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The Center for Competitive Politics changed their name to the Institute for Free Speech in October of 2017.<ref>Emma Leathle [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/congress-holds-hearings-on-online-political-ads_us_59f8d71fe4b0b7f0915f6273 Congress Holds Hearings On Online Political Ads] Center for Responsive Politics and Huff Po, Oct. 31, 2018</ref>
==Opposing the Disclose Act==
The DISCLOSE Act would require corporations to publicly disclose contributions to organizations and trade associations that might make expenditures for [[Advertising|campaign ads]]. The bill was introduced in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Citizens United case allowing corporate spending in campaigns. Advocates of stricter campaign finance laws say that the public has a right to know exactly who is funding political ads.<ref>Susan Crabtree, "[http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1179:the-hill-supreme-court-wont-hear-challenge-on-campaign-disclosure-11-1-2010&catid=64&Itemid=62 Supreme Court won't hear challenge on campaign disclosure]", The Campaign Legal Center, November 1, 2010.</ref>
The Center for Competitive Politics and other groups including [[Americans for Tax Reform]], The [[American Conservative Union]], CatholicVote.org, and [[Citizens Against Government Waste]] argue that provisions in the DISCLOSE ACT go beyond disclosure to actually prohibit speech, and sent a letter to Congress calling the bill "an unequivocal ban on free speech, masquerading as an exercise in accountability."<ref>David A. Patten, "[http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/gop-disclose-act-democrats/2010/06/14/id/361978 GOP Makes Last-Minute Bid to Derail 'Disclose' Act]", ''NewsMax.com'', June 14, 2010.</ref>
In its 2006 annual return to the Internal Revenue Service, the CCP states that it had total revenue of $373,571 with expenses of $284,118. It listed its 2005 income as having been $251,005.<ref name=2006IRS">Center for Competitive Politics, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/203/676/2006-203676886-03c16712-9.pdf "2006 IRS Return"], Guidestar, August 2007, page 1.</ref> It reported income of $820,851 in 2007 and $1,425,502 in 2008. <ref name=2008IRS">Center for Competitive Politics, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments//2008/203/676/2008-203676886-054ff3f9-9.pdf "2008 IRS Return"], Guidestar.</ref> For 2008, ''Media Matters'' lists the following funders:<ref>[http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Center_for_Competitive_Politics/funders Center for Competitive Politics], ''Media Matters'', accessed November 2010.</ref>*[[Castle Rock Foundation]] ($25,000), founded with an endowment from the [[Adolph Coors Foundation]]*[[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]] ($20,000) Lee Fang, writing at the blog "Think Progress," has claimed that Center is a "front group" of libertarian activist [[Howie Rich]], which the Center has denied.<ref>Center for Competitive Politics [http://www.campaignfreedom.org/newsroom/detail/lies-on-disclose-from-the-center-for-american-progress "Press Release"] Center for Competitive Politics, May 3, 2010.</ref> The Center for Competitive Politics, along with groups such as the [[Cato Institute]] and the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]], worked in favor of the Supreme Court decision [[Citizens United]] v. Federal Election Commission. The groups filed amicus briefs to the Court.<ref>Lee Feng, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20100503023551/http://thinkprogress.org/2010/05/01/koch-rich-donohue/ Secretive Right-Wing Plutocrats Use Front Groups To Attack New Campaign Finance Disclosure Bill]", ''Archive.org website', August 31, 2017.</ref> ==Research== The CCP releases regular research studies on the role of money in US elections. This research has been criticized by groups such as the [[Brennan Center for Justice]], which generally takes the opposite side from the CCP on questions of campaign finance and corporate speech. The Brennan Center argues that the CCP's research is plagued by methodological flaws and inappropriate conclusions drawn from undisclosed data points.<ref>MacCleery, Laura, [http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/ccp_survey_debunker/ "CCP Survey Debunker"], Brennan Center for Justice website, accessed February 2009.</ref> CCP's original research reports, as well as copies of legal briefs, legislative testimony, and commentary published by the organization, are available through the organization's website. ==Past Litigation==
