january/february 2015 spn news

STRATEGIES FOR STATE THINK TANKS – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

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Invite Entrepreneurs InAn Interview with Whitney JohnsonThe public policy arena is rife with problems to solve and opportunities to create—an entrepreneur’s specialty. SPN staff asked Whitney Johnson how she thinks we could collaborate with entrepreneurs to solve public policy challenges. Johnson co-founded Rose Park Advisors with Clayton Christensen, is an advisor to the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards and author of Dare, Dream, Do, and was a featured speaker at the 2014 SPN Annual Meeting.

SPN: How do you define an entrepreneur?

Whitney: In the strictest sense of the word, an entrepreneur is a person who starts a business. He or she has a plan to make money and acquire the resources needed—human capital or otherwise—to make the plan work. That person then takes responsibility for the success or failure of the enterprise.

A few years ago, Entrepreneur magazine compiled a list of the 500 fastest growing companies in the United States. What surprised me was how these entrepreneurs had grown their business. Only 28 percent of those businesses had access to bank loans or lines of credit. Only 18 percent had access to equity, and only three-and-a-half percent were backed by venture capitalists. The study showed that at least 50 percent of those businesses—and perhaps as many as 70 percent—had grown by bootstrapping, starting with the cash they had on hand and the cash they generated as they grew their businesses. Those findings are powerful because they show that, to be an entrepreneur, you don’t have to be young, geeky, male, or wealthy. You can be older, non-tech savvy,

▴“So whenever

you have a problem, the

problem presents an opportunity

to find a way around, over, or

underneath. That is an opportunity

to innovate.”

Happy

New Year!2015

SPN NEWS 2 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 VOL 17 / ISSUE 1

SPN News reports on issues of importance to state-focused, market-oriented, nonprofit public policy research organizations. Drawing from current updates and events from within the industry, the publication provides timely information on the most pressing issues facing public policy state think tank executives. State Policy Network publishes SPN News six times a year. Individual copies can be ordered from the State Policy Network offices at 703-243-1655. All images used in this issue are owned by their respective copyright holders. All rights reserved.

MISSION STATEMENTState Policy Network is the capacity building service organization for America’s free market, state-focused think tank community. We advance a free society by providing leadership development, management training and networking opportunities for think tank professionals and by promoting strategic partnerships among market-oriented organizations.

STATE POLICY NETWORK™Tracie Sharp, President and CEO

Alexis Baker, Donor Relations ManagerTeresa Brown, Director of Leadership DevelopmentRebecca Bruchhauser, Director of Donor Relations

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Lynn Harsh, Vice President of StrategySpencer Hughes, Development Associate

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*Independent contractor

BOARD OF DIRECTORSThomas A. Roe, Founding Chairman (1927–2000)

Gaylord K. Swim (1948–2005)

Theodore D. Abram ...........American Institute for Full EmploymentWhitney L. Ball ..........................................................Donors TrustCarl Helstrom (Chairman) ................................The JM FoundationJohn W. Jackson ................................... Adolph Coors FoundationAdam Meyerson ..................................... Philanthropy Roundtable Tracie J. Sharp (President) ........................... State Policy NetworkStanford D. Swim ......................................... The GFC FoundationBridgett G. Wagner ................................. The Heritage FoundationThomas Willcox ...................................... Thomas Roe Foundation

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BY DIANA RICKERT

THE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S race was in dead heat when the incumbent Democrat sent his attack dogs after new targets: the Illinois Policy Institute and its CEO John Tillman.

Raising the minimum wage was Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s top campaign issue. The Institute rightly opposed an increase because of its negative effect on employment, specifically for teens and minorities. So the Quinn campaign issued a press release calling Tillman a “racist.” Quinn also called on his challenger Bruce Rauner—a longtime supporter of the Institute—to “disassociate himself” from Tillman and the organization. The campaign’s supposed smoking gun: A publicly available video of Tillman discussing how a higher minimum wage locks teens and minorities out of the job market.

The Institute was no stranger to attacks, but this reached a new low. Tillman was being personally attacked in a wrong and disgusting manner. News media were told that Tillman and the Illinois “Perjury” Institute were toxic and to stay away, lest they lose access to the governor. The matter required careful and precise handling.

While it was a challenging episode, it became an opportunity for the Institute. Here’s how. These lessons are ones other organizations can use when facing their own attacks:

Relationships are key. Over the past few years the Institute has dedicated significant resources to building its earned media capacity. Most reporters who received the Quinn press release already had a personal relationship with Tillman and with the Institute and thought it was outrageous to call him a racist. Most news outlets ignored the release because they knew it was just a desperate campaign ploy.

Don’t take it personally. Personal attacks are effective because the people who are attacked take the matter personally and are emotionally bruised. Remember Rules for Radicals: “Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than


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A clear sign your organization is having impact is when the powers that be attack—often unjustly. SPN is pleased to present this case study of how Illinois Policy Institute handled such an attack earlier this year. Progressives have publicly declared war on the think tank community because its effectiveness in promoting free market policies is increasing. As the onslaught intensifies, we can lean on each other for support and turn attacks into opportunities. –Meredith Turney, director of strategic communications at State Policy Network

CASE STUDYILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

When the Left Attacks: How to Respond with Boldness and Dignity

America’s Coming Generational Wealth Transfer: Part IIHow to Help Your Supporters Build a Lasting Legacy BY CAROLYN KLEY FANNING

AS YOU MAY recall, the last issue of SPN News discussed the enormous wealth transfer—almost $60 trillion—occurring over the next 55 years. This transfer is an opportunity for donors and nonprofits alike to pursue planned gifts. Such gifts empower donors to determine how their estates will eventually be distributed and enable nonprofits to give donors a way to advance freedom even after their deaths.

Some of your supporters may have already included your organization in a will or other document. Keep in mind that for every bequest you know about, there are two to three more that you don’t know about. Therefore, it is important to encourage your donors to tell you about their intentions.

To make sure that your organization is included in your supporters’ estate plans, here are some easy and inexpensive ways you can educate your donors about the opportunity of charitable bequests and other estate gifts.

DIRECT MAILIn your upcoming direct mail fundraising letters, consider adding a sentence or post-script and include some of type of response device in the mailing. Here’s an example:

“Have you remembered [name of your group] in your estate plans? Please let us know so that we may thank you and acknowledge your commitment to our shared ideals.”

“Make sure that your assets are used to support your principles and ideals. Consider an estate gift to [name of your organization] today. It requires no upfront commitment of assets and is completely revocable prior to your death. Gifts in a will or other estate plan produce important estate tax savings as well.”

You may also wish to inform your top 100–200 major and frequent donors that you are soliciting various planned gifts (bequests, beneficiary designations, etc).

One section of your reply device might read:

I have included [name of your organization] in my will or other estate plans. The approximate value of this gift is ____________________________.

Please send me more information about including [name of your organization] in my will or other estate plans.

I have provided for [name of your organization] through the following accounts:

retirement plan

insurance policy

bank accounts

commercial annuity

other

ADVERTISEMENTSIf you send out a regular newsletter to your supporters, you can include an advertisement encouraging donors to include you in their estate plans and to notify you when they do. Sample language might read:

Who is the beneficiary of your estate? Your family? Charitable organizations? Or Uncle Sam?

Make sure your assets are used to support your ideals. Consider a tax-saving bequest or other estate gift to (organization name) today. It requires no upfront commitment of assets and is completely revocable before you pass away.

For more information and sample language for you and your attorney, please contact us. If you have already included us in your will, please let us know so that we can recognize your commitment to our shared ideals.

WEBSITE PRESENCEMake sure your website includes information about making a gift from a will or other estate plan. Don’t forget to include your full legal name, tax identification number, and address so an attorney can easily draft the appropriate language.

EMAIL BLASTS/SIGNATURE LINESIn addition to short email updates to your supporters, you may also wish to add a line in your email communications

SPN NEWS 3 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015SPN NEWS 2 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

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BY MATT NESE

IN TODAY’S HYPER-POLARIZED political climate, legislators from both parties still agree on at least one issue: preserving their incumbency is paramount. In their zeal to ensure re-election, lawmakers across the country are considering proposed campaign finance laws that can sweep 501(c)(3) groups into burdensome donor disclosure regimes.

While new candidates and challengers campaign to win the war of ideas and the election, those in power increasingly seek to use their lawmaking powers to protect their perch by passing onerous campaign finance laws.

Lately, their tool of choice to muzzle their critics is speech-chilling donor disclosure laws. We see this disturbing trend in Democratic and Republican-controlled legislatures, and in statehouses throughout the North, South, East, and West.

Of course, history is rife with politicians wanting to silence criticism, but today’s would-be censors are armed with something their forebears were not: the support of deep-pocketed, left-leaning activist organizations frustrated by a series of losses in the Supreme Court and determined to drive free-market voices out of the public debate.

These activists want to make it harder for limited government advocates to organize and speak about candidates and issues of public concern, and their calls for unprecedented disclosure laws are being heeded in legislatures and by regulatory agencies nationwide.

The pressure for more disclosure was a major factor in the IRS targeting scandal as well as the intrusive “John Doe”

investigation of supporters of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s reforms. Civil liberties have been curtailed, political participation has been threatened, and public trust in government has declined.

It wasn’t always this way. Disclosure of donations to candidates and political parties didn’t exist until the 1970s, and, for decades after the landmark Supreme Court decision in Buckley v. Valeo, the law attempted to balance political transparency with privacy. For example, organizations with a primary purpose of influencing elections must register with the Federal Election Commission and disclose the identities, occupations, and employers of donors who contribute over $200. Conversely, donors to non-primarily political organizations—such as educational or charitable organizations (501(c)(3) groups), advocacy nonprofits (501(c)(4) groups), and trade associations (501(c)(6)s)—generally do not have to be disclosed.

This arrangement provided the public with information about the sources of support for candidates and political causes without discouraging giving to multi-purpose organizations.

Today, however, this delicate balance is under attack.

