Arizona Free Enterprise Club: Difference between revisions

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{{Political organization infobox
{{Political organization infobox
|Name = Arizona Free Enterprise Club
|Name = Arizona Free Enterprise Club
|Logo =  
|Logo = Arizona Free Enterprise Club.jpg
|Location = [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
|Location = [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
|Type = [[501(c)(4)]]
|Type = [[501(c)(4)]]
|Affiliation =
|Affiliation =
|Top official = Steve Voeller, President
|Top official = Scot Mussi, President and Executive Director
|Founder(s) =  
|Founder(s) =  
|Year founded =  
|Year founded = 2005
|Number of employees =  
|Number of employees =  
|Website = http://www.azfree.org/
|Website = http://www.azfree.org/
Line 21: Line 21:
|Connections =  
|Connections =  
}}
}}
The '''Arizona Free Enterprise Club''' is a [[501(c)(4)]] nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote public policy that strengthens [[Arizona]]'s economy. The organization believes that entrepreneurs and private enterprise are the principle drivers of the economy. "The Club lobbies Arizona lawmakers in support of policies that allow the market to flourish and vigorously opposes policies that hinder private industry."<ref>[http://www.azfree.org/about-us/ ''Arizona Free Enterprise Club'', "About Us," accessed February 7, 2011]</ref>
The '''Arizona Free Enterprise Club''' is a [[501(c)(4)]] [[nonprofit organization]] based in Arizona. The group describes itself as "the leading organization in the state dedicated to advancing a pro-growth, limited government agenda in Arizona."<ref name=home>[https://azfree.org/ ''Arizona Free Enterprise Club'', "Home page," accessed September 16, 2025]</ref>


==Governance==
==Background==
* This organization is run by the [http://www.azfree.org/founding-members/ President and the Board of Directors].<ref>[http://www.azfree.org/founding-members/ ''Arizona Free Enterprise Club'', "Founding Members," accessed February 7, 2011]</ref>
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club was founded in 2005. The organization's founding president was Steve Voeller.<ref>[https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/202423383/2006_08_EO%2F20-2423383_990O_200512 ''ProPublica'', "Arizona Free Enterprise Club Form 990-O for period ending December 2005," accessed September 16, 2025]</ref> As of September 2025, Voeller was the vice president of government and community relations at the University of Arizona. He earlier worked in the congressional offices of [[Jeff Flake]] (R-Ariz.) and [[Matt Salmon]] (R-Ariz.), including as Flake's chief of staff.<ref>[https://gcr.arizona.edu/person/stevevoeller ''University of Arizona'', "Steve Voeller," accessed September 16, 2025]</ref>


==Ballot measures==
As of September 2025, the organization described its mission as:<ref name=home/>
*Opposed [[Arizona Sales Tax Increase, Proposition 100 (May 2010)]]
{{Quote|
The Free Enterprise Club is focused on getting results, which means being fearless when it comes to taking on the establishment and radical left in Arizona.


==Recent news==
Through active lobbying, litigation and our extensive grassroots network, the Club has secured numerous policy victories in the state, including historic income tax cuts, enhanced election security, expanded school choice and protection of our property rights, medical freedoms and free speech.}}
{{News feed form
 
|Term1="Arizona Free Enterprise Club"
==Leadership==
}}
As of September 2025, the following individuals held leadership positions at the Arizona Free Enterprise Club:<ref>[https://azfree.org/about/ ''Arizona Free Enterprise Club'', "About Us," accessed September 16, 2025]</ref>
*'''Scot Mussi''', ''president and executive director''
*'''Aimee Yentes''', ''vice president''
*'''Darla Gonzalez''', ''grassroots director''
*'''LouAnn Sedgwick''', ''development director''
*'''April Smith''', ''director of field operations''
 
==Work and activities==
===Legislative and policy work===
As of September 2025, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club listed the following as among its policy accomplishments:<ref name=home/>
{{Quote|
'''Tax Cuts & Fiscal Policy'''
*Secured a $1.9 Billion personal income tax cut – the largest tax cut in Arizona history.
*Created the lowest flat income tax rate in the country at 2.5%.
*Slashed Arizona’s capital gains tax rates by 25%.
*Eliminated the job training tax, saving small businesses millions of dollars.<br>
 
'''Taking on The Left'''
*Won a landmark court case (AZ Free Enterprise Club v. Katie Hobbs) that stopped the Left from repealing the $1.9 Billion tax cut and flat income tax.
*Successfully repealed the Proposition 208 Income Tax Hike at the Legislature and in Court.
*Eliminated tenure in K-12 education and transitioned the state to a merit-based system.<br>
 
'''Defeating Bad Ideas'''
*Defeated billions in corporate welfare subsidies to select industries and businesses.
*Stopped a new 25-year tax increase to fund Green New Deal infrastructure projects in Maricopa County.
*Stopped a plan to create a universal basic income program in AZ.
*Defeated the Arizona Green New Deal at the Corporation Commission that would have doubled utility rates and banned all fossil fuel energy production.
*Stopped a plan to give away millions to woke corporations to fund CRT training programs and other liberal initiatives in the workplace.
 
