InfluenceWatch Friday

InfluenceWatch, a project of Capital Research Center, is a comprehensive and ever-evolving compilation of our research into the numerous advocacy groups, foundations, and donors working to influence the public policy process. The website offers transparency into these influencers’ funding, motives, and connections while providing insight often neglected by other watchdog groups.

The information compiled in InfluenceWatch gives news outlets and other interested parties to use this research in reporting on significant topics that are often overlooked by the American public.

CRC is pleased to present some of the most significant additions to InfluenceWatch in the past week:

• Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) is an artificial intelligence (AI) watchdog group based in Washington, DC. In March 2023, CAIDP filed a complaint with the U.S Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against ChatGPT developer OpenAI claiming unfair and deceptive practices that put public safety at risk. The FTC opened an investigation against OpenAI in July 2023.
• Creating Law Enforcement Accountability and Responsibility (CLEAR) is a legal advocacy clinic housed in the City University of New York School of Law. In June 2023, CLEAR staff signed a letter asking the school’s board of trustees and chancellor to retract a statement in which they condemned a graduating student for making antisemitic and anti-capitalist remarks during a graduation speech.
• Voice for Refuge Action Fund (Voice for Refuge) is a pro-refugee activist organization. The group launched the State Legislators for Welcome initiative in 2023, which asked state legislators to sign a pledge promising to increase refugee arrivals and protections for migrant communities within their respective states. As of August 2023, over 129 state legislators from more than 34 states and the District of Columbia have signed.
• Washington State Budget and Policy Center (WSBPC) is a public policy organization associated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) labor union. WSBPC supported a new payroll tax initiative to fund education and health programs, which has been criticized for taxing extra from paychecks while capping lifetime benefits below the level needed for most long-term care.
• Center on Halsted (COH) is a community activist organization. In June 2023, COH partnered with the Human Rights Campaign and over 200 similar organizations to criticize Target for discontinuing sales of controversial LGBT-themed merchandise. The letter demanded that Target show its support for the LGBT community by restoring the merchandise’s availability.