Peter Ferrara

{{Short description|American journalist (1955–2026)}} {{Infobox person | name = Peter Ferrara | image =  | alt =  | caption = | birth_name = Peter Joseph Ferrara | birth_date = {{birth date|1955|4|26}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|5|5|1955|4|26}} | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Policy analyst | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}

'''Peter Joseph Ferrara''' (April 26, 1955 – May 5, 2026) was an American lawyer, policy analyst and columnist who was an analyst for The Heartland Institute. He was general counsel for the American Civil Rights Union. A libertarian scholar, he is known for supporting privatization of the Social Security program and climate change denialism.

==Early life and education== Ferrara was born on April 26, 1955.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1984/12184b.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-11-02 |archive-date=2014-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207160109/http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1984/12184b.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated in 1976 from Harvard College with an A.B. in economics magna cum laude and cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1979.<ref name="ACRU Experts">{{cite web|title=ACRU Experts|url=http://www.theacru.org/acru/acru_experts/index.html|publisher=American Civil Rights Union|access-date=July 15, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003165947/http://www.theacru.org/acru/acru_experts/index.html|archive-date=October 3, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Roberts"/><ref name="Heartland"/> At Harvard, Ferrara wrote for ''The Harvard Crimson'', the student newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|title=Peter J. Ferrara|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/writer/2197/Peter_J._Ferrara/|work=The Harvard Crimson|access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> While in law school, he participated in the Harvard Libertarian Association.<ref>{{cite web|last=Berry|first=William J.|title=Psychiatrist Szasz Contends Mental Illness Does not Exist|url=http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/1978/4/11/psychiatrist-szasz-contends-mental-illness-does/|work=The Harvard Crimson|author2=Davis, Lisa E.|date=April 11, 1978|access-date=July 15, 2011|archive-date=March 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317204018/http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/1978/4/11/psychiatrist-szasz-contends-mental-illness-does/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Future Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts attended both Harvard College and Law School with Ferrara.<ref name="Roberts">{{cite news|last=Scott|first=Janny|title=Roberts's Harvard Roots: A Movement Was Stirring|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/21/politics/politicsspecial1/21harvard.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=July 15, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 21, 2005}}</ref>

A 2005 profile for the ''Harvard Law Bulletin'' reported that Ferrara recalled at age nine "being transfixed while watching television as Barry Goldwater stormed the 1964 Republican National Convention."<ref name="HLB 2005">{{cite web|last=Stern|first=Seth|title=26 Years Later|url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/bulletin/2005/summer/classnotes_03.php|work=Harvard Law Bulletin|access-date=July 15, 2011|date=Summer 2005}}</ref>

==Career== His senior law school thesis evolved into the debut hardcover publication by the libertarian Cato Institute in 1980, ''Social Security: The Inherent Contradiction''.<ref name="HLB 2005"/> From 1981 to 1983, Ferrara served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Ronald Reagan and was an associate deputy attorney general from 1991 to 1993.<ref name="ACRU Experts"/> Between those positions, Ferrara became a Heritage Foundation analyst specializing in Social Security issues.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reagan criticized on Social Security|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/08/us/reagan-criticized-on-social-security.html|access-date=July 15, 2011 |via=LexisNexis Academic|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 8, 1984|pages=A1}}</ref> He also became an insurance consultant<ref>{{cite news|title=Agency asking U.S. care in 'catastrophic' ills|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/02/us/agency-asking-us-care-in-catastrophic-ills.html|access-date=July 15, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 2, 1986}}</ref> and provided expertise in Social Security to media.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pear|first=Robert|title=Social Security to repay loan early|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/29/us/social-security-to-repay-loan-early.html|access-date=July 15, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 29, 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pear|first=Robert|title=Chipping Away at the Idea of 'Entitlement'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/09/weekinreview/chipping-away-at-the-idea-of-entitlement.html|access-date=July 15, 2011 |via=LexisNexis Academic|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 9, 1986|page=D4}}</ref> In 1987, Ferrara joined the faculty of the George Mason University School of Law and directed its legal writing programs until 1991.<ref name="GMU bio">{{cite web|title=Law Faculty Directory: Peter Ferrara |url=http://www.law.gmu.edu/faculty/bios/ferrara.html |publisher=George Mason University School of Law |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001212020800/http://www.law.gmu.edu/faculty/bios/ferrara.html |archive-date=December 12, 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref> As late as 2003, Ferrara has taught there.<ref name="nr"/>

In the early 2000s (decade), he founded the Virginia chapter of Club for Growth and directed the International Center for Law and Economics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://laweconcenter.org/|title=Home – International Center for Law & Economics|website=laweconcenter.org}}</ref><ref name="tax cut critics">{{cite web|last=Ferrara|first=Peter|title=The Tax-Cut Critics|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/206963/tax-cut-critics/peter-ferrara|work=National Review|access-date=July 15, 2011|date=May 20, 2003}}</ref>