'''Election Integrity'''
*Successfully removed the Left’s radical election initiative from the ballot (AZ Free Enterprise Club v. AZ Free and Fair Elections) that would have increased voter fraud in Arizona.
*Authored and led the successful referral of the “AZ Voter ID” initiative to the 2022 election to create universal voter ID requirements.
*Authored and passed legislation to require proof of citizenship to vote in Presidential elections and by mail.
*Authored and passed legislation to implement comprehensive voter roll maintenance.
 
'''Free Speech & Intellectual Diversity'''
*Passed a ballot initiative to prohibit the use of taxpayer money going to political parties.
*Secured funding for the conservative Freedom Centers at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.
*Won a landmark court case (AZ Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett) in the US Supreme Court that struck down taxpayer funding going to politicians through the unconstitutional matching funds system at Clean Elections.}}
 
==Notable endorsements==
<APIWidget where='endorser_organization=21705'  template='EndorsementsByEndorser'  />
 
==Affiliations==
As of September 2025, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club had an associated PAC known as the Freedom Club PAC.<ref>[https://azfree.org/freedom-club-pac/ ''Arizona Free Enterprise Club'', "Freedom Club PAC," accessed September 16, 2025]</ref>
 
== Finances ==
The following is a breakdown of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club's revenues and expenses from 2005 to 2023. The information comes from [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/202423383 ProPublica].
<datatable caption="Arizona Free Enterprise Club financial data 2005-2023">
! align="left"|Year
! Revenue 
! Expenses
|-
| 2005 || $0.2 million || $0.1 million
|-
| 2006 || $0.1 million || $0.2 million
|-
| 2007 || $0.2 million || $0.2 million
|-
| 2008 || $0.2 million || $0.2 million
|-
| 2009 || $0.2 million || $0.2 million
|-
| 2010 || $0.3 million || $0.2 million
|-
| 2011 || $0.2 million || $0.2 million
|-
| 2012 || $0.5 million || $0.6 million
|-
| 2013 || $0.3 million || $0.2 million
|-
| 2014 || $7.9 million || $7.2 million
|-
| 2015 || $0.4 million || $0.5 million
|-
| 2016 || $0.5 million || $0.9 million
|-
| 2017 || $0.5 million || $0.7 million
|-
| 2018 || $0.7 million || $0.7 million
|-
| 2019 || $0.8 million || $0.7 million
|-
| 2020 || $1.5 million || $1.6 million
|-
| 2021 || $1.2 million || $1.1 million
|-
| 2022 || $3.4 million || $3.4 million
|-
| 2023 || $1.1 million || $1.1 million
</datatable>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[What is an influencer|What is an influencer?]]
*[[Arizona Sales Tax Increase, Proposition 100 (May 2010)]]
*[[Arizona Sales Tax Increase, Proposition 100 (May 2010)]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.azfree.org/ Official website]
*[https://www.azfree.org/ Arizona Free Enterprise Club official website]
*[https://twitter.com/azfec?lang=en Arizona Free Enterprise Club on X]


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{winf sprout|Month=March 2011}}


{{Influencers HNT}}
{{Influencers HNT}}

Latest revision as of 19:52, 16 September 2025

Arizona Free Enterprise Club
Arizona Free Enterprise Club.jpg
Basic facts
Location:Phoenix, Arizona
Type:501(c)(4)
Top official:Scot Mussi, President and Executive Director
Year founded:2005
Website:Official website

The Arizona Free Enterprise Club is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization based in Arizona. The group describes itself as "the leading organization in the state dedicated to advancing a pro-growth, limited government agenda in Arizona."[1]

Background

The Arizona Free Enterprise Club was founded in 2005. The organization's founding president was Steve Voeller.[2] As of September 2025, Voeller was the vice president of government and community relations at the University of Arizona. He earlier worked in the congressional offices of Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.), including as Flake's chief of staff.[3]

As of September 2025, the organization described its mission as:[1]

“

The Free Enterprise Club is focused on getting results, which means being fearless when it comes to taking on the establishment and radical left in Arizona.

Through active lobbying, litigation and our extensive grassroots network, the Club has secured numerous policy victories in the state, including historic income tax cuts, enhanced election security, expanded school choice and protection of our property rights, medical freedoms and free speech.[4]

”

Leadership

As of September 2025, the following individuals held leadership positions at the Arizona Free Enterprise Club:[5]

  • Scot Mussi, president and executive director
  • Aimee Yentes, vice president
  • Darla Gonzalez, grassroots director
  • LouAnn Sedgwick, development director
  • April Smith, director of field operations

Work and activities

Legislative and policy work

As of September 2025, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club listed the following as among its policy accomplishments:[1]

“

Tax Cuts & Fiscal Policy

  • Secured a $1.9 Billion personal income tax cut – the largest tax cut in Arizona history.
  • Created the lowest flat income tax rate in the country at 2.5%.
  • Slashed Arizona’s capital gains tax rates by 25%.
  • Eliminated the job training tax, saving small businesses millions of dollars.

