Seniors/USANext60

<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">8/18 new cat for ppl </h1><h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">nb: retired is a big cat in pol $ but not broken down? aarp?
</h1><div>this is generic cat for senior astroturf and ppl targeting seniors see 60 plus</div><div>=</div><div>aN 619</div><div>
</div><div><div>1 in 12 senior citizens didn’t have enough food in 2017 — and the Trump administration is threatening to make it worse</div><div>Joan McCarter / Daily Kos</div><div>
</div><div>just saying</div></div><div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">=</div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2018/01/10/21463/telemarketer-conservative-causes-pays-250000-fine" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">https://www.publicintegrity.org/2018/01/10/21463/telemarketer-conservative-causes-pays-250000-fine</a><div class="main-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"><div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"><div class="container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; border: 0px; width: 1280px;"><div class="field-item even first" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"><div class="body-copy-inner" itemprop="articleBody" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 410px 0px 250px; border: 0px; line-height: 28px; width: 1280px;">A telemarketing company that fundraises for politicians, charities and major corporations has <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4346406-FTC-InfoCision.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">settled a complaint</a> filed by the Federal Trade Commission over allegedly “false and misleading” tactics.Akron, Ohio-based InfoCision Inc., whose clients have included a pro-President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/01/31/20642/meet-true-source-those-viral-donald-trump-tv-ads" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">political action committee</a>, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson’s <a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/03/03/19393/ben-carsons-small-dollar-donors-could-keep-yielding-big-money" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">2016 presidential committee</a> and groups connected to the Tea Party, today agreed to pay $250,000 to settle a civil complaint brought by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the Federal Trade Commission.During the past five years, federal political committees have paid InfoCision at least $24.8 million, a <a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">Center for Public Integrity</a> analysis of Federal Election Commission records indicates.The federal government accused InfoCision’s telemarketers of misleading donors by telling them they weren’t calling to collect donations when, in fact, they were —  a violation of the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule.“Consumers in the United States have suffered and will suffer injury as a result of Defendant’s violations,” the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4346406-FTC-InfoCision.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">wrote</a> to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.Absent some penalty, the government agencies argue, InfoCision “is likely to continue to injure consumers and harm the public interest.”Steve Brubaker, chief of staff for InfoCision, said the company disputes the allegations but agreed to settle the case to avoid a lengthy court battle.“We feel strongly the investigation had no merit whatsoever,” Brubaker said. “The agency never produced a single consumer complaint, or even suggested that consumers actually had been confused.”InfoCision has come under fire in the past for its telemarketing practices. Former employees have alleged the company <a href="https://www.ohio.com/akron/business/former-plaintiffs-discuss-infocision-s-tactics-policies" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">preys on elderly people</a>, and <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/infocision-charity-scam_n_1871328.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">an investigation</a> by Bloomberg Markets Magazine found InfoCision was keeping most of the money it was raising on behalf of the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and other charities.</div></div></div><div class="container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; border: 0px; width: 1280px;"><div class="field-item odd" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"><aside class="relation packaged" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">
</aside><div class="body-copy-inner" itemprop="articleBody" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 410px 0px 250px; border: 0px; line-height: 28px; width: 1280px;">InfoCision’s settlement document with the Department of Justice, filed today in federal court, doesn’t include details about which charities InfoCision had been calling on behalf of when it allegedly misled donors. Mitchell J. Katz, a spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission, said that information isn’t public.Political committees that have hired InfoCision include Carson America, the campaign committee representing former presidential candidate Ben Carson, which paid $5.2 million. A Carson representative could not immediately be reached.A pro-Trump committee, Great America PAC, has spent $435,600 on InfoCision since 2016, according to FEC filings.The Tea Party Majority Fund has spent about $2.2 million on InfoCision since 2013, and the Tea Party Leadership Fund paid the company about $433,100 during the same time period.Conservative-leaning Citizens United Political Victory Fund, which is led by Trump’s former deputy campaign manager David Bossie, has paid InfoCision $2.1 million since 2013.The Stop Hillary PAC, which morphed into the Committee to Defend the President, also used InfoCision to raise funds in 2014.Dan Backer, an attorney and political consultant who represents numerous conservative political committees including Committee to Defend the President and Great America PAC, defended InfoCision as having a “sterling reputation for integrity.”“This is just another a case of government bullying by unaccountable bureaucrats,” Backer said. “It’s outrageous, and exactly why Americans across the board are disgusted with Washington.”</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div></div><div>
</div><div><div class="story-teaser" style="margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 22.5px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A seniors group that claims to be grassroots but has ties to Republicans and members of the pharmaceutical industry has been handing out awards to vulnerable Republicans for standing up for senior citizens.</div><div class="story-body" style="line-height: 22.5px;"><a href="http://www.retiresafe.org/AboutUs.aspx" style="text-decoration: none;">RetireSafe.org</a> purports to be "a grassroots organization that advocates and educates on behalf of America's seniors on issues regarding Social Security, Medicare, health and financial well being."But according to a <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_67/Seniors_Groups_Close_Ties_to_GOP_Industry-210650-1.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Roll Call </a>report this week, the group's board has close ties to Republicans, and it receives a chunk of its financing from the pharmaceutical industry.RetireSafe's vice president, Al Cors Jr., for example, was the VP for government affairs at the National Taxpayers Union and has lobbied for the NRA. Board member Jim Marquez was general counsel for the Transportation Department for Ronald Reagan, and board member Charles Partridge was an adviser for George W. Bush's transition team.And in 2004, RetireSafe <a href="http://w3.nexis.com/new/search/homesubmitForm.do" style="text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">launched</a> (sub. req.) a campaign, which was carried out by the Republican lobby and public relations firm DCI Group, to pay almost $4000 to healthcare consultants in exchange for their support of the Medicare prescription drug program called Part D.From Janie Lorber at Roll Call:<blockquote style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">PhRMA has long supported RetireSafe, contributing $88,000 to the organization during the past three years, according to federal filings. While that is small change from PhRMA's standpoint, it is a sizable contribution compared with RetireSafe's more modest budget. PhRMA gives away millions of dollars in charitable grants every year. In 2010, for example, PhRMA gave $4.5 million to the American Action Network -- a conservative political organization -- and $1.2 million to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.</blockquote>"Historically, RetireSafe receives less than 10 percent of its revenue from high-dollar donors," said Thair Phillips, president of RetireSafe, told Roll Call."Right-wing front groups like RetireSafe can spend little money but still impact races by just having Orwellian-sounding names and slick mailers that try to dupe seniors into supporting positions that run counter to their best interests," former DCCC spokesman Doug Thornell said.This year, the group has given out honors to 20 Republicans (and, Phillips pointed out, 11 Democrats), like Rep. Steve King (R-IA), who <a href="http://steveking.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4304:king-receives-standing-up-for-americas-seniors-award&catid=71:press-releases&Itemid=300164" style="text-decoration: none;">boasted</a> in a press release in October about receiving the "Standing Up for America's Seniors" award for his "ongoing commitment to the interests of seniors." Also honored recently: Rep. <a href="http://w3.nexis.com/new/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T13425852299&format=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T13425860104&cisb=22_T13425860103&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=299219&docNo=11" style="text-decoration: none;">Allen West</a> (R-FL), <a href="http://www.gjsentinel.com/special_sections/articles/tiptons_bill_wins_kudos_from_g" style="text-decoration: none;">Rep. Scott Tipton</a> (R-CO),<a href="http://coffman.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=530&Itemid=10" style="text-decoration: none;">Rep. Mike Coffman</a> (R-CO), and <a href="http://www.nhinsider.com/press-releases/2011/10/18/us-rep-frank-guinta-to-receive-2011-standing-up-for-americas.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Rep. Frank Guinta</a> (R-NH).</div></div><div>=</div><div>see also AC GPS:  The political director of American Crossroads is Carl Forti, a veteran operative specializing in running independent expenditure campaigns. Forti ran an $80 million operation at the NRCC in 2006. The Crossroads family that Forti runs has spent $26 million on independent expenditures so far this cycle.</div>Forti also runs the communications strategy firm Black Rock Group with Michael Dubke. Dubke also operates the organization Crossroads Media, which is not directly associated with the Crossroads family. Crossroads Media, however, is the media company for the Crossroads family and has received $20.89 million from American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS for media and advertising services.Dubke is also connected to another big independent expenditure operator on the Republican side, Americans for Job Security. Dubke helped found Americans for Job Security and served as executive director and then president from 1997 to 2007. Americans for Job Security operates out of the same office as Crossroads Media and the Black Rock Groupand is currently run by Stephen DeMaura, the 25-year old former executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party. DeMaura is the only employee of the group. Crossroads Media has received $2.95 million from Americans for Job Security for media services in the 2010 midterms. This group has spent $4.39 million on independent expenditures so far this election.Forti, the political director for the Crossroads family, also handles the PR and media profile of The 60-Plus Association. The 60-Plus Association was founded in 1992 as a conservative counter to a perceived liberal bias in the group senior citizen advocacy group AARP. So far, The 60-Plus Association has spent more than $5 million on independent expenditures. <a href="http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/10/21/hydra-of-independent-groups-fuels-republican-side/">http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/10/21/hydra-of-independent-groups-fuels-republican-side/</a> <div></div><h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">USANext/ 60 plus</h1><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C90011685&cycle=2012">http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C90011685&cycle=2012</a> 4.6 milTotal Independent Expenditures: $4,615,892
     For Democrats: $0
     Against Democrats: $1,424,605
     For Republicans: $3,191,287
     Against Republicans: $0
Total Electioneering Communications: $0
does not disclose by irs says<table class="tablesorter" id="990"><tbody><tr class="rowTint"><td>Center to Protect Patient Rights <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/356765-center-to-protect-patients-rights.html"><img src="http://assets.opensecrets.org/resources/img/text-file-icon.png" style="vertical-align:middle;" /></a></td><td class="number">11/13/11</td><td class="number">$8,990,000</td><td>60 Plus Assn (c4)</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Alliance for America's Future <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/373092-alliance-for-americas-future.html"><img src="http://assets.opensecrets.org/resources/img/text-file-icon.png" style="vertical-align:middle;" /></a></td><td class="number">10/01/11</td><td class="number">$50,000</td><td>60 Plus Assn (c4)</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>TC4 Trust <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/494931-tc4-2011.html"><img src="http://assets.opensecrets.org/resources/img/text-file-icon.png" style="vertical-align:middle;" /></a></td><td class="number">05/14/12</td><td class="number">$4,061,000</td><td>60 Plus Assn (c4)</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Center to Protect Patient Rights <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540820-center-to-protect-patient-rights-2011.html"><img src="http://assets.opensecrets.org/resources/img/text-file-icon.png" style="vertical-align:middle;" /></a></td><td class="number">11/01/12</td><td class="number">$2,404,000</td><td>60 Plus Assn (c4)</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Crossroads GPS <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/339085-crossroads-gps-2010-draft.html"><img src="http://assets.opensecrets.org/resources/img/text-file-icon.png" style="vertical-align:middle;" /></a></td><td class="number">04/13/12</td><td class="number">$50,000</td><td>60 Plus Assn (c4)</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>American Petroleum Institute <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/435255-american-petroleum-institute.html"><img src="http://assets.opensecrets.org/resources/img/text-file-icon.png" style="vertical-align:middle;" /></a></td><td class="number">11/15/11</td><td class="number">$25,000</td><td>60 Plus Assn (c4)</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Center to Protect Patient Rights <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/684351-center-to-protect-patient-rights-2009.html"><img src="http://assets.opensecrets.org/resources/img/text-file-icon.png" style="vertical-align:middle;" /></a></td><td class="number">11/01/10</td><td class="number">$2,635,000</td><td>60 Plus Assn (c4)

