The Main Street Alliance (MSA) is a network of small business owners that support left-of-center policies. The group was founded in 2008 to advocate for healthcare changes that evolved into Obamacare. ¹ MSA claims more than a dozen state chapters. ² Today, the MSA advocates for left-of-center policies on economics, healthcare, and immigration.

Economic Policy

MSA has advocated for increasing the amount of government regulation over financial products. In 2011, a Main Street Alliance member appeared in the Washington Post advocating for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Dodd-Frank Act which created more financial regulations. ³ Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), joined an MSA conference call in which he advocated for further regulating banks. ⁴ The MSA opposed the Financial CHOICE Act proposal put forward by Republicans in 2017, which sought to roll back red tape put on the financial industry. ⁵

MSA’s affiliates have been active in pushing for increasing the minimum wage. MSA Washington called for a $12 minimum wage in 2015. ⁶ In 2015, MSA member Kevin Litwin spoke on the group’s behalf before the Los Angeles City Council and asked that the minimum wage be raised to $15.25. ⁷ MSA executive team member, Deborah Field, joined the Raise the Wage campaign in Oregon calling for a $15 minimum wage. ⁸

The MSA has opposed tax cuts on numerous occasions. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by President Donald Trump in November 2017 faced attacks from MSA as members advocated for raising spending rather than cutting taxes. ⁹ When the Trump administration considered lowering the capital gains tax, MSA shared an article by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) opposing the proposal. ¹⁰ In Minnesota, the group pushed a petition opposing lowing the death tax. ¹¹

Government-Run Healthcare

Main Street Alliance’s Oregon chapter is a member of Health Care for All Oregon, which supports socialized healthcare. ¹² Other left-wing members of Health Care for All Oregon include the Communist Party of Oregon, Oregon AFL-CIO, National Action Network of Portland/Beaverton, and the Pacific Green Party. ¹³ MSA Oregon joined Healthcare for All Oregon in 2015 for a rally at the state capitol that featured speeches from Oregon Democratic legislators. ¹⁴ At the rally MSA Oregon executive team member Jason Freilinger spoke in favor of government-run healthcare and called on the state legislature to implement socialized medicine. ¹⁵

Immigration

MSA has opposed the mandatory use of E-Verify, a government internet-based system that allows employers to ensure the people they hire are legally allowed to work in the United States. David Borris, a member of MSA’s executive committee, protested outside of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and demanded that the Chamber oppose E-Verify. ¹⁶

Another free-market policy organization that MSA has criticized over immigration is the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). MSA attacked the NFIB for supporting President Trump’s immigration policy. ¹⁷ In the blog, MSA referred to the detention centers where illegal immigrants that are arrested are taken to as “internment camps.” ¹⁸

The MSA supports amnesty and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. ¹⁹

Main Street Alliance signed a letter condemning the immigration policy of the Trump Administration and urging American CEOs not to employ anyone involved with the policy. It accused these officials of being directly guilty for physical abuse, sexual assault, and even the death of illegal immigrant children. The letter was titled “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs” and was dated April 6, 2019. ²⁰

Left-of-Center Supporters

Main Street Alliance partnered with Beneficial State Bank for an event on small business lending in Oregon. ²¹ Beneficial State Bank was founded by liberal activist billionaire Tom Steyer and his wife Kat Taylor, who is the CEO of the bank. ²² Taylor spoke at the event. ²³

In 2014, MSA partnered with former governor Madeleine Kunin (D-VT) to host an event supporting government mandated sick leave. ²⁴ Tom Perez, who was Secretary of Labor for President Obama at the time, came and spoke at the event. ²⁵

Financials

Main Street Alliance has taken money from a division of the Service Employees International Union; SEIU Healthcare Minnesota (formally known as SEIU Joint Council 7) provided MSA with $20,000 in 2018. ²⁶