As a writer, Ferrara's employers included erstwhile lobbyist and convicted felon, Jack Abramoff, who hired Ferrara to write op-ed pieces favorable to Abramoff clients. Ferrara doesn't disclose which pieces he is paid to write, but according to a Business Week article, the specific pieces may have been articles in ''The Washington Times'' about the Northern Marianas Islands and The Choctaw Indian tribe. Ferrara stated that those writings reflect his independently held views on the respective subjects. "I do that all the time. I've done that in the past, and I'll do it in the future."<ref>{{cite news |title=Op-Eds for Sale |first=Eamon |last=Javers|date=December 16, 2005 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2005/nf20051216_1037_db016.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218033220/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2005/nf20051216_1037_db016.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 18, 2005 |work=Business Week |access-date=July 14, 2009|quote=...he doesn't see a conflict of interest in taking undisclosed money to write op-ed pieces because his columns never violated his ideological principles.}}</ref>

Ferrara was tied to Abramoff again in 2020 in connection with AML Bitcoin after the FBI charged Abramoff with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and violating the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Ferrara wrote op-eds in favor of AML Bitcoin that were placed in ''The American Spectator'', ''Investor’s Business Daily'', and ''The Washington Times''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Feds Point to Daily Caller Writer as Part of Abramoff Payola Scheme|website=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-point-to-daily-caller-writer-as-part-of-jack-abramoff-payola-scheme|access-date=June 25, 2020}}</ref>

He was a senior policy adviser at the Institute for Policy Innovation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ipi.org/|title=Institute for Policy Innovation|website=www.ipi.org}}</ref> In April 2011, Ferrara became senior fellow for entitlement and budget policy at The Heartland Institute. He served concurrently as general counsel for the American Civil Rights Union and policy director of the Carleson Center for Welfare Reform.<ref name="Heartland">{{cite web|title=Peter Ferrara Named Senior Fellow by The Heartland Institute|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8349958.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502050922/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8349958.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2011|publisher=Heartland Institute|access-date=September 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theccwr.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619111610/http://www.theccwr.org/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 19, 2013|title=Home | the Carleson Center for Welfare Reform|website=Theccwr}}</ref> He was a member of the District of Columbia Bar but was more recently on inactive status.<ref>https://www.dcbar.org/membership/find-a-member-results.cfm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209085343/http://www.dcbar.org/membership/find-a-member-results.cfm |date=2015-12-09 }} D.C.</ref>

Ferrara's articles have been published in such outlets as ''National Review'',<ref name="nr"/><ref name="tax cut critics"/> ''The Washington Times'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Ferrara|first=Peter|title=Unleash the new TV|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/nov/4/20031104-102049-4600r/|access-date=July 15, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=November 4, 2003}}</ref> ''The American Spectator'',<ref>Ferrera, Peter: [http://spectator.org/people/peter-ferrara/all Contributors: Peter Ferrara] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128052053/http://spectator.org/people/peter-ferrara/all |date=2013-01-28 }}. Accessed February 11, 2013.</ref> and FoxNews.com.<ref>FoxNews.com: [http://www.foxnews.com/archive/author/peter-ferrara/index.html Peter Ferrara archive.]</ref> He was a regular guest on the Thom Hartmann radio program.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/thomhartmann/videos?query=peter+ferrara Peter Ferrara search] on the Thom Hartmann YouTube channel</ref>

==Viewpoints== In 1987, ''The New York Times'' published an op-ed by Ferrara in which he advocated capping the Social Security payroll tax.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ferrara|first=Peter J.|title=Business Forum: Scaling back hikes in Social Security; Put a Permanent Lid on Payroll Taxes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/25/business/business-forum-scaling-back-hikes-social-security-put-permanent-lid-payroll.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|access-date=July 15, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 25, 1987}}</ref> The newspaper also interviewed Ferrara that year about a proposal by Secretary of Health and Human Services Otis R. Bowen to expand Medicare; Ferrara criticized the program for "a lot of gaps in medical coverage for the elderly" and found "no basis for just expanding Medicare to take over coverage that private sector provides now."<ref>{{cite news|last=Pear|first=Robert|title=Health care debate: How to pay for extended coverage; Congress takes on catastrophic illness issue|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/01/weekinreview/health-care-debate-pay-for-extended-coverage-congress-takes-catastrophic-illness.html?scp=9&sq=%22Peter+J+Ferrara%22&st=nyt&pagewanted=all|access-date=July 15, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 1, 1987}}</ref> The George W. Bush administration championed Ferrara's plan to privatize Social Security.<ref name="WaPo 2005">{{cite news|last=Birnbaum|first=Jeffrey H.|author-link=Jeffrey Birnbaum|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/02/22/private-account-concept-grew-from-obscure-roots/a48c3b24-24c0-4eb5-8beb-62d278256d29/ |title=Private-Account Concept Grew From Obscure Roots|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 22, 2005|page=A1|access-date=May 7, 2006 |quote=Twenty-five years ago, Peter J. Ferrara was a Harvard Law School student with what he called "the craziest idea in the world." In a paper he wrote before graduating, he suggested converting the government-run Social Security program into a web of private investments...the proposal by the 24-year-old Ferrara began an improbable journey from the fringes of public policy into the mainstream.}} Ferrara graduated from the law school in 1979, according to his [http://www.theacru.org/acru/acru_experts/index.html ACRU biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003165947/http://www.theacru.org/acru/acru_experts/index.html |date=2011-10-03 }}</ref>