The brunt of these attacks have focused on 501(c)(4) organizations, which are allowed to engage in political activity so long as it is not their primary purpose. However, many of the new laws are so poorly written that the provisions can become traps for unwary 501(c)(3) groups. Non-profit groups are being put in the position of either abandoning their plans to speak out on key issues or disclose their supporters.

In California, the Center for Competitive Politics (CCP) is currently

fighting Attorney General Kamala Harris in court. Harris has demanded that CCP hand over its confidential donor list as a condition of its ability to continue soliciting charitable contributions in the state. Citizens United is currently fighting a similar requirement in New York.

In Colorado, CCP currently represents the Independence Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization and SPN affiliate, whose attempt to inform the public about the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange in a TV ad was halted by the

New Campaign Finance Laws Can Bite 501(c)(3) Groups


Legislative Disclosure Threats 2013–14 Legislative Developments and 2015 Predicted Action

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state’s “electioneering communications” regime because the ad mentioned the name of Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper in close proximity to an election. The ad was clearly permissible under IRS guidelines. If the Institute proceeded with the ads, it would have had to file a campaign finance report and publicly disclose their donors.

And in Delaware, CCP is representing another 501(c)(3) organization challenging a 2012 state law that forces nonprofits to report their activities and contributors from as many as four years

ago to the state if they wish to publish a nonpartisan voter guide.

As the map shows, over a dozen states across the country are expected to consider legislation expanding activities that trigger burdensome nonprofit donor disclosure requirements in 2015. Four others may respond to the McCutcheon Supreme Court ruling with new speech-chilling regulations; and big states like California, New York, and Texas have shown a willingness to violate donor privacy through regulatory fiat.

If supporters of free speech and limited government are not prepared, privacy in speech and association may soon be lost. In an increasingly bitter political climate hostile to free-market ideas, nothing could be more important than preserving the First Amendment’s guarantee that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech.”

Matt Nese is the director of external relations at the Center for Competitive Politics, the

nation’s largest organization dedicated solely to protecting

First Amendment political rights.


Legislative Disclosure Threats 2013–14 Legislative Developments and 2015 Predicted Action

KEY:

Positive DevelopmentsLikely ThreatsEnacted LegislationNo Developments

LIKELY THREATS IN 2015:

1. Repeating past failures2. Affected by McCutcheon3. Regulatory threats

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a woman, and on a budget. One of the biggest predictors of success is simply a willingness to start.

Another important predictor of success is the ability to persuade. To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to get buy-in for your ideas and help people see the future you see. In addition to setting goals and taking initiative, an entrepreneur has to be able to paint a picture of a future in which consumers will want or need to buy that product or service.

Even for an idea entrepreneur—a person who is trying to move forward a cause—these criteria still hold: you don’t have to be young, and you don’t have to have money. You just need a willingness to start and an ability to persuade. Behind that ability, you must have a belief that what you’re doing will accrue to the benefit of you and the greater community.

SPN: What drives entrepreneurs to innovate and seek solutions?

Whitney: People don’t buy products. Instead, they hire products to do a job for them. People innovate when they have looked for a product or service they want to hire and find it doesn’t exist. So they end up saying to themselves, “I need to go out and make this happen.” When people start dreaming like this, they are hungering for a better life. That leads to heightened engagement, and then they become problem solvers. Ed Hoffman, chief knowledge officer at NASA, said, “Dreams lead to problems, and problems lead to innovation.” I believe that innovation is one of the foundations of entrepreneurship.

So whenever you have a problem, the problem presents an opportunity to find a way around, over, or underneath. That is an opportunity to innovate.

SPN: The battlefield around which our fiercely independent think tanks unite is when we contend for judgment made by customers in the marketplace, not in political chambers. This age-old challenge will never go away, but how might we in the freedom movement better address it?

Whitney: When officials pass legislation, they hire the legislation to do a job. It’s human nature to protect what we’ve built, including businesses. Think tanks can help legislators think more broadly about legislation: What job do they want this legislation to do? Who does it help? Who does it hinder? Does it create more jobs? While the elected official may have a personal desire to get re-elected, how can you help them weigh that desire against the greater good? Those questions may seem obvious, but I think most of us forget to ask them in the course of our day-to-day jobs.

Policy organizations can also learn from entrepreneurs when it comes to branching out from a target audience or a natural customer base, such as legislators who share your position. Let’s imagine that I come to you with a plan to start a business. I believe there’s a huge opportunity, and I’ve got all the projections. Having that information means someone else has likely scoped out that opportunity. If I move forward, I’ll take on competitive risk because someone else is already there. On the other hand, I could come to you and say I don’t really know how big this market is, but I’m fairly confident there’s an unmet need. That’s market risk. It feels more risky than competitive risk because there’s more uncertainty initially. But the data show it’s actually less risky because you don’t have any competitors.

From a policy standpoint, consider taking on market risk. When a legislator has a hot-button issue, an issue they stand for and were elected on, it will be tough to change their mind on that issue. If you try, you are taking on competitive risk. But if you will become familiar with their platform and reach out to them on an issue they care about and their political identity doesn’t hinge on it, then you are taking on market risk. The odds are that you’ll see success because there’s less competition for you and lower risk for the legislator.

SPN: Successful entrepreneurs/innovators fail forward. What do they know and learn from failure that would help policy/idea innovators position themselves for success?

Whitney: I’ve learned in working with entrepreneurs that they fail fast at the low end of the curve when they are solving small problems. The truly successful entrepreneurs also have the nerve to risk big failures and the resilience to bounce back. When you dare to disrupt, you dare to fail. It’s part of the package. Consider Steve Jobs. We usually think of Jobs as the guy who unveiled

INVITE ENTREPRENEURS IN FROM PAGE 1

“[Be] clear on the metrics you are using to determine whether you are succeeding or failing. What are yours?”


amazing new products, but he was also the guy who curled up in a fetal position in an unfurnished apartment after the Apple board fired him in 1985. He could bounce back. When you take on big challenges that feel like windmills, you must dare to fail and know you can bounce back.

Surviving and learning from failure also requires a deep sense of mission, of caring. I saw firsthand at the SPN Annual Meeting that people in this movement care very deeply about freedom and helping people lead better lives.

It also means that you are clear on the metrics you are using to determine whether you are succeeding or failing. What are yours? Is it to write position papers? Is it to have a conversation with each of your legislators, help them understand what you believe, and find common ground? Is it to make the process of starting a business easier for people in your state? You will have metrics that are particular to you, but there is a necessary one that is universal: are you showing up? Are you showing up to have conversations with people on the other side of your aisle and swapping stories? Are you focusing on the process, knowing the outcome will naturally follow?

SPN: Before this Annual Meeting, you didn’t know SPN or the freedom network existed—a shortcoming on our part. How would you recommend we make more meaningful impact and attract entrepreneurs to become leaders in advancing the freedom human flourishing requires?

Whitney: The one thing I remember most about the Annual Meeting is Patti Morrow’s story. It was eye-opening for me. I had no idea

what barriers entrepreneurs like Patti were up against. What that says to me is that a lot of other people don’t know either.

In order to serve your legislators, your communities, and entrepreneurs, I think it’s important to know and communicate what you stand for. That’s where your white papers come in; they are the logic piece of what you want to accomplish, which are foundational. And then focus on stories like Patti’s. Stories are what will change people’s hearts and appeal to their better natures.

This reminds me of a story about Intuit. Intuit wanted to change the lives of 1.2 billion people in India. They sent three engineers to rural India to figure something out. One day these engineers got caught in a torrential downpour at a bus stop with some farmers. They started talking, and the engineers learned that the farmers didn’t have access to commodity prices. The engineers realized it was a problem that needed to be solved. They decided to start texting the farmers information about prices and buyers to see whether it was helpful for them. Turns out it was. Now Intuit has a sophisticated text messaging platform that two million farmers are using and their bottom line is up by 20 percent.

If Intuit had not gone to the place where the farmers were, they would not have known what problem needed to be solved.

The same is true for think tanks. To find entrepreneurs who care about joining the freedom movement, think tanks have to meet them where they are. Once think tanks engage with organizations like Vistage, YPO, or Chambers of Commerce, they will find many entrepreneurs who need the network’s help. That’s tremendous common ground. As you work alongside these entrepreneurs, you will have the opportunities to influence minds and hearts.

TO LEARN MORE about entrepreneurship and innovation, check out these resources from Whitney Johnson.

Dare, Dream, Do

In her book, Whitney offers inspiration and a framework for embracing disruptive innovation and achieving your goals. Learn more about the book and follow Whitney’s blog at whitneyjohnson.com.

The Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship

Want to learn more about how entrepreneurs think or how to become more entrepreneurial in your own work? In this brief course, Whitney covers key facets of entrepreneurship, such as discovering problems that need to be solved, vetting your ideas and solutions, launching lean, and growing and scaling your efforts. Access a free seven-day trial at http://whitneyjohnson .com/fundamentals-entrepreneurship/.

“As you work alongside these entrepreneurs, you will have the opportunities to influence minds and hearts.”


