Messenger: American Action Network
Candidate: Mike Coffman
Contest: 6th CD
Affiliation: R
Date delivered: July 19, 2018
Click here for message
Message type: mailer
Message tone: positive
About the message: This mailer from American Action Network echoes a TV ad the nonprofit is airing suggesting people call 6th Congressional District Rep. Mike Coffman to commend him on his actions on trying to curtail opioid addiction and overdoses. It cites a resolution introduced by Coffman and passed on a voice vote in June that instructs the Veterans Administration to create a peer counseling network for women veterans. The text of the bill doesn't mention opioids or addiction, however.
About the messenger: American Action Network is a nonprofit that calls itself an "action tank" to support "center-right" political principles. The group is affiliated with House Speaker Paul Ryan. The nonprofit is also a major funder of the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with Ryan that has reserved fall airtime to support GOP Rep. Mike Coffman in the 6th Congressional District.
The messenger's money: Because it is a nonprofit, the group does not have to disclose its donors. Some companies or other nonprofits that donate to the group must disclose donations however. For instance, Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America gave $4.5 million in 2010, $1.5 million in 2012 and $125,000 in 2014, according to Open Secrets. The PhRMA group's 2016 990 reveals a contribution of $6,058,825 to American Action Network.
