is a business with over one half of its stock or assets are owned by another company)

Transcription

1 Art Pope, Part 1 Art Pope, serves as Chairman of the Board and CEO and President of Varity Wholesalers, Inc. Art also serves as Chairman and President of the John William Pope foundation, a private grant-making foundation supported by the company and Pope family. The Pope Foundation makes grants of approximately $10 million a year to support public policy, education, and other efforts. Variety Wholesalers, Inc. includes Roses, Maxway s, Super Dollar, Super Saver, Super 10 and Bill s Dollar Store chains. Art inherited these business from his late father, John William Pope who created a retailing empire panning 14 southeastern states. Today, according to the Variety Wholesalers, Inc. website, the Pope family s company owns more than 400 stores and makes no secret that it target is low-income communities with large minority populations. Store employees are part-time and paid minimum wage. Millions are made from and off of poor people. Pope seems to forget that he was born privileged, as he has stated that he believes that the poor are better served by private enterprise, not public money. He believes, philosophically, that s it s the role of others, not the government to take care of others. Pope basically stated that 1

2 he believes that wealth is just a reward for talent and hard work, and ALL Americans have a fair chance at success. He also stated that the extent of true poverty in NC and around the country is woefully estimated and that the poverty that does exist is largely the result of self-destructive behavior. One can only conclude that he has a plantation mentality. Reportedly, Art Pope has assets of nearly a hundred and fifty million dollars. While we only have one Roses and one Maxway's in NHC, we can shop someplace else, if only for self-satisfaction. In fact, Mr. Pope whose millions helped pay for the thoroughly negative anti-everything campaign waged by the Republican Party in NC says it s almost extortion how he Democratic Party wants its supporters to boycott his stores. Using the profits he makes from selling to the less fortunate, Art Pope pours millions into conservative and right-wing organizations that advance his anti-government, I made-itwhy-can t you? agenda. These organizations include the John Locke Foundation, the John William Pope Civitas Institute and Civitas Action. All based in Raleigh and receive millions from Art Pope annually. According to the Institute for Southern Studies, Pope and the family foundation he controls, the John William Pope Foundation, have contributed some $28.7 million to these groups over the years. The 28.7 million is based on a 2011 study. 2

3 The John William Pope Civitas Institute is a think tank which monitors state policy, promotes conservative solutions and trains people to run for office. Critics describe Civitas Institute as Pope s conservative assembly line. Civitas underwrites polls on issues of the day, posing questions that critics have called biased, and disseminates its finding in order to support rightwing arguments. These polls save conservative candidates a lot of expense. NOTE: The NCDP has created a program for anyone wanting to run for public office, serve on a board or commission, be a local organizer in the community or serve on a non-profit board of directors. This program is called Lead NC. If you are part of a candidate search committee, personally know of someone you would want to recommend, or plan to run yourself, go to Civitas Action its sister organization, is organized under a different part of the tax code, which allows it to sponsor hardhitting election ads. These ads often insinuate sexual misbehavior and dishonestly of Democratic incumbents and candidates. Keep in mind that all of the businesses that Art Pope, and Koch Industries own are considered Small Business and get the appropriate tax breaks. Of the twelve corporations that Koch Industries own, many include multiple subsidiaries. (Subsidiary 3

4 is a business with over one half of its stock or assets are owned by another company) NC s new voting laws effective January, 2014: Contribution limits to a local state candidate or PAC will go up from $4,000 to $5,000 per election and increase every 2 years to keep up with inflation. Limits for all judicial candidates jump from $1,000 to $5,000 per election. More Secret Money in Election Outside groups may spend unlimited amounts on nasty ads against a candidate or on other electioneering expenses, using money from virtually any source, from the May primary to Sept. 7 of the election year, without revealing the source or amounts to the public or State Board of Elections. Mystery (Dark) money from corporations or other sources may also be spent on electioneering in oddnumber years against candidates. Even for the period when disclosure is required, the public will get less information. The new law ends a requirement that print ads and mailers by outside groups include a list of the top 5 donors financing the ad. Corporate Money to Parties law increases the ways corporate money may be received and spent by a political 4

5 party s building fund. It may be used for up to 3 staff, supplies, travel and fundraising, not just for upkeep of the party s building. No More STAND BY YOUR AD law. It required the candidate or CEO to appear in TV or radio ads saying I am John Doe and I approve this message. Candidates must include a small photo in TV ads for at least 2 seconds, but no similar acknowledgement is required in their radio ads or ads by parties or independent groups. Pope created and almost entirely funds Civitas, was the founding chairman of the John Locke Foundation, (providing 80% of its funding in 2011). Along with David Koch and Tobacco companies, help fund and form Americans for Prosperity in Pope also served on the Citizens for a Sound Economy, a predecessor to Americans for Prosperity (AFP), which Koch cofounded in Charles Koch recently praised the Popes, for providing financial support for the 2012 election effort, and records show that Pope has given money to at least 27 groups supported by the Kochs, including organizations opposing environmental regulations, tax increases, unions, and campaign-spending limits. Pope, in fact, helped fund the legal center run by James Bopp, the lawyer who made the initial filing in the Citizens United case. Pope s company was a major backer of Real Jobs NC, a nonprofit advocacy organization created as a campaign vehicle 5

6 for smearing incumbent Democratic legislators. Variety Stores gave $100,000 to the Republican State Legislative Leadership Committee, which in-turn gave Real Jobs NC another $850,000! Real Jobs NC reported spending almost $1.4 million on campaign mailers and ads through mid-october, according to its filing Oct 28, Until recently, Pope was vice chairman on the national board of AFP only stepping down from all three organizations after his appointment as budget director. Because of him, North Carolina is home to one of the most active AFP state chapters, also based in Raleigh. Progressive advocates say Pope is playing a shrewd political game, utilizing his numerous proxies to voice extreme ideas that will provide political cover for McCrory s re-election in Claude Pope a distant cousin of Art Pope, is Chair of the NC Republican Party is in-step with Art and his way of thinking. Claude is the owner of the Maritime Market Ventures, LLC at Bald Head Island. From April 22 to May 14, 2013, he contributed only $2,680 to the NC Rep. Party. Based on the size of his contributions, he isn t as rich as Cousin Art but, still dangerous. 6

7 SIDELINE Art Pope lives in Wake County and has been part of, or has directly influenced the General Assembly since 1985 when he was appointed as a Special Counsel to Gov. Jim Martin. He was elected to the State House of Representatives from 1989 to 1992 and from 1999 to In 1991 he ran for Lt. Governor and lost. He returned to the General assembly when he was appointed to fill a vacancy and then ran for another term. An activist in the NC Republican Party, having served at every level from precinct chair to Chairman of the NC Republican Party State Convention and delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1992, 1996, 2008 and In 2012 he was appointed as the Budget Director by Gov. McCrory. It has been reported by many that the North Carolina agenda is Art Pope s agenda. Art s new laws has made North Carolina s the topic of magazines, TV shows, and even in the comic strips. For example: On October 16, 2013, Doonesbury featured Art starting off with Hey folks who look like me! Negative Ned here from the state of North Carolina. Here in Raleigh, we re on the move---backwards! 338 regressive bills and counting. 338 bills, and counting. 7

8 The New Yorker magazine wrote a 21 page article State for Sale about Art Pope on October 10, Another important site is the rest of the address is Tax Agenda in North Carolina. 8