STATE POLICY NETWORK UPDATESUPDATES

ALABAMA

As the left continues to propagate a war on women waged by conservatives, the Alabama Policy Institute (API) sees a great need and opportunity to better engage women in policy discussions on the issues that matter to them most. Last fall, under the direction of vice president Katherine Robertson, API hosted its first “Conservative Women of Influence” luncheon headlined by U.S. Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL). The momentum from this luncheon led to additional events featuring dynamic leaders such as Laura Ingraham and pollster Kellyanne Conway. API’s aim in this targeted outreach effort is to connect women in our community and encourage them to get more informed and involved as ambassadors of the conservative message. alabamapolicy.org

ALASKA

Last fall, the Alaska Policy Forum (APF) educated Anchorage citizens on a ballot proposition, the Responsible Labor Act, which would restore to management the right to schedule personnel, equipment, and

facilities that the public employee unions had controlled. We briefed many community councils and sponsored a debate between two Assembly members and two proxy union leaders. The unions delivered no debaters for their side. We also engaged the public on talk radio and Facebook. APF pushed back against the EPA with comments on the Clean Power Plan. Our comments focused on the federal overreach of Alaska lands and waters. Our focus now is on the spending drivers in the operating budget. We will partner with United For Liberty, a group of freedom-loving organizations, to develop cost-cutting recommendations for the legislature. With projected oil revenue decreasing, the current budget will be underfunded by three billion dollars. We will continue the fight against Medicaid expansion, which our newly elected governor favors, and reach out to legislators with informational materials. alaskapolicyforum.org

ARKANSAS

The extraordinary success of limited-government advocates in the 2014 elections has placed the Advance Arkansas Institute in a unique position. Just after the results of the 2014 elections were announced, we sent a copy of our new 200-page policy book, Action Plan for Arkansas 2015, to all 2015 state legislators. One week later, we received

numerous requests from current and new legislators who wanted our assistance in drafting legislation for the forthcoming session. Our team is drafting legislation and consulting on legislative requests for tort reform, deregulation, health insurance access, student rights, religious freedom, property rights protection, civil rights, open government records, and protecting the First Amendment. The relationships we have built are paying off, and we’re confident that the 2015 legislative session will advance Arkansas. advancearkansas.org

Jackson T. Stephens, Jr., an Arkansas Policy Foundation board member and the Club for Growth chairman, was profiled in the Sunday edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the state’s largest circulation daily. The Foundation released its fiscal policy recommendations to Arkansas policymakers. They recommend Republican Governor-Elect Asa Hutchinson and his incoming legislative majority declare a jobs emergency, phase out the state capital gains tax, reduce the income tax for middle-class families, employ dynamic analysis in revenue estimates, and use activities-based costing and performance-based budgeting in state departments. The Foundation’s Road Map for Arkansas Prosperity report also recommends deregulating government restrictions that prevent low-income households from gainful employment and re-examining the state’s Quick Action Closing Fund established by Gov. Mike Beebe. Arkansas’ income tax and capital gains tax rates were reduced in 2013 following similar Policy Foundation recommendations. arkansaspolicyfoundation.org

CALIFORNIA

The Pacific Research Institute released The Seven Lean Years: The Economic and

API vice president Katherine Robertson and Congresswoman Martha Roby welcome guests to the “Conservative Women of Influence” luncheon.


STATE POLICY NETWORK UPDATES

Fiscal Consequences from California’s Proposition 30, a study by Wayne Winegarden. The study highlights how Prop. 30 increased the progressivity of California’s tax code, created additional budget rigidity, and decreased the incentives to work, save, and invest. Lance Izumi is working on a new education study, Michigan: Not As Good As You Think, which will compare a significant number of public schools located in middle class and affluent areas throughout the state. It will also show districts where the students are struggling and present their proficiency in English or math in at least one grade level. Moonshots in Education, a forthcoming study by Lance Izumi, will inspire and empower teachers to “shoot for the moon.” It will provide examples of successful blended learning methods in classrooms around the United States and the world, and it will offer a curated list of tools and technologies found to be effective in teaching and learning. pacificresearch.org

COLORADO

In a signficant victory for transparency and good government, the Independence Institute-backed Proposition 104 overwhelmingly passed in November’s general election, opening up all school board negotiations with teachers unions in Colorado to the public. Defending the Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) amendment, the Institute filed an amicus brief, along with the Cato Institute and

Reason Foundation, in the case of Kerr v. Hickenlooper. The suit claims TABOR violates a clause in the U.S. Constitution that guarantees a “Republican Form of Government.” We obviously disagree. Insitute health care policy center director Linda Gorman has been appointed health care economist to the Colorado Commission on Affordable Health Care. Linda will bring a breath of free-market fresh air to the commission whose mission is to study the health care market and make recommendations to the general assembly and to the Governor on how to improve the quality, price, and accessibility of health care for Colorado. i2i.org

CONNECTICUT

In the run-up to the November elections, Yankee Institute was attacked by Ted Kennedy, Jr., during his campaign for a state senate seat. The attack garnered welcome attention for Yankee’s work in developing and advancing pro-freedom state policies. The highlight of the year’s end was Yankee’s celebration of its 30th anniversary with a gala reception featuring Larry Kudlow, who received the Champion of Freedom Award. The gala recognized many of the newly elected state senators and representatives, as well as the narrowly-defeated candidate for state comptroller, who had relied heavily on Yankee’s Roadmap to Renewal and its pension study, Born Broke, during their campaigns. yankeeinstitute.org

DELAWARE

Caesar Rodney Institute (CRI) is pleased to announce Ron Russo has joined us as our senior fellow for education. Russo is the former principal of St. Mark’s High School and headmaster of the Charter School of Wilmington. He replaces Jim Hosley, who’s moved to our advisory council so he

can spend more time with his family. Dave Stevenson, CRI’s energy policy director, was granted standing in the lawsuit he is leading against the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). Last December, the department changed the number of carbon permits allowed to be sold at auction, a move which will raise ratepayer’s electric bills an average of $120 a year and more for businesses. If Dave wins his lawsuit, a precedent will be set to prevent state agencies from imposing taxes on the people in violation of the state Constitution. caesarrodney.org

FLORIDA

James Madison Institute’s “Freedom to Innovate ‘Hoppy’ Hour” raised awareness of the occupational licensing laws and regulations that stifle entrepreneurs’ entrance into their chosen industry or growth

Independence Institute-backed Proposition 104 passed handily on Election Day in Colorado.

Caesar Rodney Institute welcomes Ron Russo as senior fellow for education.

Valerie Wickboldt (JMI vice president of communications), Travis Keels (JMI director of public affairs), Ben Davis (brewer and owner of Intuition Ale Works), Carter Fowler (JMI development coordinator), and Francisco Gonzalez (JMI vice president of advancement) enjoy the Institute’s “Freedom to Innovate Hoppy Hour” event in Jacksonville, Fla.



of their business. At Intuition Ale, a local brewery in Jacksonville, Fla., attendees received an Intuition Ale/JMI-branded pint glass and a tour of the brewery. The owner explained the problems he faces with expanding his business and selling his craft beer. Additionally, Ari Bargil of the Institute for Justice and Daniel Davy of DeVoe Moore Center at Florida State University explained challenges facing two other consumer favorites: ridesharing programs and food trucks. To engage Florida’s young professionals, JMI has launched a year-long, exclusive Leaders Fellowship program that provides members an opportunity to network and attend social and educational events. The inaugural year directory includes an impressive list of Florida’s young leaders. jamesmadison.org

GEORGIA

Happy New Year and best wishes for successful policy in 2015! Georgia Public Policy Foundation’s Guide to the Issues includes the Foundation’s policy agenda for the 2015–2016 Georgia legislative session. It is available online at http://bit.ly/1xSm4hG. It targets Georgia’s challenges in education, health care, pension reform, professional licensing, tax reform, and transportation. As part of our outreach efforts to those traditionally averse to the messages of limited government and individual responsibility, Foundation president Kelly McCutchen discussed solutions to poverty on a panel at a November Heritage Action Summit. The Foundation’s first event for 2015 was a January Leadership Breakfast in Atlanta, celebrating National School Choice Week and Georgia’s many education options. The speaker was Dr. Ben Scafidi, Foundation senior fellow and head of the new Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University. georgiapolicy.org

HAWAII

Though the GOP sweep at the polls did not reach our shores, election season was an exciting time for the Grassroot Institute as media and policymakers turned to the Institute for insight on how a Republican Congress might affect Hawaii. It was an excellent opportunity to champion free market values and the need for Hawaii to develop a stronger economic policy rather than depending on federal aid. As 2014 drew to a close, the Institute honored those who helped ensure its success at a special event featuring the organization’s founder, scholars, and contributors. One of the featured panelists was Freddy Rice, the plaintiff in Rice v. Cayetano, the landmark Supreme Court case on race-based voting limitations that is still an important part of Grassroot’s current fight against the creation of a Native Hawaiian tribe. grassrootinstitute.org

IDAHO

The Idaho Freedom Foundation’s new Center for Defense of Liberty is challenging the Boise School District’s decision to pay a labor union president at taxpayer expense and excuse that person from teaching for a year. The special deal not only costs students one teacher, but it also likely violates the state Constitution’s prohibition on government-funded “gifts” to private sector entities, including the labor union. The Center for Defense of Liberty is also defending taxpayers in the city of Nampa, who have been subjected to an exorbitant franchise fee that doubles as an unauthorized tax on residents and businesses. The Foundation’s news site, www.idahoreporter.com, has exposed three more special tax breaks given to companies, and it continues to be the state’s only news outlet exposing cases in which taxpayer dollars have been given to businesses that later close shop or lay off employees. idahofreedom.org

ILLINOIS

The Illinois Policy Institute team spent days braving the Illinois weather, catching thousands of at-home caregivers on their way into mandatory “training” sessions. We were at the entrance of 50 sessions sharing what the state and Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, wouldn’t: under Harris v. Quinn, caregivers have the right to choose whether or not to join the

union. Under the ruling, the SEIU stood to lose millions of dollars annually. To recoup their losses, SEIU entered into an agreement with the state that mandated home caregivers attend training sessions where they were pressured into joining the union and paying dues. Even worse, these union membership drives were underwritten by Illinois taxpayers. We persisted against aggressive union bosses and ensured caregivers knew their rights. Our legislative watchdog staff also caught SEIU’s sneaky attempts to codify this arrangement into law. illinoispolicy.org

INDIANA

Dr. Maryann Keating and Dr. Barry Keating of Notre Dame are applying cost-benefit analysis to the $1.2 billion in education aid Indiana is receiving from the federal

Illinois Policy team member Thomas Funfsinn informs providers of their rights in Peoria, Illinois.



government. Independent studies suggest the money may cost more than it is worth. If so, those in the Pence administration who argued to accept inferior Common Core education standards for fear of angering Washington will want to rethink their position. Dr. Cecil Bohanon leads Indiana Policy Institute’s winter seminar with a discussion of Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments, a personal philosophy that Bohanon will argue is more potent than the soppy, political correctness of the modern world. The seminar will include an appeal for donations to build a much-needed “war chest” for advance commissions. inpolicy.org

