American Commitment

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> robo emails on net neutrality</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">death panel lie mccaughy --> fred t --> bachmann --> palin</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Incorporated-World-Post-Truth-Politics/dp/0307279596">http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Incorporated-World-Post-Truth-Politics/dp/0307279596</a>
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</font></p><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/12/pharma-lobby-poured-millions-into-darkmoney-groups/">https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/12/pharma-lobby-poured-millions-into-darkmoney-groups/</a></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>pharmaceutical companies’ top lobbying group funneled millions of dollars to prominent “dark money” groups that pushed industry friendly messages to lawmakers and 2020 voters. </b></font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/pharmaceutical-research-manufacturers-of-america/summary?all=2020&id=D000000504" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America</a> raised nearly $527 million last year and spent roughly $506 million, <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7335117-PhRMA-990-Fiscal-Year-2019.html" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">new tax returns</a> obtained by OpenSecrets reveal. That’s a record haul for the organization, which is funded by the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical companies.</font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The trade association made its largest political donation of 2019 — $4.5 million — to the American Action Network, a dark money group that backs House Republicans. The conservative nonprofit and its pharmaceutical industry donor share disdain for proposals to regulate the price of prescription drugs. </font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The same year it received PhRMA’s donation, the<b> American Action Network </b>launched <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/11/big-pharma-bankrolled-conservative-groups-tax-returns-show/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">several multi-million dollar ad campaigns</a> opposing President <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/2020-presidential-race/donald-trump/candidate?id=N00023864" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">Donald Trump</a>’s proposal to let Medicare negotiate drug prices. This year, the group launched multi-million dollar ad campaigns opposing <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2020/01/07/american-action-network-backs-limited-drug-pricing-reform/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">House Democrats’ bill</a> to lower drug prices and ads <a href="https://americanactionnetwork.org/press/aan-releases-3-new-ads-continuing-4-million-advocacy-effort-to-pass-h-r-19/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">boosting vulnerable Republicans</a> who supported an alternative bill considered <a href="https://khn.org/morning-breakout/house-republicans-to-offer-up-their-own-plan-to-combat-high-drug-prices-to-counter-dems-aggressive-bill/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">much friendlier</a> to drugmakers. </font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The alliance between drugmakers and GOP groups isn’t new. PhRMA has given $14.6 million to the American Action Network since 2016. In that time, the American Action Network became a major contributor to GOP causes.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> During the 2020 election cycle, it gave $26.4 million to the <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cycle=2020&cmte=C00504530" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">Congressional Leadership Fund</a>, the House Republicans’ top super PAC that helped unseat several freshman Democrats</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span></font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In several key 2020 races, the American Action Network battled with a Democratic group that also received funding from drugmakers. PhRMA gave nearly $1.6 million to <b>Center Forward, a dark money group aligned with moderate Blue Dog Democrats,</b> last year. That nonprofit provided most of the funding for an <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C00568444&cycle=2020" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">allied super PAC</a> that spent $3.3 million supporting House Democrats. The pharma-backed GOP and Democratic groups went head-to-head in several key House races, including a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/fight-for-upstate-new-york-house-race-continues-in-court-11607299200" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">tightly contested New York race</a> that has come down to a handful of votes.</font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Late last year, as Congress debated drug pricing bills, Center Forward <a href="https://readsludge.com/2019/12/12/pharma-funded-dark-money-group-hosts-house-staffers-for-california-junket/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">flew House staffers</a> to San Francisco to meet with drug company executives. The nonprofit’s board members have also lobbied for pharmaceutical interests. Republicans in Congress are the most vocal opponents of efforts to have the government regulate drug prices — a measure that would damage drugmakers’ profits — but Blue Dog Democrats also <a href="https://readsludge.com/2020/10/09/blue-dog-affiliated-group-runs-ads-for-big-pharma/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">pushed back</a> on more aggressive proposals to lower drug prices.</font></p><h2 style="line-height: inherit; margin: 1.5em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; clear: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Drugmakers bankroll groups pushing industry talking points to Trump</font></h2><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Prominent drugmakers have spent much of 2020 developing vaccines to fight COVID-19, and the threat of drug pricing legislation in Congress has died down amid the pandemic. But Trump has continued to push forward with executive actions on prescription drugs opposed by the pharmaceutical industry. </font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">PhRMA deployed creative tactics in an attempt to persuade Trump against following through on his campaign promise to aggressively lower drug prices. During the Trump era, the trade association has bankrolled conservative groups that have access to the president. </font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">The American Conservative Union, which hosts the annual <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/02/cpac-2020-gets-cozy/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">Conservative Political Action Conference</a>, received $150,000 from PhRMA in 2019. Led by Trump ally and corporate lobbyist <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=33712" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">Matt Schlapp</a>,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> the conservative nonprofit launched the<b> Coalition Against Socialized Medicine</b> late last year to </span><a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jun/6/coalition-against-socialized-medicine-challenges-m/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">oppose efforts</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> to regulate drug prices and enact single-payer health care proposals. </span></font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Nearly all of the coalition’s members received funding from drugmakers within the last two years.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> Big pharma’s trade group gave $505,000 to <b style="">American Commitment,</b></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> $78,500 to </span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Americans for a Balanced Budget and $60,000 to the Taxpayers Protection Alliance </b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">last year alone, according to new tax returns. