The Progressive Agenda Committee

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The Progressive Agenda Committee
Basic facts
Location:	Washington, D.C.
Type:	501(c)(4)
Top official:	Geri Prado, Executive director
Year founded:	2015
Website:	Official website

The Progressive Agenda Committee is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that aims to support the policies of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) on a national level. The organization was founded in 2015 as a project of the Campaign for One New York—another nonprofit that advocated for de Blasio's policies—and became its own organization in October of that year.

Mission

In the articles for the Progressive Agenda Committee, the organization states its purpose as:

“

The Committee is a nonprofit organization operated for the purpose of addressing income inequality by advocating for progressive public policies that will strengthen America's middle class.

”

Background

The Progressive Agenda Committee was formed in May 2015 as a project of the Campaign for One New York, another nonprofit organization aimed at supporting the policies of de Blasio. When it officially registered as a 501(c)(4) organization in October 2015, the organization received $480,000 from the Campaign for One New York, according to Politico. Politico also reported on de Blasio's involvement with the Progressive Agenda, writing, "De Blasio will be involved with fundraising for TPAC, in much the same way he has been involved in fundraising for the Campaign For One New York. While he does not directly solicit donations for the group, he has hosted events for donors. He will have a similar level of involvement in the fundraising process for the Progressive Agenda Committee."

Policy agenda

According to its website, the Progressive Agenda—from which the organization gets its name—is composed of the following 14 stances:

“

Raise the federal minimum wage, so that it reaches $15/hour, while indexing it to inflation. Reform the National Labor Relations Act, to enhance workers’ right to organize and rebuild the middle class. Pass comprehensive immigration reform to grow the economy and protect against exploitation of low-wage workers. Oppose trade deals that hand more power to corporations at the expense of American jobs, workers’ rights, and the environment. Invest in schools, not jails-- and give a second chance to those coming home from prison. Pass national paid sick leave. Pass national paid family leave. Make Pre-K, after-school programs and childcare universal. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and protect and expand Social Security. Allow students to refinance student loan debt to take advantage of lower interest rates, and support debt-free college. Close the carried interest loophole. End tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Implement the “Buffett Rule” so millionaires pay their fair share. Close the CEO tax loophole that allows corporations to take advantage of “performance pay” write-offs.

”

Organizational approach

In May 2015, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a campaign he called "The Progressive Agenda," a 13 point policy stance that aimed to promote de Blasio's political priorities on a national scale. According to The New York Times, the event marked de Blasio's first effort at "making his case that the liberal beliefs that catapulted him to City Hall in New York were about to go national." After the Progressive Agenda Committee was formed as a nonprofit in October 2015, the paper further described the organization's larger purpose, writing, "Mr. de Blasio and his allies say the group is a necessary vehicle to rally liberal elites behind a cohesive message. Inspired by a policy agenda that he unveiled in Washington in May, covering topics such as union rights and international trade, the Progressive Agenda Committee is now organized as a nonprofit, with its own executive director and political director."

Advocacy

Iowa presidential candidate forum

In September 2015, the organization announced its intention to host a forum of presidential candidates in Iowa concerning the topic of economic inequality. According to The Wall Street Journal, the forum was intended to take place by the end of November 2015. On November 10, 2015, the Progressive Agenda Committee announced that the forum had been canceled, having "become unnecessary, because inequality had already moved to the center of the campaign conversation." According to The New York Times reported that no candidate had accepted the group's invitation when the event was canceled.

Leadership

Geri Prado, a former strategist with the AFL-CIO, is the executive director of the Progressive Agenda Committee. Adrianne Marsh is the group's chief spokesperson.

In March 2016, Politico reported on the nature of the Progressive Agenda's staff, writing, "The nonprofit, like others the de Blasio administration had a hand in creating, was initially managed by people with ties to de Blasio's administration. But the Progressive Agenda has recently severed those ties, and will operate without the official involvement of those close mayoral allies." Haley Prim served as the organization's political director until January 2016, when she moved to Hilltop Public Solutions, a national political strategy firm, as a principal. In the group's initial months, Rebecca Katz (a former de Blasio administration staffer) was the organization's spokesperson. She left in March 2015 to become a partner at Hilltop.

Finances

The Progressive Agenda Committee was initially funded with $480,000 from the Campaign for One New York another nonprofit established to advocate for the policies of Bill de Blasio. De Blasio also had a hand in the group's initial fundraising.

Tax status

The Progressive Agenda Committee is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Its 501(c) status refers to a section of the U.S. federal income tax code concerning social welfare organizations. Organizations that have been granted 501(c)(4) status by the Internal Revenue Service are exempt from federal income tax. Section 501(c) of the U.S. tax code has 29 sections listing specific conditions particular organizations must meet in order to be considered tax-exempt under the section. Unlike 501(c)(3) organizations, however, donations to 501(c)(4) organizations are not tax-deductible for the individual or corporation making the contribution. 501(c)(4) organizations may engage in political lobbying and political campaign activities. This includes donations to political committees that support or oppose ballot measures, bond issues, recalls, or referenda.

See also: 501(c)(4) organizations on Ballotpedia

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Progressive Agenda' de Blasio. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

The Progressive Agenda Committee - Google News

See also

• Bill de Blasio
• Campaign for One New York
• United for Affordable NYC

External links

• The Progressive Agenda Committee website
• The Progressive Agenda Committee on Twitter
• The Progressive Agenda Committee on Facebook