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Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

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Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.JPG
Basic facts
Location:Washington, D.C.
Type:501(c)(3), 501(c)(4)
Top official:Justine Sarver, Executive Director
Year founded:1999
Website:Official website


The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, or BISC, based in Washington, DC, aims to advocate for progressive ballot measures and to develop strategies for opposing and supporting ballot measures campaigns. There are two BISC organizations, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Inc., a 501(c)(4), and the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3).

Corporate statements

According to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center's website, the purpose and beliefs of the company are as follows:[1]

“

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) is the progressive movement’s premiere organization working on ballot measures, helping national and state partners and funders build a cohesive ballot measure strategy.

Our innovative research and training and our expert strategic assistance helps ensure the best outcomes for ballot measure campaigns.

BISC believes that pro-active and progressive ballot measures offer a unique opportunity to empower voters through innovative messaging, increase participation in the political process by organizing around issues that motivate, and realize policy that makes people’s lives better.[2]

”

Background

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center was founded in 1999. The organization was established with the intent to help progressives "frame election issues, increase progressive turnout, house coordinated field operations, draw contrasts between candidates, build voter lists, and empower progressive organizations."[3]

Work

BISC video about the ballot initiative process

According to its website, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center seeks to help progressive ballot measures campaigns develop strategies and to foster a collaborative approach to those campaigns. The organization conducts research on the science of ballot measures and voter responses, compiling a digital library of resources that houses information on anything from past campaign information to memos on best practices. Additionally, BISC is financially active in ballot measures campaigns, donating funds in support of progressive measures and funding opposition to conservative measures. The organization focuses on the following issues:[4][5]

“
  • Economic fairness (including minimum wage & earned sick leave)
  • Voting rights
  • LGBT non-discrimination
  • Women’s Health[2]
 ”

Political activity

Ballot measure activism

As its name suggests, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center is an active player in ballot measure initiatives. The information below shows some initiatives that BISC has supported and opposed financially or with formal endorsements and opposition statements.

Measures supported

2016: Maine initiatives
See also: Maine Minimum Wage Increase, Question 4 (2016)
See also: Maine Tax on Incomes Exceeding $200,000 for Public Education, Question 2 (2016)

BISC announced in 2016 that it supported two Maine initiatives designed to gradually increase the minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020 (Maine Minimum Wage Increase Initiative) and grant new funding to support public education (Maine Public Education Surcharge Initiative). BISC Executive Director Justine Sarver stated, "Voters are frustrated with Washington and lawmakers in Augusta, and the ballot is one way that we can continue to advance the issues that empower families and expand opportunity for all." She continued, "For too long lawmakers have refused to pass livable minimum wage, and this year Mainers have the chance to strengthen the state’s economy."[6]

Ohio Minimum Wage Initiative (2006)
See also: Ohio Minimum Wage Initiative (2006)

BISC gave $28,500 to the 2006 Ohio Minimum Wage Initiative, which was designed to increase the minimum wage in Ohio from $5.15 to $6.85 starting on January 1, 2007 with further increases each year to make up for inflation.[7] The measure was passed in November 2006.[8][9]

Washington Energy Conservation, Initiative 937 (2006)
See also: Washington Energy Conservation, Initiative 937 (2006)

BISC donated $10,000 to the Washington Energy Conservation Initiative of 2006, which was designed to require certain electric utilities with 25,000 or more customers to meet certain targets for energy conservation and use of renewable energy resources, as defined, including energy credits, or pay penalties.[10] The initiative was passed in November 2006.[11]

Ohio Issue 4 (2005)
See also: Ohio Issue 4 (2005)

In 2005, BISC donated $55,000 to a group called Reform Ohio Now, which was a sponsor of Ohio Issue 4 (2005). The measure was designed to create a state redistricting commission to draw state legislative districts boundaries in Ohio. The measure was defeated in November of 2005, with 33% of Ohio voters in favor of the measure.[8][12]

Measures opposed

Idaho Restrict Eminent Domain Initiative, Initiative 2 (2006)
See also: Idaho Restrict Eminent Domain Initiative, Initiative 2 (2006)

In 2006, BISC donated $10,000 to the successful effort to defeat the 2006 Idaho Restrict Eminent Domain Initiative, which was designed to limit the ability of the Idaho state government, as well as local governments in Idaho, to take private property using the power of eminent domain.[13]

California Proposition 21 (2000)
See also; California Proposition 21 (2000)

In 2000, BISC donated $29,500 to an unsuccessful campaign to defeat California Proposition 21 (2000). Proposition 21, which was designed to make various aspects of the treatment of juvenile offendors more strict, passed with 62% of the vote in November 2000.[14][15]

Leadership

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center website lists the following individuals as the organization's leadership:[16]

  • Justine Sarver, Executive Director
  • Alison Schwartz, Managing Director
  • Ansley Tuten, Development Coordinator
  • Cristina Uribe, California State Director
  • Dana Laurent, Director of Strategic Initiatives
  • Kellie Dupree, Director of Programs and Communications
  • Mandy Vlasz, Director of Operations and Administration
  • Marsha Donat, Political and Research Coordinator

Finances

Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Inc.

