IEC announces the official launch of the Prosperity Project, an enhanced government affairs service, on the IEC national Web site.

Reserved for IEC members only, the goal of the Prosperity Project is to strengthen IEC’s legislative efforts by encouraging more member involvement, which in turn will create greater visibility on Capitol Hill. The Prosperity Project will provide IEC members and their companies the tools and services necessary to increase the political effectiveness of IEC as a whole.

For example, the Prosperity Project makes registering to vote easy. The project also offers other relevant campaign information, such as candidate voting records on IEC’s priority issues, highly competitive Senate and House races, and up-to-date fundraising results.

A letter-writing feature is included in the Prosperity Project, which enhances the existing Grassroots Action Center on the IEC Web site. Members are encouraged to use this feature to send pre-written letters to their lawmakers addressing priority issues. Additionally, this customizable feature provides members the flexibility to alter such letters to fit varying company specifications.

In response to the nation’s changing political climate, BIPAC leaders initiated the Prosperity Project. The change in the political environment triggered a decline in the political effectiveness of the business industry. Union leaders, on the other hand, watched as “get-out-the-vote” programs prompted a sharp increase in pro-union political effectiveness. Union representatives comprised more than 27% of the vote in 2000.