Non-profit

Main Street Alliance Action Fund

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

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The Main Street Alliance Action Fund (MSAAF) is the 501(c)(4) lobbying arm of the Main Street Alliance (MSA), a network of left-of-center small business owners. Democratic candidates including Hillary Clinton have received support from MSAAF. 1 MSAAF advocates for left-of-center policies and political candidates on a range of political issues including taxation, healthcare, and regulation.

Economics

In November 2017 during the debate over the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Main Street Alliance Action Fund hosted and event with the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action) opposing the tax cuts. 2 CAP Action is the 501(c)(4) advocacy arm of the left-of-center D.C.-based think tank Center for American Progress founded by John Podesta, White House Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton, Counselor to the President in the Obama White House, and chair of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential campaign. The keynote speaker for the event was left-wing U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). 3

Kelly Conklin, a Main Street Alliance member, was quoted in an article opposing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and specifically the proposal of repealing the death tax. 4 Sapna Mehta, legislative policy director for Main Street Alliance Action Fund , claimed that the death tax did not hurt small business owners. 5

Main Street Alliance Action Fund posted a video on YouTube of Main Street Alliance member Tony Sandkamp testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee in favor of a federal mandate for paid family leave. 6

As of May 2017, MSAAF had three employees, Lindsay DesLauriers, Kaycie Miltenberger, and Ashley Michelle Moore, registered as lobbyists in Vermont. 7 They lobby on legislation dealing with health care, business, economic development, taxation, affordable housing, and employee benefits.

Healthcare

Matt McColm, a Main Street Alliance Action Fund member, wrote an opinion piece supporting Obamacare. The article claimed that Republicans wanted to end protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions and called on people in the 2018 election in Washington’s 8th Congressional District to vote for a Democratic candidate. The district was considered to be competitive with FiveThirtyEight’s polling average showing a less than one-point race. 8

MSAAF member Chris Petersen appeared in a video circulated by Senate Democrats. Petersen advocated for Obamacare and opposed the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. 9 The potential that Kavanaugh would rule against provisions in Obamacare was Petersen’s main point of opposition to his nomination. Petersen repeated the claim that Republicans would do away with protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. 10

Electoral Advocacy

During the 2016 presidential campaign, MSAAF release a video blasting Donald Trump and praising Hillary Clinton. The video featured Kelly Conklin, who warned a Trump presidency would be “a recession waiting to happen” and “plunge the country into one of its darkest eras ever.” 11 Conklin also labeled Trump’s policies as “ignorant.” 12

MSAAF member Fernando Mejia-Ledesma signed onto a letter supporting Teresa Mosqueda for Seattle City Council. Mosqueda was the state campaign director for the left-wing Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO and was considered to be “a quintessential establishment candidate” for the left. 13 Other left-wing organizations that had members sign onto the letter included NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood, United Auto Workers 4121, SEIU 775, and over twenty local Democratic Party leaders. 14

References

  1. “”Donald Trump Is a Recession Waiting to Happen”: A Small Business Owner.” Facebook. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154518665002221.
  2. “Small Businesses and America Can’t Afford the Republican Tax Deal.” Center for American Progress Action. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/events/2017/11/08/169038/small-businesses-america-cant-afford-republican-tax-deal/.
  3. “Small Businesses and America Can’t Afford the Republican Tax Deal.” Center for American Progress Action. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/events/2017/11/08/169038/small-businesses-america-cant-afford-republican-tax-deal/.
  4. Salant, Jonathan D. “Trump Says His Tax Plan Would Help Small Businesses. It May Actually Hurt Them.” Nj.com. October 12, 2017. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.nj.com/politics/2017/10/trump_says_his_plan_would_cut_taxes_on_small_businesses_the_opposite_may_be_true.html.
  5. Salant, Jonathan D. “Trump Says His Tax Plan Would Help Small Businesses. It May Actually Hurt Them.” Nj.com. October 12, 2017. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.nj.com/politics/2017/10/trump_says_his_plan_would_cut_taxes_on_small_businesses_the_opposite_may_be_true.html.
  6. Ness, De L. “Take It From Moms: America’s Families Need the FAMILY Act.” MomsRising. December 12, 2013. Accessed April 16, 2019. https://www.momsrising.org/blog/take-it-from-moms-america’s-families-need-the-family-act.
  7. “Vermont Registered Lobbyists.” Vermont Secretary of State. May 1, 2017. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/844427/photobook-19.pdf.   
  8. “Washington 8th – 2018 House Forecast.” FiveThirtyEight. November 06, 2018. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-midterm-election-forecast/house/washington/8/.
  9. “Iowa Farmer Chris Petersen Lays Out #WhatsAtStake For Healthcare Protections.” Facebook Watch. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=452745415221257.
  10. “Iowa Farmer Chris Petersen Lays Out #WhatsAtStake For Healthcare Protections.” Facebook Watch. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=452745415221257.
  11. “”Donald Trump Is a Recession Waiting to Happen”: A Small Business Owner.” Facebook. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154518665002221.
  12. “”Donald Trump Is a Recession Waiting to Happen”: A Small Business Owner.” Facebook. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154518665002221.
  13. “The Times Editorial Board Recommends: Jon Grant, Seattle City Council, Position 8.” The Seattle Times. October 16, 2017. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/the-times-recommends-jon-grant-seattle-city-council-position-8/.
  14. “An Open Letter to the People of Seattle.” Teresa Mosqueda for Seattle City Council. October 19, 2017. Accessed June 13, 2019.
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