Revere America

This article is part of the Center for Media & Democracy's spotlight on front groups and corporate spin.

Revere America (RA) is a tax-exempt, Delaware-based lobbying group, or PAC (Political Action Committee), started in April, 2010 by former New York Governor George Pataki for the purpose of pressing to repeal the health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which Pataki described a "horrific" and "costly bungle." Revere America reportedly grew out of another nonprofit, Americans for Responsible Health Care, whose sole funder was Parker Collier.

Donations to the group are not tax deductible.

Pataki left the organization in February, 2011. The new president and CEO of the organization is Marianne R.P. Zuk, an attorney who is listed as an officer or director for several companies owned by the Collier family.

Funding

According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Revere America's primary donor is a woman named Parker Collier, who lives in Naples, Florida. With Ms. Collier's help, the group spent almost $2.3 million on ads attacking Democratic candidates in two states, New York and New Hampshire. Ms. Collier was wealthy in her own right prior to her marriage to Miles Collier, the grandson of Barron Collier, who once owned a large amount of land in southwest Florida. State lawmakers named the second largest county in the state after Collier in 1923. Barron Collier earned his fortune in New York City advertising, but his net worth exploded when he invested his money in Florida real estate, a business in which the family is still involved today. Revere America reportedly grew out of another nonprofit that Parker Collier funded called Americans for Responsible Health Care.

Activities

In April, 2011 Revere America was attempting to get visitors to its website to sign a petition that urges people to oppose "government controlled national health care." The group's petition claims the health care reform Act "significantly jeopardizes jobs, our economy and our children's futures" and "represents an arrogant disregard for the personal freedom of the people of the United States."

By the organization's own admission, it spent millions in 2010 on direct advocacy to advance the repeal of health care reform, running ads in targeted districts. RA sent out 300,000 letters to voters and placed over a million robocalls to help to elect new Representatives and Senators who support repealing the Affordable Care Act. Revere America also claims that it played an "active role" in getting the U.S. House of Representatives to take a symbolic vote in favor of repealing the health care reform Act. The group also ran TV ads against candidates who had voted in favor of the reform bill, including former New York Rep. John Hall, who lost to Rep. Nan Hayworth. The group does not have to reveal its funders.

Controversies

In October, 2010, the New Hampshire Democratic party accused Revere America of illegally coordinating campaign activity with New Hampshire Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta through his media consultants, pointing out that Revere and Guinta shared the same media consulting team so coordinating ad buys is easy even if each group technically pays a different company.

Sourcewatch resources

• Front groups
• Parker Collier

External resources

• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Revere America Report, October 29, 2010. (Comprehensive, referenced report about Revere America, its funding and connection to the Colliers)

Contact

Revere America
2338 Immokalee Road, Suite 416
Naples, FL 34110