Third Way (United States)

Third Way grew out of the nonprofit group Americans for Gun Safety (AGS), which was formed in 2000 with the goal of resetting the gun control movement and advancing gun safety laws by using moderate ideas that appealed to both sides of the debate.[7] AGS' primary political project was around closing the gun show loophole in the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, through which people could purchase guns at gun shows without needing a background check. It helped pass two 2000 state-level ballot initiatives in Colorado and Oregon to close the gun show loophole there and championed federal legislation carried by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT), which failed to pass. AGS was folded into Third Way in 2005 in the wake of the 2004 presidential election as a policy, messaging and strategy idea center and think tank. Third Way was cofounded by Jonathan Cowan, Matt Bennett,[8] Jim Kessler[9] and Nancy Hale.[10]

Third Way has four major policy programs. The Economic Program focuses on helping the American middle class succeed in the midst of growing global competition.[11]

The National Security Program focuses on issues of security, foreign policy, surveillance and technology, public opinion and the United States military.[12]

Third Way has also houses a clean energy program that promotes a range of zero-emissions technologies, like carbon capture and advanced nuclear reactors as well as renewable energy, all in an effort to address the climate crisis.[13] Finally, it has a Social Policy and Politics Program to advocate for change on progressive issues including marriage equality, education, marijuana, immigration and gun control.[14]

In 2010, Third Way sponsored a report written by William Galston of the Brookings Institution and Elaine Kamarck[15] of Harvard University's Kennedy School entitled Change You Can Believe In Needs a Government You Can Trust.[16] The report analyzed Americans' trust in government and reported it was in serious decline and could present significant challenges to the Obama administration's agenda. Third Way's other economic work has included rural reinvestment efforts, a plan to make opportunity more widely available to American middle class and defending the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

As an example of Third Way's rural reinvestment program, Third Way developed the policies framed in Spurring Weatherization Investments in Rural America, which was introduced by Representative Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) as the Rural Energy Savings Program.[17] Third Way argued for members of opposing parties to sit together at the President's annual address in 2011 and 2012.[18]

Third Way has recently worked on a campaign to evaluate the Democratic Party connection with voters after the 2016 presidential election.[19] Along those lines, Third Way hosted consultations and meetings with politicians and strategists from around the country to develop a Democratic strategy for winning 2018 and 2020 elections.[20] As of 2017, Third Way's economic program is undertaking a campaign to highlight the scarcity of opportunity as a root cause of income inequality.[20]

In March 2018, Third Way released a report outlining a new cause for the Democratic Party and several policy ideas that the organization says "redefines government's role in expanding the opportunity to earn".[21] The Washington Post's coverage of the report considered it "an opening bid in the 2020 'ideas primary'".[22] Other parts of Third Way's work are also related to politics. The organization has studied the battleground states and districts that will determine congressional majorities in 2018.[23]

For example, their public opinion research and focus groups revealed that persuadable voters who backed Barack Obama and then Donald Trump saw Trump as focused on creating jobs and Democrats as "working for someone else".[24] In its report on the findings, Third Way called for the Democratic Party to focus on becoming the Jobs Party to voters.

Third Way has worked on the following policy issues:

1. The economic benefits of green energy. Since 2010, Third Way is lobbying the creation of an alternative clean energy and climate agenda. Part of this effort has included highlighting and advocating the work of advanced nuclear technology start-ups.[25] The organization has recently partnered with the Department of Energy's Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) to connect advanced nuclear developers with federal laboratories.[26]
2. Marriage equality. Third Way launched the Commitment Campaign in 2011 with the aim of finding common ground between the LGBT and religious community that culminated in reframing the marriage equality debate to focus on "love and commitment" instead of "rights and benefits".[27] The group also worked on the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell" and the Defense of Marriage Act.
3. Trade agreements. Third Way advocated for new trade accords with Korea, Colombia and Panama and advocated for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
4. Gun safety. Third Way has continued to work on similar issues to those addressed by Americans for Gun Safety, which include universal background checks.[28]

• Official website