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance launched a </span><a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/528291-group-launches-ads-opposing-bipartisan-fix-to-surprise-medical-bills" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">six-figure ad campaign</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> last month aimed at killing “surprise” medical billing legislation and calling it a “handout” to big insurance companies.</span></font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">New tax returns also show that pharmaceutical manufacturers’ trade group gave</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> $200,000 to the National Sheriffs Association</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, a nonprofit representing thousands of law enforcement officials. The group </span><a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/07/sheriffs-target-trump-w-ads-stop-prescription-drugs/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">launched a six-figure ad campaign</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> last year warning against Trump’s proposal to import drugs from foreign countries, a measure bitterly opposed by drugmakers. Those ads specifically targeted Trump, airing in Washington, D.C., on his favorite Fox News programs.</span></font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Trump ultimately <a href="https://khn.org/news/trump-approves-final-plan-to-import-drugs-from-canada-for-a-fraction-of-the-price/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">approved a plan</a> to import drugs from Canada in September, but its scope was limited. He also <a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/fiercepharmapolitics-trump-unveils-favored-nation-drug-pricing-executive-order-and-pharma" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">moved ahead with a rule</a> that would allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of drugs based on the price foreign governments pay, another measure strongly opposed by drugmakers. </font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Still, while Trump has moved ahead with industry-opposed measures, his GOP allies in Congress have not made drug pricing legislation a priority. Republican lawmakers and their aides are <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/11/big-pharma-bankrolled-conservative-groups-tax-returns-show/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">consistently fed</a> opinion pieces and ad campaigns from conservative groups urging them to reject “socialist price controls.”</font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Republicans <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/09/gop-groups-attack-via-healthcare-talkingpoints/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">ran political ads</a> in 2020 that mirrored talking points from major healthcare industry players. Super PACs aligned with Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/mitch-mcconnell/summary?cid=N00003389" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-Ky.) attacked Democrats’ over their support for a public health insurance option, a proposal that could hurt drugmakers’ profits</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. Those ads cited a study from the Partnership For America’s Health Care Future, a conglomerate of insurers, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies that received $300,000 from PhRMA last year.</span></font></p><h2 style="line-height: inherit; margin: 1.5em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; clear: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Longtime pharmaceutical ally gets seven-figure gift in retirement </font></h2><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">One of PhRMA’s largest 2019 gifts was a $2 million donation to the Orrin Hatch Foundation</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, a<b> think tank</b> and research library launched by former Sen. </span><a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00009869" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">Orrin Hatch</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> (R-Utah). The trade group gave $140,000 to the foundation between 2017 and 2018. </span></font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Hatch, who retired in January 2019, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/sen-orrin-hatchs-influence-us-health-care/story?id=60120082" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">was known</a> as the pharmaceutical industry’s “man on the Hill” by the end of his 42-year tenure. Hatch helped shape current laws that regulate generic drugs and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/13/us/politics/utah-senator-crucial-ally-for-the-pacific-rim-trade-deal-is-now-its-main-hurdle.html" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">opposed measures</a> to limit drugmakers’ monopoly protections. <b>As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Hatch was <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/417524-drug-industry-nervous-about-grassleys-new-role" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">considered the major roadblock</a> to drug pricing changes proposed by Democrats and Trump.</b></font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">the pharmaceuticals and health products industry <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=H04&cycle=All&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">gave $2.8 million</a> to Hatch’s campaign committee since 1998, more than any member of Congress who didn’t run for president</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.<b> When Hatch faced a primary challenge in 2012, PhRMA </b></span><b><a href="https://publicintegrity.org/politics/drug-lobby-gave-750000-to-pro-hatch-nonprofit-in-utahs-u-s-senate-race/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">gave $750,000</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> to a super PAC boosting his reelection campaign. </span></b></font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">During Hatch’s final years in office, his allies reportedly <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/orrin-hatch-foundation-230555" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">asked pharmaceutical companies and K Street lobbyists for donations</a> to fund the Orrin Hatch Foundation. In 2018, the foundation <a href="https://publicintegrity.org/politics/companies-court-lawmakers-with-charitable-giving-but-dont-always-disclose-the-funds/" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">invited major corporations</a>, including pharmaceutical giant <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/merck-co/summary?id=D000000275" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">Merck</a>, to a luxury mountain resort for a fundraiser.</font></p><p style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">While the foundation will serve as a library to catalogue Hatch’s government service and provide civic education, it has also put out policy reports on pressing issues. Its <a href="https://www.flipsnack.com/six40/biosimilars-report-final/full-view.html" style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; background-color: transparent; transition: background-color 150ms ease-in-out 0s, border 150ms ease-in-out 0s, color 150ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; display: inline; max-height: 1e+06px;">most recent report</a> delves into how lawmakers can craft “sensible solutions to both foster innovative biologics and curb skyrocketing drug prices.”</font></p></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>American Commitment</b> is a conservative, right-wing 501(c)4 non-profit organization led by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Phil_Kerpen" title="Phil Kerpen">Phil Kerpen</a>, former VP at <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Americans_for_Prosperity" title="Americans for Prosperity">Americans for Prosperity</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup> Their website says the organization's mission is "restoring and protecting the American Commitment to free markets, economic growth, Constitutionally-limited government, property rights, and individual freedom."<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup></font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong class="selflink">American Commitment</strong> received a grant of 1.6 million from the Center to Protect Patient Rights in 2012. <sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup></font></p>

