Liberals have formed a “secretive nonprofit network” to anonymously fund a group that has ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton, backs pro-abortion groups and played a role in the failed recall of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, according to a probe by a Pulitzer Prize winning news outfit.
While America Votes is dwarfed in size by the political group of libertarians Charles and David Koch, it is just as reluctant to release the names of donors, though much of the media isn’t as interested in chasing down details of the group.
But the Center for Public Integrity has and in a new posting found that 12 anonymous donors accounted for 60 percent of the group’s income, legal under finance laws.
“The sources of America Votes’ funding are not clear,” reported the Center of the 501(c)(4) nonprofit that has a sister super PAC.
In the story headlined, “Who’s bankrolling secretive liberal group America Votes?” the Center reported, “Even as top Democrats denounce Charles and David Koch’s political ‘dark money’ organizations, party operatives have built a secretive nonprofit network of their own — albeit a much smaller one — to advance liberal policies and win votes.
“America Votes, which seeks to build ‘a permanent advocacy and campaign infrastructure’ to ‘promote progressive issues,’ raised $12.7 million during its most recent fiscal year.”
The Center, reviewing IRS documents, found that the group received funding from several unions, including the National Education Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees as well as former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg‘s Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
It has doled out cash to groups including Planned Parenthood, the Bull Moose Sportsmen, which supports gun background check legislation, and NARAL.
The Center said the group was created by liberals including EMILY’s List founder Ellen Malcolm and Harold Ickes, a longtime adviser to Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
