Toby Spangler

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This article is part of the Tobacco portal on Sourcewatch funded from 2006 - 2009 by the American Legacy Foundation.

Toby Spangler is a lobbyist with Altria Client Services. He registered as a lobbyist for Altria in Massachusetts in 2009,[1] in Minnesota in 2008,[2] and in Wisconsin (for both Kraft Foods, Inc. and Philip Morris) in 2007[3]

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

Spangler has represented Altria on the corporate ("Private Enterprise") board of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) as of 2011.[4]

About ALEC
ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our ExposedbyCMD.org site.

Background

In 2007, Spangler was the District Director of state government affairs of Altria Corporate Services, Inc., focusing on Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, with an office in Madison, Wisconsin. He lobbied for The Smokeless Tobacco Council, Reynolds America, Time Warner, Tenneco, AT&T and Procter & Gamble and lived in Madison, Wisconsin. He was also on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Grocers Association.[5][6] Other clients have included: Defenders of Property Rights and the Ramhurst Corporation.[7]

In April 1996, Spangler was operating his own consulting firm, Toby Spangler and Associates, when he wrote to Pat Donoho, Senior Vice President of the Tobacco Institute, seeking to fill an employment vacancy in the Indianapolis area. Spangler wrote that his experience included "developing and implementing grass roots lobbying programs at the federal, state and local levels, with special emphasis on coalition building, voter education programs and media relations. Also, extensive experience in monitoring legislative activities as well as regulatory issues."[8][9][10][11]

In the early 1990's, he worked as an RJ Reynolds field coordinator, where 20 percent of this time was spent organizing "smokers rights groups (astroturf groups), 40 percent of his time was spent on planning and implementing "tactical programs" for RJR, and another 20 percent of this time was spent each on coalition organizing and RJR public affairs. His areas of operation were Indiana, Michigan and Nevada.[12][13][14][15]

In his work for the tobacco industry, Spangler also helped to block tax increases on cigarettes.[16]

Sourcewatch resources

External resources

Contact

References

  1. William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Lobbyist Public Search: Altria Client Services Inc. and its Affiliates," Public Records Division - Lobbyist Section, online government database, accessed June 29, 2011
  2. Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, "'Lobby Detail: Spangler, Toby - Registration Number 1117," online government database, accessed June 29, 2011
  3. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Lobbyists licensed in 2007-2008: Spangler, Toby," online government database, accessed June 29, 2011
  4. American Legislative Exchange Council, ALEC Private Enterprise Board, archived organizational website, accessed July 15, 2011
  5. Wisconsin Grocers Association, "Who We Are," organization website, accessed June 29, 2011
  6. Elections Board, Wisconsin State Department of Administration, "Altria Group Inc. Political Action Committee," online government archive, accessed June 29, 2011
  7. Toby J. Spanger Toby J. Spangler Toby Spangler Associates 7323 Thoroughbred Drive, Suite 1-C Letter, April 2, 1996, Tobacco Institute Bates No. TI16540659
  8. Tobacco Institute TO: Regional Vice President FROM: Patrick Donoho, memorandum, 12 pp, Rosswell Park Cancer Institute collection, Bates No. TI28171557-TI28171568
  9. R.J. Reynolds Conference Report Telephone Call to Toby Spangler, Boise R.J. Reynolds Field Person, Report, May 21, 1990, R.J. Reynolds Bates No.TI23801522
  10. James W. Johnson Thank you for your letter Letter to Jose Rodriguez of Las Vegas, Nevada, September 11, 1990, 2 pp. RJR Bates No. 507700575/0576
  11. Perez, R. - Edelman Public Relations Worldwide PHILIP MORRIS 11176 Memo, report. October 25, 1994. Bates No. 2083773985/3999
  12. Tobacco Institute TO: Regional Vice President FROM: Patrick Donoho, memorandum, 12 pp, Rosswell Park Cancer Institute collection, Bates No. TI28171557-TI28171568
  13. R.J. Reynolds Conference Report Telephone Call to Toby Spangler, Boise R.J. Reynolds Field Person, Report, May 21, 1990, R.J. Reynolds Bates No.TI23801522
  14. James W. Johnson Thank you for your letter Letter to Jose Rodriguez of Las Vegas, Nevada, September 11, 1990, 2 pp. RJR Bates No. 507700575/0576
  15. Perez, R. - Edelman Public Relations Worldwide PHILIP MORRIS 11176 Memo, report. October 25, 1994. Bates No. 2083773985/3999
  16. T. Hyde PUBLIC ISSUES UPDATE OCTOBER 25 - OCTOBER 29 Letter. October 29, 1993. Bates No. 515195336/5340