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Political Party/527

Alliance for Common Sense

Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

86-3218927
Type:

Political Organization
Status:

527
Formation:

2011

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Alliance for Common Sense is a political organization founded by the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) to support the re-election of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D). The Alliance sponsored several ads in 2022 that attacked the Republican candidate Tim Michels, claiming he was too radical and divisive for Wisconsin. 1

In addition to the DGA, major contributors to the Alliance included several labor unions in Wisconsin, left-of-center groups that support gun control and abortion access, and billionaire philanthropist and liberal politician Michael Bloomberg. 2 3

Background

The Alliance for Common Sense was established in April 2021 as a political organization with Stephen Hill listed as its contact. 4 It has no website and just a placeholder Facebook page with no details or posts other than an indicator that it is a political organization. 5 The Wisconsin Examiner described it as a “phony issue ad group” along with several other groups that made expenditures during the 2022 election campaigns. 6

The Alliance for Common Sense submitted an initial filing as a 527 political organization in April 2021 and a final filing in December 2022. 7

The Alliance was formed to support the reelection of Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) and was run by the Democratic Governors Association (DGA). 8 The DGA is a political organization made up of Democratic governors that supports the election of Democratic governors throughout the United States. 9 As of April 2024 it is chaired by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). Its vice chair is Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D), and its policy chair is California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). 10

The Center for Innovative Policy identifies the Alliance for Common Sense as a “Related Tax-Exempt Organization” in its 2022 tax return along with Jobs and Opportunity PAC, Put Michigan First, Guarantee Our Votes Project, and Patriots for a Better Arkansas. 11 The Center for Innovative Policy is a left-of-center think tank that works with the Democratic governors to develop state-level public policy. 12

The Center for Innovative Policy, Guarantee Our Votes Project, and the Alliance for Common Sense all share the same address in Washington, D.C. 13 14

Activities

According to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (WDC), the top-spending group for the 2022 Wisconsin governors’ race was the Democratic Governors Association, which spent over $20 million to the Alliance to produce ads attacking Republican candidate Tim Michels. The WDC described the Alliance as a “phony issue ad group.” 15

In August 2022, the Alliance sponsored a television ad claiming that Michels had an agenda too radical and divisive for Wisconsin and two ads claiming that he would support legislation to allow guns in schools. In September and October, the Alliance sponsored several ads attacking Michels about his anti-abortion position and claiming female employees filed sexual harassment lawsuits at his family-owned construction company. 16

The Alliance ad in September 2022 claimed that Michels’ family foundation funded an organization that tracks women near abortion clinics using data from their cell phones, indicating that Michels wanted to criminalize women. The ad attempts to equate the cell phone tracking to the ankle monitors used by the criminal justice system. 17 Politifact’s fact-checking reveals that Michels’ parents’ foundation contributed $20,000 to the Veritas Society, a pro-life digital marketing group that identifies and reaches out to abortion vulnerable women through location tracking with positive pro-life messaging and content, deeming the Alliance ad as “Mostly False.” 18 19

Funding

The Alliance for Common Sense is listed in the IRS website as a 527 political organization. 20 It filed the required IRS form 8871 to report contributions and expenditures from June 2021 to December 2022. 21 In addition to the founding Democratic Governors Association, major contributors to the Alliance included NARAL Pro-Choice America, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association (NEA) Advocacy Fund, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Service Employees International Union, United Association, Communications Workers of America, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Michael Bloomberg. 22 23 24

Bloomberg is CEO of the financial organization Bloomberg LP worth over $106 billion as of April 2024. He was previously mayor of New York City and a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020. He founded Bloomberg Philanthropies and has donated over $17 billion to left-of-center causes such as guns and climate change. 25 Bloomberg is the co-founder of Everytown for Gun Safety which also made a large contribution to the Alliance for Common Sense. 26

Leadership

Noam Lee is listed as chairperson in the Alliance for Common Sense’s IRS form 8871 for 2022. 27 Lee worked at the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) for 10 years, including as executive director. After leaving the DGA he founded Birdeye Strategies in 2023 which is described as a government relations services organization on LinkedIn. 28 29 Lee is also listed as director and president of the DGA-associated left-of-center think tank Center for Innovative Policy. 30

Stephen Hill is listed as treasurer of the Alliance for 2022 and is listed as director, secretary, and treasurer of the Center for Innovative Policy. 31 Hill joined the DGA in 2015 and became chief operating officer in 2019. Previously he worked at a variety of campaigns, nonprofits, and political action committees focused on getting Democrats elected to office. 32