<h2><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Contents</font></h2>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#Campaign_Spending"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Campaign Spending</span></a>

</font><ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#Florida_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Florida Senate Race 2012</span></font></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#Ohio_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Ohio Senate Race 2012</span></font></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#Wisconsin_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Wisconsin Senate Race 2012</span></font></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#New_Mexico_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">New Mexico Senate Race 2012</span></font></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#North_Dakota_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">1.5</span> <span class="toctext">North Dakota Senate Race 2012</span></font></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#West_Virginia_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">1.6</span> <span class="toctext">West Virginia Senate Race 2012</span></font></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#Nevada_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">1.7</span> <span class="toctext">Nevada Senate Race 2012</span></font></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#Links_to_the_American_Legislative_Exchange_Council"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">1.8</span> <span class="toctext">Links to the American Legislative Exchange Council</span></font></a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#References"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></font></a></li>

</ul>

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

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Campaign_Spending"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Campaign Spending</font></span></h2>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In 2012, American Commitment began running ads for state-level elections.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup></font></p>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Florida_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Florida Senate Race 2012</font></span></h3>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">U.S. Sen. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bill_Nelson" title="Bill Nelson">Bill Nelson</a>, D-Florida, is running for reelection in 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-4">[5]</a></sup> American Commitment has been running ads against Nelson in Florida attacking his support for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Affordable_Care_Act&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Affordable Care Act (page does not exist)">Affordable Care Act</a>, but because they are a 501(c)4 non-profit, they do not have to disclose their donors. <sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Politifact&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Politifact (page does not exist)">Politifact</a> rated two claims in the video "mostly false", two were rated "false", and one was rated "pants on fire".<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup></font></p>

<div class="thumbcaption"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Facts</font></div>

</div>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Ohio_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ohio Senate Race 2012</font></span></h3>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">U.S. Sen.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sherrod_Brown" title="Sherrod Brown">Sherrod Brown</a>, D-Ohio, is running for reelection in 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup> American Commitment is running adds against Brown in Ohio, and Brown responded to the ads' claims on his website.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-8">[9]</a></sup></font></p>

<div class="thumbcaption"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Facts</font></div>

</div>

<div class="thumbcaption"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Facts</font></div>

</div>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Wisconsin_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Wisconsin Senate Race 2012</font></span></h3>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">U.S. Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Tammy_Baldwin" title="Tammy Baldwin">Tammy Baldwin</a>, D-Wisconsin, is running for U.S. Senate in 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-9">[10]</a></sup> American Commitment is running ads in Wisconsin attacking Baldwin on her support for the Affordable Care Act and the Stimulus bill.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-10">[11]</a></sup> The ad features a middle-aged man saying: "we'll have to borrow money from China to pay for those".</font></p>

<div class="thumbcaption"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Cheating</font></div>

</div>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="New_Mexico_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">New Mexico Senate Race 2012</font></span></h3>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">U.S. Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Martin_Heinrich" title="Martin Heinrich">Martin Heinrich</a>, D-New Mexico, is running for U.S. Senate in 2012. American Commitment is running ads against him in New Mexico.</font></p>

<div class="thumbcaption"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Stands</font></div>

</div>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="North_Dakota_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">North Dakota Senate Race 2012</font></span></h3>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heidi_Heitkamp&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Heidi Heitkamp (page does not exist)">Heidi Heitkamp</a> is running for the open U.S. Senate seat in North Dakota against U.S. Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rick_Berg&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Rick Berg (page does not exist)">Rick Berg</a>, R-North Dakota.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-11">[12]</a></sup> American Commitment is running ads against her in North Dakota.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-12">[13]</a></sup></font></p>

<div class="thumbcaption"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Cheering</font></div>

</div>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="West_Virginia_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">West Virginia Senate Race 2012</font></span></h3>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">U.S. Sen. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Joe_Manchin" title="Joe Manchin">Joe Manchin</a> is running for reelection in 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-13">[14]</a></sup> He won his seat in a 2010 special election when Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, died in office at the age of 92.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-14">[15]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-15">[16]</a></sup> American Commitment's ad against Manchin claims that <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/President_Obama" title="President Obama" class="mw-redirect">President Obama</a> is waging a "war on coal" and they ask rhetorically, "Senator Joe Manchin may vote right, but will he lead others to stand up to Obama?"</font></p>

<div class="thumbcaption"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sen. Manchin, It's Time to Lead</font></div>

</div>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Nevada_Senate_Race_2012"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nevada Senate Race 2012</font></span></h3>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">U.S. Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Shelley_Berkley" title="Shelley Berkley">Shelley Berkley</a>, D-Nevada, is running for Senate in 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-16">[17]</a></sup> American Commitment is running ads against her in Nevada.</font></p>

<div class="thumbcaption"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Fading Away</font></div>

</div>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Links_to_the_American_Legislative_Exchange_Council"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Links to the American Legislative Exchange Council</font></span></h3>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In May 2012, American Commitment launched a petition urging corporate members of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Legislative_Exchange_Council" title="American Legislative Exchange Council">American Legislative Exchange Council</a> (ALEC) to continue their membership with the controversial organization. <sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-17">[18]</a></sup> As of July 20, 2012, 30 corporations and four non-profits -- for a total of 34 public sector members -- have publicly announced that they are cutting ties with ALEC because of mounting public opposition to the organization's controversial "model" bills.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_note-18">[19]</a></sup></font></p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">References</font></span></h2>

