Berman Heads Phony Think Tank, Employment Policy Institute
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The Employment Policies Institute (EPI) is headed by Richard Berman according to tax filings. It shares the same office as Berman's PR firm and it funnels money to the PR firm as the New York Times reported in a front page story in 2014: "the Employment Policies Institute has no employees of its own. Mr. Berman’s for-profit advertising firm, instead, “bills” the nonprofit institute for the services his employees provide to the institute. This arrangement effectively means that the nonprofit is a moneymaking venture for Mr. Berman, whose advertising firm was paid $1.1 million by the institute in 2012, according to its tax returns, or 44 percent of its total budget, with most of the rest of the money used to buy advertisements." <ref>Eric Lipton, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/us/politics/fight-over-minimum-wage-illustrates-web-of-industry-ties.html Fight Over Minimum Wage Illustrates Web of Industry Ties]," ''New York Times'', February 9, 2014. </ref>
+
The
[[
Employment Policies Institute
]]
(EPI) is headed by Richard Berman according to tax filings. It shares the same office as Berman's PR firm and it funnels money to the PR firm as the New York Times reported in a front page story in 2014: "the Employment Policies Institute has no employees of its own. Mr. Berman’s for-profit advertising firm, instead, “bills” the nonprofit institute for the services his employees provide to the institute. This arrangement effectively means that the nonprofit is a moneymaking venture for Mr. Berman, whose advertising firm was paid $1.1 million by the institute in 2012, according to its tax returns, or 44 percent of its total budget, with most of the rest of the money used to buy advertisements." <ref>Eric Lipton, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/us/politics/fight-over-minimum-wage-illustrates-web-of-industry-ties.html Fight Over Minimum Wage Illustrates Web of Industry Ties]," ''New York Times'', February 9, 2014. </ref>
In 2013-2014, EPI has become a primary industry attack dog, fighting minimum wage as dangerous to the economy, fighting living wages and advocating a low road economic development policy.
In 2013-2014, EPI has become a primary industry attack dog, fighting minimum wage as dangerous to the economy, fighting living wages and advocating a low road economic development policy.
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==Other affiliated organizations==
==Other affiliated organizations==
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* The [[Center for Consumer Freedom]]
(
CCF
)
states that its mission is
to
expose what
it
calls "
the
Nanny Culture &
the
growing fraternity
of
food cops, health care enforcers, anti-meat activists
, and
meddling bureaucrats who 'know
what'
s best for you
.
'
"
+
In a February 2014 interview with ''NPR'', ''New York Times'' reporter Eric Lipton explained how anonymous corporations and individuals funnel money to Berman & Co. through these nonprofit groups. "
(
The money
)
actually often it goes directly
to
the groups, and then
it
's paid back to
the
PR firm because the donations come through the nonprofit. But because you make a donation to the nonprofit, the IRS does not require that it be disclosed. So the nonprofits report...they have to report
the
total amount
of
donations they took in and the amount that they spent
, and
generally
what
they spend it on, but they don
'
t have to disclose who their donors are
."
<ref name="Lipton"/>
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* The [[Center for Consumer Freedom]] (CCF) states that its mission is to expose what it calls "the Nanny Culture & the growing fraternity of food cops, health care enforcers, anti-meat activists, and meddling bureaucrats who 'know what's best for you.' "
* Another (now-defunct) Berman front group, the [[Partnership on Health Care and Employment]], was established in 1992 to fight the Clinton administration's plan for national health insurance.
* Another (now-defunct) Berman front group, the [[Partnership on Health Care and Employment]], was established in 1992 to fight the Clinton administration's plan for national health insurance.
* Berman has also been involved with the [[Employment Roundtable]], an organization whose stated mission is to "study, act on and impact trends and information regarding the optimal employment of the US labor force for mutual benefit and the common good."<ref> Peter Hillman with David Madison, Ph.D., [http://www.fiveoclockclub.com/roundtable/ Supreme Court Rulings on Race and Retribution: Implications for the Workplace], ''The Five O'Clock Club'', November 2003, accessed May 28, 2013.</ref>
* Berman has also been involved with the [[Employment Roundtable]], an organization whose stated mission is to "study, act on and impact trends and information regarding the optimal employment of the US labor force for mutual benefit and the common good."<ref> Peter Hillman with David Madison, Ph.D., [http://www.fiveoclockclub.com/roundtable/ Supreme Court Rulings on Race and Retribution: Implications for the Workplace], ''The Five O'Clock Club'', November 2003, accessed May 28, 2013.</ref>
* Some of Berman & Co.'s most visible lobbying has been waged against efforts to lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers. It runs the [[American Beverage Institute]], which was organized in 1991 with the stated mission of promoting "responsible alcohol consumption," but actually represents restaurants and retailers that sell alcohol. The ABI's arch-enemy is [[Mothers Against Drunk Driving]] (MADD).
* Some of Berman & Co.'s most visible lobbying has been waged against efforts to lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers. It runs the [[American Beverage Institute]], which was organized in 1991 with the stated mission of promoting "responsible alcohol consumption," but actually represents restaurants and retailers that sell alcohol. The ABI's arch-enemy is [[Mothers Against Drunk Driving]] (MADD).
* The [[Center for Union Facts]], an organization that operates a website and publishes op-eds critical of union corruption, the [[Employee Free Choice Act]], and the pay of union bosses.
* The [[Center for Union Facts]], an organization that operates a website and publishes op-eds critical of union corruption, the [[Employee Free Choice Act]], and the pay of union bosses.
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* The [[Environmental Policy Alliance]] positions itself as an opponent to environmental groups like the [[Sierra Club]] and [[Natural Resources Defense Council]].
+
* [[ActivistCash.com]] was created by the Center for Consumer Freedom and is "committed to providing detailed and up-to-date information about organizations and activists."<ref>ActivistCash.com, "[http://www.activistcash.com/about/ About Us]," organization website, accessed April 24, 2014.</ref>
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* [[MercuryFacts.com]]<ref name="Lipton">National Public Radio, "[http://www.npr.org/2014/02/13/276448190/a-closer-look-at-how-corporations-influence-congress A Closer Look At How Corporations Influence Congress]," NPR.org, February 13, 2014.</ref>
+
* [[Teachers Union Exposed]] which describes itself as "dedicated to showing Americans the truth about today's teachers unions."<ref>Teachers Union Exposed, "[http://teachersunionexposed.com/about.php About]," organization website, accessed April 24, 2014.</ref>
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* [[Employment Freedom Org]]<ref name="Lipton"/>
+
* [[IncomeTaxFacts.org]]<ref name="Lipton"/>
==History==
==History==