INTEREST GROUPS - 4 case studies Flashcards
NARAL
aims + beliefs
Reproductive freedom - ‘freedom is for every body’
Concerned with expanding accessibility to abortion and affordable contraception
Protection for pregnant people from workplace discrimination
Supporting working parents through guaranteed paid leave.
NARAL
methodology
Want to elect candidates committed to reproductive freedom rights and abortion access.
Track state and federal legislation.
Endorse candidates.
2018 Brett Kavanaugh senate confirmation protests - help organise 200 events across all 50 states.
Access to petitions on their website
Educational opportunities - Doubling Down for Women’s Health Protection Act which is a virtual event that explores how anti-choice movement distorts the truth about reproductive freedom.
NARAL
recent successes
Mini Tammaraju - current president of NARAL
Guardian piece on abortion restrictions in late 2021
She worked as a senior advisor for Biden on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
NARAL called for the immediate passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe and counter state-level restrictions on abortion.
The House passed the bill in September 2021, but it faces odds in the Senate, where a Republican filibuster awaits.
Naral has been calling on Democrats to eliminate the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass most legislation.
PHARMACEUTICAL LOBBY
aims
Reps of pharmaceutical drug and biomedical companies who engage in lobbying in favour of pharmaceutical companies and their products.
phRMA is an example of this group - their main aims are a strong innovative ecosystem, reducing healthcare costs, increasing access and equity initiatives, and working together to combat coronavirus - this may not always be true
PHARMACEUTICAL LOBBY
methodology
open secrets outlined how in the first quarter of 2020, the industry increased spending by 6.3% on lobbying.
There are nearly 1300 registered lobbyists for pharmaceuticals and health products - more than 2 lobbyists per congress.
PHARMACEUTICAL LOBBY
influence
2020 study found that between 1999-2018, the industry and health product industry together spent $4.7 billion lobbying the US govt.
Questionable political influence - Biden signed an exec order in July 2021 which favoured importing lower-priced drugs from Canada to limit big Pharma and to lower prescription drug cost - phRMA unsurprisingly sued to block the policy proposals.
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS
aims
‘Our Earth is worth fighting for’
Fighting for cleaner air, cleaner water, public land, safer climate - all protected by a just democracy.
Over 2 million members and 30 state affiliates
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS
methodology
three step plan
a) influence policy
b) hold leaders accountable
c) winning elections
Winning electorally = winning environmentally
National Environment Scorecard - gives the public info about environmental records of Congress.
55,000 volunteers who’ve made phone calls, knocked on doors, and attended events.
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS
influence
2020 Dirty Dozen programme =
6/12 Dirty Dozen DEFEATED !!! -
Dirty Dozen program targets candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who consistently side against the environment and are running in races.
The LCV Victory Fund has a serious chance to affect the outcome.
