Institute Updates January/February 2009

Published on Sunday, February 01, 2009
ARTICLES

ALABAMA

The Alabama Policy Institute hosted Laura Ingraham Nov. 6 before a record annual-event crowd in Birmingham. Ingraham's post-election analysis and strategies for rebuilding the conservative movement helped make the evening a tremendous success. API's recently released report, "Consent Decrees in Institutional Reform Litigation: Strategies for State Legislatures," is receiving attention by members of the Legislature and the attorney general. In 2009 a series of bills will be introduced as the Consent Decree Fairness and Accountability Act and will be the first of a kind in the nation. "In assessing limited state response to bring closure and accountability regarding federal consent decrees, we plan to focus on ideas that will work rather than those that just sound good," says API vice president Michael Ciamarra. alabamapolicy.org

ALASKA

The Institute of the North released a DVD articulating its vision of Alaska. This high quality production emphasizes the fight for statehood and the agreements made by the federal government and state at that time. Alaska needed a resource base upon which to build its economy; "You Own Alaska!" explores this concept, while reminding Alaskans of their obligation to participate and their responsibility to the state and to each other. Using the "owner state" as a model, the DVD explains how Alaska requires responsible resource development, encourages market-based entrepreneurship and actively engages people with a strong sense of civic commitment. institutenorth.org

ARIZONA

Like many states, Arizona is swimming in red ink. As lawmakers debate how to bridge the gap, the Goldwater Institute's Dr. Byron Schlomach is showing how it can be done. From eliminating workplace massages for state employees to rolling back full-day kindergarten, Byron recommends 90 common sense spending cuts that would save more than $1 billion. If Arizona is broke, the federal government is flat busted. Nevertheless, the Obama Administration is planning to spend billions on infrastructure. In February, former Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens will participate in a Goldwater Institute policy forum to show lawmakers how to fund transportation infrastructure with private money. In a surprise pre-Christmas ruling, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in Goldwater's favor on a lawsuit challenging a $100 million subsidy to a shopping mall developer. The decision vindicated the Arizona Constitution's "gift clause." SPN members in the 37 other states with gift clauses or subsidy restrictions in their constitutions should examine this decision for its potential impact on their state. goldwaterinstitute.org

ARKANSAS

Freshman Gov. Mike Beebe proposed further reduction in the state's sales tax on groceries, an Arkansas Policy Foundation goal since 2001. A 2002 Foundation memo noted that free-market economists have opposed food taxation for more than 200 years. Beebe's proposal would reduce the tax from three to two percent in 2009. The largest tax cut in Arkansas history occurred in 2007 when Beebe and the legislature slashed the grocery tax from six to three percent. Beebe told a Policy Foundation forum in March 2008 that a grocery tax phase-out is his second most important policy goal. A May 2008 Policy Foundation economic forecast was confirmed Dec. 1, when the National Bureau of Economic Research announced the U.S. had entered recession in December 2007. In May, the Foundation forecast relied on employment and industrial production data, and was cited in the Fayetteville Morning News (May 17). It identified January 2008 as the likely peak. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette cited the Foundation in reporting the NBER announcement. arkansaspolicyfoundation.org

CALIFORNIA

The Pacific Research Institute released The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care: A Citizen's Guide, the latest book from PRI president and CEO Sally C. Pipes. The book's foreword is by Steve Forbes. PRI director of education studies Lance Izumi was elected to a second term as president of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Also, the U.S. Army named Izumi to its select Southern California Advisory Board Executive Committee. PRI held a seminar for school board members attending the CSBA conference in San Diego, addressing topics such as how to better prepare K-12 students for higher education, and how the new state budget impacts school districts. Dr. Daniel Ballon, a fellow in technology studies, discussed broadband technologies before a joint meeting of the FCC and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. pacificresearch.org

COLORADO

This past election in Colorado just about every tax-increasing issue went down, and TABOR wasn't destroyed. Opponents of the Independence Institute's Ethical Standards initiative spent nearly $30 million to defeat it, and their victory was that public employee unions got to keep what they already had: automatic payroll deductions. The money they spent would undoubtedly have been used to push for statewide tax increases on the ballot, such as TABOR-gutting Amendment 59. (It failed!) The Institute is promoting 2009 legislation establishing complete transparency with government finances. If successful, the state will be required to provide the public with online, up-to-date, detailed information on its income, expenditures and contracts. The goal is to enable all citizens to become active and engaged in reviewing the state's expenditures. i2i.org

CONNECTICUT

The Yankee Institute for Public Policy has developed an easy-to-use online calculator for reducing state and local budgets while improving education. The four ways to reduce education costs and stimulate quality are: 1) pay students to graduate early, 2) allow homeschoolers to work together in groups as large as five families, 3) provide many high school courses online, and 4) pay some children to attend private school as an alternative to expensive new school construction. What are education experts saying? "This one-of-a-kind calculator will help people understand how specific policy reforms will impact the family's and local community's budget," said Dan Lips, senior policy analyst with Heritage Foundation. "Thanks to the Yankee Institute's new calculator, now everyone can be an education finance expert and see the savings for themselves," said Vicki Murray of the Pacific Research Institute. The Commonwealth Foundation's Nathan A. Benefield observes, "The new calculator is a fantastic tool, highlighting one of the less talked about benefits of school choice - cost savings." Use the calculator at yankeeinstitute.org.