IOWA

Public Interest Institute research analyst John Hendrickson has authored A Citizen’s Introduction to Federalism: Federalism and the Future of Constitutional Government. Hendrickson’s guide discusses the role of Federalism in solving the complex public policy problems facing the nation today and includes a “Brief Historical Review of Federalism.” This guide aims to help people rediscover the principles of the American founding so that traditional federalism can be restored in the states. To read this and other Public Interest Institute studies, visit www.limitedgovernment.org/publications.html. limitedgovernment.org

KANSAS

In an age of smartphones and tablets, a series of printed pocket guides has proven key in spreading the facts about Kansas’ education system and the voting habits of state legislators. Kansas Policy Institute’s inaugural Greenbook is the latest in the Transparency in your Pocket series of fact books. It summarizes economic indicators and statistics on the size and scope of

government. Legislators, activists, and donors appreciate having a hard copy that fits into their pockets because it’s perfect for handing to constituents, giving away at the State Fair, or referencing in countless other interactions with folks concerned about Kansas government. While KPI expands its video storytelling and optimizes its web platforms for mobile use, something tangible to put into someone’s pocket in a face-to-face interaction is moving the needle. kansaspolicy.org

KENTUCKY

A lack of transparency puts taxpayers who fund the government, including its secretive practices, at a distinct disadvantage from which it’s difficult to recover. Even the key architect of the imploding Affordable Care Act, Jonathan Gruber, said, “Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage and basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever—but basically that was really, really critical to getting it passed….” That’s why the Bluegrass Institute has made transparency and accountability one of its core pillars. We will fight for public pension transparency during the 2015 legislative session and issue a Transparency in Government award during our 11th President’s Dinner last holiday season. bipps.org

LOUISIANA

The Pelican Institute is educating Louisianans about problems associated with the Clean Power Plan of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Institute submitted comments to the EPA’s proposed rule, laying out the legal and economic case against the plan. The Institute produced a study highlighting the costs associated with the plan that

the consumer would ultimately bear. The Institute has continued its advocacy for responsible use of RESTORE Act money, a vital issue for Gulf Coast states. Looking ahead to the 2015 legislative session, the Pelican Institute will work to implement Right On Crime principles of criminal justice reform in Louisiana, which has the highest incarceration rate in the country. Finally, the Institute will collaborate with a coalition of business leaders to advance paycheck protection in Louisiana. pelicaninstitute.org

MAINE

Maine’s November election results sent conservative governor Paul LePage back to the governor’s mansion for a second term and ushered in a Republican takeover of the state Senate. The success of conservative candidates in both state and federal races gives Maine Heritage Policy

Center (MHPC) a historic opportunity to influence state policy for the next two to four years. To fully seize that opportunity, MHPC has renewed its focus on policy and research by hiring policy analyst Patrick Marvin. MHPC outlined its formal agenda in a series of presentations to activists around the state and is working with the new lawmakers to push that agenda forward. mainepolicy.org

MHPC CEO Matthew Gagnon outlines MHPC’s agenda to activists.



MARYLAND

The Maryland Public Policy Institute and the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy hosted a policy forum at Washington College on how best to restore the Chesapeake Bay. The forum called into question current state and federal efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. Panelists included James Simpson, an investigative reporter; David Schnare, a former EPA official; and George Frigon, a renowned expert on wastewater treatment. Dr. Christian Krahforst of the college’s Center for Environment & Society served as the moderator. mdpolicy.org

MASSACHUSETTS

PIONEER INSTITUTEP U B L I C P O L I C Y R E S E A R C H

Pioneer Institute published the results of a gubernatorial candidate survey on K–12 education policy and highlighted the $1 billion cost of the Commonwealth’s troubled implementation of the Affordable Care Act. In education, Pioneer issued a report on how manufacturers and small businesses are partnering with vocational-technical schools. The Institute’s annual Peters Lecture featured Eva Moskowitz, nationally recognized education leader and the founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools. The crowdsourcing phase of Pioneer’s annual Better Government Competition has opened. If you have an idea to improve America’s criminal justice system (and would like to win $10,000), visit http://bgc.pioneerinstitute.org/. In personnel news, Kathryn McCarron joined Pioneer as Chief Development Officer, and she will oversee the Institute’s fundraising initiatives. Finally, a Pioneer founding director, Charlie Baker, was elected Governor of Massachusetts. pioneerinstitute.org

MICHIGAN

The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation (MCLF) successfully defended a teacher and Afghanistan war veteran who opted out of the Michigan Education Association but was told he had to pay a fee to cover his local union president’s release time. The school district and local union amended the contract just days after the MCLF lawsuit was filed. As Patrick J. Wright, senior vice president for legal affairs, put it: “Our client served in the Kandahar surge. He certainly wasn’t worried about a little union bullying.” Michigan Capitol Confidential captured a second place and an honorable mention in headline writing and a third place for enterprise reporting in the annual Michigan Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. Labor Policy Director F. Vincent Vernuccio’s new study on 21st century unionism was highlighted by Fox News, Politico, and Businessweek. mackinac.org

MINNESOTA

Last October, a thousand people heard Mark Steyn at Center of the American Experiment’s 2014 Fall Briefing. Steyn was enormously funny, often painfully so. The Center exposed the folly of the Metropolitan Council’s 30-year plan for the Twin Cities region. Mitch Pearlstein released his important new book, Broken Bonds: What Family Fragmentation Means for America’s Future. The Center also kicked off its new Minnesota Policy Blueprint series with ten papers on critical issues. This ongoing project focuses on building a culture of prosperity in Minnesota. The Center also looks forward to having P. J. O’Rourke keynote its 25th Anniversary Dinner on June 2. americanexperiment.org

Last fall, the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota (FFM) unveiled its first book, A Legacy of Leadership: Rudy Boschwitz and the Rise of the Modern Conservative Movement in Minnesota. It was unveiled at a sold-out dinner recognizing the leadership of Minnesota conservative leaders who have led the state for nearly forty years. The book focuses primarily on the so-called “Minnesota Massacre” election of 1978 and the rise of a fledgling conservative movement in the state. A Legacy of Leadership makes the case that Boschwitz’s election was the catalyst for the state’s conservative movement to emerge as a positive governing force in state politics that, to this day, continues to advocate for smaller government, lower taxes, and fewer government regulations. The Freedom Foundation was honored to host Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senators Norm Coleman and Rudy Boschwitz, as well as FFM Board Member, Congressman Vin Weber, at the December event. freedomfoundationofminnesota.com

MISSOURI

The Show-Me Institute finished a three-month, statewide radio campaign to spread the word about free markets and liberty. The Show-Me Minute was a series of 60-second spots aired on stations throughout Missouri. The topics included school choice, tax subsidies, public pensions, minimum wage, and paycheck protection. Clearly Missourians were paying attention. As part of the campaign, listeners could receive a free Show-Me T-shirt. Demand was so high it was necessary to order hundreds more than the original number! showmeinstitute.org



NEBRASKA

With an unfunded pension liability of over $825 billion, quality of life is at risk for Omaha retirees, residents, and taxpayers alike. Thankfully, a small but meaningful step has been taken to enact pension reform in Nebraska’s largest city: the city’s most influential civilian union voted to accept a reformed cash balance plan for new hires. Now, the research and advocacy role for the Platte Institute is more critical than ever. In partnership with Reason Foundation’s pension team, the Institute has released a new pension study, Pension Debt: Omaha’s Billion Dollar Problem, to help public servants, policymakers, and concerned citizens understand key reform principles. These will aid the city in making lasting changes, avoiding past mistakes, and truly protecting Omaha’s future. platteinstitute.org

NEVADA

Coming off a landmark election in which Republicans took control of the Silver State, the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI) identified areas most in need of change. NPRI is educating lawmakers

and residents on the need to bring school choice to Nevada, fix the state’s broken pension program, and change laws that protect public sector unions. To help lawmakers prepare for the 2015 session,

NPRI published Solutions 2015, the most comprehensive, Nevada-specific policy guide in existence. Each Nevada legislator received a copy. The Institute also celebrated the overwhelming rejection of the proposed margin tax. In 2014, NPRI focused much of its energy on educating the public about the tax’s destructive effects. Voters listened and opposed the business tax (79 to 21 percent). npri.org

NEW JERSEY

Common Sense Institute of New Jersey (CSI NJ) leads a coalition launched to protect health consumers from unfair out-of-pocket expenses. This group of consumer, policy, business, and labor organizations formed in response to New Jersey Assembly hearings about excessive out-of-network medical bills. United around increased transparency to alleviate documented abuses, such as a $9,000 bandage for a cut finger, they joined forces to create New Jersey Healthcare Users for Reform and Transparency (www.njhurt.org). The coalition and its website advocate for legislation guaranteeing consumers the right to the information they need to make educated choices in the healthcare marketplace. “A true marketplace doesn’t work without transparency. Right now, the deck is stacked against consumers. Healthcare might be the only place where you don’t get to know what something costs until after you’ve made the purchase. That has to change”, said Jerry Cantrell, president of CSI NJ. csinj.org

NEW MEXICO

We at Rio Grande Foundation believe that historical changes in New Mexico’s legislative makeup during the 2014 elections will give free market ideas traction during the 2015 session. The

Foundation has been a leader in studying and promoting the potential benefits of a Right-to-Work law. The Foundation released a new paper that debunks the

top ten misconceptions about Right to Work and its potential impact in New Mexico. New Mexico pioneered taxpayer-financed spaceport construction. State taxpayers have spent $220+ million on one such facility for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, which just experienced a fatal crash during a test flight. The Foundation has criticized this spending and has explained the disadvantages of such speculative investments on several U.S. and international media appearances. riograndefoundation.org

NEW YORK

When legislators placed an irresponsible school debt measure on the ballot, the Empire Center sounded the alarm with an aggressive earned media campaign. Even though it passed, the state’s largest teachers union was forced to spend at least $200,000 to overcome our well-honed criticism. A new SeeThroughNY feature makes thousands of requests from retirees looking to collect a public salary and public pension available online. With “double-dipping” under increased scrutiny nationally, the report was picked up by Fox Business. SeeThroughNY reached a new milestone with the addition of the ten millionth public payroll record. When the state began to reap $5 billion in windfall revenues,

NPRI president Andy Matthews discusses the Institute’s policy recommendations for the upcoming legislative session on the local NBC affiliate.