<li id="cite_note-0"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-0">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.philkerpen.com/?q=node/1">http://www.philkerpen.com/?q=node/1</a> Phil Kerpen Free-Market Advocate, Personal website, Accessed July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-1"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-1">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.americancommitment.org/about-us/">http://www.americancommitment.org/about-us/</a> American Commitment - About Us, Organizational website, Accessed July 12, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-2">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Novak, Viveca. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/12/center-to-protect-patient-rights-ga.html">Center to Protect Patient Rights Gave Millions in 2011 to Outside Spenders in Election</a> Accessed 12/17/2012.</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-3">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Rachel Weiner <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-latest-gop-player-american-commitment/2012/07/10/gJQARbV4aW_blog.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-latest-gop-player-american-commitment/2012/07/10/gJQARbV4aW_blog.html</a> The latest GOP player: American Commitment, <i>The Washington Post</i>, July 10, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-4">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://nelsonforsenate.com">http://nelsonforsenate.com</a> Bill Nelson, Organizational website, Accessed July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-5">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Alex Leary <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/third-party-groups-spending-millions-to-attack-bill-nelson/1239865">http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/third-party-groups-spending-millions-to-attack-bill-nelson/1239865</a> Third-party groups spending millions to attack Bill Nelson, <i>Tampa Bay Times</i>, July 12, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-6">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Angie Drobnic Holan <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.politifact.com/florida/article/2012/jul/11/tv-ad-claims-it-has-facts-bill-nelson-then-unrolls/">http://www.politifact.com/florida/article/2012/jul/11/tv-ad-claims-it-has-facts-bill-nelson-then-unrolls/</a> TV ad claims it has 'the facts' on Bill Nelson, then unrolls falsehoods, <i>Politifact Florida</i>, July 11, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-7">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.sherrodbrown.com/">http://www.sherrodbrown.com/</a> Sherrod Brown, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-8">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Sherrod Brown <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.sherrodbrown.com/blog/releases/2012/ad-watch-reeling-from-statewide-criticism-of-his-numerous-lies-more-attack-ads-hit-the-air-to-bail-out-josh-mandel/">http://www.sherrodbrown.com/blog/releases/2012/ad-watch-reeling-from-statewide-criticism-of-his-numerous-lies-more-attack-ads-hit-the-air-to-bail-out-josh-mandel/</a> Ad Watch: Reeling From Statewide Criticism Of His Numerous Lies, More Attack Ads Hit The Air To Bail Out Josh Mandel, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-9"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-9">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.tammybaldwin.com/">http://www.tammybaldwin.com/</a> Tammy Baldwin, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-10"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-10">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/500k-ad-buy-targets-baldwin-on-health-care-stimulus-votes">http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/500k-ad-buy-targets-baldwin-on-health-care-stimulus-votes</a> $500K ad buy targets Baldwin on health care, stimulus votes, WisconsinReporter.com, July 12, 2012 Accessed July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-11">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Henry C. Jackson <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/article/id/164918/">http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/article/id/164918/</a> Heitkamp raises nearly $1 million in second quarter, <i>The Jamestown Sun</i>, July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-12"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-12">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Sean Sullivan <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2012/07/american-commit-1.php">http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2012/07/american-commit-1.php</a> American Commitment Hitting Heitkamp With Health Care Ad, <i>National Journal</i>, July 9, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-13"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-13">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.joemanchinwv.com/">http://www.joemanchinwv.com/</a> Joe Manchin, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-14"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-14">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/08/west-virginia-senate-joe_n_639869.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/08/west-virginia-senate-joe_n_639869.html</a> West Virginia Senate: Joe Manchin Gets Go-Ahead For November Special Election, Huffingtonpost.com, July 8, 2010</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-15"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-15">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/11/02/gov-joe-manchin-wins-senate-race-in-west-virginia">http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/11/02/gov-joe-manchin-wins-senate-race-in-west-virginia</a> Gov. Joe Manchin Wins Senate Race in West Virginia, USNews.com, Nov. 2, 2010</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-16"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-16">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.shelleyberkley.com">http://www.shelleyberkley.com</a> Shelley Berkley for Senate, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-17"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-17">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://action.americancommitment.org/6875/amazon-must-reverse-course/">ALECPetition.com: Reject Anti-ALEC Bullying</a>, American Commitment. May 2012.</span></font></li>

<li id="cite_note-18"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment#cite_ref-18">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Corporations_Which_Have_Cut_Ties_to_ALEC">Corporations Which Have Cut Ties to ALEC</a>, SourceWatch.</span></font></li>

</ol>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment</font></a>

<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/12/nonprofit-funneled-money-to-kochs-voter-database-effort-other-conservative-groups.html?utm_source=CRP+Mail+List&utm_campaign=ad4bb1ae38-Newsletter_12_21_2012&utm_medium=email"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/12/nonprofit-funneled-money-to-kochs-voter-database-effort-other-conservative-groups.html?utm_source=CRP+Mail+List&utm_campaign=ad4bb1ae38-Newsletter_12_21_2012&utm_medium=email</font></a></p>

Themis was a daughter of Heaven and Earth, the goddess of divine law and order in Greek mythology.

More prosaically, Themis is also the name of a voter database project spearheaded by David and Charles Koch, the conservative billionaires of <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000186">Koch Industries</a>, early in the 2010 midterm election cycle. The idea was to reach GOP and libertarian voters more systematically and efficiently, to catch up with the voter microtargeting strategies Democrats had been developing over several years.

And even more matter-of-fact are the names of some of the entities that have funded the conservative endeavor -- a collection of organizations that would be at home in a bowl of alphabet soup. Their existence has not been reported previously. 

The heart of this network is TC4, a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization founded in 2009. According to its first tax filing, covering the period Aug. 28, 2009 through June 30, 2010, TC4 -- which had one trustee and a single key employee -- made a grant of $2.5 million to Themis Trust.

That wasn't all. TC4 sent Themis more contributions, though they were disguised. In its most recent IRS Form 990 tax return, which covers the 12 months ending midway through 2011, TC4 lists a grant of $2.5 million to something called STN LLC and one of $1.8 million to DAS MGR LLC. Both are affiliates -- or in the formal jargon of tax law, "disregarded entities" -- of Themis.