DELAWARE

The Caesar Rodney Institute added four new board members, bringing its total to nine. Increasing board membership is essential for CRI to reach its goal of becoming the SPN-affiliated think tank with the lowest overhead percentage vs. services delivered. Establishing an effective working board, supplemented with contracted service-providers, is key to that effort. Currently, a three-person executive committee sets priorities and drives fundraising efforts. Six sub-committee directors are tasked with specific responsibilities, like Web site management, advertising and promotions, independent business relations, etc. A Wesley College student is also interning with CRI. One new Institute project under consideration is development of a Delaware lawmaker-directory highlighting incumbency, tenures and pension liabilities. About $25,000 is needed to acquire the data and post it online. caesarrodney.org

FLORIDA

Former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense officially assumed the reins of the James Madison Institute from Charles Hilton, who stepped down as chairman after five years of dedicated and able service to the Institute. After completing his tenure with the Florida House of Representatives in 2006, Bense served as chairman of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, as well as on boards of various influential statewide organizations. "Known statewide for his even-handed and fair leadership, Allan Bense is a businessman and public servant widely respected by Floridians of all stripes," says Bob McClure, JMI president and CEO. With Bense at the helm, JMI sails into 2009 focused on Florida's economy, property insurance reform, government transparency, energy and climate change, and a new initiative on civics and economic education. For articles on the dangers of government mixing politics and economics, pro/con analysis of national health insurance, fixing Social Security and more, check out JMI's Winter 2009 Journal. jamesmadison.org

HAWAII

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii's new study from the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University, "The Economic Impact of the Akaka Bill: Unintended Consequences for Hawaii," estimates that the Akaka bill could cost the state up to $690 million per year in lost revenue. GRIH filed a U.S. Supreme Court Amicus Brief in support of the State of Hawaii and its ability to manage and sell public (ceded) lands. To date over 30 other states and organizations have also filed in support of the case to be heard in February. President Jamie Story has been a regular guest on the #1 morning radio talk show in Hawaii and in the last quarter GRIH was published in every Hawaii daily paper. GRIH has launched a new transparency Web site, released its 2009 Piglet Book on government waste and has launched www.HawaiiVotes.org. Last year was a record-breaker for GRIH in terms of publications, media hits and funds raised. grassrootinstitute.org

Small Business Hawaii is a new member of SPN, but over the past 33 years it has fought to improve the Aloha State's business climate. The SBH mission: to promote a better Hawaii through private, competitive and networked small businesses. On Feb. 20, SBH president and executive director Sam Slom will be honored by Hawaii Reporter at its 7th Anniversary Celebration. Hawaii Reporter, the state's only conservative media, will also honor six others, including Richard O. Rowland, co-founder and president emeritus of the Grassroot Institute; and, Jack Schneider, former chair of both Small Business Hawaii and the Grassroot Institute. To attend the Feb. 20 event at the Waialae Country Club, contact Malia Zimmerman at 808-306-3161 or malia@hawaiireporter.com. smallbusinesshawaii.com

ILLINOIS

In the wake of the Gov. Rod Blagojevich corruption scandal, the Illinois Policy Institute began calling for the "Reform Agenda for Illinois," which includes government transparency, fiscal accountability and competitive bidding. The Institute has had success on the government transparency front: together, more than 120 volunteers through the Institute's Liberty Leaders program have achieved transparency for over $2 billion in taxpayer funds among 50 government bodies. The Institute hosted two major events: an education forum gathering influential activists and policymakers, and a reception and book signing for The Wall Street Journal's Steve Moore. "The Illinois Policy Institute is the best thing to happen to my home state of Illinois in a long, long time," Moore said. Currently, the Institute is developing a charter school media project to be released in 2009. A year-end report noted that the Institute made the news 49 out of 52 weeks in 2008. illinoispolicyinstitute.org

INDIANA

Half the transition team for Indiana's new superintendent of schools boast connections to the Indiana Policy Review Foundation. The obvious hope is that they will be able to convince Gov. Mitch Daniels that he should move reform of public education from the bottom of his to-do list. Specifically, the Foundation has dedicated three recent issues of its quarterly journal to the "Weighted Student Funding Formula," a reform that puts state money in the backpacks of individual students as they transfer to better schools. The policy result is to return educational decisions to the teachers and principals in their particular classrooms and buildings. The Foundation has brought Dr. Sam Staley and Lisa Snell of the Cato Institute to the state twice in recent months to talk with legislators and editors about the reform. inpolicy.org

IOWA

Public Interest Institute's new transparency Web site will allow visitors to easily see the votes and spending habits of each Iowa Legislator. Vote Tally and Bill Tally, adapted from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation for the Iowa General Assembly, will make information on appropriations votes immediately accessible to the taxpayers of Iowa. Vote Tally analyzes floor votes on appropriations bills and gives reports on spending patterns of Iowa Legislators. Bill Tally gives spending data for sponsored legislation introduced in chamber. The Institute has also begun publishing the Iowa Transparency Newsletter, a monthly publication offering news from Iowa and around the nation. Previous issues included "Hiding Something in Plain Sight Actually Works Pretty Well," "Practical Transparency: Making the People's Business Known" and "Iowa Transparency: An Idea Whose Time Has Come." With this new transparency Web site and newsletter, Public Interest Institute is lifting the veil on government spending in Iowa. limitedgovernment.org

KANSAS

Exciting news! The Flint Hills Center for Public Policy hired a new leader for the organization: Dave Trabert became president Jan. 1. He brings 18 years experience managing television stations, including KAKE-TV in Wichita, and most recently WYTV in Youngstown, Ohio. George Pearson, who has served as acting director since 2002, will continue on as chairman of the Flint Hills' board of trustees. Flint Hills' No. 1 project now is to educate Kansans on the need for property tax reform. Suggestions detailed in two Flint Hills Center policy papers have been introduced as legislation. If passed, the law change will promote predictability and transparency in the property tax system by removing appraisal-driven tax increases. flinthills.org

KENTUCKY

Bluegrass Institute's new freedom-restoring wiki at www.FreedomKentucky.org has been fully operational since mid-September and we continue to be deliberate and strategic in its content, proving that article "quality over quantity" impresses Google agents and results in impressive search results. The Institute's highest page rank from Google is a product of a local government transparency issue that helped bring intense pressure to bear on a critical local issue by documenting the details involved. This experience proved Bluegrass can identify a small, local issue, aggregate the facts and attract a lot of Web attention. Several successful FOIA requests will soon be summarized and uploaded to www.FreedomKentucky.org, as will all laws and statutes that relate to Kentucky's prevailing wage, defined contribution versus defined benefit data and the Jefferson County School District's checkbook register. Bluegrass is pressuring the state to provide adequate avenues for identifying and educating children with autism and other learning disabilities. Fully marketing www.FreedomKentucky.org and the Transparency, Accountability and Collaboration initiative will help compel action in 2009. bipps.org