</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="tablesorter" id="tab"><tbody><tr class="rowTint"><td>Romney, Mitt</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">
</td><td> President</td><td class="number">$2,907,701</td><td class="number">$2,907,701</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Barber, Ron</td><td class="center">D</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$350,500</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="number">$350,500</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Maffei, Dan</td><td class="center">D</td><td class="center">NY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$326,972</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="number">$326,972</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Obama, Barack</td><td class="center">D</td><td class="center">
</td><td> President</td><td class="number">$321,933</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="number">$321,933</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Kirkpatrick, Ann</td><td class="center">D</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$170,000</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="number">$170,000</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Sinema, Kyrsten</td><td class="center">D</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$170,000</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="number">$170,000</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Berg, Rick</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">ND</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$85,200</td><td class="number">$85,200</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Heitkamp, Heidi</td><td class="center">D</td><td class="center">ND</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$85,200</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="number">$85,200</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Smith, Tom</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">PA</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$25,283</td><td class="number">$25,283</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Mack, Connie</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$22,851</td><td class="number">$22,851</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Allen, George</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">VA</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$18,679</td><td class="number">$18,679</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Mandel, Josh</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">OH</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$15,497</td><td class="number">$15,497</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Corwin, Jane</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$13,822</td><td class="number">$13,822</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">
</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Flake, Jeff</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$13,536</td><td class="number">$13,536</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Thompson, Tommy G</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">WI</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$12,037</td><td class="number">$12,037</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Cotton, Thomas</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">AR</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$7,691</td><td class="number">$7,691</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Hoekstra, Peter</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">MI</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$6,426</td><td class="number">$6,426</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>McMahon, Linda</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">CT</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$5,958</td><td class="number">$5,958</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Brown, Scott</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">MA</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$5,017</td><td class="number">$5,017</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Akin, Todd</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">MO</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$4,245</td><td class="number">$4,245</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Adams, Kirk</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$2,808</td><td class="number">$2,808</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost in primary</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>D'Amboise, Laurence Scott</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">ME</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$1,841</td><td class="number">$1,841</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost in primary</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Meehan, Patrick</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">PA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,807</td><td class="number">$1,807</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Heller, Dean</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NV</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$1,783</td><td class="number">$1,783</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Collins, Chris</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,757</td><td class="number">$1,757</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Duffy, Sean P</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">WI</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,746</td><td class="number">$1,746</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Fitzpatrick, Michael G</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">PA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,519</td><td class="number">$1,519</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Rothfus, Keith J</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">PA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,500</td><td class="number">$1,500</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Ribble, Reid</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">WI</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,473</td><td class="number">$1,473</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Doheny, Matt</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,387</td><td class="number">$1,387</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Gibson, Chris</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,340</td><td class="number">$1,340</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Buerkle, Ann Marie</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,278</td><td class="number">$1,278</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Benishek, Dan</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">MI</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,242</td><td class="number">$1,242</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Roraback, Andrew</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">CT</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,195</td><td class="number">$1,195</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Barr, Andy</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">KY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,090</td><td class="number">$1,090</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Hayworth, Nan</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,086</td><td class="number">$1,086</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Johnson, Bill</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">OH</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,070</td><td class="number">$1,070</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>King, Steven A</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,062</td><td class="number">$1,062</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Anderson, Lee Ivey</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">GA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,056</td><td class="number">$1,056</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Brooks, Maggie</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$1,024</td><td class="number">$1,024</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Schilling, Bobby</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$988</td><td class="number">$988</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Davis, Rodney</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$970</td><td class="number">$970</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>West, Allen</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$964</td><td class="number">$964</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Renacci, Jim</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">OH</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$957</td><td class="number">$957</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Plummer, Jason</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$910</td><td class="number">$910</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Latham, Tom</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$743</td><td class="number">$743</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Dold, Robert</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$742</td><td class="number">$742</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Webster, Daniel</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$718</td><td class="number">$718</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Biggert, Judy</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$692</td><td class="number">$692</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Tisei, Richard</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">MA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$629</td><td class="number">$629</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Walsh, Joe</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$586</td><td class="number">$586</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Canseco, Francisco</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">TX</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$560</td><td class="number">$560</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Snuffer, Richard</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">WV</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$508</td><td class="number">$508</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Love, Mia</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">UT</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$501</td><td class="number">$501</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Southerland, Steve</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$497</td><td class="number">$497</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Rivera, David</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$486</td><td class="number">$486</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Marchant, Kenny</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">TX</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$451</td><td class="number">$451</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Parker, Vernon</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$423</td><td class="number">$423</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Rouzer, David</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NC</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$376</td><td class="number">$376</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Doherty, Brendan P</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">RI</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$355</td><td class="number">$355</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Paton, Jonathan</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$270</td><td class="number">$270</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Tarkanian, Danny</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NV</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$243</td><td class="number">$243</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>McSally, Martha</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$225</td><td class="number">$225</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Archer, John H Jr</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Bartlett, Roscoe G</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">MD</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Collins, Doug</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">GA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>DeSantis, Ron</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Gibbs, Bob</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">OH</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Hasner, Adam</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Holding, George</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NC</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Hudson, Richard</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NC</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Joyce, David P</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">OH</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Lange, Ben</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">IA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Massie, Thomas</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">KY</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Meadows, Mark R</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NC</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Mullin, Markwayne</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">OK</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Perry, Scott</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">PA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Pittenger, Robert</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">NC</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Radel, Trey</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Rice, Tom</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">SC</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Rigell, Scott</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">VA</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Salmon, Matt</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">AZ</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Stockman, Steve</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">TX</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Tipton, Scott</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">CO</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Weber, Randy</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">TX</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Williams, Roger</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">TX</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Yoho, Ted</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">FL</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$175</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Bauer, Andre</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">SC</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$104</td><td class="number">$104</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost primary runoff</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Coors, Joe</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">CO</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$99</td><td class="number">$99</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="odd"><td>Coffman, Mike</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">CO</td><td> House</td><td class="number">$82</td><td class="number">$82</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Winner</td><td class="center">
</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Lingle, Linda</td><td class="center">R</td><td class="center">HI</td><td> Senate</td><td class="number">$1</td><td class="number">$1</td><td class="number">$0</td><td class="center">Lost</td><td class="center">
</td></tr></tbody></table>

Based on data released daily by the FEC on April 11, 2013.

<h3 id="siteSub">From SourceWatch</h3>

<div id="jump-to-nav">Jump to: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#column-one">navigation</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#searchInput">search</a></div>

USANext's February 21st 2005 attack ad against AARP, posted on the website of the American Spectator <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004857" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004857" rel="nofollow">[1]</a>. The ad was quickly pulled <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004865" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004865" rel="nofollow">[2]</a>.

</div>

USANext (aka USA United Generations) is the latest incarnation of United Seniors Association. The group is a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Conservative" title="Conservative">conservative</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=501c4" title="501c4" class="mw-redirect">501c4</a> organization that consistantly promotes policies that benefit corporate interests. Direct-mail pioneer <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Richard_Viguerie" title="Richard Viguerie">Richard Viguerie</a> co-founded the group in 1991, according to Public Citizen.<a href="http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/reports_date/articles.cfm?ID=7999" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/reports_date/articles.cfm?ID=7999" rel="nofollow">[3]</a> Since 2001, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Charles_Jarvis" title="Charles Jarvis" class="mw-redirect">Charles Jarvis</a> has led the group.

According to the group's website, "USA United Generations and USA NEXT are grassroots projects of United Seniors Association (USA) which is celebrating its 13th anniversary as the non-partisan, 1.5 million-plus nationwide grassroots network Uniting the Generations for America’s Future." <a href="http://www.usanext.org/%5C./aboutUSA.cfm" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.usanext.org/%5C./aboutUSA.cfm" rel="nofollow">[4]</a>

United Seniors Association took in $26.6 million in revenue for 2003 according to the group's IRS form 990.

