American Principles Project

American Principles Project
Abbreviation APP
Formation 2009
Founder Robert George
Legal status Non-profit
Headquarters 1130 Connecticut Ave. NW, S-425
Washington, DC 20036
Coordinates 38°54′17″N 77°02′28″W / 38.9046°N 77.0412°W / 38.9046; -77.0412Coordinates: 38°54′17″N 77°02′28″W / 38.9046°N 77.0412°W / 38.9046; -77.0412
Chairman of the Board
 Sean Fieler
President
 Francis P. Cannon
Executive Director
 Terry Schilling
Budget
Revenue: $2,072,613
Expenses: $1,964,657
(FYE December 2014)[1]
Website americanprinciplesproject.org

The American Principles Project (APP) is a 501(c)(3) think tank founded in 2009 by Robert George, Jeff Bell, and Frank Cannon.[2] APP promotes a combination of libertarian and social conservative policies.[3][4] It is chaired by Sean Fieler.[3]

While opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage, APP largely focuses on loosening restrictions on immigration, opposing the Common Core curriculum, and defending religious liberty.[5][6][7] They have also advocated for monetary reform by suggesting a return to the gold standard.[8][9]

Following the Republican Party's post-2012 election review, in which the GOP suggested de-emphasizing social issues, a conservative advocacy group affiliated with the American Principles Project published a report detailing the importance of social issues to the Republican Party. The report pointed out that Republicans ran almost exclusively on economic issues during the 2012 election to lackluster effect.[10]

Policy initiatives

Education

The American Principles Project describes its education initiative as an effort to "promote policies and actions that protect children and secure their future."[11] It has been critical of the Common Core education initiative.[12]

In 2012, Jane Robbins, Senior Fellow at the American Principles Project, and Emmett McGroarty, Executive Director of APP Education, co-authored a report for the APP and the Pioneer Institute called Controlling Education From The Top: Why Common Core Is Bad For America.[13] Both McGroarty and Robbins have published numerous articles discussing what they perceive as flaws in Common Core, both in its contents and in the way it was enacted. APP staff members have testified before state legislatures, encouraging states to withdraw from the Common Core standards.[14] APP argued that the Republican Party would suffer in the 2016 presidential election if it fielded a pro-Common Core candidate.[15]

The American Principles Project launched an effort to expose what it calls a "radical new Advanced Placement U.S. History framework," charging that the new AP U.S. History framework teaches a "biased, leftist" version of the traditionally objective curriculum.[16]

Immigration

Former George W. Bush Chief of U.S. Citizenship Alfonso Aguilar is the executive director of American Principles Project's Latino Partnership and has been active in the media in support of immigration reform. The Washington Post called Aguilar a "driving force" and a "pivotal presence" in the debate on immigration.[17] Aguilar warned that a restrictionist immigration policy could hurt the Republican Party's chances of winning the presidency in 2016.[18]

In a policy brief released in July 2014, APP sought to clear up "misconceptions" about unaccompanied minors crossing the border into the United States illegally. The brief called for compassion for these children, arguing that "we have always been a generous nation that has attracted people from all over the world seeking freedom and relief from persecution and violence... But that is part of what makes us exceptional."[19]

In the same brief, APP affirmed support for a "market-based guest worker program," calling current guest worker programs "too small" and "over-regulated."[19]

Economics and monetary policy

The American Principles Project has been critical of Federal Reserve System monetary policy and has advocated a return to the gold standard.

In November 2014, Steve Lonegan, Director of Monetary Policy at the American Principles Project, sent a public letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen requesting a meeting to discuss how current monetary policy is "reducing" the standard of living for "average working Americans."[20]

Jackson Hole Summit 2015

In 2015, American Principles Project funded a conference on economic policy held from August 27–29, 2015, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to advocate for hard money monetary policies and an end to government involvement in the money supply.[21] According to associates of hedge fund CEO Robert Mercer interviewed by Bloomberg, Mercer was the main financial backer of the Jackson Hole Summit.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Quickview data" (PDF). GuideStar. See also "Charity Rating". Charity Navigator.
  2. ↑ Fuller, Jaime (June 4, 2014). "Jeff Bell was the New Jersey GOP Senate nominee in 1978. Also, in 2014". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 Gillman, Todd (February 5, 2015). "Rick Perry embraces idea that Texas is "crazy" at American Principles Project gala". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Paul says GOP infighting is a good thing". CNN. 5 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Mission and Purpose". American Principles Project. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Rand Paul is pitching libertarian ideas to social conservatives. And they're listening". Yahoo! News. 7 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "Booker dismisses Bell-affiliated PAC attacks as 'outlandish' and 'untrue'". PolitikerNJ. 14 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Gold standard insures the dollar has more buying power: Opinion". NJ.com. 26 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Conservative Think Tank Tries to Tie Gold Standard to Hitler And The Nazis". Townhall.com. 30 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Conservative Group: RNC "Wrong" About 2012". Politico. 23 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "APP Education". 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-04.
  12. ↑ "Common Core motives, costs being questioned". Telegraph Herald. 3 December 2013.
  13. ↑ Brown, Emma (February 5, 2015). "La. Gov. Bobby Jindal rails against Common Core State Standards". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "WV Against Common Core to host second town hall forum". The State Journal. 14 October 2014.
  15. ↑ McLaughlin, Seth (March 1, 2015). "Common Core opposition unites 2016 hopefuls at CPAC, with Jeb Bush lone outlier". Washington Times. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "How Low Will They Go?". TownHall.com. 19 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Latino Voice Alfonso Aguilar also conservative voice for immigration reform". Washington Post. 5 December 2012.
  18. ↑ Easley, Jonathan. "Likely 2016 GOP hopefuls recast immigration views". The Hill. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  19. 1 2 "ISSUE BRIEF: Unaccompanied Minors at the Border". American Principles Project. 3 December 2013.
  20. ↑ "APIA Letter to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen Requesting Meeting". FixTheDollar.com. 17 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Official site". Jackson Hole Summit. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  22. ↑ Mider, Zachary (20 January 2016). "What Kind of Man Spends Millions to Elect Ted Cruz?". Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
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