I was just on the receiving end of a very strange anti-Sherrod Brown robo-call. They talked about a number of power plants closing and electric bills going up as a result of an EPA vote Brown made. It was a fast call, so I didn't get all the details, and the "paid for by" was even faster, but I made out what I thought was Checks and Balances for Economic Growth. I checked this out on the internet, and it didn't have a website, although it was listed in some of the charity evaluation sites. It seems to be some sort of non-profit charity, devoted to "research and public education related to the positive input public activities have on government activities and programs."
More below the squiggly.
I called the phone number listed in one of the web listings, and the person who answered was a receptionist at the law firm of Webster, Chamberlain and Bean, which appears to be a legitimate law firm in Washington, DC. Not only was the phone number the same, but the address for Checks and Balances was the same as Webster, Chamberlain and Bean: 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 1000. I talked with the receptionist and she didn't know about Checks and Balances, told me the name of the law firm. When I asked her why they would have the same phone number, "so do you represent them?" she wanted to know why I was calling and who I was with. I said I was a citizen and had received this robocall and wanted more information about the statistics in the call. She said someone would get back to me.
So there is this organization that is supposedly interested in public education but has no website and no way to contact them, except apparently through their law firm.
It is supposed to be non-profit, but the ad specifically mentioned Sherrod Brown and Barack Obama - so I have doubts about whether this could be considered an issue ad. I did call Brown's campaign and told them what happened.
Anyone know how to check out this skurvy organization?