Citizen Action
Encyclopedia
Citizen Action was a national liberal consumer and public activist group that was active in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.
and the Indochina Peace Campaign.
In 1980 a national organization Citizen Action was formed as a federation of state groups in Ohio, Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Illinois, with a national office in Washington, D.C. Its first president was Heather Booth and its first executive director was Ira Arlook. Some of the affiliates had their own history, with Connecticut Citizen Action Group
being founded by Ralph Nader
in 1970. Ohio Citizen Action
was founded in 1975 as the Ohio Public Interest Campaign. The Citizens Action Coalition
of Indiana was founded in 1974 and made its name in dealing with utility company rates and associated investigations.
The national group experienced various changes in membership during the 1980s due to financial and organizational ups and downs, but saw its role as putting pressure on the political system for policy issues it was concerned about. By the early 1990s the group had affiliates in 34 states. Its policy specialist Cathy Hurwit was a well-known figure in discussions about health care reform in the United States
, and the group was a strong advocate for single-payer health care
. Group funding often came from labor unions such as AFSCME, CWA
, and ILGWU.
With the advent of the Clinton administration in 1993, the group began changing from being a nonpartisan grassroots organization to being a direct player in Democratic Party politics. Citizen Action argued publicly for single-payer health care, but behind the scenes worked to support the managed competition proposals of the 1993 Clinton health care plan as the only feasible approach. This created some unhappiness among members and aligned organizations.
The national group got heavily involved in the 1996 U.S. elections
, including staging a $7 million education and get-out-the-vote drive. The effort was successful in putting many Republican congressional candidates on the defensive. However, this emphasis was to the dissatisfaction of some of its state affiliates; following the election, the Ohio and Indiana affiliates withdrew from the organization, taking away some 650,000 of the national group's 2 million members. A director for Ohio Citizen Action said, "what happened was a very old story: an office in Washington which was set up to serve the interests of states grew up to think it had created the states."
In 1997, Citizen Action got caught up in the Teamstergate
affair, due to reports that the group was involved in improperly funding the 1996 reelection campaign of Teamsters
president Ron Carey
. Federal investigators found that Carey's advisers created an illegal contribution scheme in which the union gave $475,000 to Citizen Action; in return, Citizen Action and some of its donors gave more than $100,000 to a direct-mail firm under contract to the Carey campaign.
Financial contributions collapsed, and in late October 1997, the Citizen Action national office in Washington shut down and all 20 employees were laid off. Liberals mourned the loss of the national organization, although the individual state affiliates carried on with more than 400 employees among them.
In late 1999, Heather Booth founded a new national organization, USAction, that has purposes and structure somewhat similar to Citizen Action. USAction includes some of the same state affiliates, which carry on the "Citizen Action" name.
History
The origins of the group lies in various state-level organizations founded by veterans of Students for a Democratic SocietyStudents for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
and the Indochina Peace Campaign.
In 1980 a national organization Citizen Action was formed as a federation of state groups in Ohio, Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Illinois, with a national office in Washington, D.C. Its first president was Heather Booth and its first executive director was Ira Arlook. Some of the affiliates had their own history, with Connecticut Citizen Action Group
Connecticut Citizen Action Group
The Connecticut Citizen Action Group, or CCAG, is a public advocacy group prominent in Connecticut politics. Founded by politician and consumer advocate Ralph Nader and future Congressman Toby Moffett in 1970, CCAG seeks to promote social, economic, and environmental justice.The organization has...
being founded by Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
in 1970. Ohio Citizen Action
Ohio citizen action
Ohio Citizen Action is Ohio’s largest environmental organization. The organization focuses on environmental health, and also tracks political corruption in the state.-Overview:...
was founded in 1975 as the Ohio Public Interest Campaign. The Citizens Action Coalition
Citizens Action Coalition
Citizens Action Coalition was founded in 1974, as a 5014 non-profit organization, by a group of fellow organizations, churches, labor unions, and senior groups. The impetus of forming CAC came from collective concern of protecting consumers during the "energy crisis"....
of Indiana was founded in 1974 and made its name in dealing with utility company rates and associated investigations.
The national group experienced various changes in membership during the 1980s due to financial and organizational ups and downs, but saw its role as putting pressure on the political system for policy issues it was concerned about. By the early 1990s the group had affiliates in 34 states. Its policy specialist Cathy Hurwit was a well-known figure in discussions about health care reform in the United States
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...
, and the group was a strong advocate for single-payer health care
Single-payer health care
Single-payer health care is medical care funded from a single insurance pool, run by the state. Under a single-payer system, universal health care for an entire population can be financed from a pool to which many parties employees, employers, and the state have contributed...
. Group funding often came from labor unions such as AFSCME, CWA
Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States representing about 550,000 members in both the private and public sectors. The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada representing about 8,000 members...
, and ILGWU.
With the advent of the Clinton administration in 1993, the group began changing from being a nonpartisan grassroots organization to being a direct player in Democratic Party politics. Citizen Action argued publicly for single-payer health care, but behind the scenes worked to support the managed competition proposals of the 1993 Clinton health care plan as the only feasible approach. This created some unhappiness among members and aligned organizations.
The national group got heavily involved in the 1996 U.S. elections
United States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
, including staging a $7 million education and get-out-the-vote drive. The effort was successful in putting many Republican congressional candidates on the defensive. However, this emphasis was to the dissatisfaction of some of its state affiliates; following the election, the Ohio and Indiana affiliates withdrew from the organization, taking away some 650,000 of the national group's 2 million members. A director for Ohio Citizen Action said, "what happened was a very old story: an office in Washington which was set up to serve the interests of states grew up to think it had created the states."
In 1997, Citizen Action got caught up in the Teamstergate
Teamstergate
Teamstergate was the name the Kentucky State Republican Party Executive Director Randy Kammerdiener called an apparent money swap between the 1996 Bill Clinton presidential campaign and the Ron Carey campaign to be reelected as president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters...
affair, due to reports that the group was involved in improperly funding the 1996 reelection campaign of Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
president Ron Carey
Ron Carey (labor leader)
Ronald Robert Carey was an American labor leader who served as president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1991 to 1997. He was the first Teamster General President elected by a direct vote of the membership...
. Federal investigators found that Carey's advisers created an illegal contribution scheme in which the union gave $475,000 to Citizen Action; in return, Citizen Action and some of its donors gave more than $100,000 to a direct-mail firm under contract to the Carey campaign.
Financial contributions collapsed, and in late October 1997, the Citizen Action national office in Washington shut down and all 20 employees were laid off. Liberals mourned the loss of the national organization, although the individual state affiliates carried on with more than 400 employees among them.
In late 1999, Heather Booth founded a new national organization, USAction, that has purposes and structure somewhat similar to Citizen Action. USAction includes some of the same state affiliates, which carry on the "Citizen Action" name.