Tobacco industry policy agenda intersecting with Tea Party politics

Fallin, Amanda

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Exhibit Hall (Kansas City Convention Center)

Dr. Amanda Fallin, PhD, RN , Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Dr. Rachel Grana, PhD , Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Dr. Stanton Glantz, PhD , Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees will be able to:

1. Describe the tobacco industry relationship with Citizens for a Sound Economy, which in 2004 split into FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity (groups which have promoted Tea party activities and candidates) 2. Describe FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity board member ties to CSE, the tobacco industry, and other third-party groups that have historically been allies or received industry funding 3. Describe Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks' current anti-tobacco control advocacy

Cross Cutting Program Area(s): Tobacco Control Policies and Tobacco Industry

Audience:

Tobacco control advocates, tobacco industry researchers, and policymakers

Key Points :

Background. The tobacco industry (TI) has historically partnered with front groups to accomplish their policy agenda. One example was their partnership with Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), founded in 1984, which split into FreedomWorks (FW) and Americans for Prosperity (AFP) in 2004. These organizations support Tea Party activities and affiliated candidates.

Purpose. This paper presents TI’s ties to the Tea Party movement through third-party organizations. We describe: CSE’s historical relationship to the TI; FW and AFP board member ties to CSE, the TI, and other third-party groups that aligned with or received industry funding; and current relationships among third-party organizations and board members who support the TI’s policy agenda.

Methods. Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, LexisNexis and Google searches

Results: The TI funded CSE, which advocated in support of their policy agenda, including fighting tobacco taxes, discrediting the EPA on secondhand smoke, and opposing the DOJ case against the industry for RICO violations. After CSE split into FW and AFP, these organizations continued advocating a pro-TI agenda, opposing tobacco taxes and smokefree laws. Several CSE board members continued to serve on FW and AFP boards. In addition, many board members are currently affiliated with other organizations that have received TI funding or supported the TI’s policy agenda (e.g., the John Locke Foundation and the Cato Institute).

Educational Experience:

A multimedia powerpoint or poster presentation

Benefits:

The presentation will include implications for tobacco control advocates and policymakers.

137 Tobacco industry policy agenda intersecting with Tea Party politics