60 Plus Association

The 60 Plus Association is an American 501(c)(4) organization founded in 1992 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. Its stated purpose is to promote solutions to seniors' issues that are grounded in free markets, less government, and less taxes.[1] Over the years, it has sought to offer a privatized option for Social Security, end the federal estate tax, and strengthen gun rights.[2] Current issues include opposing certain health care reform proposals,[3] opposing federal energy standards,[4] opposing the structure of the General Motors bailout,[5] supporting the Stop Online Piracy Act,[6] and opposing tax increases.[7] 60 Plus is a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition.

Staff

60 Plus is led by its Chairman James L Martin, a 77-year old veteran of the US Marines. Martin has previously led several conservative advocacy groups, and also was chief of staff for six years for former Republican congressman and senator, the late Edward Gurney of Florida.[1] Martin also served as a member of President George W. Bush's health and human services transition team.[8]

In 2010, Amy Noone Frederick (b. 1978) was named president of the 60 Plus Association. Frederick, wife of former Virginia legislator Jeff Frederick, is a former lobbyist and political consultant. For eight years she served as a senior adviser to Virginia legislative candidates. Frederick graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with a degree in government.[9]

Funding

In 2002, the Washington Post reported that 60 Plus received an unrestricted educational grant (which can be used as most needed) from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, also known as PhRMA.[10] Ken Johnson, senior vice president and spokesman for PhRMA said that as of 2009 the association had not provided any funding to 60 Plus for at least five years.[11] In 2009, Carl Forti, a political consultant and spokesman for 60 Plus said, "I don't believe PhRMA has ever given 60 Plus money." He added that 60 Plus is funded by donations from its 5.5 million members.

60 Plus also earns income from sponsoring life insurance and health screening for its members.[12]

In 2014, documents left behind by an attendee at an exclusive "donor seminar" put on by Charles and David Koch (of Koch Industries) revealed that the billionaire brothers count the 60 Plus Association as a part of their massive political network.[13][14][15]

In 2014 as a sign of how unwieldy the vast Koch network is, the Freedom Partners supported 60 Plus Association ran TV ads that the Koch brothers did not agree with.[16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 About 60 Plus
  2. ↑ "Kill the Death Tax & Save Social Security", "60plus.org", accessed July 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Seniors Suffer Under Obama","60plus.org", June 22, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Seniors Urge Congress to Oppose Federal Renewable Energy Standards","60plus.org", June 16, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Are you a worried GM bondholder", "60plus.org", April 27, 2009.
  6. ↑ "List of Supporters: H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act", United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, December 21, 2011
  7. ↑ Martin, James L. "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul","60plus.org", February 27, 2009.
  8. ↑ Health Law Journal, "The Bush Transition Team and the Health Care Industry", May 2001
  9. ↑ Amy Noone Frederick, President
  10. ↑ "High Drug Prices Return as Issue That Stirs Voters," Washington Post, October 15, 2002, A8 (story offline).
  11. ↑ National health care debate complicates Louisiana politics, by Jonathan Tilove, Nola.com, 16 November 2009
  12. ↑ 60 Plus insurance website
  13. ↑ Inside the $400-million political network backed by the Kochs
  14. ↑ A rare look inside the Koch brothers political empire
  15. ↑ Koch Organisation Flow Chart
  16. ↑ Elliott, Philip (4 April 2014). "Koch brothers weren't consulted before seniors group criticized senators". www.csmonitor.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 4 April 2014.

Further reading

External links