Bonner & Associates

Bonner & Associates is an American public affairs firm formed in 1984.

History

Bonner & Associates was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1984 by Jack Bonner as a public affairs firm.[1] Bonner was previously the Director for Community Relations for the City of Tucson, Arizona and also served as a top aid for US Senator, John Heinz (PA). Bonner & Associates was one of the early public affairs companies involved in many large scale grass-roots campaigns for a wide range of clients at the local, state and federal levels of government. The company has been listed as the “pioneer of grassroots efforts” by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and has also been featured on CSPAN explaining their approach to grassroots lobbying.[2][3] They have worked with Fortune 500 corporations, associations and non-profits to educate and mobilize third party constituent advocates to help their clients win legislative/regulatory fights and promote public education programs. Bonner & Associates specializes in seizing on unformed public sentiment.[4]

The firm’s on important legislative issues has been in published books on issues include taxation, healthcare, transportation and international trade.[5]

Advocacy efforts
  • On December 3, 1990, Fortune Magazine reported on how Bonner put together a major campaign for the auto industry. Bonner & Associates conducted more than half of their business outside of Washington D.C at the state and local levels of government.[6]
  • On September 27, 1999, PR Week quoted leaders of the 3 million member Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) on why they hired Bonner & Associates to help them become a more potent political force.[7]
  • On January 1, 2012 The Officer Magazine, published by the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) describes Bonner & Associates the process for assembling a successful and effective grassroots campaign for an organization.[8]

Criticism
  • On December 18, 1986, The New York Times reported that the company was hired to run a toll free line for people to request “What Works: Schools Without Drugs,” a free book on drug abuse. The program received several large requests for the book. After an internal investigation the management at Bonner & Associates found several employees in direct violation of the policy of the firm and the contract by adding names and addresses compiled from sources other than the toll free number assigned for that purpose. The firm fired the employees and immediately reported their actions to the government.[9]
  • On December 3, 1994, National Journal reported that Bonner & Associates was hired by Philip Morris to oppose nonsmoking laws in several states.[10]
  • On March 9, 2002, the Baltimore Sun reported that Bonner & Associates was hired by PhRMA to oppose subsidized prescription drug programs for seniors.[10]
  • On August 1, 2009, The Washington Post reported that a temporary staffer contrary to firm policies was discovered by Bonner & Associates to have sent forged letters to the Hill.
  • In 2009, Bonner & Associates found that a company employee was violating their company policy and was forging anti-climate bill letters to Rep. Tom Perriello (Dem-VA). The letters were supposedly from local minority groups, like the Charlottesville NAACP or Creciendo Juntos—complete with their stationery—and urged him to oppose the ACES climate change bill.[11] The company immediately fired the employee they said was responsible and apologized.[10][12][13]

Bibliography
  • Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, Alan S. Murray (1988). Showdown at Gucci Gulch: lawmakers, lobbyists, and the unlikely triumph of tax reform.
  • Haynes Johnson, David S. Broder (2009). The System: The American Way of Politics at the Breaking Point. ISBN 031608395X.
  • Haynes Johnson, David S. Broder (2009). The System: The American Way of Politics at the Breaking Point. ISBN 031608395X.
  • Mira Kamdar (2008). Planet India: The Turbulent Rise of the Largest Democracy and the Future of our World by Mira Kamdar. ISBN 0743296869.
  • Kenneth M. Goldstein (1999). Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Participation in America by Kenneth M. Goldstein. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052163962X.
  • Amy Fried (1997). Muffled Echoes – Oliver North and the Politics of Public Opinion. ISBN 0231108206.

References
  1. STEPHEN ENGELBERG (17 March 1993). "A New Breed of Hired Hands Cultivates Grass-Roots Anger". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  2. JOEL BRINKLEY (30 July 1993). "Special Pleaders: A periodic look at lobbying.; Lobbyists Appear Inept When They're the Issue". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  3. "Grassroots Lobbying". C-SPAN. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  4. Jeanne Kouhestani (1 January 2012). "Deep Roots: Bonner & Associates Recognizes ROA's Credibility on National Issues". Highbeam. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  5. Kenneth M. Goldstein (1999). Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Participation in America by Kenneth M. Goldstein. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052163962X.
  6. "Grassroots Lobbying Strategies". C-SPAN. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  7. "Veterans enlist Bonner to heighten political profile". Prweek.com. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  8. "Bonner & Associates recognizes ROA's credibility on national issues" (PDF). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  9. KEITH SCHNEIDER (18 December 1986). "FRAUD IS ADMITTED ON U.S. BOOK ORDERS". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  10. Victor Zapanta (July 31, 2009). "NAACP-Forgery Group, Bonner & Associates, Has A Decades-Long History Of Astroturf Tactics". thinkprogress.org.
  11. "Firm Forged Letters to Lawmaker on Climate Bill". Associated Press. July 31, 2009.
  12. "Washington Lobbying Firm Caught Sending Fake NAACP Letters". Democracy Now!. August 3, 2009.
  13. David A. Fahrenthold (1 August 2009). "Lobbying Frm [sic] Says Ex-Staffer Forged Letter to Lawmaker". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
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