LOUISIANA

The State of Louisiana recently debuted its transparency Web site, LaTrac. Pelican Institute president Kevin Kane organized a demonstration of the site for the monthly Center-Right Coalition meeting in Baton Rouge. The Administration Division's Steven Procopio demonstrated how users can access spending information and described other features that will be added in the coming months. Institute vice president Jeb Bruneau has conducted an analysis of LaTrac. "We think it is a major step in the right direction. The site certainly has its limitations, such as the lack of a search engine and no public employee salary information. But it also has unique strengths, as it includes higher education information and links spending to performance. And the Jindal administration is clearly committed to this issue, so I suspect the site will be upgraded in the near future." To further the movement to increased transparency in government spending, the Institute has crafted a Transparency Pledge that it will begin presenting to policymakers around the state in 2009.pelicanInstitute.org

MAINE

The Maine Heritage Policy Center began a Fiscal Sanity Tour during January, which will continue into February.Under this umbrella, the primary message will be to address the state's overspending gap of at least $840 million for the next two-year cycle without raising taxes.Elements for Fiscal Sanity include a barrage of new research on the programs driving the overspending; a series of in-person presentations across the state; new information added to the www.MaineOpenGov.org transparency site; multiple publications, media appearances and op-ed - all keying on the message that Maine state government spends too much money. New research by Steve Bowen, the director of our Center for Education Excellence, looks at the cost and effectiveness of the state's subsidies to Higher Education. Parallel research by J. Scott Moody, chief economist, examines the output of degrees by the University of Maine System versus the demand for recent graduates with various degrees by Maine employers.Please contact Martin Sheehan, director of communications, with questions: msheehan@mainepolicy.org. mainepolicy.org

MARYLAND

The Calvert Institute and the Maryland Public Policy Institute have issued a joint publication, "Passing the Buck: Maryland's UnfundedLiabilities for State and Local Retirees," which documents unfunded liabilities approaching $50 billion. The report supplies a useful model for similar studies in other states. calvertinstitute.org

In December, Free State Foundation senior fellow Cecilia Januszkiewicz released "Structural Solutions for Maryland's Structural Deficit: Pathways to Reform." The study details how excessive spending has created ongoing structural deficits in Maryland as far as the eye can see. Januskiewicz, former head of Maryland's Department of Budget and Management, proposes nine specific budget reforms, including jettisoning the state's so-called "spending affordability process." The misnamed spending affordability process allows state officials "to pretend they are being responsible." The study concludes: "Abandoning the spending affordability process in favor of matching state expenditures and state revenues would free Maryland from a pattern of spending beyond its means." Januszkewicz followed release of the study with an op-ed in the Baltimore Examiner, "Maryland's Never-Ending Structural Deficit," pointing lawmakers to a provision in Maryland's Constitution which appears to limit state spending to estimated state revenues, she proclaimed: "The road back to fiscal responsibility lies in adherence to a common sense constitutional command." freestatefoundation.org

The Maryland Public Policy Institute released a policy report in December titled, "Government Pay: An Analysis of Maryland's Private Versus Public Sector Employment and Compensation." The report shows that Maryland government-employee compensation in 2007 was 11.1 percent higher than the average private sector job and has been higher since 1981. In January, the Maryland Public Policy Institute hosted a panel discussion in Annapolis on improving Maryland's economic competitiveness. The panel included former Maryland Governors Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. and Marvin Mandel, and Donna Arduin of Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics. mdpolicy.org

MASSACHUSETTES

In November, Pioneer celebrated its 20th anniversary and honored the man who started it all, Lovett "Pete" Peters. Accompanying close to 200 guests was more than $350,000 raised for the Pioneer Fund. The evening included personal tributes and video testimonials to Peters and Pioneer from, among others, Governors Dukakis, Weld, Cellucci, Swift and Romney, former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese, Heritage Foundation president Ed Feulner, Cato Institute president Ed Crane, former State Street Chairman Bill Edgerly, former State Senate President Tom Birmingham and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care CEO Charlie Baker. On a sadder note, Pioneer staff and family mourn the loss of Ruth Peters, wife of 70 years to Pioneer's founding chairman Lovett "Pete" Peters. She passed away in her home on Sunday, Jan. 4. Ruthie lived a long, full life and her energy and spirit were imperative to the success of Pioneer's first 20 years. She will be greatly missed. pioneerinstitute.org

The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University released its eighth annual "State Competitiveness Report" in November. The report ranks all 50 states in terms of their ability to promote economic growth and sustain high incomes. It found Massachusetts to be the most competitive. Utah, which was first last year, fell to second place. At a panel discussion announcing the release of the report, Gov. Deval Patrick delivered keynote remarks noting that the report's findings about the state's diverse assets are a strong selling point. BHI is currently working with taxpayer and business groups to identify cost-saving measures by highlighting issues surrounding prevailing wage laws, education-spending formulas and pension reform. In December, BHI delivered a pessimistic revenue forecast to the legislature's Joint Ways and Means Committee. The Washington, D.C. Examiner recently noted BHI's cost-benefit analysis of a proposed "Climate Action Plan for Maryland." In conjunction with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, BHI released a critique of the so-called Akaka Bill, which would grant exclusive rights over land to an arbitrarily defined group of Native Hawaiians and result in a loss of tax revenue for the State of Hawaii. beaconhill.org

MICHIGAN

Crises in the banking and auto industries prompted reporters to turn to the Mackinac Center for a free-market, limited-government view. Senior economist David Littmann and fiscal policy director Michael D. LaFaive conducted scores of interviews with print and broadcast media across Michigan and nationwide. LaFaive also co-authored an exhaustive study that examined the effects of increased excise taxes on cigarette smuggling, replete with evidence that high tobacco taxes cause not only casual smuggling, but commercial as well, leading to criminal activity such as violence against people and property, and the funding of terrorist activities. The Center's Show Michigan the Money project continues to garner statewide attention as more school districts comply with requests to put their checkbook registers online. Kathy Hoekstra and Lauren Ruhland have joined the Center as communications specialist and science editor, respectively. Hoekstra, a former television news anchor, adds an investigative journalism aspect to the Center's growing video outreach, while Ruhland, who holds a bachelor's of science in biology, will oversee the Center's quarterly MichiganScience magazine. mackinac.org