</font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But it appears that TC4 wasn't just about funneling money to the Themis project. Over the less than two years covered by tax forms filed by TC4, the organization gave large grants to other conservative 501(c)(4) groups that worked to help Republicans in the 2010 and 2012 elections, including the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=60+Plus+Assn">60 Plus Association</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00375865&cycle=2012">Concerned Women for America</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000024789">Citizens Against Government Waste</a> and <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=American+Commitment">American Commitment</a>.</font></div>

</font></div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

Other groups that received millions of dollars are parts of better-known groups, but legally distinguished from them. And still other organizations have proven ciphers thus far. In total, according to IRS forms filed thus far by the group, TC4 has given away more than $36.5 million.

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<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The existence of TC4 and its role in sending funds to other, politically active nonprofits has been hidden until now in part because 501(c)(4) groups -- which all of the recipients of TC4's grants are -- are not required to disclose the names of their donors, a fact that OpenSecrets Blog has covered extensively in its <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/moneytrail.php" style=" text-decoration: underline;">Shadow Money Trail</a> series. Nonprofits must list only those to whom they <i>give</i> grants, making it hard to connect the dots when the starting point is the recipient organization.</font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nondisclosing groups -- those that don't identify their donors, almost all of them 501(c)(4)s -- played a huge role in the 2012 elections, accounting for <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/summ.php?cycle=2012&chrt=V&disp=O&type=U" style=" text-decoration: underline;">more than $311 million</a> in outside spending that was reported to the Federal Election Commission. (More was spent that fell outside reporting requirements.)</font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The groups aren't supposed to be primarily involved in politics. But so many of them have been so active on this front since the Supreme Court's 2010 <i>Citizens United</i> decision that the IRS should be conducting audits, said Marcus Owens, a Washington tax lawyer who formerly headed the Exempt Organizations division of the federal agency. </font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Many of the groups, in his view, "most certainly would merit investigation," Owens said -- including TC4.</font></div>

</font></div>

<div><b><font class="Apple-style-span" style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bare-bones info</font></b></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Exactly what part TC4 may have played in funding groups between mid-2011 and this year's election is currently unknown, because the IRS doesn't require nonprofits to file their 990s until many months after the end of their fiscal years. TC4's return showing any grants it gave in late 2011 and early 2012 won't be available until the spring of 2013. And documents showing its activity running up to Nov. 6 will remain out of public view until the following spring, 2014.  </font></div>

</font></div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

In many ways, TC4 appears to function like the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/05/cppr.html">Center to Protect Patient Rights</a> (CPPR) -- another large tax-exempt group that has few programs of its own and practically no staff, but through which millions of dollars flow to conservative, politically active nonprofits.

In its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/494933-tc4-2010.html">first tax form</a>, covering the period Aug. 28, 2009 until June 30, 2010, TC4 listed just two individuals as working for the group: Michael Hartz, a Chicago lawyer who is TC4's unpaid trustee, and Gretchen Hamel, who is identified as the "Program Leader" and was paid about $52,000. TC4's stated purpose was, "[g]rant making, research, analyze, report on, make publicly available matters useful and beneficial to the community, which focus on the advancement of free markets, liberty and individual freedoms."

By the time of TC4's second, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/494931-tc4-2011.html">most recent filing</a>, covering the 12 months ending June 30, 2011, Hartz's name is the only one listed (other than that of a tax preparer). 

Despite the Chicago connection, and its Indianapolis accountant, the address given for TC4 on tax forms is that of a UPS mailbox in Alexandria, Va. <i>OpenSecrets Blog</i> left repeated messages for Hartz, but he did not return the calls.

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</font></div>

TC4 reported about $46 million in revenue in its first two years, mostly in year one. The funds that came almost entirely from investment income, rather than from contributions and grants as was the case with CPPR. Most of its grant-making came in the second year, when it used money it had banked to provide funds to 13 organizations, a big increase from the previous year when it made only two grants. During the two years, nearly $37 million went out the door in grants. In fact, in its second 990, the group told the IRS that "during the current fiscal year, TC4 ceased all non-grant making programs and focused solely on the grant making activities centered around the same initiatives."

In spite of the technical differences in their funding streams, though, TC4 and CPPR together gave grants to some of the same politically active nonprofits -- five of them received a total of $33.1 million from the two major donor groups, according to 990s the pair have filed.

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</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Concerned Women for America, 60 Plus Association and American Commitment are all easily recognizable conservative groups. That's not true of another organization that received $892,000 from TC4. Incorporated in Delaware in 2010, PRDIST LLC is actually a subsidiary -- or another "disregarded entity" -- of Americans for Prosperity, the 501(c)(4) co-founded by David Koch. AFP let loose more than $35 million in outside spending in the 2012 election, nearly all of which was used to attack President Barack Obama.

And another multimillion-dollar grantee of both TCR and CPPR also has a complicated structure. POFN LLC, another Delaware corporation formed close to the same time as PRDIST LLC, received more than $8 million from the groups. It turns out to be a subsidiary of a nonprofit called SGC4 Trust, of which Gretchen Hamel -- the only employee TC4 has yet listed on its tax forms -- is the sole trustee.

<a target="blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/494934-sg-c4-trust.html">SGC4 Trust</a>, according to tax documents, does business under the name <a target="blank" href="http://thepublicnotice.org/">Public Notice</a> -- a group of which Hamel is the executive director. A project of Public Notice is called <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bankruptingamerica.org/">Bankrupting America</a>, which highlights government spending and regulation as the cause of the nation's fiscal woes.