References

  1.  “Hijacking Campaign 2022 – Information on Alliance for Common Sense.” Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. August 16, 2022. Updated March 22, 2024. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.wisdc.org/interest-group-spending/137-hijacking-campaign-2022/7178-hijacking-campaign-2022-information-on-alliance-for-common-sense
  2. Alliance for Common Sense. Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures. (Form 8872.) Period ending 9/30/22.
  3. Alliance for Common Sense. Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures. (Form 8872.) Period ending 11/28/22.
  4. HIPAASpace – Employer Identification Number: 863218927. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.hipaaspace.com/ein/ein_verification/863218927
  5. Facebook – Alliance for Common Sense. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/AllianceforCommonSense/about
  6. Matt Rothschild. “Outside spending on elections hits horrifying new high.” Wisconsin Examiner. October 31, 2022. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/outside-spending-on-elections-hits-horrifying-new-high/
  7. IRS.gov – Search for Political Organization Disclosures – Alliance for Common Sense Form 8871. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://forms.irs.gov/app/pod/basicSearch/details?searchOrgName=Alliance%20for%20Common%20Sense&searchFormType=Form%208871&ein=&pacId=71293&pacInfoId=71293&fromDate=&toDate=
  8. “Hijacking Campaign 2022 – Information on Alliance for Common Sense.” Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. August 16, 2022. Updated March 22, 2024. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.wisdc.org/interest-group-spending/137-hijacking-campaign-2022/7178-hijacking-campaign-2022-information-on-alliance-for-common-sense
  9. “About Us.” Democratic Governors Association. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://democraticgovernors.org/about/
  10. “About Us.” Democratic Governors Association. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://democraticgovernors.org/about/
  11. Center For Innovative Policy. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Schedule R). 2022.
  12. Center for Innovative Policy website. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.centerforinnovativepolicy.org/
  13. Center for Innovative Policy website. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.centerforinnovativepolicy.org/
  14. “Guarantee Our Votes Project.” OpenCorporates. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_dc/EXTUID_4296910
  15. “Record $93M in Spending by Outside Groups in 2022.” Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. December 5, 2022. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.wisdc.org/news/press-releases/136-press-release-2022/7251-record-93m-in-spending-by-outside-groups-in-2022
  16. “Hijacking Campaign 2022 – Information on Alliance for Common Sense.” Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. August 16, 2022. Updated March 22, 2024. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.wisdc.org/interest-group-spending/137-hijacking-campaign-2022/7178-hijacking-campaign-2022-information-on-alliance-for-common-sense
  17. “Ankle Bracelet.” YouTube – Alliance for Common Sense. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbOHgBfDaAA
  18. Madeline Heim. “Ad is off-base with claim that Tim Michels wants to treat women like criminals.” Politifact. September 20, 2022. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/sep/20/politifact-group/ad-base-claim-tim-michels-wants-treat-women-crimin/
  19. Veritas Society webpage. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://veritassociety.com/
  20. IRS.gov search – Alliance for Common Sense. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://forms.irs.gov/app/pod/basicSearch/details?searchOrgName=&searchFormType=Form%208871,%20Form%208872&ein=863218927&pacId=71293&pacInfoId=71293&fromDate=&toDate=
  21. IRS.gov – Search for Political Organization Disclosures – Alliance for Common Sense Form 8872. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://forms.irs.gov/app/pod/basicSearch/details?searchOrgName=Alliance%20for%20Common%20Sense&searchFormType=Form%208872&ein=&pacId=71293&pacInfoId=71293&fromDate=&toDate=
  22. Alliance for Common Sense. Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures. (Form 8872.) Period ending 9/30/22.
  23. Alliance for Common Sense. Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures. (Form 8872.) Period ending 10/19/2022.
  24. Alliance for Common Sense. Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures. (Form 8872.) Period ending 11/28/22.
  25. “Michael Bloomberg.” Forbes – Profile. As of April 23, 2024. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/profile/michael-bloomberg/?sh=7be427821417
  26. LinkedIn – Michael Bloomberg. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebloomberg/details/experience/
  27. IRS.gov – Search for Political Organization Disclosures – Alliance for Common Sense Form 8871. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://forms.irs.gov/app/pod/basicSearch/details?searchOrgName=Alliance%20for%20Common%20Sense&searchFormType=Form%208871&ein=&pacId=71293&pacInfoId=71293&fromDate=&toDate=
  28. LinkedIn – Noam Lee. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/noam-lee-788360a/
  29. LinkedIn – Birdseye Strategies. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/birdseye-strategies/
  30. Center for Innovative Policy. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part VII). 2022.
  31. Center for Innovative Policy. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part VII). 2022.
  32. “DGA Announces Senior Staff.” Democratic Governors Association. February 20, 2019. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/dga-announces-senior-staff-2/
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Alliance for Common Sense


Washington, DC