Progress for America

Progress for America is a major political fund-raising and marketing group that supports conservative issues and candidates.

Progress for America was founded by Tony Feather, a close ally of Karl Rove, in 2001 as a "527" group, named for a section of the tax code. During the 2004 Presidential campaign, it spent about $45 million on ads praising George W. Bush and attacking John Kerry [http://www.nysun.com/article/41396] . It has also run ads supporting Bush's Supreme Court nominees, as well in support of the Iraq war and the war on terrorism. [http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/15781852.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_nation]

527 groups can use the names of candidates in their ads, but they must disclose the names of donors and the amounts received. In 2006, Progress for America has shifted its legal structure, incorporating instead under section 501c(4) of the tax code. This reorganization prevents the group from directly naming candidates it supports but frees it from any requirement to name those who donate money to it or specify how much they gave.

Republican political consulting firm DCI Group, which also helped run the anti-Kerry campaign of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, is also closely involved with Progress for America. Both Brian McCabe and Chris LaCivita have worked for PFA.

External links

* [http://www.progressforamerica.org "Progress for America - Official Site"]

* [http://www.nysun.com/article/41396 New York Sun, October 12, 2006, "Avalanche of Cash Is Set to Descend on Election Battle"]
* [http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/15781852.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_nation McClatchy Washington Bureau, October 17, 2006, "Pro-Republican ads stretch the truth on Iraq to influence elections"]