Hamel did not respond to multiple messages left by <i>OpenSecrets Blog</i>.

Below is a table showing organizations that received money from both CPPR and TC4 Trust from 2009 until the end of 2010 (in TC4's case, mid-2011). The total comes to more than $41 million.

<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/assets_c/2012/12/cppr.tc4-10214.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.opensecrets.org/news/assets_c/2012/12/cppr.tc4-10214.html','popup','width=449,height=134,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="/544a0e88-2c84-5ee5-bc1b-0a2e15ccd3fc.jpg"/></a>TC4's grantees in its second year, in addition to the groups already named, were Eleventh Edition LLC; Freedom Club; the Center for Shared Services; TRGN LLC; and Generation Opportunity. Little or no public information exists for some of those organizations. </font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In its first year, other than Themis, TC4 gave money to just one other organization -- an LLC that, like many of its other grantees, has a name that is a jumble of letters. However, the name is smudged on the scanned copy of the 990 that <i>OpenSecrets Blog</i> has seen, though there are indications it may be connected to American Commitment.</font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b><font class="Apple-style-span" style="">Disregarded, but not forgotten</font></b>

"Disregarded entities" could be considered something like subsidiaries or affiliates of their parent organizations. They are not required to file separate federal tax returns. But in other ways they are treated as legally separate from the parent, and are sometimes used to protect the parent company from liability. </font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And, perhaps more importantly in this case, disregarded entities can give grants under their own names to other groups, and the recipients need only list those disregarded entities -- not their parent organizations -- as donors. </font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">That helps provide an additional layer of anonymity to any person or organization concerned, for whatever reason, about being identified as a donor.</font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The usefulness of these layers of cloaks to those fighting disclosure was apparent recently when the California Fair Political Practices Commission ordered an Arizona 501(c)(4) group, Americans for Responsible Leadership, to name its donors. Under court order, it did so, but little was unmasked. The group got its money from CPPR, which had received it from Americans for Job Security; both are also 501(c) organizations, and whoever or whatever was the original source of the funds remained hidden. The frustrated state agency called it a plain case of "money laundering."

<b><font class="Apple-style-span" style="">The Koch connections</font></b>

Links between many of the grantor and grantee groups and the Kochs are numerous and multilayered. For instance, Hamel, who ran TC4 in its first year and then became head of Public Notice, which received money from both of the larger groups, was a presenter at the 2010 edition of the brothers' annual gathering of conservative donors and groups.

Also at that meeting with Hamel -- a former Bush administration spokeswoman and frequent guest on Fox News -- were Sean Noble and Heather Higgins, two of the original board members of CPPR. Yet another of the original CPPR board members, Eric Novack, was a senior fellow at the Kochs' Americans for Prosperity.

American Commitment, which also received money from the two large donor groups, was originally headed by CPPR president Noble. Later, Phil Kerpen took over; Kerpen is on the board of Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity, which also was sent checks from the two major groups. The 60 Plus Association, the largest recipient of funds from TC4 and CPPR together and a big outside spender in 2010 ($7.1 million) and 2012 (4.4 million), is frequently reported to be on the receiving end of Koch money.  

As for Themis, its 2010 revenue was $7.7 million, tax documents show. The three grants from TC4 total $6.8 million, almost all of its income. According to <a target="blank" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/07/koch-brothers-database-2012-election"><i>The Guardian</i></a> newspaper, the Kochs set up Themis "with $2.5m of their seed money," which could correspond with TC4's first, $2.5 million grant to Themis. The organization's data work played a role in helping Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker beat back a recall attempt earlier this year, <a target="blank" href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77453_Page2.html"><i>Politico</i> </a>reported, noting that Koch strategists discussed investing as much as $20 million in Themis. Its unknown whether the additional funds materialized, in part because the 990s that might provide clues have not been filed yet.

Themis' tax documents list a Paul W. Brooks as the sole trustee, which is the same name as that of a former Koch Industries senior vice president. Messages left for him were not returned. The group's chief operating officer, Ben Pratt, is a former Koch Industries executive, as well.

</font></div>

Groups that are granted 501(c)(4) tax status by the IRS are supposed to be focused on "social welfare" causes; politics can't take up more than half their resources, as the rules have been interpreted over the years. Perhaps to reassure regulators that it is hewing to the law, TC4's most recent 990 contains a statement that reads, "Each grant recipient is required to sign a grant agreement, which among other things...provides that the grant funds shall not be used for political activity."

But tax attorney Owens is skeptical that the statement is a lock against all such activity by grantees. "My reaction is that we're not able to see the actual grant agreements. We don't know whether they require the recipients to report back" how they used the money, "or what the agreements provide if there is a violation of the terms. And we don't know how they define 'political.'"</font></div>

And the language may not keep organizations from using money received from TC4 to give to still other politically active nonprofits, for instance -- which groups like Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/04/for-friends-crossroads-helps-with-t.html">don't appear to consider</a> political spending.

There are still a number of mysteries about where how all the money in the TC4 and CPPR networks moves around, and at whose behest. </font></div>

</font></div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But if it's not already perfectly clear that all the secrecy is no accident, a Salvador Dali quote on the <a target="_blank" href="https://ben-pratt.squarespace.com/blog/2012/12/15/its-not-guns-you-should-be-afraid-of">personal blog</a> of Themis COO and former Koch Industries executive Ben Pratt sums it up nicely: "The secret of my influence has always been that it has remained a secret."

