60 Plus Association
Encyclopedia
The 60 Plus Association is an American conservative advocacy group founded in 1992 and based in Arlington, Virginia
, that bills itself as the conservatives' alternative to the AARP
, (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons). Over the years, it has sought to privatize Social Security
, end the federal estate tax
, and strengthen gun rights. Current issues include opposing health care reform
proposals; opposing federal energy standards
;
opposing the General Motors bailout; and opposing tax increases. 60 Plus is a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition
.
Martin also served as a member of President George W Bush's health and human services transition team.
In 2010, Amy Noone Frederick (b. 1978) was named president of the 60 Plus Association. Frederick, wife of former Virginia legislator Jeff Frederick
, is a former lobbyist and political consultant. For 8 years she served as a senior advisor to Virginia legislative candidates. Frederick graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with a degree in government.
60 Plus also earns income from sponsoring life insurance and health screening for its members.
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, that bills itself as the conservatives' alternative to the AARP
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
, (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons). Over the years, it has sought to privatize Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
, end the federal estate tax
Estate tax in the United States
The estate tax in the United States is a tax imposed on the transfer of the "taxable estate" of a deceased person, whether such property is transferred via a will, according to the state laws of intestacy or otherwise made as an incident of the death of the owner, such as a transfer of property...
, and strengthen gun rights. Current issues include opposing health care reform
Health care reform in the United States
Health care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
proposals; opposing federal energy standards
Energy policy of the United States
The energy policy of the United States is determined by federal, state and local public entities in the United States, which address issues of energy production, distribution, and consumption, such as building codes and gas mileage standards...
;
opposing the General Motors bailout; and opposing tax increases. 60 Plus is a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition
Cooler Heads Coalition
The Cooler Heads Coalition was originally a project of the National Consumer Coalition in the United States, a project of the nonprofit organization Consumer Alert. The Cooler Heads Coalition is now financed and operated by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Its objective is described as...
.
Staff
60 Plus is led by its Chairman James L Martin, a 73-year old veteran of the US Marines. Martin has previously led several conservative advocacy groups, and also was chief of staff for six years for former Republican congressman and senator, the late Edward Gurney of Florida.Martin also served as a member of President George W Bush's health and human services transition team.
In 2010, Amy Noone Frederick (b. 1978) was named president of the 60 Plus Association. Frederick, wife of former Virginia legislator Jeff Frederick
Jeff Frederick
Jeffrey M. Frederick is a former member of the General Assembly of Virginia. A Republican, he served three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and also served as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia and as a member of the Republican National Committee from May 2008 to April...
, is a former lobbyist and political consultant. For 8 years she served as a senior advisor to Virginia legislative candidates. Frederick graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with a degree in government.
Funding
According to the Washington Post, in 2002, 60 Plus received an unrestricted educational grant (which can be used as most needed) from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, also known as PhRMA.In 2009 Carl Forti, a political consultant and spokesman for 60 Plus said, "I don't believe PhRMA has ever given 60 Plus money." He added that 60 Plus is funded by donations from its 5.5 million members. Ken Johnson, senior vice president and spokesman for PhRMA said that as of 2009 the association had not provided any funding to 60 Plus for at least five years.60 Plus also earns income from sponsoring life insurance and health screening for its members.