Buzzfeed quotes Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing in this meme for its article titled “Failure To Launch: How New Mexico Is Paying For Richard Branson’s Space Tourism Fantasy.”



we led the way in urging the Governor and Legislature to spend the money on infrastructure rather than operating expenditures, which would only lead to higher taxes. empirecenter.org

NORTH CAROLINA

Civitas Institute’s Election Eve Preview featured insights from Democratic consultant Brad Crone, veteran GOP operative Michael Luethy, and Civitas President Francis De Luca, plus AFP State Director Donald Bryson’s recap of AFP grassroots activities and media campaign. The next day’s balloting affirmed Civitas’ polling. Our pollster, Adam Geller of National Research, noted two weeks earlier that, if it was a normal midterm, “Tillis would eke out a win against Hagan, 49%–47%, with the balance going to Haugh.” The final results: Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis took 48.82 percent of the vote, Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan won 47.25 percent, and Libertarian Sean Haugh took the rest. North Carolina Republicans now hold both U.S. Senate seats, 10 of 13 House seats, supermajorities in both legislative chambers, and the governor’s office. We look forward to our Conservative Leadership Conference on March 27–28. nccivitas.org

The 25th anniversary of the John Locke Foundation (JLF) arrives with big changes at the top of the organizational chart. Longtime executive vice president Kory Swanson has been promoted to president and CEO as John Hood transitions to president of the grantmaking John William Pope Foundation. Hood remains JLF’s board chairman. Paige Holland Hamp joins the JLF administrative team to lead major fundraising efforts, and veteran Carolina Journal radio host Donna Martinez takes on full-time JLF duties in communications and promotions. Columnist and Fox News analyst Dr. Charles Krauthammer headlines

JLF’s 25th anniversary dinner celebration, which also features the unveiling of the new First In Freedom research initiative. Carolina Journal attracted national attention for uncovering details of self-dealing involving a North Carolina senator’s family and federal stimulus money. JLF researchers also called for a state capital gains tax cut. johnlocke.org

OHIO

The Buckeye Institute was pleased to co-host an engaging luncheon with The Heritage Foundation in Cincinnati entitled “Economic Liberties and the Constitution.”

The event featured a distinguished panel of constitutional law experts, including Paul J. Larkin, Jr., senior legal research fellow with the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation, as well as Clark Neily III, senior attorney with Institute for Justice. Robert Alt, president of The Buckeye Institute, moderated the discussion. buckeyeinstitute.org

OKLAHOMA

The MiddleGround is a weekly 30-minute discussion program that airs every Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. on KOKH FOX 25 in the Oklahoma City media market. Hosted by Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs president Michael Carnuccio, The MiddleGround features a panel that is quite different from those on the national Sunday morning shows, or even those broadcast locally. The MiddleGround explores a better way to design government that intrudes less, taxes less, regulates less, and—quite frankly—louses things up less. Most recently, the show featured guests caught in a Supreme Court case that would annually increase taxes over one billion dollars on all Oklahomans. OCPA and The MiddleGround played a crucial role in raising awareness and ultimately winning for taxpayers. ocpathink.org

Kory Swanson, spoke at the John Locke Foundation’s post-election Headliner luncheon in November. He has been promoted to JLF president and CEO.

The MiddleGround, hosted by OCPA president Michael Carnuccio, airs every Sunday on Oklahoma City’s Fox affiliate and explores ideas for building a better limited government.

The Empire Center’s conference on New York’s crumbling highway infrastructure and policy solutions drew over 100 attendees from government, industry, and academia who heard from a panel of respected experts.



OREGON

In December, Cascade Policy Institute published three new reports: The Portland Seed Fund: Planting High Hopes, Reaping Few Rewards, Waiving Profitability: The Oregon Wave Energy Trust’s Failure to Achieve a Return on Public Investment, and Have Private Backyards Been Outlawed in the Portland Metro Area? Participants in Cascade’s nationally recognized summer internship program authored or co-authored all three. Cascade was the principal opponent of a referendum on the November ballot (Measure 86) to saddle Oregon taxpayers with debt for college tuition subsidies. The measure was soundly defeated at the polls. Cascade is now talking with state legislators on both sides of the aisle to craft a Right to Try bill for the 2015 session modeled after the successful Goldwater Institute efforts. cascadepolicy.org

SOUTH CAROLINA

In late November, Palmetto Policy Forum hosted its 2nd Annual VisionSC Summit.

Over 100 legislators, business leaders, and engaged activists attended and received a strategic springboard into 2015 on three issues that could fundamentally transform South Carolina: education choice, energy development, and pro-growth tax policy. Attendees interacted with nationally-known speakers like Congressman Jeff Duncan, Jim DeMint, Kevin Chavous, and Steve Moore. The Summit also gave them an opportunity to connect and brainstorm with local innovators on strategies to

move the needle on these issues in the Palmetto State. Speaking about the current dysfunction in Washington, D.C., Senator DeMint reminded the crowd: “If you want to create a better South Carolina, the best way to do it is to work with the Palmetto Policy Forum to help shape policy at the state level.” palmettopolicy.org

With the indictment and resignation of the South Carolina House Speaker—an outcome South Carolina Policy Council (SCPC) began working toward in 2013—the state’s all-powerful lawmakers are suddenly paying close attention to the SCPC’s work. Our research director Jamie Murguia argued before a House committee on reform that committee votes should be done by mandatory roll call. This practice would improve on a 2011 reform, also originated by SCPC, that stopped the practice of passing legislation on House and Senate floor by anonymous “voice votes.” One lawmaker recently complained to a reporter that the 2011 law was the reason he couldn’t get his colleagues to support a hike in the gas tax. In December, the House unanimously passed a rule requiring committees to record all votes on final passage of bills—a major win for full transparency. scpolicycouncil.org

TENNESSEE

In November, both constitutional amendments that the Beacon Center endorsed passed by substantial margins. Amendment 2 ends merit selection of judges for the first time since the 1970s, adopting a model similar to the federal level. Amendment 3 constitutionally guarantees that the state will permanently remain income tax-free. In this coming legislative session, Beacon has decided to take on two major issues dealing with health care. Beacon held a successful press conference with the Foundation

for Government Accountability and State Budget Solutions on the costs of Medicaid expansion to Tennesseans. Additionally, Beacon is working to pass a new Right to Try bill, giving terminally ill patients hope by allowing them to access potentially life-saving drugs that are ensnared in the FDA approval process. beacontn.org

TEXAS

On October 23, the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute hosted a Workforce Development Summit in Waco, featuring Senator Brian Birdwell, Representative Charles “Doc” Anderson, Texas Workforce Commissioner Hope Andrade, and private sector executives and policy experts. Future economic growth and prosperity require that Texas businesses have ready access to a well-trained and capable workforce. At the summit, public and private-sector leaders discussed the workforce development policy questions that the Texas Legislature will consider in 2015. They focused on how public education and higher education can work together to ensure that employees are educated, trained, and ready to work for Texas businesses. Participants also discussed partnerships between educational institutions, including course credit transferability, college graduation rates, and the availability of dual high school and credit courses. txccri.org

The Texas Public Policy Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary in November, welcoming Governor Rick Perry, Governor-elect Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor-elect Dan Patrick, and honored guests to the Alamo. Also in November, the Foundation released a report on Texas’ 2014–15 spending limit by Center for Fiscal Policy director Talmadge Heflin and economist Vance Ginn, Ph.D. The report examined spending trends and



recommended steps to prevent exceeding the constitutional limit. The Foundation’s Center for Education Freedom highlighted new research showing how school choice is key to rebuilding America’s middle class, and it had an op-ed in the Austin American-Statesman on the report. Prior to the start of the 84th Texas Legislative Session, the Foundation hosted its 13th Annual Policy Orientation. The three-day event attracted over 1,000 participants and featured over 35 panels, discussions, and debates on the major issues affecting Texas’ future. texaspolicy.com

VERMONT

The Ethan Allen Institute launched a radio campaign in the last week of October to alert citizens about plans to absorb Medicare and other federally run healthcare programs into the state’s pending single-payer plan, Green Mountain Care. It was not a popular idea. We have also worked to expose Jonathan Gruber’s role in validating the financial feasibility of Green Mountain Care, arguing that the bias he revealed in several public comments effectively disqualifies him for the role. We are gratified that Vermont’s designs to implement the country’s first single-payer healthcare system are getting the national attention they deserve. Looking forward to 2015! ethanallen.org

VIRGINIA

The Thomas Jefferson Institute hosted a speaking tour for one of Mexico’s free market reformers: Nuevo León’s Secretary of Finance, Rodolf Gómez Acosta. Acosta has taken a leading role in breaking up the Mexico oil monopoly and creating public-private partnerships to provide vital services to his constituents. The Institute also organized “Advance,” an event of policy panel discussions for the

state Republican Party. More than 500 grassroots activists attended, and they heard center-right solutions for fighting poverty, solving the immigration impasse, and fighting EPA’s war on cheap electricity. The Institute released a study on New Technologies for Coping with Climate Change in Virginia, and its widely-read annual Economic Forecast on the coming North American energy boom and what it means for the Old Dominion came out in early December to rave reviews from top opinion leaders. thomasjeffersoninst.org

WASHINGTON

Washington Policy Center has long advocated for remote testimony in Washington state to provide all citizens the opportunity to participate in the legislative process. Last December, remote testimony became a reality. History was made as WPC’s government reform director was one of the first to testify from Eastern Washington before a state Senate committee meeting in Olympia. WPC held its biennial Small Business Forums around the state, drawing over 300 attendees to learn about the key issues impacting small businesses and to help determine the future of Washington’s small business climate. WPC’s health care policy analyst also testified at a Congressional hearing for the third time in 12 months. The Small Business Subcommittee on Health and

Technology conducted the hearing to examine the ongoing problems with the Small Business Health Option Program exchanges. washingtonpolicy.org

WISCONSIN

The MacIver Institute recently held policy briefings on two important issues facing Wisconsin: reforming public employee retirees’ health care and pension benefits and improving longterm care. MacIver partnered with the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) to release a comprehensive study on each topic. Jagadeesh Gokhale, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, authored a report detailing the successes of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), the best-funded public employee pension in the country. He suggested Milwaukee join the WRS to improve cost sharing and decrease risk. He also called for reforms to the Wisconsin Health Insurance Program for retirees, currently funded on an unsustainable pay-as-you-go basis. Pamela Villarreal, senior fellow at NCPA, authored a report on longterm care. Villarreal outlined suggestions that include reforming home exemption limits and allowing the use of reverse mortgages. The briefings garnered wide media coverage and were attended by policymakers and legislative staff. maciverinstitute.com

WPC’s health care policy analyst, Dr. Roger Stark, testifies at a Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., regarding the ongoing problems with the Small Business Health Option Program exchanges.