<i><font style="">Images: David Koch via <a target="blank" href="http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/david-koch-supports-marriage-equality">hrc.org</a>; Gretchen Hamel via <a target="blank" href="http://www.bankruptingamerica.org/bios/gretchen-hamel/">bankruptingamerica.org</a>; Sean Noble via <a target="blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=2572066&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=4Ng&locale=en_US&srchid=0c386d04-4ffc-4a82-a1b1-9f4f79f45afc-0&srchindex=3&srchtotal=305&goback=.fps_PBCK_sean+noble11111121_Y111_false_1_R151151_true222222222222222222222&pvs=ps&trk=pp_profile_photo_link">Linkedin.com</a>.</font></i>

</font></div>

</div>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">There's little doubt

that American Commitment is an aggressive advocate for Republican

interests and candidates. Last year it told the Federal Election

Commission it spent <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C90013640&cycle=2012">just under $2

million on

ads</a> in four races -- the presidential, and Senate contests in

Ohio, Virginia and Arizona. A quick check of YouTube shows the group spent

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duQFNVqivXk&feature=plcp">millions more</a>

on ads that didn't have to be reported, because of when they ran and

the words they used. ("Tell Tammy Baldwin to stop putting special

interests ahead of Wisconsin," rather than, "Don't elect Tammy Baldwin,"

for instance.)

<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/assets_c/2013/04/tammy-10806.html"><img src="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/assets_c/2013/04/tammy-thumb-300x175-10806.png" alt="tammy.png" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" height="139" width="239" /></a>American

Commitment is also a nonprofit 501(c)(4) "social welfare" organization

under the tax code. Information about such groups is scarce by

definition. They don't have to disclose their donors, unlike almost any

other type of organization that advocates for or against candidates.

But

American Commitment's history and funding are especially murky. Other

groups with its name -- but different IRS identification numbers -- have

appeared and disappeared. And millions of dollars designated for one or

another of the groups operating under the name American Commitment seem

to have vanished.

        </font></p><div id="more" class="asset-more">
            <font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>A tangled tale</b><br /><br />Sometime in late 2009 or early 2010, a 501(c)(4) group called TC4 Trust -- <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/12/nonprofit-funneled-money-to-kochs-voter-database-effort-other-conservative-groups.html">about which OpenSecrets.org wrote</a> several months ago -- gave&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/494933-tc4-2010.html#document/p18/a79812">$3.8 million</a> to another 501(c)(4) with a Phoenix address. The recipient's name, however, is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/494933-tc4-2010.html#document/p18/a100598">smudged on TC4's IRS form 990</a>, where it had to report any grants that it made to other organizations. <br /><br />But there's a clue: TC4 made <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/494931-tc4-2011.html#document/p18/a79829">another $5.5 million grant the following year to a group called American Commitment</a>

-- which had the same IRS-assigned employer identification number (EIN)

as the unknown recipient of the $3.8 million grant the year before.

Between August 2009 and June 2011, then, TC4 gave more than $9 million to this group.

The

hitch? No <font color="#FF0000">501(c) organization (or 527 group) with that EIN has ever

filed a tax form 990, according to IRS data.</font> Even given the delayed

filing deadlines that allow these nonprofits to send their forms in long

after their activity has occurred, the American Commitment group on the

receiving end of TC4's largesse would have reported many months ago.

Fast forward to the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=American+Commitment">American Commitment</a> that was active in the 2012 elections. This group claimed -- upon filing its first and only

990 to date, in November 2012 -- that it wasn't formed until <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540823-americancommitment-2011.html">2011</a>,

meaning it couldn't have received contributions in 2009 or 2010.

Coincidentally or not, it, too, was started in Arizona, like the more

mysterious group of the same name. This American Commitment reported

receiving just $216,500 in revenues in 2011, the year covered by the

990, and it lists an EIN that is clearly different from the one attached

to the earlier American Commitment that appeared in the TC4 Trust

filings.

Are there two organizations with the same name?

Apparently not: A search of IRS data listing all 990s filed over the

last several years reveals only one American Commitment -- the one with

the EIN reported by the group active in the recent elections.

To

add to the puzzle, there briefly was a third American Commitment, in

addition to the mystery group from the TC4 filings and American

Commitment itself. This third organization also had an Arizona link: It

was started, like the current American

Commitment, by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540823-americancommitment-2011.html#document/p7/a84800">Sean Noble</a>,

an Arizona-based Republican operative. Noble runs the Center to Protect

Patient Rights -- a "shadow money mailbox" in Phoenix whose existence <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/05/cppr.html">OpenSecrets.org first reported in 2012</a>.

According

to <font color="#FF0000">Virginia</font> business records and IRS filings, this third group soon

changed its name to Free Enterprise America. In its first 990, FEA

stated that it was "initially called American Commitment," but it had "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/690450-free-enterprise-america-2011.html#document/p15/a99912">no activity in 2010 no revenues or expenses and no return was therefore filed</a>."  </font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Under the second name, it

received <a target="blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540820-center-to-protect-patient-rights-2011.html#document/p16/a99906">$3.6 million from Noble's CPPR</a>. And it made grants totaling $5.2 million in 2011 to other nonprofits -- including ones that received money from CPPR, <a target="blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/690450-free-enterprise-america-2011.html#document/p13/a99910">such as the 60 Plus Association and Americans for Tax Reform</a>.</span>

One of the recipients of Free Enterprise America's funds was the main American Commitment group; its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/690450-free-enterprise-america-2011.html#document/p13/a100388">grant was for $103,000</a>. 