1. “History.” Main Street Alliance. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/history.
2. “Affiliates.” Main Street Alliance. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/affiliates.
3. Germany, Jacquie. “Commentary: Don’t Weaken the Watchdog.” The Washington Post. July 10, 2011. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/commentary-dont-weaken-the-watchdog/2011/06/30/gIQABeNN7H_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3dd95bfae052.
4. “Sen. Durbin Joins Main Street Alliance Members On Swipe Fee Call.” Main Street Alliance. May 19, 2011. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/sen_durbin_joins_main_street_alliance_members_on_swipe_fee_call.
5. Simaan, Angela. “Small Business Owners Tell House Members: You Made the Wrong CHOICE.” Main Street Alliance. June 9, 2017. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/house_choice_act.
6. Michael, Stephen. “Main Street Alliance of Washington Leaders Call for $12 Min Wage.” Main Street Alliance. April 2, 2015. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/main_street_alliance_of_washington_leaders_call_for_12_min_wage.
7. Michael, Stephen. “Small Business Owners Applaud LA City Council for Voting to Raise the Minimum Wage.” Main Street Alliance. May 19, 2015. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/small_business_owners_applaud_la_city_council_for_voting_to_raise_the_minimum_wage.
8. Michael, Stephen. “Small Business Owner Helps Launch Raise the Wage Campaign in Oregon.” Main Street Alliance. July 22, 2015. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/small_business_owner_helps_launch_raise_the_wage_campaign_in_oregon_jfabd2myp_vh3z_mgyv5aqpxbby.
9. Simaan, Angela. “Small Business Owners Still Not Sold on Tax Bill, Trump Immigration Plan.” Main Street Alliance. January 31, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/small_business_owners_still_not_sold_on_tax_bill_trump_immigration_plan.
10. Michael, Stephen. “Capital Gains Tax and Small Business.” Main Street Alliance. August 10, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/capital_gains_tax_and_small_business.
11. “Minnesota Small Businesses Support Investment, Not Tax Cuts.” Main Street Alliance. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/investment_not_cuts.
12. Michael, Stephen. “Small Businesses Show Support for Publicly Funded Universal Health Care in Oregon.” Main Street Alliance. February 13, 2015. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/small_businesses_show_support_for_publicly_funded_universal_health_care_in_oregon.
13. “Member Organizations.” Health Care for All Oregon. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.hcao.org/member-and-endorsing-organizations.
14. Michael, Stephen. “Small Businesses Show Support for Publicly Funded Universal Health Care in Oregon.” Main Street Alliance. February 13, 2015. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/small_businesses_show_support_for_publicly_funded_universal_health_care_in_oregon.
15. Michael, Stephen. “Small Businesses Show Support for Publicly Funded Universal Health Care in Oregon.” Main Street Alliance. February 13, 2015. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/small_businesses_show_support_for_publicly_funded_universal_health_care_in_oregon.
16. “Small Businesses Oppose Mandatory E-Verify as Job Killer.” Main Street Alliance. September 14, 2014. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/small_businesses_oppose_mandatory_e_verify_as_job_killer.
17. Michael, Stephen. “The Time for Business as Usual Is over.” Main Street Alliance. June 20, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/the_time_for_business_as_usual_is_over.
18. Michael, Stephen. “The Time for Business as Usual Is over.” Main Street Alliance. June 20, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/the_time_for_business_as_usual_is_over.
19. Simaan, Angela. “Small Businesses Stand with Dreamers as Senate Debate Continues.” Main Street Alliance. February 15, 2018. Accessed June 13, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/small_businesses_stand_with_dreamers_as_senate_debate_continues.
20. “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs.” Restore Public Trust. April 6, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/04/Restore-Public-Trust-Open-Letter-Asylum-04.2019.pdf
21. Michael, Stephen. “Money on a Mission on Main Street.” Main Street Alliance. October 23, 2014. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/money_on_a_mission_on_main_street.
22. “Tom Steyer.” Beneficial State Bank. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://beneficialstatebank.com/our-story/our-people/tom-steyer-beneficial-state-bank.
23. Michael, Stephen. “Money on a Mission on Main Street.” Main Street Alliance. October 23, 2014. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/money_on_a_mission_on_main_street
24. DesLauriers, Lindsay. “Seattle Business Owner and U.S. Secretary of Labor Talk to Vermont Businesses about Earned Leave.” Main Street Alliance. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/seattle_business_owner_and_u_s_secretary_of_labor_talk_to_vermont_businesses_about_earned_leave.
25. DesLauriers, Lindsay. “Seattle Business Owner and U.S. Secretary of Labor Talk to Vermont Businesses about Earned Leave.” Main Street Alliance. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.mainstreetalliance.org/seattle_business_owner_and_u_s_secretary_of_labor_talk_to_vermont_businesses_about_earned_leave.
26. SEIU Joint Council 7 (OLMS File Number 047-059), Annual Report of a Labor Organization (form LM-2), 2018, Schedule 17