<h2>Contents</h2>

</div>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#Medicare_and_Social_Security">1 Medicare and Social Security</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#Long-distance_rates">2 Long-distance rates</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#Staff_and_Board_members">3 Staff and Board members</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#Contact_Information">4 Contact Information</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#Related_SourceWatch_Resources">5 Related SourceWatch Resources</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#External_links">6 External links</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#Advertising">6.1 Advertising</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext#Articles_.26_Commentary">6.2 Articles & Commentary</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2>Medicare and Social Security</h2>

A February 2003 <a href="http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/Articles/a2003-06-30-pullingstrings.html" class="external text" title="http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/Articles/a2003-06-30-pullingstrings.html" rel="nofollow">AARP consumer alert</a> notes that "recently, the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._Social_Security_Administration" title="U.S. Social Security Administration">U.S. Social Security Administration</a> ordered one of them to halt what it determined to be misleading mailings." It also reports that it began backing a plan "to allow more production of domestic energy in Alaska's <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Arctic_National_Wildlife_Refuge" title="Arctic National Wildlife Refuge">Arctic National Wildlife Refuge</a>" after receiving more than $181,000 from Anchorage-based <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Arctic_Power&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Arctic Power (page does not exist)">Arctic Power</a>.

The <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Center_for_American_Progress" title="Center for American Progress">Center for American Progress</a> November 14, 2003, report states:

<dl>

<dd>COMPANIES HIRE MERCENARY "GRASSROOTS" GROUP: To influence the final <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Medicare" title="Medicare">Medicare</a> bill, the drug industry has bankrolled a <a href="http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/reports_date/articles.cfm?ID=7999" class="external text" title="http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/reports_date/articles.cfm?ID=7999" rel="nofollow">front group</a> to air <a href="http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/states/wisconsin/7247829.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/states/wisconsin/7247829.htm" rel="nofollow">ads throughout the country</a>. The <a href="http://www.unitedseniors.org/pressroom/articles.cfm?mode=view&id=109" class="external text" title="http://www.unitedseniors.org/pressroom/articles.cfm?mode=view&id=109" rel="nofollow">United Seniors Association</a> (USA) is "a conservative, grassroots organization for the elderly… just as likely to be flacking for corporate special interests as it is to be representing seniors." The drug lobby pays the group "as a front for its TV and radio 'issue' ad campaigns," which is also "used by several corporate energy <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_group" title="Front group" class="mw-redirect">front groups</a> pushing for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=GOP" title="GOP" class="mw-redirect">GOP</a> legislation."</dd>

</dl>

A May 2004 Washington Monthly article provided further details:

<dl>

<dd>Then there's the benignly-named United Seniors Association (USA), which serves as a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Soft_money" title="Soft money">soft money</a> slush fund for a single GOP-friendly industry: pharmaceuticals. USA claims a nationwide network of more than one million activists, but, just like <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Progress_for_America" title="Progress for America">Progress for America</a>, listed zero income from membership dues in its most recent available tax return. USA does, however, have plenty of money on its hands. During the 2002 elections, with an "unrestricted educational grant" from the drug industry burning a hole in its pocket, the group spent roughly $14 million--the lion's share of its budget--on ads defending Republican members of Congress for their votes on a Medicare prescription-drug bill. <a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0405.confessore.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0405.confessore.html" rel="nofollow">[5]</a></dd>

</dl>

In 2004, USANext was one of the groups pushing for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">Bush administration</a>'s <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Social_Security" title="Social Security" class="mw-redirect">Social Security</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Privatization" title="Privatization">privatization</a> plan. According to the New York Times, the organization had $28 million in annual revenues, and it aggressively seeks contributions from industry: "Health care companies, energy companies, the food industry, just about everybody except for financial investment companies." <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/17/politics/17mom.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/17/politics/17mom.html" rel="nofollow">[6]</a>

The Times reported in February 2005 the group's recent hires:

<dl>

<dd>To help set USANext's strategy, the group has hired <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Chris_LaCivita" title="Chris LaCivita">Chris LaCivita</a>, an enthusiastic former marine who advised Swift Vets and P.O.W.'s for Truth, formerly known as <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Swift_Boat_Veterans_for_Truth" title="Swift Boat Veterans for Truth">Swift Boat Veterans for Truth</a>, on its media campaign and helped write its potent commercials. He earned more than $30,000 for his work, campaign finance filings show.</dd>

</dl>

<dl>

<dd>Officials said the group is also seeking to hire <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rick_Reed" title="Rick Reed">Rick Reed</a>, a partner at <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Stevens_Reed_Curcio_%26_Potholm" title="Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm">Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm</a>, a firm that was hired by Swift Vets and was paid more than $276,000 to do <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Media" title="Media">media</a> production, records show.</dd>

</dl>

<dl>

<dd>For <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Public_relations" title="Public relations">public relations</a>, USA Next has turned to <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Creative_Response_Concepts" title="Creative Response Concepts">Creative Response Concepts</a>, a Virginia firm that represented both Swift Vets - the company was paid more than $165,000 - and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Regnery_Publishing" title="Regnery Publishing">Regnery Publishing</a>, the publisher of "Unfit for Command," a book about Senator <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_Kerry" title="John Kerry" class="mw-redirect">John Kerry</a>'s military service whose co-author was <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_E._O%27Neill" title="John E. O'Neill">John E. O'Neill</a>, one of the primary leaders of Swift Vets.<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/politics/21social.html?pagewanted=print&position=" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/politics/21social.html?pagewanted=print&position=" rel="nofollow">[7]</a></dd>

</dl>

<h2>Long-distance rates</h2>

In March 2004, the United Seniors Association commissioned a push-poll scaring seniors about the potential rise in long distance telephone costs as a result of a prior DC Circuit Court ruling.

In a letter to Congress on March 10, 2004, Mary P. Mahoney, Vice President of Government Relations for USA, wrote: "We are concerned about the recent development in the DC Circuit Court that over turned what Congress has done in regard to local telephone competition. We know you must be as concerned about this as we are... I have enclosed an op-ed by [USA President] <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Charles_W._Jarvis" title="Charles W. Jarvis">Charlie Jarvis</a>, an op-ed by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tech_Central_Station" title="Tech Central Station">Tech Central Station</a>'s James Glassman, as well as a script of a telephone survey we will be conducting in your district."

This action appears to be coordinated with a campaign run by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Voices_for_Choices&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Voices for Choices (page does not exist)">Voices for Choices</a> to pressure the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush_administration" title="Bush administration">Bush administration</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FCC" title="FCC" class="mw-redirect">FCC</a> to appeal a recent telecommunications court decision. In addition to being president of USA, Charlie Jarvis is a board member of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Defenders_of_Property_Rights" title="Defenders of Property Rights">Defenders of Property Rights</a>, one of several conservative groups that comprise the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=AT%26T" title="AT&T">AT&T</a>-funded (and DCI Group-operated) "Voices for Choices" coalition <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_group" title="Front group" class="mw-redirect">front group</a>. The Washington Monthly also exposed Tech Central Station in December 2003 as a DCI creation with funding from AT&T. According to news reports, AT&T opposed the DC Circuit ruling because the decision would impact the company's bottom line.

<h2>Staff and Board members</h2>

According to information from Public Citizen <a href="http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/reports_date/articles.cfm?ID=7999" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/reports_date/articles.cfm?ID=7999" rel="nofollow">[8]</a> and gleaned from USA's IRA form 990:

<ul>

<li>USANext President and CEO <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Charles_Jarvis" title="Charles Jarvis" class="mw-redirect">Charles Jarvis</a> served as deputy under secretary at the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Department_of_Interior&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Department of Interior (page does not exist)">Department of Interior</a> during the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_H.W._Bush" title="George H.W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">George H.W. Bush</a> administrations. Jarvis was also the executive vice president of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Focus_on_the_Family" title="Focus on the Family">Focus on the Family</a>. Jarvis received $242,500 in 2003 for his work.</li>

<li>

</li><li>

</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Craig_Shirley" title="Craig Shirley">Craig Shirley</a>, a USANext board member, has long been a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_Party" title="Republican Party" class="mw-redirect">Republican Party</a> public relations powerhouse. His public relations firm <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Shirley%26_Banister_Public_Affairs" title="Shirley & Banister Public Affairs">Shirley & Banister Public Affairs</a> currently represents the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_National_Committee" title="Republican National Committee">Republican National Committee</a> (RNC). During the 1984 presidential campaign, he was the director of communications for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Conservative Political Action Committee (page does not exist)">National Conservative Political Action Committee</a>, America's largest independent political committee. More recently, he co-founded <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Conservatives_for_Effective_Leadership&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Conservatives for Effective Leadership (page does not exist)">Conservatives for Effective Leadership</a>, an organization devoted to defeating <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hillary_Clinton" title="Hillary Clinton" class="mw-redirect">Hillary Clinton</a> in her <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S.Senate" title="U.S. Senate">U.S. Senate</a> bid.</li>

<li>

</li><li>The New York Times called USANext board member <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jack_Abramoff" title="Jack Abramoff">Jack Abramoff</a> "one of the most influential - and, at $500 an hour, best compensated - <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lobbyist" title="Lobbyist">lobbyists</a> in Washington."</li>

<li>

</li><li>USANext board member <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_Wootton" title="James Wootton">James Wootton</a> is president of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._Chamber_of_Commerce" title="U.S. Chamber of Commerce">U.S. Chamber of Commerce</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Institute_for_Legal_Reform&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Institute for Legal Reform (page does not exist)">Institute for Legal Reform</a> where he advocates for tort "reform," a high priority of the drug industry which is increasingly being sued for manufacturing unsafe drugs. During the 2000 election cycle, PhRMA shoveled $10 million to the Chamber of Commerce to run electioneering ads just before the November election.</li>

<li>

</li><li>USANext lobbyist <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_A._Keene" title="David A. Keene">David A. Keene</a> is chairman of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Conservative_Union" title="American Conservative Union">American Conservative Union</a>, the nation's largest conservative grassroots organization. Keene is a lobbyist with the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Carmen_Group&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Carmen Group (page does not exist)">Carmen Group</a>.</li>

<li>Beau Boulter, a USANext lobbyist, is a former GOP congressman from Texas who served in the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._House_of_Representatives" title="U.S. House of Representatives" class="mw-redirect">U.S. House of Representatives</a> from 1985 to 1989. He formerly lobbied for the Carmen Group and represented the Major Medicaid Hospital Coalition, Northwest Airlines and U.S. Bank.</li>

