Hispanic Alliance for Prosperity Institute

The Hispanic Alliance for Prosperity Institute (HAPI) appears to be a front group for Republicans and corporate lobbyists, used when they need "diversity" cover for lobbying efforts.

It describes itself as a "a pro-business Hispanic advocacy organization". Jose Nino, co-chair of the organization, "has been a major fundraiser for the campaigns of President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and other Republican candidates and conservative causes."

Involvement in soft drink lobbying
According to the Los Angeles Times story, "Beverage industry douses tax on soft drinks" the Hispanic Alliance for Prosperity Institute joined soft-drink lobbyists in protesting taxes on soft drinks, claiming such taxes would unfairly burden poor and minorities.

Lobbying for the bailouts
The organization, with a number of the big Wall Street banks on its Board, lobbied for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) bailouts.

Involvement in other Republican-oriented lobbying
The organization's website lists the following actions and alerts:
 * Sign our Petition to Oppose Government Run Healthcare
 * Oppose Healthcare Proposals
 * Oppose Cap and Trade Tax
 * Oppose Massive Taxes and Fees on the Oil and Natural Gas Industry
 * Contact Congress and ask for a Comprehensive Energy Strategy
 * Support the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Five-Year Leasing Program

Goals
Their goals as stated on their website:
 * To build a Hispanic-American organization that is nationally prominent and influential in the political and legislative process.
 * To recruit one million Hispanic Americans as advocates for pro-business, pro-ownership and pro-economic growth policies leading to a more prosperous America.
 * To develop a communications network to equip Hispanic Americans with the intellectual and public policy tools they need to have a real-time impact on critical debates.
 * To replicate the national organization on a regional or state level. These state groups, which in some cases may be organized down to the precinct level, will be the voice of pro-business Hispanics in state capitols and city halls.

Links section
The links section on The Latino American Tea Party website has the Hispanic Alliance for Prosperity Institute listed under "Conservative Hispanic Organizations", along with other organizations such as Latino Partnership, Conservative Hispanic Society, The Hispanic Conservative, Hispanic Family Values, and Resurgent Republic.

Board and advisors
The organization's Board includes a large number of members of Congress.

Leadership
As of December 2010 includes:
 * Manuel Lujan, Jr., New Mexico, Chairman Emeritus
 * Leslie Sanchez, DC, Co-Chair
 * Jose Nino (Jose Niño), Maryland, Co-Chair
 * Rudy Sandoval, Texas,Policy Director

Corporate board members
The organization's website lists a number of "Corporate Board Members." These are :
 * Bank of America
 * BellSouth
 * Ford
 * AT&T
 * AIG (American International Group)
 * Information Technology Industry Council
 * Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 * Altria Group, Inc.
 * American Petroleum Institute
 * IBC Bank
 * Case New Holland
 * DCI Group, a top Republican lobby and public relations firm
 * Coca-Cola Companies
 * R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
 * National Association of Manufacturers
 * National Association of Realtors

Contact information
1101 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20004 Phone: 202-756-7732 Fax: 866-838-1935 Website: http://hispanicallianceforprosperity.wordpress.com

Other organizations sharing the same address

 * The Impacto Group, LLC., located in the same suite at the same time, bills itself as "We specialize in the Hispanic and women's marketplace, with a unique methodology focusing on building connections."
 * American Coal Council

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Hispanic American Center for Economic Research

External articles

 * Beverage industry douses tax on soft drinks, Los Angeles Times, February 7, 2010.