Cure Psoriasis Now!

[doxtator]

I saw an article this week about a lobbying effort called Cure Psoriasis Now! (http://www.psorcurenow.org) I was curious what other Psoriasis folks thought about it. I've been a supporter of the NPF for a long time and am leery of splitting my financial help.
JanDox

[ouchyk]

Hi Jandox,

Gee, it looked pretty good up until the part where they asked for funds, I think that we could have our voices best heard through the efforts of the NPF with Capital Hill Day and our own letter writing campaign.

Karen :)

http://www.psoriasis.org/resources/advocacy/chd_2005.php

[jshearer]

For those who are interested in supporting research and lobbying Congress, I would recommend participating in Capitol Hill Day April 10-11 in Washington, DC. This is an opportunity for you, and other members of the psoriasis community, to speak your mind to the US Congress.

Last year, we had a great time and were successful in meeting with over 40 congressionl offices. Relationships were built that helped us secure "report language" from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees encouraging the National Institutes of Health to increase research of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Here's a great message board thread about Capitol Hill Day: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12026

Visit www.psoriasis.org for more info and online registration.

And please don't hesitate to contact me with further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Joey Shearer
Advocacy Coordinator
National Psoriasis Foundation

[rosy3939]

Buyer Beware.

Framers Institue. This organization is a right wing think tank. The founder is MIke Paranzino who was a consultant for the NPF. He is expounding most of the same position as the NPF and even reference the NPF on his web page. What he is not saying is that monies donated will go to the organization to use as it wishes to push forward its adgenda, not just additional funding for the NIH!

NOWHERE DOES THE "FRAMERS INSTITUE" SAY THAT ALL MONIES RAISED FOR THE FIGHT FOR ADDITION RESHEARCH FROM CONGRESS WILL ACTUALLY GO FOR THAT PURPOSE. ALL MONEY DONATED GOES TO THE FRAMERS INSTITUE FOR THERE POLITCIAN ADGENDA. Quote, " We need your help! Please make a secure, tax deductible contribution today so we can reach more Americans with our conservative solutions to our nation's most pressing challenges." NOT TO FIND A CURE FOR PSORIASIS.


Below is directly from Michael Parazino's web iste.

"Founded in 2002, The Framers Institute, Inc. is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization—commonly called a “think tank” or as we prefer, an “action tank”—founded to educate the public about our nation’s enduring principles; and to develop innovative public policy ideas that incorporate these core notions such as freedom, democracy, capitalism and self defense to today’s most challenging issues.

Too often, public policy groups tend to treat average Americans as an afterthought; a pesky nuisance standing in the way of government by the few. For that reason, the Framers Institute, Inc. is a think tank for the rest of us. We want to remind all Americans that their voices should be heard on issues that will affect them. And we want to engage them in the public policy process.

Finally, The Framers Institute, Inc. is determined to prove that public policy need not be boring. We want everyone—from 18 to 118—involved in shaping America’s future.

The Framers Institute, Inc. is organized under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

The Framers Institute, Inc. is run by Michael Paranzino, an attorney and a former Chief of Staff to a U.S. Congressman. Paranzino’s background includes campaign stints with U.S. Senators Jon Kyl and Elizabeth Dole. His writing has appeared in dozens of newspapers including the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle; he has appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America and all the cable news networks; and he has been interviewed extensively on radio programs across the U.S. He holds a B.A. in political science from Yale University, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Herald, and a law degree from the New York University School of Law, where he was an Associate Editor of the Law Review.

Please join us. Conservatives must get engaged and beat the Wacky Left on the battlefield of ideas."

NPF is the only organization who is lobbing Congress, and the NIH for Psoriasis and Psoriatic research money whose soul purpose is to improve the lves of us suffers. This is a fight we need to fight not some profiteer who purpose is to put forth a politcal adgeda wrap around an American Flag and on the back of psoriasis suffers.

Mitch Rosenberg

[floridian]

The all-seeing Eye of Google knows:

Michael Paranzino is a government affairs consultant in Bethesda, Md.
Michael Paranzino, patient advocate
Michael Paranzino, spokesman for the National Psoriasis Foundation. ...
Michael Paranzino is the president of Psoriasis Cure Now!
Michael Paranzino is a freelance writer in Washington, DC.
Michael Paranzino is president of PPC Strategies, Inc. and a public- policy consultant in Bethesda, Maryland.
Michael Paranzino is a Washington, DC-based conservative activist, at home dad, government affairs consultant and creator of BoycottCBS.com. He formerly served as Chief of Staff to a GOP Congressman and as a corporate litigator.
Michael Paranzino is an Adjunct Fellow at the Lexington Institute
Michael Paranzino is the Founder of FullTimeFather.com ...
The Framers Institute, Inc. is run by Michael Paranzino,
MICHAEL PARANZINO is a SEIA consultant with PPC Strategies

Busy guy - He has more hats than Imelda Marcos has shoes!

[rosy3939]

He is no longer a spokesman for the NPF from what I have been told. The web-page for a psoriasis cure is counter productive to the NPF goals but it content is basically what the NPF is doing. What is scarey is the Web Site which the page dosen't link too.

I would hope everyone stay focused on the NPF's goal and adgenda where at least we know there mission stametment is only to advance the cause and treatment of and advocatw for people who suffer from Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis.

Mitch

[floridian]

Yeah, some (most?) of those things are past-tense. My guess is that he lacks a certain stick-to-it-ness. Is he most committed to being a media pundit/writer, a lobbyist/consultant, a patient advocate, a full time father's advocate, or a full time father? He should know that a lot of philanthropic institutions don't give any money until an non-profit goes through several years of application-cycles ... the theory is that there is no sense in giving money to a group that just popped up (and may dissappear or wither just as fast). Maybe in 3 or 4 years I will re-evaluate that group ... if they impress me, I might send $10 or so. Until that day arrives, I'm with the NPF.

[makeitgoaway]

I would like to hear from the NPF on this. Is there still a relationship?

[doxtator]

Thanks, everyone, for your valuable input. I'm planning to keep my dollars with the NPF for the nonce. Thanks also for not being mean and pointing out that I had transposed the name of the lobbying group. It should have been Psoriasis Cure Now!. Sorry for my error.
JanDox

[JKNY]

Contibutions to political organizations or organizations organized for political causes are NOT tax deductible so if his organization is a 501 c 3 that means that contributions are tax deductible so there must be some charitable or educational purpose to the organization. My paranoia says that the conservatives are launching "educational organizations" in order to develop lists of people that they can target for political causes. Maybe they get the list from one organization and share it with a separate political one. Maybe this is just an educational organization by some very fine line. I would like to hear more about this guy from thr NPF.

Hey Robi, who is this guy? What's the purpose of his organization? Something the founding fathers would support? Is it okay Biblically?

There tax return must be available for public inspection by law- i will look for it.

[floridian]

Your right that most 'political' groups are not tax exempt, nor are contributions to them deductible. But the IRS definition of political is relatively narrow - promoting particular candidates or parties. If they define their mission as psoriasis advocacy, they can still work for 'non-political' issues like lobbying politicians, promoting or opposing legislation, putting out 'issue ads' that 'educate' the public about candidates, or calling for a 'conservative solution' to a public health issue.