Obama-Friendly Business Group Launches
Business Forward, a new trade group backed by AT&T, Facebook, Hilton, IBM, Microsoft, Pfizer, Time Warner and others, is hitting the ground running with the launch of its Web site and radio advertisements this week in Indiana and Arkansas promoting health care reform. The ads encourage industry leaders in those states to work with the Senate to help shape the debate and underscore the need "to bring down skyrocketing health care costs, and protect a patient's right to choose his or her own coverage plan and physician," according to the organization whose goal is to promote President Obama's economic competitiveness agenda. Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., "are leading the fight for health care reform, and Business Forward is encouraging business leaders in their states to learn more and get involved," said Jim Doyle, the group's executive director.
The ad buy marks the start of Business Forward's small business recruiting effort outside of Washington as it seeks to build business support toward major changes in health care, education, energy and the environment. The group plans to brief business leaders on key issues, hold conferences and press events, issue policy briefings and engage in other public advocacy initiatives, according to a press release. In addition to Doyle, Business Forward is led by former Viacom lobbyist David Sutphen, whose sister is Obama's deputy chief of staff and former Obama media consultant Erik Smith. Others involved include former Obama campaign staffer Julie Andreeff Jensen; and Hilary Rosen, former head of the Recording Industry Association of America.
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