''National Review'' magazine published his essay "What Is An American?" in its September 25, 2001 issue, after the September 11 attacks.<ref name="nr">Peter Ferrara: [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-ferrara092501.shtml What Is An American?] National Review online, September 25, 2001.</ref> In the essay, he claims that "there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan",<ref name="nr" /> although census numbers show Afghanistan has roughly ten to fifteen times as many Muslims as the United States.<ref name="pewmuslim1">{{cite web |url=http://features.pewforum.org/muslim-population/?sort=Pop2010 |title=Muslim Population by Country |work=The Future of the Global Muslim Population |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref> The essay was reproduced in a chain e-mail claiming that an Australian dentist wrote it.<ref>{{cite web|title=What Is An American?|date=29 March 2002 |url=http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.asp|publisher=snopes.com|access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> Ferrara, reflecting on that essay in 2007, still stood by it and supported "more selective immigration so that the U.S. gets a 'better-educated class of Mexican immigrants.'"<ref> {{cite news|title=What is an American? Immigration debate reveals patriotism—and nationalism |first=Stephanie |last=Ramage |date=July 13, 2007 |url=http://www.sundaypaper.com/More/Archives/tabid/98/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/347/071507-NEWS1-What-is-an-American.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109163259/http://www.sundaypaper.com/More/Archives/tabid/98/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/347/071507-NEWS1-What-is-an-American.aspx|archive-date=January 9, 2009 |work=The Sunday Paper |location=Atlanta, Georgia }} </ref>

Ferrara also wrote about climate change, asserting that human activity is not the cause of climate change, that "manmade global warming" is political science rather than natural science, that actual scientific evidence proves the earth is in a cooling cycle,<ref>Ferrara, Peter (December 1, 2011). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2011/12/01/salvaging-the-mythology-of-man-caused-global-warming/ "Salvaging The Mythology Of Man-Caused Global Warming"] ''Forbes'', Retrieved November 26, 2014.</ref><ref>Ferrara, Peter (January 22, 2013). In this, he asserted "global temperatures will continue to decline for another two decades or more"; in fact, temperatures resumed rising within a decade to new record levels.

[https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2013/02/22/as-the-economy-recesses-obamas-global-warming-delusions-are-truly-cruel/ "As The Economy Recesses, Obama's Global Warming Delusions Are Truly Cruel"] ''Forbes'', Retrieved November 26, 2014.</ref><ref>Ferrara, Peter (May 26, 2013). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2013/05/26/to-the-horror-of-global-warming-alarmists-global-cooling-is-here/ "To The Horror Of Global Warming Alarmists, Global Cooling Is Here"] ''Forbes'', Retrieved November 26, 2014.</ref> and comparing climate change to Lysenkoism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2013/04/28/the-disgraceful-episode-of-lysenkoism-brings-us-global-warming-theory/ |title=The Disgraceful Episode Of Lysenkoism Brings Us Global Warming Theory |author=Peter Ferrara |date=April 28, 2013 |access-date=October 5, 2024 |work=Forbes }}</ref>

==Death== Ferrara died on May 5, 2026, at the age of 71.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peter Ferrara (1955 – 2026) |url=https://heartland.org/about-us/who-we-are/peter-ferrara/ |website=The Heartland Institute |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>

==Bibliography== * ''America's Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb'' (2011) * ''Stop the Raid: Social Security the Biggest Rip Off in History'' (with Denison Smith) (2008) * ''Common Cents, Common Dreams: A layman's guide to social security privatization'', {{ISBN|1882577760}}, (1999) * ''The Choctaw Revolution: Lessons for Federal Indian Policy'', {{ISBN|096658340X}}, (1998) * ''Religion and the Constitution: A reinterpretation'' (1983) * ''Social Security: The Inherent Contradiction'' (1980)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{C-SPAN|2135}} * {{cite news |title=Peter J. Ferrara |url=http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Peter_J._Ferrara |work=SourceWatch |date=11 August 2008 |access-date=2009-07-14 |publisher=Center for Media and Democracy |location=Madison, Wisconsin }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferrara, Peter}} Category:1955 births Category:2026 deaths Category:American columnists Category:American libertarians Category:Libertarian theorists Category:George H. W. Bush administration personnel Category:Antonin Scalia Law School faculty Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:The Heritage Foundation people Category:Writers from Phoenix, Arizona Category:People associated with the Jack Abramoff controversies Category:Reagan administration personnel Category:The American Spectator people Category:United States deputy attorneys general Category:Virginia lawyers Category:People from Fairfax County, Virginia Category:Harvard College alumni Category:Cato Institute people