Progressive States Network

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The Progressive States Network was originally the Progressive Legislative Action Network, which was founded in 2005.[1]

In 2014, the "American Constitution Society’s 'American Legislative and Issue Campaign Exchange' (ALICE), the Progressive States Network (PSN), and the Center for State Innovation (CSI) combined to become the “State Innovative Exchange” or “SiX.”

About

The Progressive States Network states that it aims to transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level:[2]

"Founded in 2005, the group provides coordinated research and strategic advocacy tools to state legislators and their staffs, empowering these decision-makers with everything they need to engineer forward-thinking change. Progressive States also works with non-profits and a variety of constituent groups to build a swath of support for coordinated progressive policy."

A significant part of Progressive States efforts revolve around supporting state legislative campaigns. The organization offers legislators and their staff members with the technical and messaging support necessary to embrace progressive policy and draft legislation around it. The organization also seeks to act as a “war room” to equip legislators with the information they need to advocate "good policy".

'Soros Spends More Than $9 Million to Form New Political Money Machine'

From an article dated March 24, 2015 from Newsbusters titled "Soros Spends More Than $9 Million to Form New Political Money Machine":[3]

"Three liberal groups, with a combined total of $9.2 million in seed money from George Soros, have joined forces to create one super-network liberals hope will funnel money into different left-wing, grassroots political campaigns. These investments will finance democrat messaging through robocalls, pesky mailers, and meager hourly wages for clipboard wielding ideologues.
Late last year, the American Constitution Society’s “American Legislative and Issue Campaign Exchange” (ALICE), the Progressive States Network (PSN), and the Center for State Innovation (CSI) combined to become the “Innovative Exchange” or “SiX.” SiX pledged to continue pursuing legislative efforts at the state level around the nation with well-funded and newly charged invigoration.
SiX’s stated its goals clearly on its website, “Elected officials and staff across the country are writing legislation that will shape our future. At SiX, we provide trusted, expert resources to inform and enhance that work. Together, we’re building the legislative wing of the progressive movement. SiX aims to encourage cross-pollination among states, providing a platform for the best ideas to spread and grow.”
Besides the Soros money, SiX boasts an advisory board full of representatives from liberal groups like ProgressNow, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, the Center for American Progress, the ACLU, the Economic Policy Institute, the Progressive Chance Campaign Committee, the AFL-CIO, MoveOn.org and Priorities USA Action.

[...]

Together, these groups hoped to do more for the liberal cause than any of them could do on their own. Joel Rogers, a notorious climate change alarmist, was behind at least two of the components of SiX. He launched the American Constitution Society’s “American Legislative and Issue Campaign Exchange” (ALICE) in 2012. ALICE was touted to be liberals’ answer to the free-market-based ALEC, and was even promoted by TV show host Bill Moyers on his taxpayer-funded platform (while Moyers funds his show with his own extensive resources, it is broadcast on taxpayer-supported PBS).
Rogers co-founded and chaired the Apollo Alliance, a clean energy project forged by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) at the University of Wisconsin where Rogers is a professor. The Apollo Alliance was a project of the Tides Foundation, a well-known progressive clearing house that has donated billions to liberal causes. The left-wing BlueGreen Alliance swallowed the Apollo Alliance whole in 2011, but still graciously allocates the brand a tab on its website.
The Apollo Alliance had a similar structure to SiX, focusing their efforts on state and local clean energy initiatives. Sen. Harry Reid once credited the Apollo Alliance for their work to help draft and push Obama’s stimulus plan through Congress. That stimulus bill was responsible for funding a $535 million loan guarantee to failed solar company Solyndra.
According to his official bio, Rogers “has also advised many governments, candidates, and movement leaders, and helped found and operate several progressive NGOs (Center for a New Democracy, New Party, Economic Analysis Research Network, Apollo Alliance, Emerald Cities Collaborative, ALICE, etc.) Newsweek identified him as one of the 100 living Americans most likely to shape U.S. politics and culture in the 21st century.”
The next SiX component was the Center for State Innovation (CSI). This group was another one of Rogers’ pet projects at COWS, providing “many types of assistance to state executives interested in implementing progressive policies.” CSI also received grant money from Soros’ Open Society Foundations to further its agenda and push progressive policy through state legislatures.
The final group to join SiX was the Progressive States Network (PSN), formerly the Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN). Joel Barkin founded PLAN in 2005 to target ALEC, aiming to “transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level.”
PLAN provided “coordinated research and strategic advocacy tools to state legislators and their staffs,” by supplying “legislators and their staff members with the technical and messaging support necessary to embrace progressive policy.”
Liberal, Soros-funded MoveOn.org founder Wes Boyd jumped on board PLAN’s launch in 2005. And former White House Counsel and Center for American Progress founder John Podesta was a keynote speaker at the group’s Seattle pitch party entitled “Planning Progress 2005.” That mission now lives on through SiX.
Soros gave at least $1.46 million to MoveOn.org, which the group used to advocate for “progressive laws.” But since MoveOn.org is not part of SiX, the amount was not included in the $9 million total.
Soros Funding:
American Constitution Society: $5,801,500
Progressive States Network: $1,450,000
University of Wisconsin: $1,942,487

