Front Groups

DCI: From Smokers' Rights to Patients' Rights

by Diane Farsetta — July 29, 2009 - 3:03pm

The DCI Group, a lobbying and public relations firm known for creating front groups for industry clients and Republican campaigns, is behind a new anti-health reform front group, the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights (CPPR). "CPPR has been organizing lobbying efforts against health reform and publishing op-eds across the country with misinformation about the public option," reports Think Progress.

Main Source: 
Think Progress, July 28, 2009

Skeptic Overboard

by Bob Burton — July 9, 2009 - 4:33am

The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), an Australian corporate-funded think tank, has decided to dump its Senior Fellow, Jennifer Marohasy.

Main Source: 
Jennifer Marohasy.com, July 6, 2009

Climate Change Bill a Rorschach for Special Interests

by Diane Farsetta — June 30, 2009 - 4:42pm

The same day that the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives, the oil industry examined the loopholes. The bill, which has yet to pass the Senate, would make refiners "buy allowances for carbon dioxide spewed from their plants and from vehicles when motorists burn their fuel. Imports would need permits only for the latter." So, oil companies "will probably cope ...

Main Source: 
Bloomberg, June 26, 2009

Swiftboating Healthcare Solutions

by Diane Farsetta — May 13, 2009 - 3:36pm

Richard Scott, "a multimillionaire investor and controversial former hospital chief executive, has become an unlikely and prominent leader of the opposition to health-care reform," reports the Washington Post. But the public relations firm promoting Scott and his front group is a usual suspect.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, May 11, 2009

Corporate Think Tank Dives into Water Policy

by Diane Farsetta — April 28, 2009 - 9:49am
  • Topics: Front Groups, Global Warming, Corporations, International, Think Tanks

    • In May 2008, the major law firm Hunton & Williams launched the Water Policy Institute (WPI), a think tank-esque, industry-supported consortium formed "to address water supply, quality and use issues," according to its website.

    After the initial flurry of press releases, WPI appeared to languish. Then, ten months after its formation, WPI issued its first white paper. "Water Wars: Conflicts Over Shared Waters" (pdf) focuses on two river basins in the Southeastern United States. The paper urges the states involved -- Georgia, Florida and Alabama -- to put aside litigation and work with federal mediators to reach an agreement on water allocation. It also supports further study of seasonal water use, ecological issues and efficiency measures.

    The white paper's conclusions seem reasonable, even obvious. So much so that it's unclear why Hunton & Williams felt the need to recruit major public relations and corporate powerhouses when forming WPI -- and what they, and the law firm, get out of the effort.

    What is clear is that WPI, Hunton & Williams and their corporate allies have a long history of siding with (or being) polluters and attempting to undermine water quality safeguards. It seems reasonable, therefore, to worry that whatever WPI is up to, it's likely to do more harm than good.

    Climate Front Group Ignored Its Own Scientists

    by Bob Burton — April 28, 2009 - 5:11am

    An internal document (pdf) of the Global Climate Coalition (GCC) -- an industry front group that disbanded in 2002 -- reveals that when the group chose to promote doubt about the reality of global warming it was ignoring the views of its own scientific advi

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, April 23, 2009

    Bottled Water Thirsty for Good Media

    by Diane Farsetta — April 20, 2009 - 12:44pm

    A front group for the UK bottled water industry, "which is perceived to be expensive and environmentally unsound," signed a "six-figure" contract with the public relations firm Munro & Forster.

    Main Source: 
    PR Week (UK), April 15, 2009

    More on the Dewey Square Medicare Scam

    by Diane Farsetta — April 15, 2009 - 10:34am

    As the Center for Media and Democracy reported previously, the Dewey Square Group lobbying firm is sending newspapers fake letters to the editor. The letters promote Medicare Advantage, a private health insurance plan, and are sent in the name of local seniors.

    Main Source: 
    The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Massachusetts), April 13, 2009

    Overburn by a Coal Industry Front Group

    by Bob Burton — March 26, 2009 - 3:51am

    In 2008 the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry lobby group, spent $9.9 million on federal lobbying as well as $38 million on advertising promoting "clean coal." The president of the coalition, Steven L.

    Main Source: 
    CQ Weekly, March 21, 2009

    Beware Secondhand Rhetoric on Cigarette Taxes

    by Anne Landman — March 17, 2009 - 2:27pm
  • Topics: Front Groups, Health, Tobacco

    • Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. tobacco industry enjoyed tremendous success in beating back tobacco tax increases at all levels of government. But as the industry becomes ever more reviled and the economy goes further in the tank, raising cigarette taxes has become a much easier political proposition. Twelve states raised their cigarette tax in 2007 and 2008, with proposed legislation to do the same in 17 more states, as of February 2009. The federal government recently approved a tobacco tax increase of almost 62 cents per pack. When it goes into effect on April 1, it will bring the total federal tax on a pack of cigarettes to $1.00, to help fund the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

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