<b>The missing millions</b>

All of these name games might be of little interest except for the fact that millions of dollars appear to be unaccounted for.

What

happened to the $9.3 million that went from TC4 Trust to the mystery

American Commitment group is unclear. If it had been given to the newer,

currently active American Commitment, it should have shown up on the

current group's 990. But that form indicated only $216,500 in receipts.

And the mystery group filed no 990s indicating where the money might

have gone.

In addition, Noble's CPPR <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540820-center-to-protect-patient-rights-2011.html#document/p16/a99709">gave the currently active American Commitment $1.6 million in 2011</a>,

using the latter group's correct EIN -- money that also should have

shown up on American Commitment's 990 covering that year. In 2012,

control of the active American Commitment, now in Washington, D.C., was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540823-americancommitment-2011.html#document/p7/a84800">transferred to Phil Kerpen</a> -- who, like Noble, has strong ties to conservative billionaires David and Charles Koch.

Tax

lawyer Marcus Owens, a former chief of the exempt organizations

division at the IRS, says the disappearance of the money raises serious

questions. "It's impossible to imagine a circumstance in which all the

form 990s are accurate," he said, referring to the filings by TC4 Trust,

the current American Commitment, and CPPR.

Owens described two complicated, "possible, partial" hypothetical

explanations involving, in one case, an entity acting as an agent for

another, and in the other, organizations using different accounting

systems (cash or accrual) that would lead to different filing schedules.

But, Owens said, "neither seems to be the case in this situation."

"An alternative analysis is that the implausible reporting was intended to mislead the IRS and other law enforcement," said Owens.

<i>OpenSecrets

Blog</i> tried multiple times to contact Phil Kerpen, head of

American Commitment; Sean Noble, head of CPPR and the founder of Free

Enterprise America and American Commitment; and Michael Hartz, an

attorney who is the trustee for TC4

Trust. None of them responded to messages.  

<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/assets_c/2013/04/American%20Commitment%20Web%203-10809.html"><img src="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/assets_c/2013/04/American%20Commitment%20Web%203-thumb-250x589-10809.jpg" alt="American Commitment Web 3.jpg" class="mt-image-left" style="float: left; margin: 0 20px 20px 0;" height="589" width="250" /></a>The links between the various groups run still deeper. In 2011, American Commitment made <a target="blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540823-americancommitment-2011.html#document/p21/a99742">a grant of $70,000 to a group called Americans for Responsible Leadership</a>. ARL also <a target="blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540820-center-to-protect-patient-rights-2011.html#document/p16/a99743">received more than $900,000 from CPPR</a>. 

ARL was implicated, along with CPPR, in what the California Fair Political Practices Commission described as "<a target="_blank" href="http://www.fppc.ca.gov/index.php?id=346">campaign money laundering</a>"

after the group, which sent funds to an organization campaigning on two

state ballot initiatives, came under court order to reveal its donors.

At

least three of the groups in this story -- Americans for Responsible

Leadership, Center to

Protect Patient Rights, and the current American Commitment -- are

clients of the

Virginia law firm HoltzmanVogelJosefiak, which also represents other

well-known politically active nonprofits like Crossroads GPS and

American Future Fund.

And TC4 Trust apparently has links

to the firm, as well. On its 990s, it listed more than $700,000 in payments over two years to

something called "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/494933-tc4-2010.html#document/p8/a99780">PLRC GROUP LLC</a>"

for "consulting."  According to Virginia state records, PLRC is located

at the same Warrenton, Va., address -- down to the suite number  -- as

HoltzmanVogelJosefiak.  </font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jason Torchinsky at

HoltzmanVogelJosefiak declined an interview, saying we would have to

talk with the firm's clients individually.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
<b>

</b></font></div><div><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></b></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Noble's pursuits</b>

Sean

Noble, who has kept many of these plates spinning -- having founded

CPPR, Free Enterprise America, and the currently active American

Commitment -- has been paid handsomely for his efforts, according to the

990s filed by the groups.

He hasn't taken a salary from any of them, despite the fact that he spends <a target="blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540820-center-to-protect-patient-rights-2011.html#document/p7/a84742">40 hours per week</a> running CPPR, according to that group's 990s. The other organizations report that he spends <a target="blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/540823-americancommitment-2011.html#document/p7/a84800">between one</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/690450-free-enterprise-america-2011.html#document/p7/a99901">and five hours</a> weekly with them.

But

his two companies, DC London and Noble and Associates, have been paid

between $190,000 and $2.6 million annually over three years, the 990s

show. Most of the money has come from CPPR, which wrote checks totaling

more than $3.6 million over the course of 2009, 2010 and 2011; on top of

that, DC London was reimbursed for $3.2 million in expenses.

Free Enterprise America <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/690450-free-enterprise-america-2011.html#document/p8/a99907">paid DC London $397,000 in 2011</a>.

In

all, Noble's firms have made more than $4 million from the groups. The

number may have grown much larger in 2012, but the groups' 990s for last

year likely won't be filed until November 2013.

And Noble, who has more than<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> 10,500 followers on <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SeanNobleDC">Twitter</a>,</span>

received income from at least one other 501(c)(4) in 2012: His DC

London made several ads for American Action Network, for instance, a

group headed by former Minnesota GOP Sen. Norm Coleman that in 2010 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/373125-american-action-network-2010.html">gave Noble's CPPR a grant of $200,000</a>.

Money

seems plentiful in this labyrinth of groups working in support of

conservative causes, none of them disclosing their donors. But somehow,

more than $11 million appears to have slipped away.
</font></div>

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American Commitment

Attachments