American Action Network

The American Action Network (AAN) is a nonprofit, conservative[4][5] issue advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.,[6] aligned to the Republican Party.[7][8] It was established in 2010 by Fred Malek and Norm Coleman as a 501(c)(4) organization.

American Action Network
AbbreviationAAN
FoundedJuly 23, 2009 (2009-07-23)[1]
FounderFred Malek[2]
TypeIssue advocacy
27-0730508[3]
Legal status501(c)(4)[3]
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Coordinates38°53′58.6″N 77°02′27.4″W
Corwin Albert "Corry" Bliss[2]
Norm Coleman[2]
SubsidiariesCongressional Leadership Fund (Super PAC)[3]
Revenue (2017)
$41,875,675[3]
Expenses (2017)$43,996,646[3]
Employees (2016)
20[3]
Volunteers (2016)
10[3]
Websiteamericanactionnetwork.org

The AAN's sister organization, the American Action Forum, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focusing on policy research. The American Action Forum is run by former Congressional Budget Office director Doug Holtz-Eakin.[7] AAN officials also run the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC (independent expenditure PAC) focused on electing a House Republican majority.

History and organization

The American Action Network is an advocacy group, incorporated on July 23, 2009,[1] and founded by Fred Malek, founder of Thayer Capital and former Republican National Committee deputy chairman. The organization says that it was founded to promote and support center right issues, conceived in part to counterbalance the liberal Center for American Progress.[9][10] The organization calls itself an "action tank" or a "think-and-do-tank" and is classified as a 501(c)(4).[10][11]

Former Minnesota senator Norm Coleman was hired in 2010 as its chief executive officer.[12] He now serves as chairman of the board of directors[9][10] and also serves on the board of directors of the American Action Forum, a sister organization.[13] In 2011, Brian Walsh, a former political director at the National Republican Congressional Committee, was hired as the group's president, replacing Rob Collins, the former chief of staff to Eric Cantor.[14][15] Walsh would serve as President of American Action Network until January 2015. The organization's board members include Fred Malek, Vin Weber, Mel Martinez and Thomas M. Reynolds.[9] In January 2015, then Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Mike Shields stepped down in his role with the Republican National Committee to become President of American Action Network.[16] In December 2016, Corwin Albert "Corry" Bliss was announced as the new executive director of American Action Network.[17][18]

Funding and tax status

Donations to the American Action Network are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions due to its 501(c)(4) status, and the organization is not required to disclose the source of donations. Tax records show the group raised nearly $27.5 million between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, including one $7 million donation.[19] Critics of the American Action Network have argued that the organization's advertisements contravene its requirements under its 501(c)(4) status. Malek has stated in response that such claims are "baseless".[20][21]

The American Action Forum is a partner organization with the American Action Network, operating as a separate 501(c)(3) organization.[10] The focus of the Action Forum is policy research.[9][22] Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the former director of the Congressional Budget Office, serves as its president.[10][13]

Members of the American Action Network also run the Congressional Leadership Fund Super PAC which was formed in October 2011 for the purpose of supporting Republican candidates in House races. The organization aims to maintain the Republican House majority.[23] The group held an event in November 2011 that included appearances from Speaker of the House John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and representative Pete Sessions from Texas.[24] Board members include Fred Malek, Norm Coleman, Brian Walsh and former representative Tom Reynolds[25]

In January 2011, the American Action Network created the Hispanic Leadership Network to bring more Hispanics to the Republican Party.[26] According to the organization's website, the Hispanic Leadership Network is a "sustained effort to engage the Hispanic Community on center right issues". Key members include executive director Jennifer Korn, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, former United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and former United States Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez.[27]

Activities

According to the American Action Network website, the organization's purpose is to "create, encourage and promote center-right policies."[6] It aims to accomplish this through nationwide issue advocacy campaigns using print and television advertisements, direct mail, grassroots organizing, robocalls, online advertising and online videos.[28][29]

In May 2011 Campaigns and Elections reported that the American Action Network spent more than $25 million in the 2010 election cycle.[14] According to USA Today the organization spent $17 million on issue advocacy and grassroots organizing and $5.5 million on candidates and political activities.[19] In the 2010 elections the group funded political advertisements in 22 congressional districts nationwide including Colorado, Connecticut, South Dakota, Utah, Washington state and Wisconsin.[30][12][31][32]

In July 2012 Politico reported that the American Action Network planned to spend a minimum of $10 million to establish "a legislation-focused ground game in a number of states". The Politico article also called the American Action Network "one of the key outside forces on the right".[33]

In July 2013 Politico reported that the group has spent more than $750,000 in ad buys on promoting the Gang of Eight immigration bill S.744.[34]

On November 10, 2015 the group ran an ad during a Republican debate, arguing that the newly established Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was "designed to interfere with your personal financial decisions", and called upon viewers to ask Congress to shut down the CFPB "before they deny you". The ad was criticized by Senator Elizabeth Warren, who had advocated for the CFPB's creation and later served as its head before running for elected office. Senator Warren felt that it made her look like a "Commie dictator", and stated that "Thousands of dollars on a TV ad is nothing compared to the money the big banks save if their GOP buddies go after the CFPB."[35]

