2007 Annual Report

The First 100 Days of the Next President

The ACCF and its think tank, the ACCF Center for Policy Research, have been recognized players in U.S. economic policy over three decades, five Presidents and sixteen Congresses. Because of ACCF's political and legislative acumen, we are able to work effectively with both Democratic and Republican policymakers but have never wavered in our belief that strong capital formation is essential for job creation, a high standard of living, economic growth, and competitiveness.

ACCF includes on its board of directors former Secretaries of the Treasury and other senior economic policymakers from both Democratic and Republican presidencies as well as former congressional leaders from both political parties. We are also very proud that five former chairmen of the President's Council of Economic Advisers and a number of the best and the brightest of our nation's economists, including a Nobel Prize winner in economics, serve on our Center's board of scholars.

Our country today is in the midst of a truly historic presidential and congressional election with no incumbent president or vice president vying for the presidency, the first time this has occurred since 1952. The politically powerful middle class is anxious about job security, health care costs, college tuition, and retirement security and therefore susceptible to populist appeals which, if adopted, would come at the expense of sound economic policy. Rising protectionism, which history shows can damage the economy, and growing support for tax policies to redistribute income rather than encourage economic growth are just two illustrations of the new political climate.

The 44th President and 111th Congress will have their hands full with the unparalleled economic challenges facing our country, but the new President and Congress cannot make good economic policy a reality without allies in the private sector. As this annual report documents, the ACCF and its affiliated think tank, with decades of research, analysis and expertise on major economic challenges, have no peers in the business community in terms of credibility with policymakers in the WhiteHouse, on Capitol Hill, with the media and opinion leaders. History has taught us that the "First 100 Days of the Next President" present unique opportunities in which significant policy initiatives can be successfully undertaken. Anticipating chances to tackle some of our country's major economic challenges, we initiated "ACCF Project 100 Days" by opening a dialogue with the senior economic advisers to the leading presidential candidates. ACCF also weighed in this year with analyses of the implications of major capital formation legislation before Congress, as well as the opening salvos of the critical debate on the future of U.S. tax policy which will take center stage after the November election.

The ACCF and the ACCF Center for Policy Research are better positioned today than ever to make significant contributions to sound U.S. economic policy.  ACCF comes from the business community but, with a board of directors including former economic policymakers, we can speak credibly for public policies that will promote a strong economy, good jobs and a high standard of living for all Americans ACCF is a recognized player in today's economic policy debates and fully prepared to take advantage of the opportunities of the "First 100 Days of the Next President."

ACCF has built a track record of political and legislative acumen as well as research, analysis and expertise on many of the economic issues facing the country, including tax, energy, environmental, retirement security, and regulatory policy. ACCF's potential for helping advance good economic policy is greater than ever before. With your help, we will succeed.

ACCF Annual Report Download complete annual report (pdf)