More Funding by George Soros

George Soros funds the Progressive States Network. In 2009, the Soros Fund made a grant of $300,000 to be issued over two years.[4]

State Legislators for Progressive Health Care Reform

In 2009, state legislators worked with Progressive States Network to form State Legislators for Progressive Health Care Reform. 1,088 State Legislators signed the letter - view a full list of the signatories here.[5]

Progressive States Network Gala

April 19, 2007, Progressive States Network’s first annual gala honored U.S. Senator Jon Tester, U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, and Deborah Rappaport. Awards were also presented to Iowa State Senator Joe Bolkcom, Kansas State Senator Donald Betts, and Washington State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles. Participants talked about promoting their legislative agenda and public policy advocacy. They also talked about issues such as operations in Iraq, grassroots organizing and recruitment, and public participation.

Other speakers included Joel Barkin Executive Director Progressive States Network, Steve Doherty Founding Co-Chair Progressive States Network, Senators Al Franken and Bernie Sanders, Lisa Seitz Gruwell Chief Operating Officer Skyline Public Works, Washington (State) Tom Matzzie Director MoveOn.org, David Sirota Founding Co-Chair Progressive States Network.[6]

State Legislators Stand with Wisconsin State Senators

Circa Feb. 23, 2011, the PSN launched an open letter, calling on State Legislators to put their name to it, demonstrating their solidarity with Wisconsin State Senators - view a full list of the signatories here.[7]

Personnel

Board of directors 2010

In 2010, the following served on the Board of Directors:[8]

Staff circa 2007

Circa 2007, the following worked for the organization:[9]

Staff 2010

In 2010, the following worked for the organization:[10]

External Links

References

Template:Reflist

  1. ↑ How ALEC helps conservatives and businesses turn state election wins into new laws (accessed November 20 2023)
  2. ↑ PSN website: About (accessed on Sept. 1, 2010)
  3. ↑ (accessed November 22, 2023)
  4. ↑ Open Society Foundations website: Grantees: Progressive States Network 2009 (accessed on Feb. 25, 2011)
  5. ↑ Progressive States Network: State Legislators for Progressive Health Care Reform: The Letter (accessed on Dec. 22, 2010)
  6. ↑ CSpan APRIL 19, 2007 Progressive States Network Gala
  7. ↑ Progressive States Network: Sign The Letter: Stand With Wisconsin State Senators (accessed on April 1, 2011)
  8. ↑ PSN website: Board of Directors (accessed on Sept. 1, 2010)
  9. ↑ PSN website: Bios (accessed on Sept. 1, 2010)
  10. ↑ PSN website: Staff (accessed on Sept. 1, 2010)
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