'''===Staff''' ===As of May 2022:<ref>Center Institute for Competitive PoliticsFree Speech, [httphttps://www.campaignfreedomifs.org/about/ifs-staff/ Staff], ''Center Institute for Competitive Politics websiteFree Speech'', Accessed August 31May 4, 20172022.</ref> As of August 2017:
* Scott Blackburn, Senior Research Analyst
*Susan Bradley, Office Manager
*Alex Kroll, Director of Development
*Luke Wachob, Senior Policy Analyst
*Eric Wang, Senior Fellow
*Owen Yeates, Staff Attorney
'''===Board of Directors''' <ref>Center for Competitive Politics, [http://www.campaignfreedom.org/about/board-of-directors/ Board of Directors], ''Center for Competitive Politics website'', Accessed August 31, 2017.</ref>===
'''===Board of Academic Advisors''' '''Board of Directors''' <ref>Center for Competitive Politics, [http://www.campaignfreedom.org/about/academic-advisors/ Board of Academic Advisors], ''Center for Competitive Politics website'', Accessed August 31, 2017.</ref>===
Former Personnel <ref>Center for Competitive Politics, [https://web.archive.org/web/20090106185553/http://www.campaignfreedom.org/about_ccp/pageID.42/default.asp "CCP Staff"], ''Archive.org website'', Accessed August 31, 2017.</ref>:
* [[Bradley A. Smith]], Chairman and Founder
* [[David Keating]], President
* [[Allen Dickerson]], Legal Director
* [[Zac Morgan]], Staff Attorney
* [[Tyler Martinez]], Staff Attorney
* [[Anna Mackin]], Staff Attorney
* [[Eric Wang]], Senior Fellow
* [[Matt Neese]], Director of External Relations
* [[Mathew McIntyre]], External Relations Associate.
* [[Joe Trotter]], Media Manager
* [[Luke Wachob]], Policy Analyst
* [[Julie Drinkard]], External Affairs Director
* [[Susan Bradley]], Office Manager
Employment Identification Number (EIN): 20-3676886Institute for Speech<br>
===External Articles===
*Craig Aaron, "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-aaron/fairness-doctrine-secret_b_156227.html Fairness Doctrine: Secret Republican Agenda Exposed!]", ''The Huffington Post'', January 8, 2009.
*Peter Overby, "[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128619101 In Congress, A Showdown Over Campaign Money]", ''NPR'', July 20, 2010.
*Dan Eggen, "[http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/08/16-2 Special-Interest Spending Surges in State Supreme Court Campaigns]", ''Common Dreams/The Washington Post'', August 16, 2010.
*Eric Lichtblau, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/politics/16donate.html Long Battle of Foes of Campaign Finance Rules Shifts Landscape]" ''New York Times,'' Oct. 15, 2010.
no edit summary
The Institute for Free Speech 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: Virginia], ''State Policy Network'', Accessed August 31, 2017.</ref>
The Center for Competitive Politics changed their name to the Institute for Free Speech in October of 2017.<ref>Emma Leathle [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/congress-holds-hearings-on-online-political-ads_us_59f8d71fe4b0b7f0915f6273 Congress Holds Hearings On Online Political Ads] Center for Responsive Politics and Huff Po, Oct. 31, 2018</ref>
__TOC__
==News and Controversies==
===Report Calls IFS a "Front Group" of Libertarian Activist Howie Rich===
Lee Fang, writing at the blog "Think Progress," has claimed that Center is a "front group" of libertarian activist [[Howie Rich]], which the Center has denied.<ref>Center for Competitive Politics [http://www.campaignfreedom.org/newsroom/detail/lies-on-disclose-from-the-center-for-american-progress "Press Release"] Center for Competitive Politics, May 3, 2010.</ref> The Center for Competitive Politics, along with groups such as the [[Cato Institute]] and the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]], worked in favor of the Supreme Court decision [[Citizens United]] v. Federal Election Commission. The groups filed amicus briefs to the Court.<ref>Lee Fang, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20100503023551/http://thinkprogress.org/2010/05/01/koch-rich-donohue/ Secretive Right-Wing Plutocrats Use Front Groups To Attack New Campaign Finance Disclosure Bill]", ''Archive.org website', August 31, 2017.</ref>
===Opposing the Disclose Act===
The DISCLOSE Act would require corporations to publicly disclose contributions to organizations and trade associations that might make expenditures for [[Advertising|campaign ads]]. The bill was introduced in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Citizens United case allowing corporate spending in campaigns. Advocates of stricter campaign finance laws say that the public has a right to know exactly who is funding political ads.<ref>Susan Crabtree, "[http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1179:the-hill-supreme-court-wont-hear-challenge-on-campaign-disclosure-11-1-2010&catid=64&Itemid=62 Supreme Court won't hear challenge on campaign disclosure]", The Campaign Legal Center, November 1, 2010.</ref>