<li>Lawyer Curtis Herge, USANext's corporate counsel, served as a member of Reagan's Presidential Transition Team. He later held positions as the assistant to the secretary and chief of staff at the Department of the Interior.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=William_Brindley&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="William Brindley (page does not exist)">William Brindley</a> is executive vice president/treasurer for USANext. He received $126,000 for his work in 2003.</li>

<li>Entertainer <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Art_Linkletter" title="Art Linkletter">Art Linkletter</a> serves as the group national chair and spokesman.</li>

<li>Other USANext directors and paid staff:

<ul>

<li>Sandra Bulter, director</li>

<li>Anne R. Keast, director</li>

<li>Ron Robinson, director</li>

<li>A. Lee Barrett, Jr., director</li>

<li>Anne L. Edwards, director</li>

<li>Kathy Diamond, VP member services</li>

<li>Mary P. Mahoney, VP legislative</li>

<li>Kathleen Pattern, VP marketing</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<h2>Contact Information</h2>

USANext

3900 Jermantown Road #450

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Website: <a href="http://www.usanext.org/" class="external free" title="http://www.usanext.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.usanext.org/</a> NOTE: Web address was reported as defunct on March 10, 2010

<h2>Related SourceWatch Resources</h2>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association" title="60 Plus Association">60 Plus Association</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=DCI_Group" title="DCI Group">DCI Group</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=PhRMA" title="PhRMA" class="mw-redirect">PhRMA</a></li>

</ul>

<h2>External links</h2>

<h3>Advertising</h3>

<ul>

<li>Banner Ads: <a href="http://www.spectator.org/" class="external text" title="http://www.spectator.org/" rel="nofollow">"The Real AARP Agenda,"</a> The American Spectator, February 21, 2005: "They've already started throwing some banner ads around the conservative web that show that they certainly mean business with this <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Smear_campaign" title="Smear campaign" class="mw-redirect">smear campaign</a>. The first one is already running on The American Spectator's site, and some clever bloggers dug up the other two by working out the file names. ... Nice, huh? The AARP, it would seem, is suddenly an anti-military, pro gay marriage, uber-liberal organization. They're featured with the Mount Rushmore of liberal evil (in conservative eyes) - The Clintons, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jesse_Jackson" title="Jesse Jackson">Jesse Jackson</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ted_Kennedy" title="Ted Kennedy" class="mw-redirect">Ted Kennedy</a>, and then featured in a poll with the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ACLU" title="ACLU" class="mw-redirect">ACLU</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=NAACP" title="NAACP" class="mw-redirect">NAACP</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=NARAL" title="NARAL">NARAL</a>, those America hating organizations that are always going on and on about <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Freedom_of_speech" title="Freedom of speech">freedom of speech</a>, equal rights for blacks, and privacy for women. ... Josh Marshall has more <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004855" class="external text" title="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004855" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004862" class="external text" title="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004862" rel="nofollow">here</a>." <a href="http://slapnose.com/archives/2005/02/21/the_new_face_of_liberal_evil_old_people/" class="external autonumber" title="http://slapnose.com/archives/2005/02/21/the_new_face_of_liberal_evil_old_people/" rel="nofollow">[9]</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.usanext.org/inthenews.cfm" class="external text" title="http://www.usanext.org/inthenews.cfm" rel="nofollow">"Charlie Jarvis Appears on The Factor with Bill O'Reilly,"</a> USANext, 2005: "Charlie Jarvis, USA Next's Chairman & CEO, recently appeared on The Factor with Bill O'Reilly to discuss why so many Americans are turning to USA Next as an alternative to the liberal AARP."</li>

</ul>

<h3>Articles & Commentary</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/articles.cfm?ID=7999" class="external text" title="http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/articles.cfm?ID=7999" rel="nofollow">"United Seniors Association: Hired Guns for PhRMA and Other Corporate Interests,"</a> Public Citizen, July 2002.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.citizen.org/documents/usaupdate.pdf" class="external text" title="http://www.citizen.org/documents/usaupdate.pdf" rel="nofollow">"United Seniors Association: Hired Guns for PhRMA and Other Corporate Interests" Update</a>, Public Citizen, October 2002.</li>

<li>Bill Hogan, <a href="http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/Articles/a2003-06-30-pullingstrings.html" class="external text" title="http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/Articles/a2003-06-30-pullingstrings.html" rel="nofollow">"Pulling Strings from Afar. Drug Industry Finances Nonprofit Groups That Claim to Speak for Older Americans,"</a> AARP Bulletin, February 2003.</li>

<li>Nicholas Confessore, "<a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0312.confessore.html" class="external text" title="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0312.confessore.html" rel="nofollow">Meet the Press: How James Glassman reinvented journalism--as lobbying</a>", Washington Monthly, December 2003.</li>

<li>Nicholas Confessore, <a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0405.confessore.html" class="external text" title="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0405.confessore.html" rel="nofollow">"Bush's Secret Stash. Why the GOP war chest is even bigger than you think,"</a> Washington Monthly, May 2004.</li>

<li>Edmund L. Andrews, "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/17/politics/17mom.html" class="external text" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/17/politics/17mom.html" rel="nofollow">Clamor Grows in the Privatization Debate</a>," New York Times, December 17, 2004.</li>

<li>Glen Justice, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/politics/21social.html?hp&ex=1109048400&en=31aa371bb47479ad&ei=5094&partner=homepage" class="external text" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/politics/21social.html?hp&ex=1109048400&en=31aa371bb47479ad&ei=5094&partner=homepage" rel="nofollow">"A New Target for Advisers to Swift Vets,"</a> New York Times, February 21, 2005.</li>

<li>Joshua Marshall, <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004865" class="external text" title="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_02_20.php#004865" rel="nofollow">"Oh, imagine that,"</a> Talking Points Memo, February 22, 2005: "USANext has pulled its AARP hates the troops and loves gay marriage ad. Well, needless to say we got plenty o' copies -- not just the ad but the ad as seen on the American Spectator website."</li>

<li>John Aravosis, <a href="http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/02/usa-next-accused-of-stealing-photo-of_28.html" class="external text" title="http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/02/usa-next-accused-of-stealing-photo-of_28.html" rel="nofollow">"USA Next accused of stealing photo of gay couple for anti-AARP ad campaign,"</a> AMERICAblog Blogspot, February 28, 2005: "Thanks to the DailyKos folks for discovering this story. I got in touch with the couple in the photo on Friday and put them in touch with a lawyer (a rather big lawyer at that). I'm now working as their publicist - not that I wouldn't have covered this anyway. Please help spread the word on this, it's outrageous." The press release is attached.</li>

<li>Molly Ivins, <a href="http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=18641" class="external text" title="http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=18641" rel="nofollow">"The return of the Swift Boat Veterans. GOP Astroturf organization takes first shots at AARP,"</a> Working for Change, March 1, 2005: "I'm sorry, but every now and again a girl just finds it necessary to lay her head down on the table and howl with laughter. ... You may not believe it, but I swear it is true: USA Next's first salvo was to accuse the geezer lobby of being against our troops in Iraq and in favor of homosexual marriage."</li>

<li>Bill Berkowitz, "<a href="http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=51" class="external text" title="http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=51" rel="nofollow">Richard Viguerie's Army Attacks Social Security</a>", MediaTransparency.org, March 9, 2005.</li>

</ul>

<div class="printfooter">Retrieved from "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext</a>"</div>

</div>

The 60 Plus Association is described in an article posted November 1, 2009 on FireDogLake.com as a Big Pharma <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_group" title="Front group" class="mw-redirect">front group</a>. FireDogLake reported that the group has "ties to the national GOP" and is "almost fully funded by the pharmaceutical industry." The 60 Plus Association is reported to have been a front for Big Pharma since it's inception.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-0" title="">[1]</a>

On its Web site, the 60-Plus Association describes itself as a "non-partisan seniors advocacy group with a free enterprise, less government, less taxes approach." They list their main issues as the "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Restating_Estate_Tax_as_Death_Tax" title="Restating Estate Tax as Death Tax">death tax</a>" (estate tax), energy, health care and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Social_Security" title="Social Security" class="mw-redirect">Social Security</a>.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-1" title="">[2]</a> 60 Plus is registered as a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=501%28c%29%284%29" title="501(c)(4)">501(c)(4)</a> non-profit with the Internal Revenue Service.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-GuideStar2006-2" title="">[3]</a>

In its 2008 annual return to the IRS, 60 Plus states that it "protects the rights of senior citizens through educating and informing them on consumer affairs and financial welfare. The association monitors federal laws affecting senior citizens and makes their views known to decision makers within federal government. Also, the association, through seminars, meetings, newsletters, mailgrams, petitions and letters to its supporters, encourages senior citizens to become involved in taking legislative action by expressing their views on various issues to members of Congress. 60/Plus supporters furthermore exercise their First Amendment rights in various manner by petitioning their government on various issue affecting their economic and social well-being. 60/Plus sponsors seminars, meetings and press conferences with radio, newspaper and television interviewers in Washington D,C and other locations throughout the United States to promote is message of tax fairness to seniors.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-3" title="">[4]</a>

However, a February, 2003 report in the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Association_of_Retired_Persons" title="American Association of Retired Persons" class="mw-redirect">AARP</a> Bulletin called 60 Plus a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_group" title="Front group" class="mw-redirect">front group</a> for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_industry" title="Pharmaceutical industry">pharmaceutical industry</a>. The author, Bill Hogan, wrote that 60 Plus, along with <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition" title="Senior Coalition">Senior Coalition</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=United_Seniors_Association" title="United Seniors Association" class="mw-redirect">United Seniors Association</a>, "claim to speak for millions of older Americans, although as recently as 2001 none of the three listed any revenue from membership dues on their tax returns." The article added: "virtually all of their largest contributions in recent years have come from the same source -- the nation's pharmaceutical industry."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-AARP-4" title="">[5]</a>

60 Plus president <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_L.Martin" title="James L. Martin">James L. Martin</a> claims to have given then-"Texas Gov. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_W.Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">George W. Bush</a> his first political job ... way back in 1967." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-5" title="">[6]</a> Martin also "credits himself" with coming up with the phrase "death tax," as part of efforts to repeal the estate tax. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-6" title="">[7]</a>

