Facing a tough election and finally having to account for his years of putting billionaires and Wall Streeters ahead of working Pennsylvanians, Pat Toomey is frantically trying to reboot himself as a “man of the people.”
“How?” you might ask. By breaking bread with the National Club Association, the “only organization that actively lobbies the U.S. Congress with a specific focus on the needs of the private club industry.”
Unsurprisingly, Senator Toomey didn’t want it publicly known.
This:
Became:
Consider it a metaphor for his career.
In public, Pat Toomey tries to claim that he understands the needs of his constituents, while attending private events hosted by an organization committed to private yacht clubs, private golf clubs, private country clubs – and above all, to keeping them all private.
Here are a few of the National Club Association’s favorite things:
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Lower taxes for millionaires and billionaires – the National Club Association proudly fights against “legislation that increases taxes on individuals who traditionally join private clubs [READ: the one percent].”
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Weaker worker protections – the National Club Association opposed efforts to hold clubs accountable for their contractors’ labor violations and to raise the threshold for overtime pay for people making up to $47,476.
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Being able to discriminate against women and minorities – In 2005, a National Club Association representative confirmed to the Chicago Tribune that “smaller, private clubs can continue to stand by their freedom-of-association rights to legally exclude people,” going on to explain matter-of-factly that “some golf clubs exclude minorities and women”
With friends like these…
BACKGROUND:
On September 28, 2016, Pat Toomey met with a group of lobbyists for dinner, including a lobbyist from the National Club Association, which represents private clubs across the United States. This group defends excluding minorities and women from private club membership and opposes stronger labor regulations and tax increases on the wealthy people who tend to join their clubs.
The National Club Association is a Trade Group That Represents Private Clubs
The National Club Association is a Trade Group Representing Private Clubs. [National Club Association, Accessed 9/29/16]
The NCA Lobbies Against Efforts to Strengthen Labor Rules
The NCA Opposed a National Labor Relations Board Rule that Made Private Clubs Liable for Independent Contractors’ Labor Violations. [National Club Association, Accessed 9/29/16]
The NCA Opposed the Department of Labor’s Rule to Require Employers to Pay Overtime to Employees Making More Than $47,000. [National Club Association, Accessed 9/29/16]
The NCA Lobbies Against Efforts to Protect the U.S. Water Supply
The NCA Listed the “Waters of the United States” Rule as an “Issue Facing Private Clubs.” [National Club Association, Accessed 9/29/16]
The NCA Lobbies for Seasonal Workers
The NCA Touted the Benefits of the HB2 Program for Its Private Clubs. [National Club Association, Accessed 9/29/16]
The NCA Lobbies to Increase the Definition of “Full-Time Work” Under the Affordable Care Act from 30 to 40 Hours per Week
The NCA Lobbied to Increase the Definition of “Full-Time Work” to 40 Hours per Week. [National Club Association, Accessed 9/29/16]
The NCA Lobbies Against Tax Increases on the Wealthy
The NCA Fought Against State Initiatives That Raised Taxes on “Individuals Who Traditionally Join Private Clubs.” [National Club Association, Accessed 9/29/16]
In 2005, an NCA Representative Defended Private Clubs’ Ability to Exclude Women and Minorities from their Membership
An NCA Representative Defended Private Clubs’ Right to “Legally Exclude” People Like Women and Minorities. “Smaller, private clubs can continue to stand by their freedom-of-association rights to legally exclude people, said Andrew Fortin of the National Club Association, a Washington trade group. For example, some golf clubs exclude minorities and women.” [Chicago Tribune, 10/18/05]