The Center for Competitive Politics and other groups including [[Americans for Tax Reform]], The [[American Conservative Union]], CatholicVote.org, and [[Citizens Against Government Waste]] argue that provisions in the DISCLOSE ACT go beyond disclosure to actually prohibit speech, and sent a letter to Congress calling the bill "an unequivocal ban on free speech, masquerading as an exercise in accountability."<ref>David A. Patten, "[http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/gop-disclose-act-democrats/2010/06/14/id/361978 GOP Makes Last-Minute Bid to Derail 'Disclose' Act]", ''NewsMax.com'', June 14, 2010.</ref> ==Overview=Questionable Research Methods=== The CCP releases regular research studies on the role of money in US elections. This research has been criticized by groups such as the [[Brennan Center for Justice]], which generally takes the opposite side from the CCP on questions of campaign finance and corporate speech. The Brennan Center argues that the CCP's research is plagued by methodological flaws and inappropriate conclusions drawn from undisclosed data points.<ref>MacCleery, Laura, [http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/ccp_survey_debunker/ "CCP Survey Debunker"], Brennan Center for Justice website, accessed February 2009.</ref> CCP's original research reports, as well as copies of legal briefs, legislative testimony, and commentary published by the organization, are available through the organization's website. ===Background on Founding of IFS===
In August 2008, Jeanne Cummings of ''Politico'' wrote, 'Encouraged by the U.S. Supreme Court, conservatives are launching a wholesale legal assault on campaign finance laws. And among the leaders is a man once charged with enforcing those laws: former Federal Election Commission Chairman Bradley Smith. His goals are big. He doesn't want to just scale back the laws; he wants to pretty much wipe them out.'
Bradley Smith opened the Center for Competitive Politics to build a case against the regulatory system that limits individual donations to candidates, reins in the role of outside groups, and bans union and corporate contributions to political parties. With financial support that came largely from individuals he declines to name, Smith opened the Center for Competitive Politics a year later to begin challenging the current campaign finance system in both federal court and the court of public opinion. "What the Center for Competitive Politics can do and is trying to do is to bring the right kind of cases before the court," Hasen said, so Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] and his new coalition of conservatives can "knock them out of the park."'<ref>Jeanne Cummings, "[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12460.html Conservatives plot on campaign finance]", ''Politico'', August 12, 2008.</ref>
==Ties to the State Policy Network==
{{about_ALEC}}
==Funding==
According to the Center for Competitive Politics (CCP), "In order to maintain its independence, the Center for Competitive Politics accepts no government funding. We receive funding from individuals and foundations. Approximately five percent of CCP’s funding comes from for-profit corporations. CCP is a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to CCP are tax deductible under the law." <ref>Center for Competitive Politics, [http://www.campaignfreedom.org/about/ How CCP Is Funded], ''CCP website'', Accessed August 31, 2017.</ref>
The Institute for Free Speech characterizes their previous legislative battles in the following way on their website:
==Core Financials==
'''<big>2020</big>''' <ref>Institute for Free Speech, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21867078-institute-for-free-speech-2020-990 2020 IRS 990 Filing], ''IFS'', October 18, 2021. </ref>
*Total Revenue: $3,293,250
*Total Expenses: $2,453,045
*Net Assets: $4,887,237
'''<big>2019</big>''' <ref>Institute for Free Speech, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21867091-institute-for-free-speech-2019-990 2019 IRS 990 Filing], ''IFS'', November 2, 2020. </ref>
*Total Revenue: $2,564,214
*Total Expenses: $2,302,467
*Net Assets: $4,047,032
'''<big>2018</big>''' <ref>Institute for Free Speech, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21867087-institute-for-free-speech-2018-990 2018 IRS 990 Filing], ''IFS'', August 13, 2019. </ref>
*Total Revenue: $2,646,991
*Total Expenses: $2,106,292
*Net Assets: $3,780,149
'''<big>2017</big>''' <ref>Institute for Free Speech, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21867083-institute-for-free-speech-2017-990 2017 IRS 990 Filing], ''IFS'', October 5, 2018. </ref>
*Total Revenue: $2,433,660
*Total Expenses: $1,939,035
*Net Assets: $3,239,450