MINNESOTA

As part of the Center of the American Experiment's multi-year series aimed at vitalizing conservatism - and in particular recognition of November election results and the nation's economic crisis - the Center is in the midst of publishing a new symposium on the pivotal question: "How Can Conservatism Better Allay the Economic Fears of Working Class and Middle Class Americans?" Featuring 30 or more writers from Minnesota and across the country, the newest package follows several apposite anthologies released over the last two years on equally decisive issues, including ways of making conservatism more compelling to urban voters. A piece with such rethinking was the January Luncheon Forum at which Sam Staley of the Reason Foundation and Buckeye Institute talked about his new book, Mobility First: A New Vision for Transportation in a Globally Competitive Twenty-First Century. Founder and president Mitch Pearlstein and policy fellow Peter Nelson have been busy offering recommendations (both solicited and otherwise) to the Pawlenty administration as Minnesota seeks to fix a mammoth budget shortfall for the 2010-11 biennium. americanexperiment.org

The Citizens' Council on Health Care annual free-market health care policy event brought 200 people together to hear about "Health Care Under the New Administration." Former Medicare trustee Thomas Saving suggested strategies to avert Medicare disaster. Roy Ramthun of HSA Consulting discussed potential legislation under the Obama administration. Commissioner Cal Ludeman from the Minnesota Department of Human Services focused on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's health care agenda and Lee Kurisko, a Canadian physician, discussed Canadian care and spoke against universal coverage and centralization of medical decision-making. CCHC held a December press conference with parents and children to challenge the state's continued noncompliance with consent requirements in the state's genetic privacy law. Three major Minnesota television stations covered the issue in their news programs. CCHC published "The Untold PKU Story ... and Why it Challenges Government-Mandated Newborn (Genetic) Screening." ALEC published a paper written by CCHC president Twila Brase, "Evidence-Based Medicine: Rationing Care, Hurting Patients." cchconline.org

The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota started 2009 making a big impact at the Capitol. Minnesotans face a record-setting multi-billion dollar budget deficit. On Jan. 6, lawmakers began budget work, seeking significant spending cuts. In 2008, the FFM produced detailed reports on wasteful spending by cities, many of whom receive state tax dollars in Local Government Aid. The mere threat of cuts to LGA had mayors begging policy makers to spare LGA from the budget ax. St. Paul's mayor said they had cut their budget "to the bone." FFM's, Annette Meeks responded in a television interview with a detailed list of the mayor's proposed budget, including the creation of a $65,000 per year "Bicycle Coordinator." As a result, Gov. Pawlenty began cutting the budget by reducing 2008 LGA payments by $66 million. Reforming LGA is a top issue in the legislative session and the FFM is the go-to group.In January, FFM welcomed investigative journalist Tom Steward to its team. Steward has significant experience in broadcast journalism including leading the award-winning investigative news team at WCCO-TV.In his new role, Steward is working with our researchers to bring additional transparency to all levels of Minnesota government. freedomfoundationofminnesota.com

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi Center for Public Policy's short film, A Stone's Throw, contrasts the lack of Mississippi educational choices with those available just across the state lines. Because the greatest opposition to charter schools has come from the Legislative Black Caucus, the film features African-American parents, teachers, pastors and students, and includes charter school tours that serve minority students in Arkansas and Tennessee. In conjunction with the movie, MCPP launched a new Web site, ParentPower.net, designed to provide a simple introduction to charter schools as well as answer questions tailored for parents, teachers, educators,legislators and community leaders. MCPP has joined with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Black Alliance for Educational Options to push charter school reform during the 2009 Mississippi Legislative Session.A bill drafted by MCPP to accomplish this purpose was endorsed by Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant. mspolicy.org

MISSOURI

Missouri taxpayers are facing compound problems regarding the state's ability to manage effectively both defined benefit public pension and retiree medical liabilities. A new Show-Me Institute study serves as a primer for the issue, and analyzes the financial position of the major public pension systems in Missouri. The author concludes that because, effectively, these employee benefits plans are highly political institutions, any reform efforts will prove difficult. Three important goals, however, should be to have benefit costs that are current, predictable and affordable. Another new study reviews the methods and opportunities for privately-financed and -operated transportation assets. While the scope of the economic argument and discussion is national, the study has major implications for Missouri. According to a new case study, occupational licensing in Missouri could be costing consumers more for some services. Focusing in particular on massage therapists, the study demonstrates how licensing drives up prices and can spur business owners to locate elsewhere. showmeinstitute.org

MONTANA

With the 2009 biennial legislative session starting in January, Montana Policy Institute has been working to see its state government transparency and accountability priorities put into action. MPI's www.BigSkySearch
.info government transparency site is following the legislative effort and encouraging Montanans to let their representatives know how important it is for them to see how their money is being spent. As the only free-market think tank in Montana, the Institute is also helping Montanans see how their legislators rate in promoting freedom, responsibility and limited government by tracking votes and appropriations. MPI hope's to cap off its first year by letting fellow residents see the true effects of the spending spree their elected representatives have taken the state on during the past five years - and then having alternatives to get the state back on track. montanapolicy.org

NEBRASKA

The Platte Institute for Economic Research concluded its first year with a flurry of activity highlighted by its hosting of the state's first Transparency in Government conference, featuring John Stossel. More than 200 supporters and policymakers attended the event, which also earned extensive media coverage. Other conference speakers included State Treasurer Shane Osborn, Nebraska City Mayor Jo Dee Adelung and University of Nebraska professor Charlyne Berens, Ph.D. The Platte Institute also unveiled
www.UnicameralVotes.com, which gives citizens easy access to all the happenings at the state capitol. An effort is underway to find a replacement for executive director Roger Lempke, who left recently to pursue professional and personal interests. Board president Pete Ricketts said, "On behalf of the board and the staff of the Platte Institute, I thank Roger for all of his contributions this past year in creating Nebraska's only free-market think tank." platteinstitute.org

