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==Funding==
==Funding==
FreedomWorks is primarily funded by individual donations. According to the media [[watchdog group]] [[Media Matters for America]], FreedomWorks has also received funding from [[Verizon]] and SBC (now [[AT&T]]).<ref>[http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=1497377 Common Cause]</ref> Other FreedomWorks funders have included [[Philip Morris USA|Philip Morris]] and foundations controlled by the conservative Scaife family, according to tax filings and other records.<ref>Dan Eggen and Philip Rucker, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/15/AR2009081502696.html Loose Network of Activists Drives Reform Opposition] ''[[Washington Post]]'', Aug 16 2009</ref><ref>Ed Pilkington, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/18/republicans-internet-barack-obama Republicans steal Barack Obama's internet campaigning tricks] ''[[The Guardian]]'', September 20, 2009</ref> It also receives funding through the sale of insurance policies through which policyholders automatically become members of FreedomWorks.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/22/AR2006072200683.html Washington Post, "With Insurance Policy Comes Membership," July 23, 2006]</ref>
FreedomWorks is primarily funded by individual donations. According to the media [[watchdog group]] [[Media Matters for America]], FreedomWorks has also received funding from [[Verizon]] and SBC (now [[AT&T]]).<ref>[http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=1497377 Common Cause]</ref> Other FreedomWorks funders have included [[Philip Morris USA|Philip Morris]] and foundations controlled by the Scaife family, according to tax filings and other records.<ref>Dan Eggen and Philip Rucker, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/15/AR2009081502696.html Loose Network of Activists Drives Reform Opposition] ''[[Washington Post]]'', Aug 16 2009</ref><ref>Ed Pilkington, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/18/republicans-internet-barack-obama Republicans steal Barack Obama's internet campaigning tricks] ''[[The Guardian]]'', September 20, 2009</ref> It also receives funding through the sale of insurance policies through which policyholders automatically become members of FreedomWorks.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/22/AR2006072200683.html Washington Post, "With Insurance Policy Comes Membership," July 23, 2006]</ref>


FreedomWorks is closely tied to its founder, corporate lobbyist and former Republican Congressman [[Dick Armey]], whose former lobbying firm [[DLA Piper]] from which he resigned in August 2009, represents [[Bristol Myers Squibb]], among other pharmaceutical companies.<ref name="politico1"/><ref>[http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/52559517.html?page=2&c=y Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Democrats getting an earful,” Aug 6 2009]</ref>
FreedomWorks is closely tied to its founder, corporate lobbyist and former Republican Congressman [[Dick Armey]], whose former lobbying firm [[DLA Piper]] from which he resigned in August 2009, represents [[Bristol Myers Squibb]], among other pharmaceutical companies.<ref name="politico1"/><ref>[http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/52559517.html?page=2&c=y Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Democrats getting an earful,” Aug 6 2009]</ref>

Revision as of 10:54, 16 September 2010

FreedomWorks
Formation1984
Legal status501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 527
HeadquartersWashington, DC
Membershipover 1 million[1]
Chairman
Dick Armey
Volunteers600,000 online activists[1]
Websitewww.freedomworks.org
RemarksMatt Kibbe, president[1]

FreedomWorks is a conservative non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., United States. FreedomWorks trains volunteers, assists in campaigns, and encourages them to mobilize, interacting with both fellow citizens and their political representatives. The organization gains its name from one of President George Herbert Walker Bush's State of the Union addresses: "We in this Union enter the last decade of the 20th century thankful for our blessings, steadfast in our purpose, aware of our difficulties, and responsive to our duties at home and around the world. For two centuries, America has served the world as an inspiring example of freedom and democracy. For generations, America has led the struggle to preserve and extend the blessings of liberty. And today, in a rapidly changing world, American leadership is indispensable. Americans know that leadership brings burdens and sacrifices. But we also know why the hopes of humanity turn to us. We are Americans; we have a unique responsibility to do the hard work of freedom. And when we do, freedom works."

History

FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity both originated from a campaign called Citizens for a Sound Economy, which split in two in 2004. CSE was set up by businessman David Koch (Koch Industries), who has also promoted libertarian think tanks (Cato Institute and Reason Foundation).[2] Citizens for a Sound Economy (grassroots machine) merged with Empower America (policy expertise) in 2004 and was renamed FreedomWorks, with Dick Armey, Jack Kemp and C. Boyden Gray serving as co-chairmen, Bill Bennett focusing on school choice as a Senior Fellow, and Matt Kibbe as President and CEO.[3] Empower America was founded in 1993 by William Bennett, former Secretary of HUD Jack Kemp, former Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, and former Representative Vin Weber.[4] In December 2006, Steve Forbes joined the board of directors.[citation needed]

The Koch family foundations were the largest donors to FreedomWorks' parent organization, Citizens for a Sound Economy, contributing nearly $13 million between 1985 and 2005.[5] Since then, FreedomWorks has received no funding from the Koch family or foundations.[6]