Taking on The Left

  • Won a landmark court case (AZ Free Enterprise Club v. Katie Hobbs) that stopped the Left from repealing the $1.9 Billion tax cut and flat income tax.
  • Successfully repealed the Proposition 208 Income Tax Hike at the Legislature and in Court.
  • Eliminated tenure in K-12 education and transitioned the state to a merit-based system.

Defeating Bad Ideas

  • Defeated billions in corporate welfare subsidies to select industries and businesses.
  • Stopped a new 25-year tax increase to fund Green New Deal infrastructure projects in Maricopa County.
  • Stopped a plan to create a universal basic income program in AZ.
  • Defeated the Arizona Green New Deal at the Corporation Commission that would have doubled utility rates and banned all fossil fuel energy production.
  • Stopped a plan to give away millions to woke corporations to fund CRT training programs and other liberal initiatives in the workplace.

Election Integrity

  • Successfully removed the Left’s radical election initiative from the ballot (AZ Free Enterprise Club v. AZ Free and Fair Elections) that would have increased voter fraud in Arizona.
  • Authored and led the successful referral of the “AZ Voter ID” initiative to the 2022 election to create universal voter ID requirements.
  • Authored and passed legislation to require proof of citizenship to vote in Presidential elections and by mail.
  • Authored and passed legislation to implement comprehensive voter roll maintenance.

Free Speech & Intellectual Diversity

  • Passed a ballot initiative to prohibit the use of taxpayer money going to political parties.
  • Secured funding for the conservative Freedom Centers at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.
  • Won a landmark court case (AZ Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett) in the US Supreme Court that struck down taxpayer funding going to politicians through the unconstitutional matching funds system at Clean Elections.[4]
 ”

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable ballot measure endorsements by Arizona Free Enterprise Club
MeasurePositionOutcome
Arizona Prohibit Taxes or Fees on Miles Traveled in Motor Vehicle Amendment (2026)  source SupportOn the ballot
Arizona Proposition 133, Require Partisan Primaries and Prohibit Primaries Where Candidates Compete Regardless of Party Affiliation Amendment (2024)  source SupportDefeated
Arizona Proposition 134, Signature Distribution Requirement for Initiatives Amendment (2024)  source SupportDefeated
Arizona Proposition 135, Emergency Declarations Amendment (2024)  source SupportDefeated
Arizona Proposition 140, Single Primary for All Candidates and Possible RCV General Election Initiative (2024)  source OpposeDefeated
Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)  source OpposeApproved
Arizona Proposition 211, Campaign Finance Sources Disclosure Initiative (2022)  source OpposeApproved
Arizona Proposition 310, Sales Tax for Fire District Funding Measure (2022)  source OpposeDefeated
Arizona Proposition 312, Property Tax Refund for Non-Enforcement of Public Nuisance Laws Measure (2024)  source SupportApproved
Arizona Proposition 309, Voter Identification Requirements for Mail-In Ballots and In-Person Voting Measure (2022)  source SupportDefeated

Affiliations

As of September 2025, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club had an associated PAC known as the Freedom Club PAC.[6]

Finances

The following is a breakdown of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club's revenues and expenses from 2005 to 2023. The information comes from ProPublica.

Arizona Free Enterprise Club financial data 2005-2023
Year Revenue Expenses
2005 $0.2 million $0.1 million
2006 $0.1 million $0.2 million
2007 $0.2 million $0.2 million
2008 $0.2 million $0.2 million
2009 $0.2 million $0.2 million
2010 $0.3 million $0.2 million
2011 $0.2 million $0.2 million
2012 $0.5 million $0.6 million
2013 $0.3 million $0.2 million
2014 $7.9 million $7.2 million
2015 $0.4 million $0.5 million
2016 $0.5 million $0.9 million
2017 $0.5 million $0.7 million
2018 $0.7 million $0.7 million
2019 $0.8 million $0.7 million
2020 $1.5 million $1.6 million
2021 $1.2 million $1.1 million
2022 $3.4 million $3.4 million
2023 $1.1 million $1.1 million

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Arizona Free Enterprise Club, "Home page," accessed September 16, 2025
  2. ↑ ProPublica, "Arizona Free Enterprise Club Form 990-O for period ending December 2005," accessed September 16, 2025
  3. ↑ University of Arizona, "Steve Voeller," accessed September 16, 2025
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. ↑ Arizona Free Enterprise Club, "About Us," accessed September 16, 2025
  6. ↑ Arizona Free Enterprise Club, "Freedom Club PAC," accessed September 16, 2025
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