NEVADA

The Nevada Policy Research Institute recently went public with its investigative report on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, a massive tourism bureaucracy that consumes more than $200 million annually in tax money yet receives almost no genuine oversight. In its report, NPRI exposed the LVCVA's pattern of extravagant spending, lax accounting, shoddy oversight and an overly cozy relationship with major contractors. The report has received an abundance of attention, from the media and elsewhere. The number of media mentions of the report in just the first month after its release totaled 30. Following the release of the report, NPRI was visited by two "private investigators" hired to look into NPRI funding. Since then, NPRI board members have faced intimidation tactics in attempts to force the Institute to halt its look into the LVCVA. In other words, NPRI's efforts to make Nevada government more transparent and accountable are truly making an impact. npri.org

NEW MEXICO

The Rio Grande Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste released the 2008 New Mexico Piglet Book which exposed more than 40 wasteful projects costing taxpayers more than $192 million dollars. The Piglet Book generated media attention statewide, including all local television news programs and radio stations and op-eds in newspapers. With New Mexico facing a $500 million deficit, this book shows that New Mexico's political leaders should cut spending rather than increase tax burdens. The Foundation now has its own radio show, Speaking Freely, which airs live Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00am on Albuquerque-based KJOY AM 1550. Foundation investigative journalist Jim Scarantino has focused on the State Investment Council and the abject lack of transparency and analysis associated with it. The series of ongoing articles discusses some of the bizarre, outlandish businesses in which New Mexicans' money has been invested. A $20 million lost investment in Eclipse Aviation is only the most publicized failure. riograndefoundation.org

NEW YORK

SeeThroughNY.net continues stimulating public debate over state and local government spending. The Empire Center recently added more data to the Web site, including the New York City payroll, the payrolls of the largest public authorities and updated legislative expenditures. In early December, Empire's policy forum, Rightsizing New York's Budget, explored ideas to permanently bring government spending in line with new economic realities. New York - facing a $15.4 billion deficit over the next 15 months - is especially hard hit by the Wall Street meltdown. Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli delivered the keynote speech to a packed house. A new policy briefing, "Lifting the Shroud of Secrecy from Public Employee Contracts," recommends tentative labor agreements be made public prior to ratification. The report contends many local governments and school districts keep New Yorkers in the dark about tentative contracts - a key driver of local property taxes - releasing details only after the contracts are ratified and when it is too late for taxpayers to scrutinize, comment or seek changes to them. empirecenter.org

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina government leaders will likely seek new ways to raise money as they plug a multibillion-dollar state budget hole. The John Locke Foundation is ready to respond to any ill-conceived schemes. JLF research helped defeat all 15 local sales and land-transfer tax hikes placed on the November 2008 ballot. Nearly 70 percent of voters rejected tax increases. JLF also spearheaded a coalition of groups seeking annexation reform. Recent research reports have spotlighted onerous local land-use restrictions, the ailing state-mandated Beach Plan for coastal property insurance coverage, and the dearth of career and technical education in N.C. public schools. JLF's Carolina Journal shed light on potential abuse of public schools' free and reduced-price lunch programs. Discussion of the recent election's long-term impact attracted crowds to JLF Headliner luncheons. Bob Beckel and Human Events' John Gizzi dissected election results in Raleigh, and The Wall Street Journal's Dan Henninger critiqued news media election coverage during a Charlotte speech. johnlocke.org

The John William Pope Civitas Institute concluded its 2008 statewide polling by releasing a post-election poll that highlighted, among other topics, a change in the way people collect information on candidates running for office. The percentage of North Carolina voters who relied on the Internet to gather most of their election information had more than doubled since a 2006 post-election poll to 15 percent, up from the seven percent of voters who researched candidates' platforms online two years ago. Voters relying on newspaper reporting decreased from 23 percent in 2006 to 14 percent in 2008. The Institute's monthly polling accurately predicted the winners in all of the statewide races, including the razor thin presidential race in North Carolina. Civitas analysts recently released "Closing the Budget Gap," which detailed how the state could plug a $2 billion dollar budget hole this fiscal year while increasing accountability and transparency. Civitas is kicking off 2009 with a two-day New Legislator Orientation and the resumption of monthly polling and poll luncheon. nccivitas.org

OHIO

The Buckeye Institute's 1851 Center for Constitutional Law filed legal action in December against the Ohio Department of Agriculture for violating the constitutional rights of a family who operates an organic food cooperative. Government agents forcefully raided the family's home and unlawfully seized their personal food supply, cell phones and personal computers. In Stovers v. Boggs, the 1851 Center seeks to halt future similar raids. Also, the Institute released two important education studies. In "A Child-Centered Solution to School Finance in Ohio," an Institute scholar found a statewide-weighted school funding system will ensure all Ohio children have the same educational opportunities. This system requires no additional public resources and could result in an overall tax dollar savings. In "Public Charter Schools: A Great Value for Ohio's Public Education System," report authors found closing existing public charter schools will result in reduced per-pupil spending levels in each of Ohio's "Big 8" city school systems. Significant property tax increases would be required to maintain current per student funding levels. buckeyeinstitute.org

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs is solidifying itself as the school-choice headquarters for Oklahoma. OCPA's Brandon Dutcher is a member of the School Choice Speakers Bureau, a joint effort of The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, the Alliance for School Choice, Black Alliance for Educational Options, and Hispanic Council for Reform and Education Options. OCPA continues to advance school choice in Oklahoma through a number of avenues. The Council visits the state Capitol regularly to educate legislators on school choice. With successful op-ed publications and a bi-monthly e-newsletter, OCPA highlights the ongoing issue with relevant and recent news. The Council's blog, Choice Remarks, is an indispensable source for news and analysis on education reform in Oklahoma. OCPA also provides Twitter updates and maintains a Facebook group, Oklahomans for School Choice. ocpathink.org