On March 24, 2017 sports blog Deadspin reported that the group had been running local advertising in selected markets congratulating Republican members of Congress for helping pass a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, despite the fact that the bill had been pulled earlier in the day by Speaker Paul Ryan due to dwindling support among Republicans. AAN stated to Deadspin that "Conservatives in and out of Congress continue to believe Obamacare has failed and will continue to fight for patient-centered reforms. Therefore, the claims in the ad remain true in spite of [these events]."[36][37]

On February 25, 2019 the group published the article The Green New Deal: Scope, Scale, and Implications,[38] showing detailed calculations estimating that the Green New Deal would cost at "least $50 trillion and possibly in excess of $90 trillion" by 2029. The article, however, did not consider any costs and damages resulting from inaction in tackling global warming and failed to discuss the proposal's crucial interconnections (e.g. those between guaranteed employment and housing or food security being guaranteed by said employment).[39]

In 2022, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington sued the Federal Election Commission for not pursuing allegations that AAN was required to publicly disclose its donors.[40] In September 2023, the group announced that it would run $2 million worth of advertisements in 14 districts and Washington, D.C., claiming that Medicare benefits to older citizens were being cut.[41]

References
  1. "American Action Network, Inc." Division of Corporations. Delaware Department of State. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  2. "About". American Action Network. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  3. "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". American Action Network. Guidestar. June 30, 2017.
  4. Ben Casselman, Meet the Pro-Trade, Pro-Immigration Economist Running for Congress. As a Republican. In Ohio., New York Times (May 6, 2018).
  5. Patricia Cohen, Who Gains From the Tax Plan? Economists Face Off, New York Times (December 1, 2017).
  6. "About". American Action Network. Retrieved 3 Mar 2015.
  7. Ari Natter, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal Could Cost $93 Trillion, Group Says, Bloomberg News (February 25, 2019).
  8. Abby Livingston, GOP Outside Group Makes Issue Ad Buy on Fiscal Cliff, Roll Call (December 11, 2012).
  9. Cillizza, Chris (15 February 2010). "Here's one Democratic idea the Republicans are adopting". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  10. Calmes, Jackie (4 February 2010). "Emerging G.O.P. Group to Promote Conservative Ideas". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  11. Abramson, Jill (17 October 2010). "Return of the Secret Donors". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  12. Brunner, Jim (13 July 2010). "Conservative group runs 'tennis shoes' ad against Murray". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  13. Dumain, Emma; Kim, Anne L. (26 February 2010). "People on the Move". Congressional Quarterly Today. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  14. "Former NRCC Political Director Takes Over at American Action Network". Campaigns & Elections. May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  15. Coyner, Kristin (17 April 2011). "Politics: Walsh". Congressional Quarterly Weekly. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  16. "Veteran operative Mike Shields is leaving RNC to helm congressional super PAC". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  17. "Corry Bliss to lead American Action Network and Congressional Leadership Fund". POLITICO. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  18. "AAN - Fundraising - 2016". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2016-05-18.
  19. Schouten, Fredreka (16 May 2012). "Conservative group gets anonymous $7M". USA Today. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  20. Farnam, T.W.; Eggen, Dan (10 March 2011). "Lenient IRS rules may help groups shield campaign donors' identities". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  21. Confessore, Nicholas (28 September 2011). "Watchdogs Call Out 4 Nonprofits as Too Political for Tax Exemption". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  22. Horowitz, Jason (25 October 2010). "Money makes his world go round". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  23. Allen, Mike; Mak, Tim (13 October 2011). "New GOP Super PAC for House races". Politico. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  24. Confessore, Nicholas (14 October 2011). "New Super PAC Forming To Back G.O.P. Majority". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  25. "About". congressionalleadershipfund.org. Congressional Leadership Fund. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  26. Wides-Munoz, Laura (13 January 2012). "Jeb Bush guides Republican outreach to Latinos". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  27. "About HLN". hispanicleadershipnetwork.org. Hispanic Leadership Network. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  28. Conston, Dan (9 July 2012). "AAN Releases Web Videos 'Repeal'". American Action Network. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  29. "Press Release: American Action Network Launches Advertising Campaign Supporting Senator Hatch's Fight to Balance the Budget" (Press release). American Action Network. 28 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-10-28. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  30. Cillizza, Chris (28 November 2011). "Afternoon Fix: Maloney to run against Tomblin again". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  31. Cillizza, Chris (3 September 2010). "RGA drops $2 million on ads in Florida". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  32. Kurtzleben, Danielle (21 October 2010). "House Party Committees Top List of Outside Spenders". U.S. News & World Report.
  33. Haberman, Maggie (8 July 2012). "American Action Network launches $10 million effort in 'orphan states'". Politico. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  34. "New ad for immigration reform". Politico.
  35. "Elizabeth Warren goes off on the ad that made her look 'like a Commie dictator'". Boston.com. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  36. "TV ads prematurely thank congressmen for repealing Obamacare". Ajc. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  37. "Basketball Fans Treated To Ads Congratulating Republicans For Repealing Obamacare". Screengrabber (Deadspin). Gizmodo Media Group. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  38. "The Green New Deal: Scope, Scale, and Implications".
  39. "American Action Network makes $100,000 digital ad buy". New Jersey Globe. 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  40. "CREW sues FEC over American Action Network complaint". CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  41. Israel, Josh. "Dark money group targets House Democrats with false claims that Biden will cut Medicare". American Independent.
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