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'''The Club for Growth''' is an organization consisting of 9,000 Americans for low taxes and economic freedom<ref> http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9345#1</ref>. The organization has been known for endorsing and funding [[conservative]] candidates over moderates and [[Democrats]]. Club for Growth’s political action committee was heavily involved in funding candidates favoring lower taxes in the 2002, 2004, and the 2006 primary and general elections. Being a “527” organization, Club for Growth can accept unlimited funding without disclosing donors names. The job of president is currently held by [[Patrick Toomey]]. In 2005, the organization came under criticism for falling back on its core principals, this led to the founding of another organization by some former members, [[Free Enterprise Fund]].
==Goals==
According to the organizations website [http://www.clubforgrowth.org/about.php], its goals are:
*Making the Bush tax cuts permanent
*Death tax repeal
*Cutting and limiting government spending
*Social Security reform with personal retirement accounts
*Expanding free trade
*Legal reform to end abusive lawsuits
*Replacing the current tax code
*School choice
*Regulatory reform and deregulation
==History==
The Club for Growth was founded in 1999 by [[Stephen Moore]]; a senior economist at the Joint Economic Committee and a senior fellow at the [[CATO]] institute<ref>http://www.cato.org/people/moore.html</ref>. The organization called on candidates to return to [[Ronald Reagan]]’s “vision of limited government and lower taxes.” <ref> http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9345#1</ref>. In 2002, the organization raised $9.2 million for the 2002 campaigns, and in the 2004 election, the Club for Growth heavily campaigned for low tax candidates; spending a total of $20 million to GOP candidates. They even aired a 30-secound television commercial which depicted Democrat candidate, John Kerry as a spinning weather vane. To increase influence on sitting candidates after the 2004 election, the organization hired its first lobbyist. Soon after, former conservative Congressman, [[Patrick Toomey]], replaced Stephen Moore as organization leader.
==Controversy==
In 2005, the organization became rifted as accusations of betrayed principals and stolen donor list. <ref> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/politics/08club.html?ei=5090&en=743088c03a7a3614&ex=1278475200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185502627-6QHBHGdK1QqXwRETnGP/Iw</ref> Many of the problems were came about after a disappointing primary race between Congressman, Patrick Toomey, and moderate, [[Arlen Specter]]. Some former leading members and Moore started another organization, [[Free Enterprise Fund]]<ref>http://www.nysun.com/article/8587</ref>. Moore stated,
{{Cquote| "To see the club splintered this way was a heart-breaking tragedy, but the good news is most of the original founding committee members of the old Club for Growth that we built into such a political juggernaut helped me launch the Free Enterprise Fund,"<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/politics/08club.html?ei=5090&en=743088c03a7a3614&ex=1278475200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185502627-6QHBHGdK1QqXwRETnGP/Iw</ref>}}
The organization showed its support for its core principals, when it heavily campaigned against liberal Republican candidate, [[Lincoln Chafee]], in his primary race against conservative Steven [[Laffey]] in the 2006 [[Rhode Island]] [[Republican]] senate primary election<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp</ref>.
==External Link==
[http://www.clubforgrowth.org/index.php Official Website of the Club For Growth]
==Goals==
According to the organizations website [http://www.clubforgrowth.org/about.php], its goals are:
*Making the Bush tax cuts permanent
*Death tax repeal
*Cutting and limiting government spending
*Social Security reform with personal retirement accounts
*Expanding free trade
*Legal reform to end abusive lawsuits
*Replacing the current tax code
*School choice
*Regulatory reform and deregulation
==History==
The Club for Growth was founded in 1999 by [[Stephen Moore]]; a senior economist at the Joint Economic Committee and a senior fellow at the [[CATO]] institute<ref>http://www.cato.org/people/moore.html</ref>. The organization called on candidates to return to [[Ronald Reagan]]’s “vision of limited government and lower taxes.” <ref> http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9345#1</ref>. In 2002, the organization raised $9.2 million for the 2002 campaigns, and in the 2004 election, the Club for Growth heavily campaigned for low tax candidates; spending a total of $20 million to GOP candidates. They even aired a 30-secound television commercial which depicted Democrat candidate, John Kerry as a spinning weather vane. To increase influence on sitting candidates after the 2004 election, the organization hired its first lobbyist. Soon after, former conservative Congressman, [[Patrick Toomey]], replaced Stephen Moore as organization leader.
==Controversy==
In 2005, the organization became rifted as accusations of betrayed principals and stolen donor list. <ref> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/politics/08club.html?ei=5090&en=743088c03a7a3614&ex=1278475200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185502627-6QHBHGdK1QqXwRETnGP/Iw</ref> Many of the problems were came about after a disappointing primary race between Congressman, Patrick Toomey, and moderate, [[Arlen Specter]]. Some former leading members and Moore started another organization, [[Free Enterprise Fund]]<ref>http://www.nysun.com/article/8587</ref>. Moore stated,
{{Cquote| "To see the club splintered this way was a heart-breaking tragedy, but the good news is most of the original founding committee members of the old Club for Growth that we built into such a political juggernaut helped me launch the Free Enterprise Fund,"<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/politics/08club.html?ei=5090&en=743088c03a7a3614&ex=1278475200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185502627-6QHBHGdK1QqXwRETnGP/Iw</ref>}}
The organization showed its support for its core principals, when it heavily campaigned against liberal Republican candidate, [[Lincoln Chafee]], in his primary race against conservative Steven [[Laffey]] in the 2006 [[Rhode Island]] [[Republican]] senate primary election<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp</ref>.
==External Link==
[http://www.clubforgrowth.org/index.php Official Website of the Club For Growth]