OREGON

Cascade Policy Institute kicked off 2009 by introducing eight legislative bills (tax and budget issues, healthcare, school choice, entitlement reform), testifying at hearings and hosting the first in a series of Legislative Leadership Forums, one of which will feature the Friedman Foundation's Paul DiPerna discussing Oregon school choice survey results. Also, through the Friedman Foundation's Innovation in School Choice Grant, Cascade launched a video contest for K-12 students. Contestants create a two-minute video on how school choice changed or would change their lives. Winning videos will be used extensively to continue Cascade's school choice advocacy efforts in Oregon and will be made available to all SPN organizations. Cascade hired Christina Martin, J.D. as director of the Asset Ownership Project. Cascade is also in the process of hiring additional policy analysts to oversee education reform efforts, government transparency work, and land use/property rights issues in rural Oregon. cascadepolicy.org

PENNSYLVANIA

The Allegheny Institute continues to effectively voice advocating change. An Institute paper on the proliferation of teacher strikes was featured in a Wall Street Journal editorial, which reiterated the Institute's view that teachers' strikes should be outlawed and subject to strict penalties. The Institute's latest report examines the city of Pittsburgh's budget. It notes that growing legacy costs facing the city, such as pension benefits and worker's compensation costs, will likely grow by 18 percent, far outstripping the expected five percent growth to other expenditures. The Institute examined the new contract between the drivers' union and transit agency and found that the union had a clear victory in the negotiations: wage increases, maintenance of their very generous health care plan and no new management prerogatives. alleghenyinstitute.org

The Commonwealth Foundation rang in the New Year with a new Open Records Law that will help make government more accountable. The launch of www.PennsylvaniaVotes.org is providing citizens with greater access to their state Capitol while shining the light on the actions of politicians. In January, the Commonwealth Foundation held a half-day symposium with state legislators, media and interest groups to further explore opportunities to increase government transparency. Working with organizations such as Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and Democracy Rising PA, the Foundation's good government efforts are broadening its influence in statewide public policy discussions by cutting across ideological lines and political parties. The major battles ahead for the Foundation will be in thwarting major tax increases to fill the state's largest budget deficit in history, as well as dealing with the looming public pension and retiree health care crisis that will dramatically increase school property taxes. Then in April, the Commonwealth Foundation will welcome Ted Nugent to Pennsylvania for its LiveFreePA event. Visit www.LiveFreePA.com or www.commonwealthfoundation.org for more information.

Last December the REACH Foundation hosted its 2nd Annual Champions of Choice awards dinner at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, bringing together more than 225 school choice supporters from around the state to honor three distinguished guests who have helped to make educational choices possible for Pennsylvania students. REACH's 2008 Champions of Choice were: Dr. Ronald Bowes, Diocese of Pittsburgh; Senator Jane Clare Orie, R-Dist. 40; and Representative Thomas Tangretti, D-Dist. 57. In 2009, REACH will again conduct its Visions of Choice campaign around the state, highlighting individual students and families for whom school choice is a reality. paschoolchoice.org

RHODE ISLAND

The Ocean State Policy Research Institute welcomes its newest advisor, the Reverend Giacomo Capoverdi, as its fellow on Cultural and Community Affairs. Expressing concern over the direction Rhode Island has gone, and the upcoming required changes to its welfare and Medicaid services, Father Capoverdi said, "There was a day when our citizens didn't look to government to take care of them because the network of family, faith and friends filled that need. It is imperative that Rhode Island return to the virtues of personal responsibility and individual liberty that made this country great." Father Capoverdi worked as a Rhode Island legislative page from 1985 to 1987, and as an administrative assistant for two mayors of Providence, from 1987 to 1991. Currently he's assistant pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church in Cumberland, director with the Washington, D.C.-based Pro-Life Action Center and host of the weekly Internet radio show, "Keeping the Faith." oceanstatepolicy.org

SOUTH CAROLINA

The South Carolina Policy Council met with Gov. Mark Sanford's staff and representatives of the Tax Foundation during a Dec. 11 visit to the state to discuss plans to cut personal income taxes nearly 50 percent and eliminate corporate income taxes over ten years. The group discussed the fiscal impact of the plan on state revenue as well as the simulative effect cutting taxes has for economic growth. The Policy Council also received statewide media coverage in response to a study released Dec. 8 that showed South Carolina school districts demanded $400,000 to release public expense records under the Freedom of Information Act. Similar information for state agencies is available free of charge online. Multiple editorial pages praised the Policy Council's efforts and called on the legislature and school districts to better guarantee citizen access to public information without excessive cost. scpolicycouncil.com

TENNESSEE

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research recently added Carter Meadors to its staff of freedom fighters. Meadors, a graduate of East Tennessee State University and former development manager at the Tax Foundation, serves as an advancement officer for TCPR. As the Tennessee General Assembly reconvened with, for the first time ever, a Republican majority and GOP speakers in both houses of the legislature, TCPR welcomed lawmakers with a Legislative Guide filled with dozens of recommendations for reducing the size and scope of government. The proposed Tennessee state budget was released with several noticeable cuts recommended by TCPR, including a reduction in the amount spent to subsidize state-owned golf courses and the elimination of a pork project to eradicate boll weevils. In January, TCPR launched www
.TennesseeVotes.org. Since the legislature does not post votes online, the TennesseeVotes Web site allows Tennesseans the first opportunity in state history to view how lawmakers vote on the issues that impact their lives. tennesseepolicy.org

TEXAS

Texas Public Policy Foundation continues to demonstrate the benefits of free markets and limited government. While many states seek a federal bailout due to their failed tax-and-spend policies, the 81st Texas Legislature will arrive in January to a $10 billion-plus budget surplus because it heeded the Foundation's recommendations to keep state taxes and spending low. The Foundation report, "Texas Wind Energy: Past, Present, and Future," was the subject of a news article on the Reuters wire and has been cited in two Investor's Business Daily editorials. The Foundation hosted more than 150 Texas policymakers at a Nov. 17 Policy Primer on Texas' competitive electric market. The Foundation, along with the State Policy Network and the Pew Charitable Trusts, hosted a Dec. 2 seminar in Washington, D.C. to highlight its restorative justice agenda. Dr. Arthur Laffer recently completed the 10th and final paper in the "Thinking Economically" series, designed to provide a basic economics education for policymakers, the media and the general public. texaspolicy.com