FreedomWorks seeks to identify itself with two schools of thought: the Austrian School of economics and public choice theory. Through public choice theory, FreedomWorks legitimizes its mission and models itself after the Austrian School. [citation needed]

President and CEO Matt Kibbe, a former aide to Republican Representative Dan Miller and a former staffer at the Republican National Committee, said that the group "will encourage Republicans -- and Democrats -- to take positions on issues of individual freedom." Armey said that "Ronald Reagan launched a political and intellectual revolution, and the Contract with America expanded it. Today, it’s time for the next wave. We have a rare window to make the big ideas of individual ownership and economic opportunity a political reality for all Americans. That’s the purpose of FreedomWorks."[citation needed]

In 2009, FreedomWorks responded to the growing number of Tea party protests across the United States, and is currently one of several groups active in the "Tea Party" tax protests.[7]

On August 14, 2009, after Armey's leadership of FreedomWorks became a problem to his employer, the lobbying and legal firm of DLA Piper, he was forced to resign from his job there. DLA Piper chairman Francis Burch responded that the firm serves clients “… who support enactment of effective health care reform this year and encourages responsible national debate." It is unknown whether this move will impact Armey's role with FreedomWorks.[8]

For the 2010 Congressional elections, FreedomWorks has endorsed a number of candidates, including Marco Rubio, Pat Toomey, Mike Lee, and Rand Paul.[9]

Freedom Agenda

FreedomWorks employees campaigning for lower taxes in North Carolina.

FreedomWorks calls the political changes that it supports the "Freedom Agenda". According to FreedomWorks, its six core issues are fundamental tax reform, scrapping the federal tax code in favor of a flat tax; Social Security reform to include large personal retirement accounts [PRAs] for individual workers; tort reform to end alleged lawsuit abuse; school choice to increase parental control and competition in education; economic growth to push for allegedly "pro-growth" regulatory and trade policy changes; and welfare reform to emphasize work, personal responsibility, and greater access to capital.[citation needed]

The Freedom Agenda also includes numerous state issues including those on telecommunications, TABOR (taxpayer bill of rights), property rights, and decreasing local taxes. The group opposes network neutrality laws. Specifically, they advocate the right of network carriers to manage the content of their networks.[citation needed]

Funding

FreedomWorks is primarily funded by individual donations. According to the media watchdog group Media Matters for America, FreedomWorks has also received funding from Verizon and SBC (now AT&T).[10] Other FreedomWorks funders have included Philip Morris and foundations controlled by the Scaife family, according to tax filings and other records.[11][12] It also receives funding through the sale of insurance policies through which policyholders automatically become members of FreedomWorks.[13]

FreedomWorks is closely tied to its founder, corporate lobbyist and former Republican Congressman Dick Armey, whose former lobbying firm DLA Piper from which he resigned in August 2009, represents Bristol Myers Squibb, among other pharmaceutical companies.[8][14]

Criticism

Several of FreedomWorks' campaigns have been described as "astroturfing," or projecting the false impression of grassroots organizing.[15][16][17]

References

  1. ^ a b c Clabough, Raven (August 1, 2010). "Beck Closely Examines Tea Party Movement". The New American. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Ed Pilkington, Republicans steal Barack Obama's internet campaigning tricks, The Guardian, September 18, 2009
  3. ^ Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) and Empower America Merge to Form FreedomWorks FreedomWorks press release
  4. ^ Empower America RightWeb, April 17, 2008
  5. ^ Koch Industries denies funding tea parties, but official filings say otherwise, karoli, Crooks and Liars blog, April 10, 2010.
  6. ^ Industries, Koch. "Koch Industries, Inc - ViewPoint". Kochind.com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  7. ^ "The Tea Party Movement: Who's In Charge?"
  8. ^ a b http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26128_Page2.html#ixzz0ODAQyqUy Politico, Armey leaves firm amid health care flap, Aug 14 2009
  9. ^ "A Tea-Party Target List? FreedomWorks Releases Its Races For 2010 - Politics - The Atlantic". Politics.theatlantic.com. 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  10. ^ Common Cause
  11. ^ Dan Eggen and Philip Rucker, Loose Network of Activists Drives Reform Opposition Washington Post, Aug 16 2009
  12. ^ Ed Pilkington, Republicans steal Barack Obama's internet campaigning tricks The Guardian, September 20, 2009
  13. ^ Washington Post, "With Insurance Policy Comes Membership," July 23, 2006
  14. ^ Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Democrats getting an earful,” Aug 6 2009
  15. ^ "Mortgage Bailout Infuriates Tenants (And Steve Forbes)". Wall Street Journal.
  16. ^ Krugman, Paul (April 13, 2009). "Tea Parties Forever". New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  17. ^ ""Big Money Backs Renders' Campaign". NPR.

Information concerning both funding and expenses and a "rating" of this charity may be found at http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=10908

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