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Overview:

Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) Stated Purpose: Mobilize retired union members and other activists in a grassroots movement advocating a progressive political and social agenda. Tax Status: 501(c)(4) Political Orientation: Democratic Profile: September 2004 — The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) was founded by the AFL-CIO in 2001 and claims 2.7 million members, most of whom are union retirees who were given a free membership.1 2 3 The group's principal effort in the 2002 election cycle was dispatching “Senior Truth Squads” to at least nine highly competitive congressional districts to attack the prescription drug benefit promoted by the GOP. The squads pointed out where the candidates stood on the issues, frequently presenting the Democratic candidate favorably or the Republican candidate unfavorably.4 "Americans need to know the truth about the Republican prescription drug bill and the candidates that support it. The Alliance also thinks seniors need to know which candidates have supported privatizing Social Security," said an ARA press release issued prior to a Missouri event.5 The ARA also paid for a billboard advertisement that thanked then-Rep. James Maloney (D-Conn.), who was facing Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) in a battle of incumbents in a redistricted seat, for opposing “risky privatization plans” for Social Security.6 The ARA "spent more than $1 million to focus voters' attention on prescription drugs in the [2002] election's final days," Congress Daily reported. The group's executive director, Ed Coyle, had previously told the publication that the ARA would "work for Democratic candidates" in specified House and Senate contests.7 In its 2002 report to the IRS, however, the ARA reported only $71,000 in political expenditures.8 Many ARA principals have backgrounds in the labor movement. ARA President George Kourpias is the former president of the International Association of Machinists (IAM). John Sweeney, the president of the AFL-CIO, helped launch ARA and participated in its rollout tour. The group also commissioned a survey by Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart in the lead-up to the 2002 elections. That survey concluded that access to prescription drugs was the primary issue of concern to senior citizens.9 1   Stephen Franklin, "AFL-CIO Launches Senior Group, Aims at Political Action," Chicago Tribune, June 6, 2001. 2   Alliance for Retired Americans Web site. (Available at www.retiredamericans.org. Accessed on May 26, 2004.) 3   "The Alliance for Retired Americans Wants Seniors to Know the Truth About What's at Stake for this November's Mid-Term Elections," U.S. Newswire, Oct. 22, 2002. 4   Public Citizen's analysis of data contained in the New Stealth PACs database. Data collected from groups' Web sites and annual tax forms, press reports, academic papers on activities of independent political groups and interviews by Public Citizen research staff. 5   "The Alliance for Retired Americans Wants Seniors to Know the Truth About What's at Stake for this November's Mid-Term Elections," U.S. Newswire, Oct. 22, 2002. 6   Christopher Keating, "Democrats Push Hard for Two House Seats," The Hartford Courant," Aug. 27, 2002. 7   "Interest Groups Weigh In on '02 Races," Congress Daily, Sept. 23 2002. 8   Alliance for Retired Americans 990 form, 2002. 9   Deborah Barfield Berry, "Inaction Angers Senior; Frustration Over Drug Bill May Affect Votes, Poll Shows, Newsday, Sept. 5, 2002.