In September 2005, 60 Plus was part of a consortium of conservative groups -- along with the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Tax_Limitation_Committee" title="National Tax Limitation Committee">National Tax Limitation Committee</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Conservative_Union" title="American Conservative Union">American Conservative Union</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Tax_Reform" title="Americans for Tax Reform">Americans for Tax Reform</a> -- to call for "a measured response to [Hurricane] <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hurricane_Katrina" title="Hurricane Katrina">Katrina</a> ... and a continuation of sound tax and regulatory policies."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-7" title="">[8]</a> Under the banner of the "Tax Cut Working Group coalition," the groups "urged <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">President Bush</a> and Congress to emphasize private sector initiatives in the hurricane relief effort, and not abandon his agenda of tax relief in the wake of the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina." The coalition's open letter on the matter stated, "While Katrina's effects have been vivid and widespread, this event should not serve as an excuse to change national policy priorities, nor to further dissipate the federal treasury. ... On-going tax rate reductions and Social Security reform should not be sacrificed on the altar of Katrina or 'deficit reduction.'"<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-8" title="">[9]</a>

In a <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32372208/" class="external text" title="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32372208/" rel="nofollow">segment on her August 10, 2009 show</a>, Rachel Maddow discussed the 60 Plus Association's ties to the G0P, disgraced lobbyist <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jack_Abramoff" title="Jack Abramoff">Jack Abramoff</a> and the lobbying group <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bonner_%26_Associates" title="Bonner & Associates">Bonner & Associates</a>"<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-9" title="">[10]</a>

<h2>Contents</h2>

[<a href="javascript:toggleToc()" class="internal" id="togglelink">hide</a>]</div>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Opposing_healthcare_reform">1 Opposing healthcare reform</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Pharmaceutical_industry_backing">2 Pharmaceutical industry backing</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Ties_to_right-wing_direct_mail_firm">3 Ties to right-wing direct mail firm</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Public_relations">4 Public relations</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Lobbying_and_political_donations">5 Lobbying and political donations</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Financial_information">6 Financial information</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Personnel">7 Personnel</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Contact_information">8 Contact information</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Articles_and_resources">9 Articles and resources</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#Related_SourceWatch_articles">9.1 Related SourceWatch articles</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#References">9.2 References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#External_resources">9.3 External resources</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#External_articles">9.4 External articles</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2>Opposing healthcare reform</h2>

Television ads claiming that the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Obama administration</a> plans to fund healthcare reform on the "backs of seniors" started appearing in August 2009 in California markets, including Los Angeles. The televised ad makes the following claims among others: "Congress plans to cut 500 Billion from Medicare," "Seniors May Lose Their Own Doctors," and "The Government, Not Doctors Will Decide if Older Patients are Worth the Cost," The ad ends by saying "Tell Congress, Don't pay for Health Care Reform on the backs of Our Seniors. They've sacrificed enough." The ads clearly state "Paid for by 60 Plus Association" and display the www.60Plus.org website at the end.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-10" title="">[11]</a>

In 2009, 60 Plus also sent out mailings warning "that the proposed Medicare changes will mean 'longer wait times at hospitals and doctors offices, less money for new treatments, restrictions on care, prescriptions and what's best for you -- the patient!'"<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-11" title="">[12]</a>

60 Plus has rallied against previous healthcare reform efforts. In 1999, it claimed that the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Clinton_Administration" title="Clinton Administration" class="mw-redirect">Clinton Administration</a>'s effort to provide a prescription drug benefit to Medicare beneficiaries" was "socialized medicine." 60 Plus' Roger Zion told the National Journal, "We have the best Medicare system in the world, and these people want to destroy it." He also claimed that the "prescription drug benefit would cripple pharmaceutical research and ultimately undermine the quality of health care in the United States."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-12" title="">[13]</a>

60 Plus was a member of "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Citizens_for_Better_Medicare" title="Citizens for Better Medicare">Citizens for Better Medicare</a>," an industry-backed effort opposing <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Medicare" title="Medicare">Medicare</a> reform that spent tens of millions of dollars on ad campaigns in 1999 and 2000. Other "Citizens" members included the Seniors Coalition, United Seniors Association, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_Research_and_Manufacturers_of_America" title="Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Association_of_Manufacturers" title="National Association of Manufacturers">National Association of Manufacturers</a> and the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._Chamber_of_Commerce" title="U.S. Chamber of Commerce">U.S. Chamber of Commerce</a>. A "Citizens" press release from September 2000 stressed "the need to add a private sector-based prescription drug benefit to Medicare," rather than a public -- or, as the press release called it -- a "big government plan" that would supposedly cause "many patients and senior citizens [to] lose their current private prescription drug coverage, have their access to the life saving medicine jeopardized by bureaucrats and see important drug research reduced."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-13" title="">[14]</a>

<h2>Pharmaceutical industry backing</h2>

The 60 Plus Association has championed the pharmaceutical industry in mass mailings, press releases, lobbying and law suits since its inception. It was one of three associations that backed the "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Astroturf" title="Astroturf">astroturf</a>" issue ads of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Citizens_for_Better_Medicare" title="Citizens for Better Medicare">Citizens for Better Medicare</a> (a drug industry front group) during the 2000 elections.

In 2002, 60 Plus fought state legislation that would create formularies, or lists of preferred, lower-cost prescription drugs for Medicaid patients. 60 Plus fought "such legislation in Minnesota and New Mexico," with assistance from the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bonner_%26_Associates" title="Bonner & Associates">Bonner & Associates</a> firm, which specializes in <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Astroturf" title="Astroturf">astroturf</a> lobbying. "The firm's paid callers, reading from scripts that identified them as representatives of 60 Plus, urged residents to ask their governors to veto the legislation. Pharmaceutical giant <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pfizer" title="Pfizer" class="mw-redirect">Pfizer</a> Inc. later said it had paid Bonner & Associates to make the calls," reported AARP.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-AARP-4" title="">[5]</a> At the time, 60 Plus president Jim Martin denied "anyone was misled. 'The callers had an outline,' said Martin. 'This is an important issue that impacts people's health.'" <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-14" title="">[15]</a>

"In its 2001 fiscal year, 60 Plus got a total of $275,000 from PhRMA (the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_Research_and_Manufacturers_of_America" title="Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a>), CBM (<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Citizens_for_Better_Medicare" title="Citizens for Better Medicare">Citizens for Better Medicare</a>) and three drug companies (<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Merck" title="Merck">Merck</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pfizer" title="Pfizer" class="mw-redirect">Pfizer</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wyeth-Ayerst&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Wyeth-Ayerst (page does not exist)">Wyeth-Ayerst</a>) plus another $300,000 from Hanwha International Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of a Korean conglomerate with chemical and pharmaceutical interests -- amounts that made up about 29 percent of its revenue," reported <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=AARP" title="AARP">AARP</a>.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-AARP-4" title="">[5]</a>

60 Plus supported a lawsuit by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_Research_and_Manufacturers_of_America" title="Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a> against the state of Maine (in a "friend of the court" brief) for daring to try to pass a law that will authentically reduce prices for Medicare drugs by allowing the state to buy in bulk directly from manufacturers. It has also joined a lawsuit against the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Federal_Communications_Commission" title="Federal Communications Commission">Federal Communications Commission</a> regarding campaign reform (specifically in support of soft money for issue ads).

In the 2002 election campaigns, 60 Plus paid for issue ads on local radio and TV stations across the country saying that local Republican candidates "care for seniors" so much that they "passed a prescription drug bill" that "saved us from an inept government bureaucracy meddling with health plan benefits."

<h2>Ties to right-wing direct mail firm</h2>

60 Plus chair <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_L._Martin" title="James L. Martin">James L. Martin</a> worked for Republican direct mail guru <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Richard_Viguerie" title="Richard Viguerie">Richard Viguerie</a>. "It has been reported that the group's contract with Viguerie's firm allows it to use 60 Plus's contributor list 'in any manner, for any purpose, for its own account,' at least until 2003," reported AARP. In 1994, Viguerie "helped 60 Plus raise $1.3 million, but the organization was left with less than $93,000 after paying fees and expenses (including postage) to Viguerie's operation."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-AARP-4" title="">[5]</a>

"The <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Seniors_Coalition" title="Seniors Coalition" class="mw-redirect">Seniors Coalition</a>, 60/Plus and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext" title="USANext">USA</a> all have faced controversy because of their connections to Viguerie," the National Journal reported in 1995. "The Virginia-based direct-mail impresario helped launch all three groups, securing unusually tight control over their mailing lists. ... A federal grand jury in New York City began a probe of Viguerie in 1993, after The New York Times ran an article detailing how he had profited from his work for seniors' groups. ... Why set up three seniors' groups that share much of the same conservative philosophy? Critics say it was for one reason: to put more money in Viguerie's pockets. But leaders of USA and 60/Plus say they are proud of their association with Viguerie, who continues to handle their mailings. ... 'He's the finest, most decent human being I've ever known,' [60 Plus' James] Martin said of Viguerie. Martin proudly points to a passage in Viguerie's 1980 book, The New Right: We're Ready to Lead, that cites Martin as 'one of the conservative movement's foremost direct-mail copywriters.'"<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-15" title="">[16]</a>

Yet, according to Target Marketing, the "main provisions of an agreement between the charity 60/Plus Association and direct marketing" meant that, "[u]nder the terms of the contract, Viguerie - a for-profit agency - took in money while the non-profit 60/Plus went deeper into debt, presumably with most of that debt accruing to Viguerie & Associates." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-16" title="">[17]</a>