UTAH

At most schools, graduation ceremonies are intended to recognize students for their accomplishments. Recently, however, a special graduation ceremony was held at Salt Lake City's Dual Immersion Academy to recognize parents who completed Sutherland Institute's eight-week Every Parent Cares project. Developed to advance the education of students by mobilizing and encouraging parent involvement, the program was designed around a parent-based curriculum, workshop topics including Internet safety, preparing a child for college, gang awareness and prevention, and personal finances. Taught in English and Spanish, the free program is primarily intended to serve Latino families. EPC is now accepting applications from schools and community organizations for future workshops. sutherlandinstitute.org

VERMONT

On Nov. 12 more than 340 Vermonters gathered in the Emerald Ballroom of the Sheraton Burlington to celebrate 15 years of the Ethan Allen Institute educating residents in the fundamentals of free society. Keynote speaker John Stossel told an enthusiastic audience that working as a journalist has taught him government intervention typically makes poor situations worse. Governments are at least as likely as private actors to perpetuate "myths, lies and stupidities" to the detriment of a free society. An evening highlight was presentation of the $10,000 Pizzagalli Prize to EAI president John McClaughry for his 40 years battling for the free market, competitive enterprise, limited government and individual liberty. The Institute led the charge to (apparently) defeat a proposal by an unelected board to levy a 50-cent a gallon wholesale tax on fluid milk. The board planned to hand out the proceeds to dairy farmers, and protect consumers from price increases by imposing price controls. ethanallen.org

VIRGINIA

The Thomas Jefferson Institute now manages perhaps the most important e-zine in Virginia public policy discussions, "Bacon's Rebellion: The Op-Ed Page for Virginia's New Economy" (baconsrebellion.com). Founded six years ago by former reporter/editor Jim Bacon, it's distributed to more than 7,000 opinion leaders and grassroots activists throughout Virginia with a range of commentary opinion from right to left. The publication's re-launch took place Dec. 17 and a new, regular bi-weekly schedule kicked off in January. Also of note, an education choice survey of black neighborhoods sponsored by Jefferson and the Black Alliance for Educational Options demonstrated overwhelming dissatisfaction for public education, and support for all methods of choice. Several Institute events attracted a wide range of state and local government leaders, including: the Education Policy Breakfast, featuring former Virginia Solicitor William Hurd discussing "The Legal Consequences of Scholarships for Students With Disabilities; and the Innovations in Government conference on "Government Infrastructure Needs and the Private Sector." thomasjeffersoninst.org

The Virginia Institute for Public Policy and its affiliate organizations, Tertium Quids and the Tuesday Morning Group coalition, have introduced the "Freedom and Prosperity Agenda" to the General Assembly. Most of the measures - including enhanced budget transparency and eminent domain reform - have strong, bipartisan support. A large crowd of activists and media attended November's Tuesday Morning Group coalition meeting, where a panel of national experts from the Cato Institute, The Heritage Foundation, Gun Owners of America, the Family Foundation of Virginia and other organizations convened to give their insights on the new political landscape. They examined the economy, labor law, gun issues, energy, the environment, social issues and the media in light of the Obama Administration's proposed policies for America. Videos at tertiumquids.org. Also available are a podcast from a Virginia perspective, and an interview with economist, author and FreedomFest host Mark Skousen virginiainstitute.org

WASHINGTON

Evergreen Freedom Foundation's eight-year effort to hold the Washington Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, accountable for unlawfully boosting teachers' dues money for political purposes culminated in a nearly $1 million settlement between the union and the state's attorney general.The WEA will pay fines and reimburse teachers whose dues were improperly used. The genesis of the case came from an EFF complaint that was litigated up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld the legal position originally advanced by EFF that the union must first receive permission before using dues money for political purposes. Associated private-action litigation is still working its way through Washington state courts with the Court of Appeals recently ruling that individual teachers may proceed in their action against the WEA. EFF attorneys served as co-counsel to the teachers. Radio Free Washington, a weekly broadcast produced and hosted by EFF vice president of communications, Steve Maggi, debuted on eight radio stations in eastern Washington with west-of-the-mountains access available via podcast from EFF's Web site,
www.effwa.org.

In December another Washington Policy Center idea became law when the state launched
www.fiscal.wa.gov, a searchable Web site of state spending. This leap forward in government transparency was based on the joint effort of WPC and Evergreen Freedom Foundation. WPCwas part of the official state announcement andwill be working with the state to improve the site.The American Legislative Exchange Council adopted WPC's proposal for a searchable tax transparency Web site as ALEC model language at its December meeting. In light of Washington state's more than $5 billion deficit, WPC is working with the governor's office on spending reduction ideas and budget reform. Several of WPC's recommendations are in Governor Chris Gregoire's latest budget proposal. WPCreleased its signature education reform plan, "Eight Practical Ways to Reverse the Decline of Public Schools." In January Bill Ouchi, best-selling author and professor at UCLA's Anderson School of Management, keynoted the kick-off event for WPC's Center for Education. He talked about how putting principals in charge of schools helps students learn, a pivotal recommendation in WPC's education reform plan. washingtonpolicy.org

WYOMING

As the sole organization dedicated to liberty in the state, the Wyoming Liberty Group faces start-up challenges. With functional office space established in October 2008 and a staff of two, WLG seeks three additional think tank entrepreneurs. Charles Ware joined in December, bringing governmental networking expertise. He and Shane Scheid are shepherding WLG through the current 2009 legislative session. By April WLG will have assigned a liberty rating to every bill and ranked House and Senate members for the Wyoming Liberty Index, as well as exposed both citizens and government to Benjamin Barr's "In Defense of the Wyoming Constitution: Regaining Liberties Lost" and Nicholas Dranias's "Breaking Free from Federal Funded Mandates: Why Wyoming Should Just Say No to Federal Grants-in-aid." These studies champion plain interpretations of state constitutions, document deleterious effects of federal funding and make a case for the constitutional illegality of state and federal government collusion to grow government. wyliberty.org

-NATIONAL-

The Alliance for School Choice has appointed John Schilling, the organization's chief of staff and director of national projects, as interim president to fill the vacancy left by Charles R. Hokanson, Jr., who resigned in November. Schilling is a longtime public policy professional. He helped lead reform efforts in Arizona as associate state superintendent of education. The Alliance will conduct a national search in 2009 for a new president. Also late last year, the Alliance won four major awards recognizing its bold and ambitious 2008 marketing and communications efforts: A Silver Davey Award from the International Academy for the Visual Arts; a Platinum MarCom Award - from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals - for the Alliance's School Choice Yearbook 2007; a Gold MarCom award for the logo and messaging for the new School Choice Works campaign; and, the Web Marketing Association awarded the Alliance an Educational Standard of Excellence Award for 2008 for allianceforschoolchoice.org.

