Coalition for Progress Still Solidifying Role in '08 Races

In the fall of 2006, the Kalamazoo-based Coalition for Progress came out of nowhere. Jon Stryker, a billionaire philanthropist and heir to the medical supply company by the same last name, along with his sister Pat, contributed millions to the coalition that in turn ran advertisements that election year attacking Republicans in the Legislature and then gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos. So what role will the coalition play in the 2008 races?

On the coalition's website it lists accomplishments from the 2006 election, including running seven television commercials (all of which featured cartoon elements and an opera singer), that "reminded voters about conservative Republican support for making Michigan a dumping ground for trash from Canada and New Jersey. We also reminded voters that conservative Republicans supported tax breaks for corporations that outsource jobs and for companies that move offshore."

The ads also hit Republicans for not supporting a change in the state's tort law that would allow Michigan residents to sue pharmaceutical companies in state court if they were injured by a drug, though the website doesn't mention that. Last year, the House passed legislation dealing with that issue and an out-of-state trash measure, but neither have gained traction in the Senate.

Two ads also ran on the issue of stem cell research, which is now a petition driver for a ballot initiative, and GOP efforts to have pharmacists deny women birth control.

While the coalition received smaller donations from individuals, the Stryker's financially supported the bulk of the coalition's ad campaigns and online operations. In 2006, the Mr. Stryker contributed $4.9 million of his own money to the coalition, and his sister gave $500,000, although overall the group raised $5.5 million.

But since the election, the advertisements and press announcements have run dry, so Gongwer News Service contacted the coalition this week to see what the group has been up to over the past year, what issues will be important ones in the upcoming election, how big a fundraising role the Strykers will be playing and whether the coalition will again run advertisements against members of the Legislature.

A look at the coalition's website shows that over the past year, the coalition has been a place for information on voter registration efforts, Michigan political news and political training activities.

And according to the latest campaign statement filed with the state in January, no donations were received, but in October, Mr. Stryker had contributed $429,300, including a $300,000 donation in late August. Overall in January, the coalition reported raising $473,800, spent $496,000 and had $77,000 in cash on hand.

But observers of House races will have to wait some more to hear about what could be in store from the coalition as a spokesperson for the group sent this reply to Gongwer's inquiries:

"The Coalition for Progress is still active and working with other groups in Michigan on issues of importance to the people of our state. While we aren't ready to announce our plans for the coming year, suffice it to say, we are looking forward to continuing our success of the last election cycle," said Amy Weiss of Point Blank Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Reprinted from Gongwer (subscription-only).