<h2>Public relations</h2>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hugh_C.Newton&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Hugh C. Newton (page does not exist)">Hugh C. Newton</a> served as a public relations consultant to 60 Plus. Newton -- who ran his own PR firm, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hugh_C.Newton_%26_Associates_Inc.&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Hugh C. Newton & Associates Inc. (page does not exist)">Hugh C. Newton & Associates Inc.</a>, also worked for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Right_to_Work_Committee" title="National Right to Work Committee">National Right to Work Committee</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heritage_Foundation" title="Heritage Foundation">Heritage Foundation</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Liberty_Foundation&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Liberty Foundation (page does not exist)">Liberty Foundation</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Reader%27s_Digest" title="Reader's Digest" class="mw-redirect">Reader's Digest</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Amway" title="Amway" class="mw-redirect">Amway</a> Corp. and the predecessor of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_Research_and_Manufacturers_of_America" title="Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a>. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-17" title="">[18]</a>

<h2>Lobbying and political donations</h2>

60 Plus spent $100,000 on lobbying in 2007, $400,000 in 2008, and $100,000 in each of the first two quarters of 2009, according to Lobbyists.info, a subscription-only online database. The group's in-house lobbyists include <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Amy_Noone_Frederick&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Amy Noone Frederick (page does not exist)">Amy Noone Frederick</a>, listed as 60 Plus' Executive Vice President; James L. Martin, President; <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hugh_C._Newton&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Hugh C. Newton (page does not exist)">Hugh C. Newton</a>, Public Relations Contact; and Roger H. Zion, Honorary Chair. The group also retains two lobbying firms, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Beau_Boulter&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Beau Boulter (page does not exist)">Beau Boulter</a> LLC (60 Plus is represented by former Republican Representative from Texas <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Beau_Boulter&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Beau Boulter (page does not exist)">Beau Boulter</a>) and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Greener_and_Hook&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Greener and Hook (page does not exist)">Greener and Hook</a>, LLC.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-Lobbyists-18" title="">[19]</a>

60 Plus also has a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee">political action committee</a> called the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Power_Campaign_Committee&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Senior Power Campaign Committee (page does not exist)">Senior Power Campaign Committee</a>.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-Lobbyists-18" title="">[19]</a> The PAC, also called "Gray PAC," last reported financial activity in the 2004 election cycle. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-19" title="">[20]</a> It was most active in the 2000 election cycle, when it reported raising $246,514 and spending $231,203. The PAC donated $46,666 to federal candidates, 98% of which went to Republicans. It contributed more than $2,000 to Republican Senate candidates <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rick_Santorum" title="Rick Santorum">Rick Santorum</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rod_Grams&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Rod Grams (page does not exist)">Rod Grams</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Slade_Gorton" title="Slade Gorton">Slade Gorton</a>; and to Republican House candidates <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=E_Clay_Shaw_Jr&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="E Clay Shaw Jr (page does not exist)">E Clay Shaw Jr</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_E_Rogan&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="James E Rogan (page does not exist)">James E Rogan</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steven_T_Kuykendall&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Steven T Kuykendall (page does not exist)">Steven T Kuykendall</a>.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-20" title="">[21]</a>

<h2>Financial information</h2>

For fiscal year 2008, 60 Plus reported $1,919,575 in revenue and $2,624,432 for expenses (including $441,180 for administrative costs).<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-IRS2008-21" title="">[22]</a>

For fiscal year 2006, 60 Plus reported $303,275 in assets, $1,897,258 in income and $1,811,895 in expenses. The organization's single biggest expense was "postage and shipping," at $473,996. The same year, 60 Plus reported $15,196 in income from list rental.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-GuideStar2006-2" title="">[3]</a>

<h2>Personnel</h2>

From their website:<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-22" title="">[23]</a>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_L._Martin" title="James L. Martin">James L. Martin</a> - President; paid $132,812 in fiscal year 2008<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-IRS2008-21" title="">[22]</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Roger_Zion&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Roger Zion (page does not exist)">Roger Zion</a> - Honorary Chair</li>

</ul>

The group's national spokesperson is singer <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pat_Boone&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Pat Boone (page does not exist)">Pat Boone</a>. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-23" title="">[24]</a>

60 Plus' 2008 IRS report also lists the following officers:<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-IRS2008-21" title="">[22]</a>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=L._Prather_McKinnon&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="L. Prather McKinnon (page does not exist)">L. Prather McKinnon</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Robert_Martin&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Robert Martin (page does not exist)">Robert Martin</a></li>

</ul>

Other Board members listed in their 2006 IRS report:<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_note-GuideStar2006-2" title="">[3]</a>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jon_Minarik&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Jon Minarik (page does not exist)">Jon Minarik</a></li>

</ul>

<h2>Contact information</h2>

60 Plus Association

515 King Street

Suite 315

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Phone: (703) 807-2070 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (703) 807-2070      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Fax: (703) 807-2073

Website: <a href="http://www.60plus.org" class="external free" title="http://www.60plus.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.60plus.org</a>

Email: info AT 60plus.org

<h2>Articles and resources</h2>

<h3>Related SourceWatch articles</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Astroturf" title="Astroturf">Astroturf</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Astroturf_Marketing" title="Astroturf Marketing">Astroturf Marketing</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Citizens_for_Better_Medicare" title="Citizens for Better Medicare">Citizens for Better Medicare</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_groups" title="Front groups">Front groups</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Health_care" title="Health care" class="mw-redirect">Health care</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pfizer_Inc" title="Pfizer Inc">Pfizer Inc</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_industry" title="Pharmaceutical industry">Pharmaceutical industry</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_Research_and_Manufacturers_of_America" title="Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=United_Seniors_Association" title="United Seniors Association" class="mw-redirect">United Seniors Association</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Richard_Viguerie" title="Richard Viguerie">Richard Viguerie</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition" title="Senior Coalition">Senior Coalition</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USANext" title="USANext">USANext</a></li>

</ul>

<h3>References</h3>

<li id="cite_note-0"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-0" title="">↑</a> David Dayen <a href="http://news.firedoglake.com/2009/11/01/big-pharma-front-group-60-plus-scaring-seniors-with-2m-ad-buy/" class="external text" title="http://news.firedoglake.com/2009/11/01/big-pharma-front-group-60-plus-scaring-seniors-with-2m-ad-buy/" rel="nofollow">Big Pharma Front Group 60 Plus Scaring Seniors with $2M Ad Buy</a>, FireDogLake.com, November 1, 2009</li>

<li id="cite_note-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-1" title="">↑</a> "<a href="http://www.60plus.org/about.asp" class="external text" title="http://www.60plus.org/about.asp" rel="nofollow">About 60 Plus</a>," 60 Plus Association website, accessed January 2008.</li>

<li id="cite_note-GuideStar2006-2">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-GuideStar2006_2-0" title="">3.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-GuideStar2006_2-1" title="">3.1</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-GuideStar2006_2-2" title="">3.2</a> "<a href="http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=guidestar&npoId=100514436" class="external text" title="http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=guidestar&npoId=100514436" rel="nofollow">60-Plus Association</a>," GuideStar, accessed January 2008.</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-3" title="">↑</a> 60/Plus Association, <a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/541/564/2008-541564919-04c2c09a-9O.pdf" class="external text" title="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/541/564/2008-541564919-04c2c09a-9O.pdf" rel="nofollow">60 Plus Association 2008 form 990</a>," 60/Plus Association (via Guidestar), November 2008, page 10.</li>

<li id="cite_note-AARP-4">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-AARP_4-0" title="">5.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-AARP_4-1" title="">5.1</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-AARP_4-2" title="">5.2</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-AARP_4-3" title="">5.3</a> Bill Hogan, "<a href="http://www.businessword.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/422/" class="external text" title="http://www.businessword.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/422/" rel="nofollow">Pulling Strings from Afar</a>," AARP Bulletin, February 2003</li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-5" title="">↑</a> John McCaslin, "Inside the Beltway," The Washington Times, May 26, 2000.</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-6" title="">↑</a> Chuck Collins and Rosie Hunter, "'Death tax' deception," Dollars & Sense, January 2003 - February 2003.</li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-7" title="">↑</a> Diane Farsetta, "<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/node/4018" class="external text" title="http://www.prwatch.org/node/4018" rel="nofollow">The Wave of the Future: From Tragedy to Far-Reaching Policy, in Less Than a Month</a>," PR Watch, September 22, 2005.</li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-8" title="">↑</a> The National Tax Limitation Committee email / press release, "Bush and Congress Urged Not to Abandon Tax Relief," sent from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lew_Uhler&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lew Uhler (page does not exist)">Lew Uhler</a> / info@limittaxes.org, September 20, 2005.</li>

<li id="cite_note-9"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-9" title="">↑</a> Rachel Maddow <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32372208/" class="external text" title="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32372208/" rel="nofollow">'The Rachel Maddow Show' for Monday, August 10, 2009</a>, MSNBC.com, accessed September 13, 2010</li>

<li id="cite_note-10"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-10" title="">↑</a> 60 Plus Association, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AVi_uGpCGYv" class="external text" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AVi_uGpCGYv" rel="nofollow">"Sacrifice Ad - 60+ Plus"</a>, YouTube, August 2009.</li>

<li id="cite_note-11"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-11" title="">↑</a> Ceci Connolly, "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/08/AR2009080802367.html" class="external text" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/08/AR2009080802367.html" rel="nofollow">Seniors Remain Wary of Health-Care Reform: Administration Aims to Reassure Older Americans Fearful of Losing Access to Care</a>," Washington Post, August 9, 2009.</li>

<li id="cite_note-12"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-12" title="">↑</a> Marilyn Werber Serafini and Shawn Zeller, "Say It Ain't So, Flo," The National Journal, October 9, 1999.</li>

<li id="cite_note-13"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-13" title="">↑</a> Press release, "Government-Run Drug Plan is a Bad Prescription For Patients: Citizens for Better Medicare Seeks Private-Sector Prescription Drug Coverage for Seniors," Citizens for Better Medicare via PR Newswire, September 12, 2000.</li>

<li id="cite_note-14"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-14" title="">↑</a> Theresa Agovino, "Pharmaceutical lobbying effort sparks controversy and pledge of change," Associated Press, March 29, 2002.</li>

<li id="cite_note-15"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-15" title="">↑</a> Marilyn Werber Serafini, "Senior Schism," The National Journal, May 6, 1995.</li>

