League of American Voters

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League of American Voters

Basic facts
Location:| Washington, D.C.
Type:| 501(c)(4)
Year founded:| 2009
Website:| Official website
Budget
2012:| $1,067,311
Board members
Michael Reagan (Chair)

## Contents

* 1 Mission
* 2 Work
* 3 Leadership
* 4 Finances
* 5 Noteworthy events
* 5.1 John Doe investigations
* 6 Recent news
* 7 See also
* 8 External links
* 9 Footnotes

The League of American Voters (LAV) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit located in Washington, D.C. The league is a national membership organization that advocates for limited government, free market economics and a strong national defense.[1] The organization was founded in 2009 and has funded numerous campaigns opposing the Affordable Care Act.[2][3]

## Mission[edit]

The League of American Voters has the following mission:[1]

“  |

To educate the American people on core issues. Among these core issues are defending America’s free enterprise system, supporting a strong national defense and security infrastructure, promoting common sense family values and championing the idea that good government is one that is both limited and honest.[4]

| ”

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## Work[edit]

According to its website, the organization aims to advance its mission through the following activities:[1]

* Funding ad campaigns on television and other media
* Producing audits and ratings of the voting records of Congressmen and Senators
* Conducting public seminars
* Supporting academic research projects

The League of American Voters shares the same D.C. address as Grover Norquist’s anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform.[2]

The league advertises heavily on the conservative news website Newsmax, and the media outlet’s web store solicits donations for LAV. Newsmax has also sent emails to its subscribers on behalf of LAV, particularly messages criticizing President Barack Obama and the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, at least three individuals associated with the League of American Voters are also Newsmax columnists: consultant Dick Morris, an LAV strategist; consultant Michael Shannon, an LAV researcher; and Michael Reagan, former President Ronald Reagan’s son and the chairman of LAV.[3][5][6]

## Leadership[edit]

As of August 2015, the League of American Voters listed only two staff members on its website: Alexandra Preate, a business and public relations consultant and Barry Farber, a radio talk show host and columnist.[7] As of August 2015, Ronald Reagan’s son, Michael Reagan, was the chairman, and political consultant and commentator Michael Shannon was a researcher.[6][5] Political consultant Dick Morris, founder of Super PAC for America, has served as a strategist for the organization.[2][3]

## Finances[edit]

The following is a breakdown of LAV’s revenue and expenses for the 2009-2012 tax years:

Annual revenue and expenses for the League of American Voters, 2009-2012

Tax Year  | Total Revenue  | Total Expenses
2012[8] | $1,067,311 | $1,463,351
2011[8] | $1,073,898 | $1,265,248
2010[9] | $4,860,028 | $5,371,765
2009[9] | $8,153,357 | $7,018,736

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### John Doe investigations[edit]

See also: John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker

Two John Doe investigations, beginning in 2010 and ending in 2015, were launched by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm (D) into the activities of staff and associates of Gov. Scott Walker (R).[10] The League of American Voters was one of 29 conservative organizations that were targeted during the course of the second of two John Doe investigations in Wisconsin related to Gov. Scott Walker (R).[11][12]

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms League of American Voters. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

League of American Voters - Google News

## See also[edit]

* Americans for Tax Reform
* John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker
* 501(c)(4)
* Nonprofit organization

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* League of American Voters on GuideStar

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 League of American Voters, "Mission and Goals," accessed August 5, 2015
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 New York Times, "A ‘Super PAC’ Mystery: A $500,000 Donation and a Refund," April 12, 2012
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Huffington Post, "League of American Voters - Or the League of Newsmax Columnists?" May 25, 2011
4. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Newsmax, "Obama’s Cuba Good Will Produces Defectors," August 4, 2015
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Newsmax, "Privatize the VA," July 30, 2015
7. ↑ League of American Voters, "Staff," accessed August 6, 2015
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 GuideStar, "League of American Voters IRS Form 990 (2012)," accessed August 5, 2015
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 GuideStar, "League of American Voters IRS Form 990 (2010)," accessed August 5, 2015
10. ↑ United States District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, "Case No. 14-C-139," accessed December 1, 2025
11. ↑ Wisconsin Watchdog, "Wall Street Journal: GAB targeted conservative justices in John Doe defense," September 17, 2015
12. ↑ Eric O'Keefe v. Francis Schmitz, et al., "Complaint," accessed September 16, 2015

v • e

Influencers

Main|

What is an influencer? Contact the Ballotpedia team

v • e

John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker

Background|

John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker • Timeline of John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker • Wisconsin John Doe laws

* * *

Lawsuits|

State court lawsuits: • Three Unnamed Petitioners v. Gregory A. Peterson • Eric O'Keefe, et al. vs. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, et al. • Two Unnamed Petitioners v. Gregory A. Peterson • Christopher Brekken v. Bruce J. Landgraf • Christopher L. Wiesmueller v. Neal Nettesheim • Francis D. Schmitz v. Gregory A. Peterson • Cynthia Archer v. John Chisholm, et. al. • Federal court lawsuits: • Eric O'Keefe and Wisconsin Club for Growth, Inc. v. Francis Schmitz, et. al. • Relevant rulings: • McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission • Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission • Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. v. Thomas Barland • Citizens for Responsible Government v. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, et. al. • Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. • Wisconsin Coalition for Voter Participation Inc., et. al. v. State of Wisconsin Elections Board, et. al.

