Amy Kauffman

At Hudson Institute, Amy Kauffman has created initiatives to reduce the stridency of the current political climate through programs aimed at encouraging debate and discussion between varying ideologies.

Ms. Kauffman created the Hudson Pew Briefing Series, which brings together senior level Capitol Hill officials for off the record discussions on issues pertinent to strengthening and preserving democracy at home and abroad.

Prior to joining Hudson in 1999, Kauffman was director of Campaign For America, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to campaign finance reform. She created initiatives to build coalitions between party leaders as well as between ideological opponents. She also established programs aimed at educating the business community on this topic.

Kauffman gained her knowledge of the strengths and pitfalls of our current campaign finance system while working as a political fundraiser. From 1985 to 1994, she served as finance director on the campaigns of Senators Mike DeWine (Ohio) and Arlen Specter (Pa.); Governor Dick Thornburgh (Pa.) and Bruce Herschensohn (Calif.). She also served as deputy finance director for Senator John Heinz (Pa.).

Kauffman received her bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985 and a master’s in business administration from Georgetown University in 1996.

Numerous media outlets, including Cleveland Plain Dealer, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, have used Kauffman as a resource on issues related to campaign finance.

She also testified before the Committee on House Administration in July 1999, and has appeared on CNN and C-SPAN, Fox News, NBC, CBS, and France 24.