<li id="cite_note-16"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-16" title="">↑</a> Denison Hatch, "Suspect until proven otherwise," Target Marketing, October 1995.</li>

<li id="cite_note-17"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-17" title="">↑</a> "Obituaries: Hugh C. Newton Public Relations Executive," Washington Post, June 26, 2007.</li>

<li id="cite_note-Lobbyists-18">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-Lobbyists_18-0" title="">19.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-Lobbyists_18-1" title="">19.1</a> "<a href="http://www.lobbyists.info/The_60_Plus_Association_Inc-I15D15G17J18A33A04A07A07-Organization" class="external text" title="http://www.lobbyists.info/The_60_Plus_Association_Inc-I15D15G17J18A33A04A07A07-Organization" rel="nofollow">The 60 Plus Association</a>," Lobbyists.info (sub req'd), accessed September 2009.</li>

<li id="cite_note-19"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-19" title="">↑</a> "<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00350090&cycle=2004" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00350090&cycle=2004" rel="nofollow">Senior Power Campaign Committee: 2004 cycle</a>," OpenSecrets.org, accessed September 2009.</li>

<li id="cite_note-20"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-20" title="">↑</a> "<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00350090&cycle=2000" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00350090&cycle=2000" rel="nofollow">Senior Power Campaign Committee: 2000 cycle</a>," OpenSecrets.org, accessed September 2009.</li>

<li id="cite_note-IRS2008-21">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-IRS2008_21-0" title="">22.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-IRS2008_21-1" title="">22.1</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-IRS2008_21-2" title="">22.2</a> "<a href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/541/564/2008-541564919-04c2c09a-9O.pdf" class="external text" title="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/541/564/2008-541564919-04c2c09a-9O.pdf" rel="nofollow">60 Plus Association 2008 form 990</a>," accessed via GuideStar, September 2009.</li>

<li id="cite_note-22"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-22" title="">↑</a> "<a href="http://www.60plus.org/about-bio.asp" class="external text" title="http://www.60plus.org/about-bio.asp" rel="nofollow">About 60 Plus: Leadership</a>," 60 Plus Association website, accessed January 2008.</li>

<li id="cite_note-23"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association#cite_ref-23" title="">↑</a> "<a href="http://60plus.org/about.asp" class="external text" title="http://60plus.org/about.asp" rel="nofollow">About 60 Plus</a>," 60 Plus website, accessed September 2009.</li>

</ol>

</div>

<h3>External resources</h3>

<h3>External articles</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Public_Citizen" title="Public Citizen">Public Citizen</a>, "<a href="http://www.citizen.org/congress/reform/drug_industry/contribution/articles.cfm?ID=4538" class="external text" title="http://www.citizen.org/congress/reform/drug_industry/contribution/articles.cfm?ID=4538" rel="nofollow">Citizens for Better Medicare</a>: The Truth Behind the Drug Industry's Deception of America's Seniors Designed to Mislead America's Seniors," June 2000. (This report covers 60 Plus amongst other groups.)</li>

<li>Bill Hogan, "<a href="http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/a2003-06-30-pullingstrings.html" class="external text" title="http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/a2003-06-30-pullingstrings.html" rel="nofollow">Pulling Strings from Afar</a>," AARP Bulletin, February 2003.</li>

<li>Patrick O'Connor, "<a href="http://hill6.thehill.com/leading-the-news/rove-briefs-lobbyists-on-social-security-plan-2005-03-01.html" class="external text" title="http://hill6.thehill.com/leading-the-news/rove-briefs-lobbyists-on-social-security-plan-2005-03-01.html" rel="nofollow">Rove briefs lobbyists on Social Security plan</a>," The Hill, March 1, 2005.</li>

<li>Laura Miller, "<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/node/3343" class="external text" title="http://www.prwatch.org/node/3343" rel="nofollow">The Fix Behind Fixing Social Security</a>," PR Watch, March 8, 2005.</li>

<li>Diane Farsetta, "<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/node/4018" class="external text" title="http://www.prwatch.org/node/4018" rel="nofollow">The Wave of the Future: From Tragedy to Far-Reaching Policy, in Less Than a Month</a>," PR Watch, September 22, 2005.</li>

</ul>

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==

The Seniors Coalition (TSC) is a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_group" title="Front group" class="mw-redirect">front group</a> founded with the support of right-wing direct mail specialist <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Richard_Viguerie" title="Richard Viguerie">Richard Viguerie</a>, financed by the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_industry" title="Pharmaceutical industry">pharmaceutical industry</a> and which was once investigated by the New York State attorney general's office for participating in a "pattern of fraud and abuse."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-lobbying-0" title="">[1]</a>

<h2>Contents</h2>

[<a href="javascript:toggleToc()" class="internal" id="togglelink">hide</a>]</div>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#Overview">1 Overview</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#Sites_linked_to">2 Sites linked to</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#Board_of_Directors">3 Board of Directors</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#Lobbying">4 Lobbying</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#Contact_details">5 Contact details</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#Resources">6 Resources</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#Related_SourceWatch_articles">6.1 Related SourceWatch articles</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#References">6.2 References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#External_articles">6.3 External articles</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#External_resources">6.4 External resources</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2>Overview</h2>

The Seniors Coalition was formed in 1990 by Viguerie and Dan C. Alexander, a Mobile, Ala., school board official who had been convicted of extorting kickbacks on school construction projects and later served four years of a 12-year prison term. For some of the time Alexander was in prison, he and his wife drew $23,000 a month in “consulting” fees from the Seniors Coalition while their teenage daughter served as its president.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-businessworld-1" title="">[2]</a> According to the Progressive Populist, "the Seniors Coalition is one of three 'seniors' groups -- the others are the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association" title="60 Plus Association">60 Plus Association</a> and the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=United_Seniors_Association" title="United Seniors Association" class="mw-redirect">United Seniors Association</a> -- started with help from Richard Viguerie, the right-wing direct-mail king."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-2" title="">[3]</a> People's Weekly World writes that although TSC is the "most dangerous," "given that they all rely on the computer-based mailings of Viguerie, each can send off hundreds of thousands of pieces of mail to support this or that demand."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-3" title="">[4]</a>

According to its website, the Seniors Coalition (TSC) was "founded as a public advocacy group during the fight to repeal the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act in 1989." It goes on to say that TSC "is the nation’s leading free-market senior education and advocacy organization with a membership of more than 4 million seniors. The mission of The Seniors Coalition (TSC) is to protect the quality of life and economic well-being that older Americans have earned while supporting common sense solutions to the challenges of the future. To that end, TSC and its spokesperson, Grandma Green, lobby government at both the federal and state level. Furthermore, Grandma Green periodically travels the country in her RV, the StraightTalk Express, to inform senior citizens on current issues and to listen to their concerns."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-official-4" title="">[5]</a>

Although TSC says that it has four million supporters, "the AARP found that as of 2001 TSC didn't list any revenue from membership dues on its tax return," and as of 2001, "65% of The Seniors Coalition funds [were] spent on fundraising appeals, and a further 16% of expenses were incurred in direct lobbying of officials." Instead, "TSC, investigated by Congress in 1992 for mail fraud, is funded by the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pharmaceutical_Research_and_Manufacturers_of_America" title="Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a>. Indeed, in a campaign contribution made June 12, 2003, Thomas Moore identifies himself as the Director of Federal Affairs for PhRMA, but is identified as Director of Operations for The Seniors Coalition on TSC's website. Moore also attended a press conference of Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum as a representative of PhRMA on January 31, 2002."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-5" title="">[6]</a>

The official website writes that, "TSC has been a consistent and strong advocate for the passage of the prescription drug benefit contained in the Medicare Modernization Act; promotes real medical liability reforms; supports passage of an asbestos trust fund to provide compensation to those truly sick; advocates protections in telecommunications to minimize taxes and surcharges to wireless phone products for seniors; and strongly works to protect the value of the existing Medicare benefit package for seniors" and calls itself "the responsible alternative to AARP."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-official-4" title="">[5]</a>

<h2>Sites linked to</h2>

Besides some U.S. government sites, their link page links to: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-6" title="">[7]</a>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Generations_Together" title="Generations Together">Generations Together</a>, a business-funded group that promotes <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Social_Security_privatization" title="Social Security privatization" class="mw-redirect">Social Security privatization</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heritage_Foundation" title="Heritage Foundation">Heritage Foundation</a>, a right-wing think tank</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FreedomWorks" title="FreedomWorks">FreedomWorks</a>, described on Alternet as the Wall Street front group that helped launch the Tea Party Movement</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Citizens_Against_Government_Waste" title="Citizens Against Government Waste">Citizens Against Government Waste</a>, a group that has campaigned on behalf of the tobacco industry and in favor of Microsoft and against <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Open_Source_Software" title="Open Source Software">open source software</a></li>

</ul>

<h2>Board of Directors</h2>

As of 2010:<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-7" title="">[8]</a>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joanne_T._Leon&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joanne T. Leon (page does not exist)">Joanne T. Leon</a>, Chairman, Mobile, Alabama</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joseph_L._Bridges&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joseph L. Bridges (page does not exist)">Joseph L. Bridges</a>, President & Chief Executive Officer, Hartville, Ohio</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joel_C._Harris&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joel C. Harris (page does not exist)">Joel C. Harris</a>, Mobile, Alabama</li>

</ul>

<h2>Lobbying</h2>

Seniors Coalition spent $9,459,355 for <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lobbying" title="Lobbying">lobbying</a> in 2002 to attain legislation that the group desired. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_note-8" title="">[9]</a>

<h2>Contact details</h2>

1250 Connecticut Avenue

N.W., Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20036

Phone: (202) 261-3594

Email: tsc AT senior.org

Web: <a href="http://www.senior.org" class="external free" title="http://www.senior.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.senior.org</a>

<h2>Resources</h2>

<h3>Related SourceWatch articles</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_groups" title="Front groups">Front groups</a></li>

</ul>

<h3>References</h3>

<li id="cite_note-lobbying-0"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-lobbying_0-0" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/mm0196.12.html" class="external text" title="http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/mm0196.12.html" rel="nofollow">The "1995 Lobbying Hall of Shame,"</a> Multinational Monitor, January/February 2006.</li>