'''<big>2016</big>''' <ref>Institute for Free Speech, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21867094-institute-for-free-speech-2016-990 2016 IRS 990 Filing], ''IFS'', October 18, 2017. </ref>
*Total Revenue: $2,154,786
*Total Expenses: $1,815,747
*Net Assets: $2,744,825
'''<big>2015</big>''' <ref name="Form 990PF">ProPublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/203676886 Center for Competitive Politics], ''ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer'', Accessed August 31, 2017. </ref>
==Personnel==
*Bradley A. Smith, Chairman and Founder
*[[David Keating]], President
*Alan Gura, Vice President for Litigation
*Owen Yeates, Senior Attorney and Deputy Vice President for Litigation
*Scott Blackburn, Research Director
*Alex Kroll, Director of Development
*Luke Wachob, Communications Director
*Don Daugherty, Senior Attorney
*Del Kolde, Senior Attorney
*Martha Astor, Attorney
*Ryan Morrison, Attorney
*Alex Baiocco, Policy Analyst
*Susan Bradley, Office Manager
*Tiffany Donnelly, Media Manager
*Glynis Gilio, First Amendment Fellow
*Stacy Hanson, First Amendment Fellow
*Nathan Maxwell, Communications Fellow
*Mike Columbo, Senior Fellow
*Parker Douglas, Senior Fellow
*Gary Lawkowski, Senior Fellow
*George Scoville, Adjunct Fellow
*Eric Wang, Senior Fellow
'''Former Staff'''
*Allen Dickerson, Legal Director
*Matt Nese, Director of External Relations
*Joe Albanese, Research Fellow
*Alex Baiocco, Communications Fellow
*Alex Cordell, Research Fellow
*Tyler Martinez, Staff Attorney
*Zac Morgan, Staff Attorney
As of August 2017May 4, 2022:<ref>Institute for Free Speech, [https://www.ifs.org/ifs-staff/ Board of Directors], ''Institute for Free Speech'', Accessed May 4, 2022.</ref>
*Hunter Bates, Partner, Akin Gump
*Edward H. Crane, Founder and President Emeritus, [[Cato Institute]]*[[Cleta Mitchell]], Partner, Foley & Lardner LLPSenior Legal Fellow and Chair of the Election Integrity Network at the [[Conservative Partnership Institute]]
*Stephen Modzelewski, Managing Member, Maple Engine LLC
*[[Eric O’Keefe]], Chairman of the Board, Citizens for Self-Governance
*John Snider, CPA-Retired, Treasurer
As of August 2017May 2022:<ref>Institute for Free Speech, [https://www.ifs.org/ifs-staff/ Board of Academic Advisors], ''Institute for Free Speech'', Accessed May 4, 2022.</ref>
*[[Stephen Ansolabehere]], Professor of Government & Political Science, Harvard University
*[[Lillian R. BeVier]], John S. Shannon Distinguished Professor of Law University of Virginia School of Law
*[[John Samples]], Director, Center for Representative Government, Cato Institute
*''In Memoriam'', [[Herbert E. Alexander]], Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Southern California; Director, Citizens Research Foundation. (In memoriam).
==Contact Details==
124 S. West Street, Suite 201<br>
Alexandria, VA 22314<br>
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforcompetitivepolitics<br>
Twitter: https://twitter.com/campaignfreedom<br>
Employment Identification Number (EIN): 20-3676886
==Articles and Resources==
===IRS Form 990 Filings===
<div class="docframe">
<p>2020</p>
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<p>2019</p>
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<div class="docframe">
<p>2018</p>
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<p>2017</p>
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<p>2016</p>
<p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21867094-institute-for-free-speech-2016-990|width=350|height=250}}</p>
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{{Clear}}
===Articles===
*Alex Kotch and David Armiak, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/03/24/right-wing-groups-unite-in-campaign-against-bill-to-improve-u-s-democracy/ Right-Wing Groups Unite in Campaign Against Bill to Improve U.S. Democracy], ''ExposedbyCMD'', March 24, 2021.
*Craig Aaron, "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-aaron/fairness-doctrine-secret_b_156227.html Fairness Doctrine: Secret Republican Agenda Exposed!]", ''The Huffington Post'', January 8, 2009.
*Peter Overby, "[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128619101 In Congress, A Showdown Over Campaign Money]", ''NPR'', July 20, 2010.
*Dan Eggen, "[http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/08/16-2 Special-Interest Spending Surges in State Supreme Court Campaigns]", ''Common Dreams/The Washington Post'', August 16, 2010.
*Eric Lichtblau, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/politics/16donate.html Long Battle of Foes of Campaign Finance Rules Shifts Landscape]" ''New York Times,'' Oct. 15, 2010.
===Related SourceWatch Articles===
*[[Campaign finance (U.S.)]]
*[[Front groups]]
*[[McCain-Feingold]]
===References===
