Americans for Prosperity

Infobox_Organization
name = Americans for Prosperity
image_border = AFProsperity.jpg
caption = Americans for Prosperity logo
membership =
headquarters = Washington, D.C.
formation =
website =

http://www.americansforprosperity.org

Americans For Prosperity (AFP) is a non-partisan Washington D.C. based political advocacy group which describes itself on its website as "... an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels."

History and Mission

In 2003, an internal rift between Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation led to a split in which CSEF was renamed as a separate organization, called Americans For Prosperity. [http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622] Although AFP and Independent Women's Forum share the same Washington address, they are no longer affiliated and do not share operational staff.

AFP is dedicated to promoting a sound economic policy that supports business and regulatory restraint by government. AFP recently hosted an event in Washington D.C. entitled, "Defending the American Dream Summit" on October 5 2007. The topic of the debate was government spending and taxation. Presidential candidates attending included Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, Sam Brownback, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson. Other speakers included John Stossel, Steve Lonegan, Dinesh D'Souza, Art Laffer, John Fund, Steve Moore, Herman Cain, Dr. Barry Poulson, and AFP founder David H. Koch.

The organization has state chapters in 23 of the 50 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. [ [http://www.afphq.org/index.php?static=203#staff Americans for Prosperity - Americans for Prosperity Foundation :: About Americans for Prosperity ] ]

Activities

Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard

The Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard is a legislative scorecard released by the Americans for Prosperity. The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that Americans for Prosperity believes would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive. [http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=6114 Americans for Prosperity Ranks House Lawmakers on “Freedom from Foreign Oil” Scorecard] , July 24, 2008.]

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and ANWR drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of cap-and-trade legislation was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against tax hikes on domestic oil and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to natural gas exploration.

In total, 172 U.S. Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” Americans for Prosperity distributed t-shirts bearing the OPEC flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. James Clyburn, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel.

No Climate Tax Pledge

Americans for Prosperity has circulated a pledge to federal, state, and local officials. The pledge states that the official will oppose any climate change legislation that contains a net increase in federal, state, or local revenue. . [ [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/] ,Lawrence Journal, July 22nd, 2008 ]

Over 150 lawmakers and candidates, including members of both political parties, have signed the pledge. Prominent pledge signers include Sens. Pat Roberts and Roger Wicker; U.S. Reps. Michelle Bachmann, John Carter, Jeff Flake, Jim Jordan, Doug Lamborn, Lynn Westmoreland, Phil Gingrey, and Tom Price; and candidates Jack Hoogendyk, Pete Olson, and Greg Davis.

RightOnline

In July, 2008, Americans for Prosperity hosted RightOnline, a conference of conservative bloggers in Austin, Texas. The conference brought together conservative activists to develop strategies to counter left-wing bloggers and develop conservative New Media techniques. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662.html?hpid=politics In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online - washingtonpost.com ] ] [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121634010883763999.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Free Preview - WSJ.com ] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php Americans for Prosperity Website]
* [http://americansforprosperity.org/national/draft_ratings.pdf Friends of Foreign Oil Scorecard]