WYOMING

For good reason, founding fathers James Madison and Alexander Hamilton took shelter in anonymity when they wrote the Federalist Papers under the pen name of Publius. “Shooting the messenger” rather than engaging in intelligent exchange discourages participation in the debates vital to our free society. Wyoming Liberty Group is making the case for privacy protection for private persons and disclosure for government actions and actors. Some in Wyoming advocate for a tell-all style of disclosure for anyone who would participate in public issues decisions. This is equivalent to advocating for more (and expensive) speech police and less participation, especially by those who feel vulnerable. Chilling speech by enabling ad hominem attack is the stuff of tyrants, and it is contrary to the intent of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and of the Wyoming Constitution. wyliberty.org

ASSOCIATES

Accuracy in Media’s sister organization, Accuracy in Academia, launched a new massive open online course (MOOC) called Freedomnomics 101, tackling subjects such as the benefits of the free market for the American consumer. Uber, Lyft, food trucks, student debt, getting young Americans out of their parents’ basement and out to work—all of these topics are covered by our speakers: Generation Opportunity president Evan Feinberg, FreedomWorks president Matt Kibbe, and The Heritage Foundation’s Becky Norton Dunlop. Check it out here: www.conservativeuniversity.org! aim.org

Fighting poverty is big business, but who profits the most? This is the theme of Poverty, Inc., a new documentary from the Acton Institute’s initiative, PovertyCure. Drawing on perspectives gathered from over 150 interviews shot in 20 countries, Poverty, Inc. explores the hidden side of doing good. From disaster relief to TOMS Shoes, adoptions to agricultural subsidies, it follows the effects of our most well-intentioned efforts and pulls back the curtain on the poverty industrial complex, a multi-billion dollar industry. This film has already won multiple festival awards and sold out in many cities. Learn more at www.PovertyInc.org. acton.org

In the United States, we think of education as the key to equal opportunity. Despite the fact that education spending is higher than ever, big government efforts to improve opportunity for kids have shown mixed results at best. Is conventional thought on reforming education misguided? Are there better ways to foster excellence? What can parents, educators, and citizens do, and how can they make an effective case for change? American Enterprise Institute just released a compilation of our best work on education. Email Janine Nichols at Janine.Nichols @aei.org to get a free copy of Education in America—and How to Improve It. aei.org

America’s Future Foundation (AFF) opened a new Kansas City chapter in December, led by Patrick Parkes from the Kansas Policy Institute. This brings the total to 16 cities around the country, advancing liberty among young professionals. Carl Helstrom joined the board of directors, and Robert Levy joined the advisory board. Please consider partnering with AFF to start a new chapter

in your city that will help spread your think tank’s message. Contact Kathryn Shelton at [email protected] to learn more. We invite you to save the date of May 27, 2015, in Washington, D.C., for a special 20th anniversary event and annual gala. americasfuture.org

Atlas Network’s partners are tearing down Today’s Berlin Walls all over the world—just like SPN’s members are in the U.S. At Atlas Network’s Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner 2014, more than 400 freedom advocates from around the globe came together for a week of training, networking, and inspiration. The events kicked off with everyone getting to know each other at speed networking, sponsored by SPN. The Lithuanian Free Market Institute won the prestigious $100,000 Templeton Freedom Award for its Municipal Performance Index for Freedom and Free Enterprise, which can be easily replicated in cities around the U.S. atlasnetwork.org

The Bastiat Society recently held a Director Summit in New York City where business leaders, chapter directors, and think tank leaders from around the world gathered to discuss best practices and fundraising. Our next summit is on January 30 in Bonita Springs, Fla., and will focus on helping the average business person become a better advocate for liberty. We are pleased to announce that Larry Reed, president of the Foundation for Economic Education, will lead our lunch discussion on “The Art of Persuasion.” As always, everyone is welcome, especially if you are interested in starting a Bastiat Society chapter in your hometown. More info and to register: www.bastiatsociety.org/events. bastiatsociety.org



The Beacon Hill Institute (BHI) at Suffolk University will release its 14th Annual State Competitiveness Report in early March 2015. This business climate index is distinguished by its ability to measure a state’s economic growth in terms of personal income over a set of 45 variables. The Institute has also been promoting its critique of renewable energy mandates in states such as Maryland and New Jersey. Last fall, Ohio decided to delay its costly mandate by two years, a move supported by BHI’s analysis. In January 2015, BHI submitted its latest state tax revenue forecast for the Massachusetts legislature. beaconhill.org

Calvert Institute has issued a 64-page study comparing Maryland’s backward approach to distance learning in K–12 schools with approaches in other states. An op-ed entitled “Time for Bottom-Up Education Reform” by the Institute’s executive director appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Election Day. calvertinstitute.org

CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER

Is the War on Coal (and other cheap energy sources) hurting your state? Capital Research Center’s November “Green Watch” exposes the Sierra Club’s self-dealing and collusion with bureaucrats trying to shut down America’s abundant fossil fuels. Can you help union members in your state escape their labor bosses? Read the November “Labor Watch” for the story of California farm workers trying to escape. The November “Foundation Watch” exposes the story of Texas trial lawyers Steve and Amber Mostyn who fund the No Tort Reform Here movement with millions, while giving a pittance to their charitable foundation. capitalresearch.org

In early January, the Cato Institute held the Ninth Annual State Health Policy Summit. Hosted by Michael Cannon and held in Washington, D.C., this summit brought together policy analysts from around the country for a multi-day event focused on health policy at the state and national level. In February, a revised edition of David Boaz’s Libertarianism: A Primer will be released. This new edition, retitled The Libertarian Mind, has been updated with information on topics ranging from government surveillance to corruption in Washington, D.C. If you are interested in receiving a copy at a discounted rate, please contact Heather Curry at [email protected]. cato.org

Allen Dickerson, legal director for the Center for Competitive Politics (CCP), argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in a challenge to California’s attempt to obtain CCP’s donor information. He also argued before the Nevada Supreme Court concerning a nonprofit organization improperly labeled a PAC by the state. A federal judge ruled that Colorado’s disclosure laws violate the First Amendment when applied to small organizations. CCP had sued the state on behalf of a nonprofit, Coalition for Secular Government. Another federal judge requested the full D.C. Circuit rule on CCP’s case challenging federal contribution limit laws that favor incumbents and discriminate against challengers. campaignfreedom.org

Millions of people hear Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom’s national radio program each weekday on 349 stations in

41 states. Here are a few comments from listeners: “It’s a weight lifted off when I hear one of your freedom minutes.” (PA); “You provide valuable information which is vital to know what ObamaCare is all about, the risks of this fiasco! Keep up your wonderful work!” (IL); “I appreciate it very much. Try to get it on more stations/outlets.” (CA); “I like the short-but-informative radio spots that you give” (TX). Our Health Freedom Minute broadcasts can also be heard on our website. cchfreedom.org

The Claremont Institute is accepting applications for its summer fellowship programs to be hosted in Newport Beach starting in June. In our Publius Fellowship, we teach those beginning careers in politics, journalism, academia, and public policy. The Lincoln Fellowship is intended for those who are mid-career in the same fields. The John Marshall Fellowship is for young lawyers heading to clerkships. Learn more at www .claremont.org/apply. Our mission is to teach the practical application of the principles of the American Founding to the next generation of conservative leaders and to build them into a community dedicated to preserving constitutional government. claremont.org

The Supreme Court announced it will review the Fourth Circuit’s ruling on the ObamaCare insurance exchange subsidies case, King v. Burwell. Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is coordinating and funding both the King and Halbig v. Burwell cases (https://cei.org/obamacare). Meanwhile, CEI’s constitutional challenge to Dodd-Frank was in court in November. The case challenges three major aspects of the law that are not subject to congressional or presidential oversight (https://cei.org/



doddfrank). CEI released a new report on how regulation threatens entrepreneurs and crowdfunding technology. See Declaration of Crowdfunding Independence: Finance of the People, by the People, and for the People at our website. cei.org

TruthRevolt.org—a news-site-cum-social-media operation founded in late 2013 by editor-in-chief Benjamin Shapiro—is one of the most important developments in the history of the David Horowitz Freedom Center. TruthRevolt exposes left-wing media bias and does something about it. TruthRevolt has recruited 30,000 “Special Ops Volunteers” who participate in targeted actions against leftists’ political abuse of the airwaves. Also, the Freedom Center and TruthRevolt work together with college conservatives across the United States to fight media bias, bring it to the attention of students, and counter the leftist dogma promoted on campus by professors and radical student groups. horowitzfreedomcenter.org

DonorsTrustBuilding a Legacy of Liberty

Opponents of liberty continue to decry what they call “anonymous giving,” but there are many reasons a donor may want to give privately. Whether the donor is cautious about his or her public role in the community, wants to avoid a mountain of direct mail, is concerned about undue IRS scrutiny, or simply prefers to give without fanfare, donor-relations staff should understand these preferences and aid the donor whenever possible. Donor-advised accounts through DonorsTrust offer a unique way to support liberty-advancing organizations in a way that is private, easy, and tax-advantaged. If you have a donor who is interested in private giving, we can help. Contact Peter Lipsett, director of marketing, at (703) 535-3563 or [email protected]. donorstrust.org

Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) 2015 seminar applications are now available at www.FEE.org/explore! FEE’s seminars give students the tools they need to apply economic thinking in their daily lives. For 2015, FEE presents 12 three-day seminars throughout the country, each of which explores different topics and dimensions of the freedom philosophy. A simple, four-question quiz will help guide students to the seminar that’s right for them. Applications are open now through March 31, 2015. FEE’s 2014 Annual Report is now available online by visiting www.FEE.org/AnnualReport. Student leaders can order free Liberty Kits—including The Law by Frederic Bastiat, online educational resources, and information on upcoming FEE programs—at www.FEE.org/LibertyKits. fee.org

Once a beacon of economic freedom, the United States now ranks 12th on the Fraser Institute’s latest measure of global economic freedom (http://tinyurl.com/l23rla6). The U.S. was rated second on the economic-freedom survey in 2000 and plunged to 17th on last year’s report. The top 10 jurisdictions are Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, Jordan, and Chile/Finland (tied for 10th). Hong Kong’s rating is in jeopardy, however, if Beijing imposes its will over the region. For more Fraser Institute research, sign up for Fraser Insight at http://tinyurl.com/lfk4fp6. fraserinstitute.org

In November, The Free State Foundation (FSF) held a seminar titled “Thinking the Unthinkable: Imposing the ‘Utility Model’

on Internet Providers” at the National Press Club. Rep. Bob Latta, vice chairman of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and federal communication commissioners Ajit Pai and Michael O’Rielly presented opening remarks. A panel discussion followed. The Wall Street Journal’s lead editorial opposing net neutrality cited FSF president Randolph May. Also, FSF published the ninth scholarly paper in its ongoing intellectual property series, Reaffirming the Foundations of IP Rights: Copyright and Patent in the Antebellum Era. Each paper explores foundational principles of IP rights. freestatefoundation.org

Are private schools even accessible by voucher students? Many school choice opponents often pose that question, inciting doubt among lawmakers pursuing such programs. The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice’s new School Survey Series has found that private schools not only accept families using vouchers, but they also have room for many more. To learn about the private school landscape and the sector’s number of available seats in two of the country’s top school choice states, visit www.edchoice.org/IndianaSchoolSurvey and www.edchoice.org/OhioSchoolSurvey. For information on the School Survey Series, including what it takes to get your state analyzed, contact Drew Catt at [email protected]. edchoice.org

The Foundation for Excellence in Education presents EdPolicy Leaders Online, free self-paced courses for policymakers that will empower them to build an education system that maximizes every student’s potential for learning and prepares students for success in the 21st century. Enrolling in a course opens up an opportunity to learn directly from education reform leaders and implementation



experts, access valuable resources all in one place, and earn recognition for course completion. Learn more at www.excelined .org/courses. excelined.org

The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is now accepting applications for its 2015 “Live, Learn, Intern” summer institutes for undergraduate and law students and its 2015 Robert Novak Journalism Fellowships. TFAS summer institutes are held in partnership with the George Mason University economics department and are for college students interested in politics, public policy, journalism, and international affairs. Learn more about these programs and generous scholarships here: www.dcinternships.org. The Novak Journalism Fellowships support book and other writing projects through $50,000 and $25,000 fellowships for print and online journalists with less than 10 years of professional experience. Learn more: www.novakfellowships.org. tfas.org

The Heritage Guide to the Constitution was first published in 2005 and quickly became an essential resource for lawyers, scholars, commentators, and public officials. The Heritage Foundation’s new edition takes into account a decade of Supreme Court decisions and legal scholarship on gun rights, campaign finance, civil rights, religious freedom, health care reform, and more. The http://www.heritage.org/constitution site includes a Teacher’s Companion and essays by the Guide’s editors. Among the hundreds of archived lectures accessible on www.heritage.org is the recently hosted panel of leading education scholars discussing “Common Core: How We Got Here and Where We Are Headed.” heritage.org

In November, the Independent Institute released the new Independent Policy Report, Healthcare Solutions for Post-Obamacare America, by senior fellow John C. Goodman, whom the Wall Street Journal called “the father of Health Savings Accounts.” He is also the author of the landmark Institute book Priceless: Curing the Healthcare Crisis. This timely and insightful report spells out fundamental pillars on which to build common-sense healthcare reform, identifying the key problems with the Affordable Care Act and proposing market-based solutions that will empower patients, create real competition in healthcare markets, and minimize the distorting role of government in the medical marketplace. independent.org

No scholars, no research, no change. That’s why the Institute for Humane Studies has developed Find Scholars— a FREE service that connects liberty-based organizations to experts who can help advance their goals. Are you looking to highlight the application of behavioral economics in regulatory policy or the role public choice can play in public policy? IHS’s Find Scholars and their sister organization, the Mercatus Center, are co-hosting policy seminars on those very topics this spring. To inquire how you can get involved to further the work of your organization, please e-mail: [email protected] theihs.org

After expanding its headquarters to the booming business center of Las Colinas, the Institute for Policy Innovation welcomed John Fund for a lunch event in its new offices to discuss what conservatives must do to better compete in the 2016 presidential election. As Denton,

Tx., considered a ban on fracking, Tom Giovanetti appeared in local TV news reports, warning the legally precarious ban could cost the local economy $250 million. With states scrambling to curtail ObamaCare’s Medicaid tidal wave, Merrill Matthews offered a blueprint in the Wall Street Journal of how two states, Illinois and Pennsylvania, significantly reduced their Medicaid spending. ipi.org

More than 100 student newspaper editors representing more than 40 publications gathered in Fort Worth, Tx., for the Novermber 2014 Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) Collegiate Network Editors Conference. The students received practical advice and hands-on mentoring from seasoned journalists. The students left the conference energized and equipped to follow in the footsteps of Marc Thiessen, who is a Washington Post columnist, former presidential chief speechwriter, and an ISI alumnus and trustee; National Review editor Rich Lowry; Pulitzer Prize winner Joseph Rago of the Wall Street Journal; radio talk show host Laura Ingraham; and the many other Collegiate Network alumni making a difference. isi.org

The Jesse Helms Center’s Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge (FELC) program celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2015. FELC offers high school students a five-day residential summer camp setting to explore the ideals of capitalism and economics with fun, fast-paced activities and sessions. Over 8,000 high school students from over 25 states and 11 different countries have graduated from this life-changing program. This summer’s sessions include Wingate University (June 21–25), Palm Beach Atlantic University (July 5–9), Campbell University



(July 12–16) and The King’s College (July 26–30). For more information please visit www.felcexperience.org or contact Garrett Dahms at [email protected]. jessehelmscenter.org

The John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy targeted education schools for reform in a recent event for the University of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Governors. At the October 24 event, National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), president Kate Walsh laid out a plan to improve schools of education. She said that education schools must increase admissions selectivity, improve future teachers’ knowledge of their subjects, and improve the student teaching experience. Members of the UNC Board of Governors, UNC system staff, and North Carolina General Assembly staff attended the event. Of North Carolina’s 44 teacher education programs, 24 failed NCTQ’s standards. popecenter.org

Judicial Watch (JW) received from the Obama Department of Justice (DOJ) approximately 42,000 pages of documents pertaining to Operation Fast and Furious. The documents were forced out of the Obama administration through a Freedom of Information Act request and subsequent September 2012 lawsuit. The documents, still under review, show the DOJ and White House targeted then-CBS journalist Sharyl Attkisson. JW also obtained records revealing that eight DOJ Community Relations Service agents were sent in a day’s notice to Ferguson, Mo., after a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) request following the Michael Brown shooting. From the outset, the NAACP accused police of being “an invading army.” judicialwatch.org

The Liberty Foundation hosted a global summit with participants from the U.S. and several European countries. The group focused on identifying security and economic “black swans” that could shape the U.S. domestic agenda in 2015. The summit included detailed terrorism briefings from the British Security Service (MI5), Scotland Yard, the U.K. Home Office, and one of America’s top counter-terrorism experts. Attendees also received briefings on the rising Russian threat to Eastern Europe, the future of the European Union/EURO, and the political and economic landscapes in America. The Liberty Foundation also hosted an Atlanta event with former Florida governor Jeb Bush. libertyfound.org

In 2015, the Lucy Burns Institute will add several new areas of coverage to Policypedia, our online encyclopedia of public policy issues: affirmative action, environmental policy, and free speech issues, including donor privacy. This forthcoming content will complement our existing resources on energy policy, education policy, pensions, and state budgets. We look forward to continuing collaboration with fellow SPN members to find the best policy resources for our various web platforms. lucyburns.org

This winter, Manhattan Institute (MI) plans for Project FDA to include a West Coast speaking tour, a report on the future of bioinnovation, and two City Journal articles on stem cell research and personalized medicine. Visit MI’s website for more updates on these projects or

follow us @ManhattanInst. Additionally, MI is pleased to welcome three new fellows to its research team. Aaron Renn, well-known urban analyst and writer, will join as a senior fellow and a contributing editor to our quarterly magazine, City Journal. Adam White will join as an adjunct fellow and contributing editor to City Journal. And Charles Calomiris, one of today’s most respected financial economists, will join as an adjunct fellow. manhattan-institute.org

As we head into the winter season, Mercatus scholars have produced a blizzard of research. At ALEC’s State and Nation Policy Summit, Dr. Matthew Mitchell showed that state economic development funds rarely produce the economic growth they promise. Scholars Dean Stansel and David Mitchell published new, peer-reviewed research detailing the determinants of the severity of state fiscal crises, and Dr. Robert Michaels analyzed the accuracy of Ohio’s Energy Efficiency Resource Standards and the impact of the standards’ shortcomings. mercatus.org

The Moving Picture Institute (MPI) is pleased to announce that EconPop, MPI, and Emergent Order’s economics-themed pop culture review show, won a Reason TV media award. Watch the entire series at www.YouTube.com/EconStories. IncarceratingUS, a documentary about criminal justice reform, will launch this year with an accompanying social action campaign. Learn more and follow the film on Facebook at www.facebook.com /IncarceratingUS. MPI-supported documentary The Immortalists screened in theaters in late 2014. Visit our website, www.MovingPictureInstitute.org, to learn about other MPI films, talent development



programs, and more. Contact [email protected] to arrange screenings for your organization and recommend filmmakers for fellowships and internships. thempi.org