* * *

Prosecutors|

Special prosecutor: • Francis Schmitz • Personnel in Milwaukee County DA's Office: • John Chisholm • Bruce Landgraf • David Budde • David Robles • Robert Stelter • District attorneys in the five John Doe counties • John Chisholm • Ismael Ozanne • Jane Kohlwey • Larry Nelson • Kurt Klomberg

* * *

Courts|

State courts: • Waukesha County Circuit Court, Wisconsin • Wisconsin Supreme Court • Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV • Federal courts: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin • United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit • Supreme Court of the United States

* * *

Judges|

State court judges: • Gregory Peterson • Barbara Kluka • Neal Nettesheim • Lee Dreyfus • Shirley Abrahamson • Ann Walsh Bradley • Michael Gableman • David Prosser • Annette Ziegler • Patience Roggensack • Patrick Crooks • David Hansher • Timothy Doyle • Jeffrey Kremers • Federal court judges: • Rudolph Randa • Frank Easterbrook • Diane Wood • William Bauer • Charles N. Clevert, Jr.

* * *

Attorneys|

Attorneys of JD targets: • Steven Biskupic • Todd Graves • Michael Bresnick • Edward Meyers • Dean Strang • Matthew O'Neill • David Rivkin • Andrew Grossman • Attorneys of JD prosecutors and judges: • Patrick Fiedler • Samuel Leib • Randall Crocker • Douglas Knott • Joseph M. Russell

* * *

Supporters of JD investigations|

• American Bridge 21st Century • Lisa Graves • We Are Wisconsin • Wisconsin Democracy Campaign • Greater Wisconsin Committee • United Wisconsin • Democratic Party of Wisconsin • Center for Media and Democracy • The Campaign Legal Center • Democracy 21

* * *

Media|

• Dan Bice • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel • M.D. Kittle • David A. French • National Review • The Wall Street Journal • Stuart Taylor • American Media Institute • Jason Stein • Patrick Marley • Vicki McKenna • Bill Glauber

* * *

Elected Officials|

• Scott Walker • Tom Barrett • Brett Davis • J.B. Van Hollen • Tom Tiffany • Dave Craig • John Weishan • Chris Abele • Kathleen Falk • David Clarke • Robin Vos • Mary Burke

* * *

Government Accountability Board|

• Wisconsin Government Accountability Board • Current board members: • Gerald Nichol • Timothy Vocke • Thomas Cane • Harold Froehlich • John Franke • Elsa Lamelas • Past board members: • Thomas Barland • Michael Brennan • Staff: • Kevin Kennedy • Dean Nickel • Jonathan Becker • Shane Falk • Nathan Judnic • Elizabeth Blackwood • J. Douglas Haag • Vendors: • Digital Intelligence

* * *

Targets of John Doe I|

Prosecuted: • Kelly Rindfleisch • Darlene Wink • Kevin Kavanaugh • Tim Russell • Brian Pierick • Wiliam Gardner • Investigated: • Friends of Scott Walker • Christopher Wiesmueller • John Hiller • Jim Villa • Cindy Archer • Jailed by prosecutors/No charges filed: • Christopher Brekken • Andrew P. Jensen, Jr. • Home or office raided: •Kelly Rindfleisch • Cindy Archer • Darlene Wink • Tim Russell • Brian Pierick • Christopher Wiesmueller • Compelled to testify: • R.J. Johnson

* * *

Targets of John Doe II|

Individuals: • Kelly Rindfleisch • Eric O'Keefe • R.J. Johnson • Deborah Jordahl • Jed Sanborn • Carol Valley • William Eisner • Keith Gilkes • Sean Hannity • Charlie Sykes • Organizations: • Wisconsin Club for Growth • Club for Growth • Wisconsin Right to Life • United Sportsmen of Wisconsin • Coalition Partners, LLC • R.J. Johnson and Associates • Nonbox • TenCAPITOL • Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce • American Federation for Children • Americans for Prosperity • Americans for Prosperity Wisconsin • Right Direction Wisconsin PAC • Republican State Leadership Committee • Committee to Elect a Republican Senate • Wisconsin Recall Action Fund • Jobs First Coalition • Ending Spending Action Fund • Mary Stitt & Associates • Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce • League of American Voters • Citizens for a Strong America • Republican Party of Wisconsin • Republican Governors Association • American Crossroads • Wisconsin Family Action

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Other|

• Mike Lutz • Hans von Spakovsky • Tom Nardelli • Jeff Fleming • Chris Liebenthal • Mike Tate • Brian Hagedorn • Richard Trumka • Michael Moore • Georgia Thompson • John Voelker • Chris Kliesmet • Operation Freedom • Military Order of the Purple Heart • Heritage Guard Preservation Society • Cullen Werwie • Fran McLaughlin • Dorothy Moore • Michael D. Dean • Anthony Ostry

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