According to their 2007 Form 990, the revenue of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Inc. was $923,606.[17] By 2014, the organization's revenue had increased to $1,197,531 and its expenditures totaled to $1,072,417.[18]

BISC Inc. revenue by year, 2011-2014
Year Revenue
2014 $1,197,531[18]
2013 $1,047,114[18]
2012 $1,753,047[19]
2011 $1,136,928[19]

Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation

According to the Capital Research Center, "The BISC Foundation had revenues of about $202,000 in 2006. In the prior two years, the Foundation received substantial grants from billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Institute, the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and the far-left Washington, D.C.-based Arca Foundation. At least 15 grants totaling $510,073 went to the BISC Foundation since its creation in 1999."[3] According to the organization's 2007 990 form, the group's revenue was $203,169.[20] By 2014, the foundation's income was $999,885 and its expenditures totaled to $1,055,542.[21]

BISC Foundation revenue by year, 2011-2014
Year Revenue
2014 $999,885[21]
2013 $1,270,552[22]
2012 $599,064[23]
2011 $678,950[23]

Support from Open Society Foundations

See also: Open Society Foundations

BISC received a grant for $200,000 from the Open Society Foundations in 2008.[24]

Opposition

Criticism of ties with labor unions

In a 2008 report, the Capital Research Center accused BISC of protecting the interests of big labor by blocking select ballot initiatives. The report stated, "BISC has strong union ties. Board members represent a who’s who of national union muscle from the AFL-CIO (which donated $25,000 in 2005), the International Association of Machinists, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association ($75,000 in 2005), the United Food and Commercial Workers, AFSCME, and the Service Employees International Unions (which donated $25,000 in both 2005 and 2006). The unions provided cash grants and contracted with BISC to assist them at the state level. Officials from People for the American Way and the leftwing Center for Policy Alternatives also are members of the BISC board of trustees." The report also stated that BISC only had issues with money going to support conservative issues, and was therefore not a friend of the initiative process generally speaking, but only a radical promoter of leftist agendas. The author quoted portions of a statement from Paul Jacob, the president of the pro-referendum Citizens in Charge Foundation, stating that BISC "'pretends to be for the (ballot initiative) process, as they also undertake measures to fight general ballot access.' Rather than engage in 'leafleting,' a common, legal and healthy way to fight initiatives you don’t agree with, Jacob says BISC trains its operatives to frustrate initiatives campaigns using thuggish measures that amount to what he terms 'blocking campaigns.'"[3]

Alleged petition blocking

According to a 2008 opinion piece written by Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity (a conservative think tank devoted to the issues of race and ethnicity), in the National Review, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center was involved in aggressive petition blocking. The tactics centered around initiatives proposed in Colorado, Arizona, and Nebraska that were designed to ban preferences based on race, ethnicity, and sex in public contracting, education, and employment. Activities involved using bribery, shouting at people giving out the petitions to be signed, using general intimidation tactics, and encouraging misinformation. While most of these activities are directly attributed to the group By Any Means Necessary in the article, Clegg still connected the activity with BISC, saying, "Who are these people, and who is behind them? Well, in addition to BAMN itself (hard left, with Marxist roots), there is the infamous Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), the Soros-funded Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, union organizers, wealthy minority contractors, the NAACP, and the ACLU."[25]

Contact

Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
1815 Adams Mill Road NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20009
Phone: (202) 223-2373


Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, California Office
1330 Broadway, Suite 312
Oakland, CA 94612

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for "Ballot+ Initiative+ Strategy+ Center"

All stories may not be relevant to this organization due to the nature of the search engine.

Ballot Initiative Strategy Center News Feed

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ BISC, "Who We Are," accessed June 12, 2016
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Capital Research Center, "The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center: How It Promotes Big Labor’s Political Strategy" accessed June 16, 2016
  4. ↑ BISC, "What We Stand For", accessed June 15, 2016
  5. ↑ BISC, "What We Do," accessed June 15, 2016
  6. ↑ BISC, "Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), Supports Maine Minimum Wage and Public Education Initiatives on Ballot this November," February 3, 2016
  7. ↑ Followthemoney.org, "Donors to Yes on 2," accessed July 30, 2013
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, "Ohio Constitution: Table of Proposed Amendments," accessed July 9, 2015
  9. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed July 9, 2015
  10. ↑ Publis Disclosure Commission, "Washingtonians for Clean Energy monetary contributions," accessed June 16, 2016
  11. ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2006 election results," accessed June 2, 2008
  12. ↑ State Library of Ohio, "Proposed constitutional amendments, initiated legislation and laws challenged by referendum, submitted to the electors," accessed July 9, 2015
  13. ↑ Idaho Campaign Finance Disclosure Report, "Neighbors Protecting Idaho," accessed June 15, 2016
  14. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Details of contributors to No on Prop 21," accessed June 15, 2016
  15. ↑ California Secretary of State, "LAO's analysis of Proposition 21," accessed January 10, 2008
  16. ↑ BISC, "Who We Are, Staff Bios," accessed June 15, 2016
  17. ↑ GuideStar, "2007 BISC, Inc. Form 990," accessed June 15, 2016
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 GuideStar, "2014 BISC, Inc. Form 990," accessed June 15, 2016
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 GuideStar, "2012 BISC Inc. Form 990," accessed June 16, 2016
  20. ↑ GuideStar, "2007 BISC Foundation Form 990," accessed June 15, 2016
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 GuideStar, "2014 BISC Foundation Form 990," accessed June 16, 2016
  22. ↑ GuideStar, "2013 BISC Foundation Form 990," accessed June 16, 2016
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 GuideStar, "2012 BISC Foundation Form 990," accessed June 16, 2016
  24. ↑ Open Society Foundations, "Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation," accessed June 15, 2016
  25. ↑ National Review, "No Power to the People," July 29, 008
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