The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) has named Allen West, retired U.S. Army Leuitenant Colonel and former Florida congressman, as CEO. West will move to Dallas, Tx., to lead the NCPA and assume the position on January 2. On Wednesday, February 4, the NCPA is hosting a luncheon with Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, in Dallas. For more information or to register, please visit www.ncpa.org/events or contact Robbie Ellis at [email protected]. ncpa.org

Events in Ferguson, Mo., were one focus of National Center for Public Policy Research’s Project 21 black leadership network. With two key people there full-time and others visiting to meet with community leaders, Project 21 spread a constructive message through 160+ talk radio interviews and other earned media, including multiple interviews on Fox’s O’Reilly Factor and Kelly File. Our Risk Analysis Division had three victories, including stopping the Administration from hijacking federal nutrition standards to fight climate change. Several major corporations began negotiations with our Free Enterprise Project to adopt “conscience protection” policies to protect ideologically-inclined employees from retribution at work. nationalcenter.org

On October 29, the National Review Institute (NRI) hosted the inaugural William F. Buckley Jr. Prize Dinner in New York City with 350 conservative leaders, philanthropists, and supporters who came to celebrate Buckley’s enduring legacy

and the 2014 Buckley Prize honorees. Charles Krauthammer received the Buckley Prize for Leadership in Political Thought and the DeVos family, represented by Richard and Helen DeVos and Dick and Betsy DeVos, was awarded the Buckley Prize for Leadership in Supporting Liberty. The event was sponsored by donors from around the world and across the U.S. who are enthusiastic about NRI’s new growth and recommitment to its founding mission. nrinstitute.org

In early November, the Indiana Supreme Court upheld Indiana’s Right to Work law. With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, two Indiana workers filed an amicus brief challenging union lawyers’ dubious claims about the law, including the argument that unions have a right to force workers to pay for their unwanted services. Foundation attorneys also assisted Indiana solicitor general Tom Fisher in briefing and preparing for oral arguments. The court unanimously upheld the law, which protects Hoosier State workers’ rights to refrain from union membership and dues payments. nrtw.org

John Stossel highlighted a Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) victory to strike down regulations for the Utah prairie dog on Fox Business. He interviewed PLF attorney Jonathan Wood and Cedar City businessman and PLF client, Bruce Hughes. Federal Judge Dee Benson sided with PLF’s lawsuit and held that the federal government doesn’t have the constitutional power to prevent citizens from trying to control Utah prairie dogs on their own land. PLF attorneys are challenging Florida’s arbitrary prohibition on 64-ounce “growlers,” refillable containers that are popular with craft beer enthusiasts. PLF represents The Crafted Keg, a Stuart-based craft beer restaurant. pacificlegal.org

At the annual Reason Media Awards in New York City, the Mercatus Center’s Robert Graboyes won the Reason Foundation’s 2014 Bastiat Prize, and Donald Boudreaux and Roman Hardgrave of Marginal Revolution University won the Reason Video Prize. Reason TV’s Todd Krainin taped an exclusive interview with The Guardian’s Glen Greenwald, and Anthony Fisher went to Berlin to cover the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Reason senior editor, Damon Root, published Overruled, a new book examining the history and current ideological battle of the Supreme Court. reason.com

Happy 2015! Check out our new website design and content, including examples of stand-out policy communications from think tanks across America and a light-hearted retrospective of Spark Freedom accomplishments last year. You can view our Year End Report at www.SparkFreedom .org/2014. This year, we’ll continue to help think tanks improve their ability to communicate pro-freedom policy solutions so that individual Americans “get it.” In March, we’re sending a team to South by Southwest in Austin, Tx., to learn the latest communications and marketing trends. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter channels for their updates. sparkfreedom.org

Save the date for The Steamboat Institute’s 7th Annual Freedom Conference, August 28–29, 2015, in the beautiful Rocky Mountain setting of Steamboat Springs, Colo. It’s the only conservative public policy conference to feature a gondola ride to the keynote “Dinner on the Mountaintop”! Previous featured speakers have included


COMMUNICATIONS IMPACT FROM PAGE 2 BUILD A LASTING LEGACY FROM PAGE 3

or under your signature to encourage bequests and other types of planned gifts. Consider adding one of the following examples below your name:

Have you remembered (organization name) in your will or other estate plans? Ask me how.

Make a gift to (organization name) that requires no upfront commitment of assets.

Contact me to find out how you can help secure freedom for your loved ones for years to come.

Planned gifts can be game-changing for your organization. Even relatively smaller planned gifts can be used to sustain certain programs or facilities, add capacity, establish endowments, or launch major new initiatives. You can ask for planned gifts on a regular basis without it costing much money or time, and yet reap amazing windfalls for your organization. So if you haven’t yet launched a planned giving program, now is the time to start! Work to develop meaningful relationships with the people who believe in your cause, and give them the opportunity to create a lasting legacy. What better way to unlock the giving potential of all of your supporters, not just the ones who can afford to give now.

Carolyn Kley Fanning is president of Planned Giving Solutions, Inc. in Alexandria, Va. She received her undergraduate and MBA degrees from the University of Michigan and has

worked as a CPA and fundraiser for over 30 years.

Dr. Ben Carson, former Vice President Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney, Ambassador John Bolton, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, and many others. This event will sell out, so watch for registration opening early 2015. steamboatinstitute.org

STATE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE TRANSITION TO COMMON CORE 1

State Accountability in the Transition to Common Core

Many states across the nation are well underway with the challenging work of implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). But what does a thoughtful transition from existing to new standards look like? And what are the implications for accountability systems in the interim? After all, high-quality accountability policies must be linked to reliable measures of outcomes, such as student growth and proficiency rates and results from principal and teacher evaluations—all of which are contentious and difficult to develop and put in place but even more so when state educational standards are in flux.

The purpose of this brief is to provide Common Core “insiders” with some cautionary advice about what key policymakers and influentials in a handful of states now see as transition challenges. In August and September 2013, the research team at Fordham interviewed officials and policy advocates in five states—Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, and New York—to glean how they are approaching accountability in the transition to the Common Core. We asked leaders about their plans for using student data during this transition period, and in particular what the “stakes” would be for schools, educators, and students. While we found nuances in each state, four trends emerged across our small sample.1

1 The accountability moratorium is here. Punitive consequences associated with accountability

are largely being put on hold during the transition to Common Core.

In many states, Common Core implementation has unfolded gradually. The standards were initially piloted in select grades, schools, and districts, with new content added to student assessments incrementally. While

implementation is now ramping up across the nation, many critical components of existing accountability systems (such as how to calculate growth as students transition to new exams and what to do about growth-based accountability and evaluation systems for teachers, schools, and/or districts) remain to be determined. For example, an official in Colorado stated that many accountability decisions that require student data will remain unresolved until they have hard data and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test fully in place. Policymakers and educators alike are grappling with the reality that the inputs (such as state tests) used in accountability measures are changing—and they are often resistant to using student test data to trigger negative consequences usually associated with poor performance. Of particular concern is how to calculate growth as students transition from one exam to another and what to do about growth-based accountability and evaluation systems in the interim. Our conversations indicate that in light of these challenges, policymakers are, by and large, planning to pause the consequences associated with these systems.

Proponents of this tempered approach stress that it is simply smart implementation. (Of course, it’s also smart politics.) They emphasize the difficulty of gauging student learning and calculating learning gains as assessments change from one year to the next, and they contend that until the new assessments can be validated, it’s unfair to base teacher and school evaluations on state standardized-test data. To wit, several states have formally adopted a “hold-harmless” approach to accountability in the transition, prohibiting high-stakes consequences until the standards have been fully implemented. Others are taking a similar approach to accountability.

(Updated: May 2014) December 2013

by Victoria Sears

Thomas B. Fordham Institute set out to answer a basic, yet complicated, question: Why do some schools spend more or less than others? This is really two questions rolled into one. First, why do some districts spend more or less than others? Second, within a single district, why do schools spend differently from one another? In the Metro D.C. School

Spending Explorer, we look at how much each area school spends on day-to-day operations for each student it enrolls. See how revenues limit expenditures and how personnel costs largely determine how much each school spends. Explore the map at www.edexcellencemedia.net/Metro-DC-School-Spending-Explorer/. edexcellence.net

Young America’s Foundation (YAF) continues to serve as the largest youth organization in the conservative movement through our broad reach to high school and college students. Our

programs equip students with necessary

resources for their activism to combat

the Left at their schools. YAF will host its

Young Americans for Freedom Activism

Training Seminar at its new national

headquarters in Reston, Va., from

February 6–8, 2015. For students looking

to learn about more events and how to

further their activism, visit our website.

yaf.org

SPN NEWS 23 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015SPN NEWS 22 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015SPN NEWS 22 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

institutions.” It was important for Tillman and the staff to look objectively at the issue and not get emotional. This is key with any crisis situation. Whoever is handling the situation cannot be emotional or personally riled up because it causes them to not think clearly and strategically through the next move.

Don’t hurt in public. Even if you feel hurt by the attack or it is causing negative consequences for your organization, don’t publicly suffer. It will only aggravate the issues you are facing and make them worse. Stand strong. After all, we have the truth on our side.

Turn negative episodes into an opportunity. At the time of this attack, the Institute had just concluded research on the recession’s effect on the employment rate in Illinois by demographic group. We released the report within hours of the attack, which repositioned the Institute in the controversy. The Quinn administration claimed to be looking out for minorities, but the Institute’s research found that the black male employment rate was lower under Quinn than at any other time in recorded state history.

The bottom line is this: As your organization becomes more effective, the attacks will be more frequent and sharper. We will never be successful as a movement if we cannot withstand attacks from the other side. Instead of cringing when the left or the political establishment come after your organization, embrace it; it means we are having an impact!

Diana Rickert is vice president of communications at Illinois Policy Institute. Write her at [email protected].

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