "IA-Gov: Nussel gets help from 527 bankrolled by Swift Boat funder," Political Forecast, September 14, 2006.
• Greg Pierce, Inside Politics: Cash in hand," Washington Times, September 15, 2006.
• Paul J. Nyden, "Swift Boat figure attacks Mollohan: Texan housing executive running ads against Democrat," McClatchy-Tribune Business News delivered by Newstex (Pajamas Media) and "Swift Boat figure attacks Mollohan. Texan housing executive running ads against Democrat," Sunday Gazette-Mail, September 15, 2006.
• O. Kay Henderson, "Texan's money bankrolling group campaigning for Nussle, Lamberti," Radio Iowa, September 15, 2006.
• "Economic Freedom Fund Backed By Swift Boat Financer," PolkCountryDemocrats.org (Iowa), September 18, 2006.
• Frank D. Russo, "Swift Boats Arrive in Sacramento," California Progress Report, September 15, 2006.
• Dave Johnson, "New Front-Group Alert: Economic Freedom Fund," The Huffington Post and The Patriot Project, September 15, 2006.
• Chris Woods (poster), "IA-03: EFF ads for Lamberti pulled by KCCI and WHO" and "IA-03: More on the EFF," Political Forecast, September 15, 2006.
• "Swiftboat founder harrassing voters," Independent Report, September 15, 2006.
• Bennett Roth, "Local builder Perry bankrolling group," Houston Chronicle, September 16, 2006. Scroll down to article.
• "Backer of Kerry Swift Boat Attack Ads Funding Group Targeting Democrats," Associated Press (Fox News), September 16, 2006.
• "Man reports call from lobbyist. Call made to Hoosier, who sues telemarketers that violate state law," Associated Press (South Bend Tribune), September 17, 2006.
• Taylor Marsh, "EEF Targets Jim Marshall," The Patriot Project, September 17, 2006.
• Josh Gerstein, "527 Groups Use Legal Loopholes To Influence Elections," The New York Sun, September 18, 2006.
• Mary Beth Schneider, "State sues over campaign calls," Indianapolis Star (IN), September 18, 2006.
• Lesley Stedman Weidenbener, "Indiana sues over automated political calls," The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), September 18, 2006.
• Paul Kiel, "Indiana Sues Swift Boater's New Attack Group" and "GOP Attack Group Trains Big Guns on Iowa Race," TPM Muckraker, September 18, 2006.
• Dave Johnson, "Front-Group Economic Freedom Fund and Meridian Pacific," The Patriot Project, September 18, 2006.
• "Swift Boat ad backer turns to Indiana race," Associated Press (Chicago Sun-Times), September 19, 2006.
• David Mann, "Political calls prompt lawsuit. Organization funded by former swift boat financier targeted," NewsAndTribune.com (Albany, NY), September 19, 2006.
• Paul Kiel, "Swift Boat Money Man Reunites with Swift Boat Media Firm," TPM Muckraker, September 19, 2006.
• Tim Higgins, "National figures fuel campaign for Congress seat. Widely known groups pay for advertisements in Iowa's 3rd District, and top political officials plan visits," Des Moines Register, September 20, 2006.
• Paul Kiel, "GOP Attack Group Hits 2nd Georgia Dem," TPM Muckraker, September 20, 2006.
• William Rivers Pitt, "Swiftboating the Swiftboaters," truthout, September 20, 2006.
• Paul Kiel, "Polling Group Condemns Swiftboater's Call Tactics," TPM Muckraker, September 21, 2006.
• Paul J. Nyden, "GOP leaders blasts 527s. Groups have no contribution limit, congressman says," Sunday Gazette-Mail (WVA), September 22, 2006.
• Paul Kiel, "Shadowy Attack Group Uses Shadowy Calling Firm," TPM Muckraker, September 22, 2006.
• Bob Dart, "Swift Boat ad bankroller targets 2 Ga. Democrats," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 23, 2006.
• Deanna Martin, "Telemarketer sues Indiana over ban. Company claims its free speech is being violated," Associated Press (FortWayne.com), September 23, 2006.
• Paul Kiel, "GOP-Tied Firm Sues Indiana For Right to Smear," TPM Muckraker, September 23, 2006.
• Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo, September 23, 2006.
• Travis Fain, "'L-word' looms large in Marshall-Collins race," Macon Telegraph/Macon.com (GA), September 24, 2006.
• Deanna Martin, "Company sues Indiana over calling ban. Business says state's ban violates right of free speech," Indiana Daily Student News, September 25, 2006.
• Lesley Stedman Weidenbener, "State files suit over recorded calls. Group critical of GOP's Sodrel," The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), September 26, 2006.
