After more than a month of fine-tuning, a new trade group called Business Forward is launching with the goal of promoting President Obama's economic competitiveness agenda. The organization tried to woo big high-tech firms like Cisco Systems, Google, IBM, and Microsoft as members, a source involved in the effort told CongressDaily in March. The New York Times reported Thursday morning that initial members include AT&T, Facebook, Hilton, IBM, Microsoft, Pfizer and Time Warner. Rather than lobbying, Business Forward's initial aim will be hosting events around the country to focus on maximizing funds in the $787 billion economic stimulus package. "There are very few platforms for the administration and Congress to engage the business community," the official told CongressDaily.
It will be led by political operative Jim Doyle; former Viacom lobbyist David Sutphen, whose sister is Obama's deputy chief of staff; former Obama media consultant Erik Smith; former Obama campaign staffer Julie Andreeff Jensen; and Hilary Rosen, former head of the Recording Industry Association of America. Business Forward's founding members will pay up to $75,000 per year for a membership, while smaller firms will pay $1,500 in annual dues. One organizer rejected the notion that the group is the Democrats' answer to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. It won't compete with progressive think tanks like the Center for American Progress or grassroots group MoveOn.org, the organizer said.
"You know what you get with all the existing organizations around town," the official said. "They all have a role to play. This isn't an 'either-or' endeavor. It's an 'and.' "
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