<li id="cite_note-businessworld-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-businessworld_1-0" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.businessword.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/422/" class="external text" title="http://www.businessword.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/422/" rel="nofollow">"Drug industry-financed Seniors Coalition mails warning against imported prescription drugs,"</a> Business World, June 18, 2003.</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-2" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.populist.com/11-95.Ivins.html" class="external text" title="http://www.populist.com/11-95.Ivins.html" rel="nofollow">"For Whom Are They Balancing the Budget,"</a> Molly Ivins, The Progressive Populist, 1995.</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-3" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45/027.html" class="external text" title="http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45/027.html" rel="nofollow">"The Nation's Health and Worker's Safety Seniors: focal point of struggle,"</a> People's Weekly World, March 25, 1995.</li>

<li id="cite_note-official-4">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-official_4-0" title="">5.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-official_4-1" title="">5.1</a> <a href="http://www.senior.org/About/" class="external text" title="http://www.senior.org/About/" rel="nofollow">"About The Seniors Coalition,"</a> Official TSC Website.</li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-5" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://irregulartimes.com/2003/11/george-w.html" class="external text" title="http://irregulartimes.com/2003/11/george-w.html" rel="nofollow">"Blog Posting,"</a> Irregular Times, November 25, 2003.</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-6" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.senior.org/links.html" class="external text" title="http://www.senior.org/links.html" rel="nofollow">Sites they link to</a>, The Seniors Coalition, accessed October 2010.</li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-7" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.senior.org/board.html" class="external text" title="http://www.senior.org/board.html" rel="nofollow">Board of Directors</a>, The Seniors Coalition, accessed October 2010.</li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition#cite_ref-8" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?year=2002&lname=Seniors+Coalition" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?year=2002&lname=Seniors+Coalition" rel="nofollow">Seniors Coalition lobbying expenses</a>, Open Secrets, accessed October 2010.</li>

</ol>

<h3>External articles</h3>

<ul>

<li>"<a href="http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SocialSecurity/12-11-1SeniorCoaltion.htm" class="external text" title="http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SocialSecurity/12-11-1SeniorCoaltion.htm" rel="nofollow">Seniors' Coalition Applauds Personal Account Provisions Recommended by Bush Social Security Panel</a>", SeniorJournal.com, December 11, 2001.</li>

<li>Michael Scherer, "<a href="http://motherjones.com/politics/2005/07/artful-codger" class="external text" title="http://motherjones.com/politics/2005/07/artful-codger" rel="nofollow">The Artful Codger: Trashing the AARP with Grandma Green</a>", Mother Jones, July/August 2005.</li>

</ul>

<h3>External resources</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.stealthpacs.org/profile.cfm?Org_ID=39" class="external text" title="http://www.stealthpacs.org/profile.cfm?Org_ID=39" rel="nofollow">Profile of TSC</a>, Public Citizen, accessed October 2010.</li>

</ul>

<div class="printfooter">Retrieved from "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senior_Coalition</a>"</div>

</div>

===crypto:<h1 class="print-title" style="margin-bottom: .2em;">The Artful Codger</h1>

    <div class="dek" style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: .5em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Trashing the AARP with Grandma Green.</font></div>
    <p class="submitted" style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="byline">By <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/authors/michael-scherer" rel="author">Michael Scherer</a></span> | <span class="dateline">Fri Jul. 1, 2005 12:00 AM PDT</span></font></p>
    <hr class="print-hr" />
    <div class="print-content"><div id="node-18180" class="node node-type-html node-type-article-full"><div class="node-inner clear-block">

    <div class="field field-type-text field-field-short-body">
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                    <p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ANYONE VISITING THE SENIOR center in Woodbridge,

Virginia, on a Tuesday runs a serious risk of being ignored, Tuesday

being the appointed day for the weekly Spanish lesson, the

arts-and-crafts hour, and the champion pingpong team practice. But when

Flora Green, a.k.a. Grandma Green, paid a call one recent Tuesday, she

outdrew all competitors. Two dozen seniors packed the main hall to

listen with a mixture of reverence and awe to Green’s message of

political redemption.

“I can get past those 29-year-olds who think they run the government,

and you can too,” she promised, eliciting cheers and the occasional

“Amen.” At 82, Green is a proud mother of 8, grandmother of 27, and

great-grandmother of 22. She is also a hired gun, of a certain apostolic

sort, a white-haired maverick with the charisma of a firecracker. As

such, she’s an inspiration for people in the AARP set, though you

mustn’t call them that in her presence. Green is the human face of the

conservative Seniors Coalition, a grassroots—critics use the term

“Astroturf”—lobbying group fed by member donations and industries like

Big Pharma to influence votes on Capitol Hill. It’s one of K Street’s

answers to the AARP, the nation’s most powerful seniors’ lobby.

</div>

        </div>

</div>

    <div class="field-items">
            <div class="field-item odd">
                    <p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

In Green’s long life, the coalition post comes as something of a third

act. Raised in her native western Pennsylvania, she was widowed at the

age of 50, then moved to Utah and began working as a debt collector,

overseeing a staff of 60. “I did quite well, too, because I am a pushy

old lady,” she said. In 2000, the Seniors Coalition hired her to play

Grandma in their lobbying show. She would tail an election-year bus trip

sponsored by AARP, where she’d hound the group with pamphlets that

claimed to expose its “shameful secrets.” “They called the police on me

every day,” Green said, laughing. “How ridiculous. What, did I scare

them?”

That Tuesday, she arrived at the Woodbridge event towing Mike

Harrington, the head of the Seniors Coalition’s government-relations

shop. “Lobbyists come in all different shapes and sizes,” he said. “Some

of them wear fancy Italian Gucci suits and fancy black shoes and they

drive big fancy cars.” Harrington might have been describing himself, a

young Republican operative in expensive pinstripes and a tie the color

of a good California merlot. “But then there are other lobbyists like

Grandma Green. She doesn’t need a fancy car or a fancy suit.” Green, for

the record, was resplendent that morning in a Barbie-pink jacket and

pearls.

She also rides in style: in a 37-foot motor coach emblazoned with her

billboard-sized image and called the “Straight Talk Express” (a moniker

taken “straight” from John McCain’s 2000 campaign bus). “That’s what I

try to provide all seniors I meet with,” Green said. “Straight answers

and no nonsense.” She has logged half a million miles crossing the

country over the past five years, warning seniors in Pine Bluff,

Arkansas, and Wilmington, Delaware, about the dangers of buying

medications from Canada. (In fact, there are no known cases of Americans

being sickened by pills purchased from pharmacies over the border.) She

has appeared as just-another-voter at a Bush town hall meeting, taking

the microphone to praise the president and his Medicare policies. She

regularly stars in Capitol Hill press conferences, and targets wavering

pols with busloads of senior volunteers. And she’s helped drive the

enrollment of the Seniors Coalition to a claimed 4 million members.

Meanwhile, she’s shaking her fists at the AARP for all other seniors to

see. The AARP is suffering many thorns for its opposition to the Bush

administration’s plans to block drug importation and privatize Social

Security. In a recent ad, USA Next, a conservative seniors’ group

dreamed up by the same GOP direct-mail wizard, Richard Viguerie, who

dreamed up the Seniors Coalition, suggested that the AARP advocates

homosexuality and disdains American soldiers. Although the Seniors

Coalition has split with Viguerie, Grandma Green sings in a similar—if

less shrill—chorus. “I’ll come right out and say it,” she declared,

speaking of the AARP as she walked the crowd at Woodbridge, handing out

autographed pictures of herself next to an American flag. “They don’t

like me.” She pronounces AARP as one syllable, like a small dog barking.

The real pedigree of the group Green represents is hidden under layers

of PR and politics. The Seniors Coalition was cofounded in 1989 by

conservative activist Dan C. Alexander Jr., three years after he was

sent to prison for arranging construction kickbacks as an Alabama

school-committee member. Today, its top outside lobbyist is C. McClain

Haddow, a former Health and Human Services official who spent time in

prison with Alexander for failing to file a timely ethics waiver when he

gave his wife a government contract. Haddow has also lobbied for

generic-drugs manufacturer Mylan Pharmaceuticals.

The organization’s Washington activities regularly blur the needs of

seniors with the agendas of corporate donors. After it took money from

Microsoft in 1999, the coalition lobbied on antitrust litigation, and

after it took money from Lottery.com in 2000, it lobbied on a

bill that would restrict Internet gambling. Money also poured in from

the American Petroleum Institute and the American Public Power

Association—just as the coalition spoke out against the Kyoto Protocol

and lower gas-mileage standards.

The Seniors Coalition is especially tied to the drug industry. PHRMA,

the pharmaceutical industry’s trade group, gave the organization $2.2

million between 1999 and 2000 (the only two years for which full

financial disclosure is available). Other drug industry sources funneled

the group an additional $300,000 during that time. But Tom Moore, the

coalition’s chief operating officer, writes in an email that only 22

percent of his organization’s funding comes from industry, and that the

group “retains its complete independence in developing [its] legislative

agenda.”

Meanwhile, almost everything Grandma Green said at Woodbridge parroted

PHRMA talking points. Since January, she has focused her message on the

dangers of imported prescription drugs, arguing against proposed laws,

supported by about 73 percent of the American public, that would allow

importation. The stakes are huge for the industry, since the United

States is currently the only industrialized nation in the world that

does not regulate the price of prescription drugs. Green derides

countries that might become suppliers of bargain drugs. “Do we drink the

water down in Mexico?” she asked while at Woodbridge. “I don’t think

so. I’ve been down there.”

The message has confused some of Green’s fans. Over lunch of pasta salad

and chocolate pudding, Woodbridge senior Betty Graham wondered how the

current pricing system could be justified. “It seems that the drug

companies sell drugs to foreign countries cheaper,” she said. “And that

is not right.”

By then, though, Grandma Green had already left the building.

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    <div class="print-source_url"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong style="">Source URL:</strong> <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2005/07/artful-codger" style="">http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2005/07/artful-codger</a></font></div>

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