• YaVonda Smalls, "Autodialer law faces challenges in Indiana. Attorney general remains serious about enforcing statute," SouthBendTribune.com, September 26, 2006.
• Steve Hinnefeld, "State suing American Family Voices over automated calls," Reporter-Times.com (IN), September 26, 2006.
• "Judge blocks political calls. California-based group’s automated calls attack Democratic candidate," Associated Press (FortWayne.com (IN)), September 27, 2006.
• Paul Kiel, "GOP Attack Calls May Violate Fed Rules," TPM Muckraker, September 27, 2006.
• mrs panstreppon, "More on the Economic Freedom Fund & ccAdvertising," TPM Cafe, September 27, 2006.
• Jim Kuhnhenn, "Outside groups, mostly GOP biased, trying to buy elections," Associated Press (Capitol Hill Blue)/(New York Sun), September 30, 2006.
• "Outside Groups Spending Millions On Ads," NewsMax, October 1, 2006.
• Dave Johnson, "Front-Group Alert: Softer Voices," The Huffington Post, October 3, 2006.
• Greg Giroux, "Spending Statistics Reflect House GOP’s Defensive Posture," CQ Politics, October 3, 2006.
• Steve Mayes, "Out-of-state group zeroes in on Hooley. Election - The organization attempts to tarnish the Democrat's voting record," OregonLive.com, October 4, 2006.
• "Swiftboat Gang comes after Darlene Hooley," BlueOregon.com, October 4, 2006.
• "Boswell Campaign: Congressman Boswell to Address Out-of-State Interest Groups in Campaign," IowaPolitics.com, October 4, 2006.
• Chris Dorsey, "IowaPolitics.com: 3rd CD Candidates Discuss TV Ads in Debate," IowaPolitics.com, October 4, 2006.
• Ben Evans, "Voters getting dizzy from the spinning. Public getting turned off by ad wars in 8th District race," Associated Press (Macon Telegraph), October 5, 2006.
• "Boswell Campaign: Congressman Boswell Tells Lamberti 'Keep Your Word' and Remove 527 Ads," IowaPolitics.com, October 5, 2006.
• "Lamberti Campaign: Lamberti to Boswell: It’s Time to Stop Hiding Behind Negative Ads," IowaPolitics.com, October 5, 2006.
• "Negative campaigning. The same to you, with knobs on. The mid-term mud starts to fly," The Economist (from the print edition), October 5, 2006.
• James Boyce, "Let The Voter Beware," The Huffington Post, October 10, 2006.
• Greg Pierce, "Inside Politics: Still smarting," Washington Times, October 10, 2006.
• Jesse Stanchak, "Erickson Overcomes Late Start in Ore. 5, Has Shot Against Hooley," New York Times, October 11, 2006.
• John Broder, "As Election Nears, Groups Plan Negative Ads," New York Times, October 11, 2006.
• Mike Glover, "Political Storm Settles Over Iowa," Associated Press (Forbes), October 12, 2006.
• Jim Kuhnhenn, "FEC Asked to Tighten Regulations," Associated Press (Washington Post), October 12, 2006.
• Tom Breen, "From Wheeling to West Point — to Washington? Chris Wakim aims to oust Alan Mollohan from Congressional seat," Associated Press (timeswv.com), October 15, 2006.
• Brad Cain, "Oregon House race spurs TV ad blitz," Associated Press (OregonLive.com), October 15, 2006.
• Ben Evans, "Marshall, Barrow take financial edge into final weeks of campaign," Associated Press (Ledger-Enquirer.com), October 16, 2006.
• Kristen Mack, "Builder's $8 million tops GOP donor list. Bob Perry is financing House races nationwide, but not in state," Houston Chronicle, October 17, 2006.
• Chris Barge, "'Swift Boat' ads backer paying for Colo. spot," Rocky Mountain News, October 17, 2006.
• Matthew Daly, "Hooley strikes back against Swift Boat group that targets her," Associated Press (Examiner), October 18, 2006.
• Jim Kuhnhenn, "Independent groups increase advertising," Associated Press (Seattle Post-Intelligencer), October 18, 2006.
• Tim Higgins, "Donor groups 'disgraceful,' McCain says," DesMoinesRegister.com, October 19, 2006.
• James Boyce, "You've Got To Love It When Jack Murtha Helps You Kick Some Ass," The Huffington Post, October 19, 2006.
• Ben Evans, "Outside money, mostly for GOP, floods Georgia congressional races," Associated Press, October 23, 2006.
• Bill Byrd, "Byrd urges SRO crowd to vote Nov. 7. 'They can’t sell that rancid vinegar for wine,' he says of smear campaigns," Times West Virginia, October 24, 2006.

Note: This article was started September 14, 2006.