American Council of Trustees and Alumni recently released its third evaluation of public universities in the states. Following studies on North Carolina and Georgia, now comes "Show Me: A Report Card on Public Higher Education in Missouri." The report card looks at four key areas: what students are learning (general education), whether the marketplace of ideas is vibrant (intellectual diversity), how universities are run (governance), and the cost of an education. Missouri's highest grades are in general education; grades are uniformly low for intellectual diversity and cost, and mixed for governance. The report's publication comes shortly after the election of a new governor who campaigned on a promise to make higher education more affordable, and underscores the work that lies ahead. goacta.org

You are invited to attend the American Dream Coalition's annual Preserving the American Dream conference in Seattle, April 17-19. This conference brings together grassroots activists and leading researchers to highlight market-oriented solutions to urgent metropolitan problems. The ADC annual conference empowers your organization with vital information and effective strategies to preserve freedom and promote prosperity. The American Dream Coalition is your go-to source for urban issues like housing and transportation policy, property rights and eminent domain abuse, growth management and the environment. ADC exposes the central planning doctrine called Smart Growth that's gaining ground and has advocates in every state capitol across the country. The ADC promotes freedom, mobility, and affordable homeownership, and is your in-house source for fighting wasteful and ineffective government policies in metropolitan areas. americandreamcoalition.org

On Jan. 5 Americans for Tax Reform hosted the RNC chairman debate. All declared candidates participated in the debate, the first ever held by a major party. Party chairs are typically chosen by top party officials or the president. ATR organized the debate as a way to increase transparency, participation and foster a more open process. ATR, in conjunction with the Alliance for Working Freedom, is working to pass anti card check resolutions in a number of targeted state legislatures around the country. atr.org

Looking for talent to help you succeed in 2009? In time for the New Year, America's Future Foundation has unveiled a new resource to help SPN members find the talent they need in their state, the AFF Career Center. AFF's Career Center expands its popular job board to offer you nationwide search capability, enhanced control over your job postings and access to the best young conservative and libertarian talent. AFF's Career Center also offers job seekers resume tips, career advice and other multimedia resources to help make the most of careers in the freedom movement. Best of all, AFF's job board and career center is free to SPN partners. americasfuture.org

The American Legislative Exchange Council is deeply disturbed by the prospect of a federal bailout of the states. ALEC has established a special section of its Web site with news and information for state legislators and others to use in opposing any state bailouts. According to ALEC's new National Chairman, Speaker Bill Howell of the Virginia House of Delegates, "At a time when federal spending and debt are soaring, the federal government should not put taxpayers on the hook for yet another bailout. In my home state of Virginia, we are dealing with our own budget shortfall. Even though it is tempting to accept a short-term federal handout, I am deeply concerned about the long-term implications a federal bailout would have on state sovereignty. A more effective approach to help the states would be to free them from costly federal mandates." ALEC is collecting signatures from state legislators across the country opposing any federal bailout of the states. alec.org

The Cato Institute kicked off 2009 with its 3rd annual State Health Policy Summit in Scottsdale. Back in D.C., national security, defense and foreign policy experts from across the political spectrum attended a Jan. 12-13 Cato conference, Shaping the New Administration's Counterterrorism Strategy. Scholars and donors alike are looking forward to Cato's annual Benefactor's Summit March 4-8 at The Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico. In January, Cato released two health care studies, one on comparative effectiveness research and another on health status insurance. In the Name of Justice, a compendium of essays edited by Tim Lynch, director of Cato's Project on Criminal Justice, will be available Feb. 24. To schedule Lynch for a speaking engagement, contact Diane Morris. Cato welcomes Izzy Santa as a media manager, and David Rittgers as a legal policy analyst. cato.org

Mark your calendars now for the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute's 2009 Western Women's Summit March 20-21 at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara.The Summit will include a private tour of Reagan's former home, and attendees will hear from leading ladies in the conservative movement, as well as meet and network with like-minded conservatives, and discuss the most important issues facing our country. Last year's speakers included Star Parker, author Nonie Darwish, talk radio host Melanie Morgan and news commentator Kate Obenshain. cblpi.org

The Competitive Enterprise Institute has moved to 1899 L Street, NW, 12th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20036. Please stop by for a visit and tour next time you're nearby. Published in November: Senior fellow Christopher Horner's new Red Hot Lies­ book exposes the smear-tactics and misinformation by global warming scaremongers. Also in November, CEI opened a new insurance policy shop in Tallahassee, Fla., focused on insurance issues throughout the Southeast. Christian Cámara, a former state legislative aide, is director of the office. If you haven't already, please join CEI's coalition aimed at fighting the environmentalist attack against bottled water. Visit www.EnjoyBottledWater.org to sign the petition and join the coalition. CEI is accepting applications for the next Warren T. Brookes free-market journalism fellowship, which begins in the fall. It's CEI's 25th anniversary in 2009, so stay tuned for upcoming celebrations and events! cei.org

At home and abroad, the Fraser Institute has been focused on issues that matter today and are shaping tomorrow. With feature articles in the online editions of The Weekly Standard, Doublethink and The American, Fraser Institute researchers are doing their part to remind Americans that freedom and free markets can overcome the challenges we face. Executive director Mark Mullins has been busy addressing the global economic crisis through op-eds, conferences, media appearances, and on Fraser TV "webisodes." Mullins has been challenging citizens and policymakers to embrace solutions that allow the market to work. Just in time for the debate that's sure to follow the Obama administration's health care proposals, the Institute has produced a flurry of reports on the failures of single-payer health care. On the international stage, Fraser Institute researchers have written essays and reports on economic freedom in the Arab world, NATO's efforts in Afghanistan and the next step on missile defense. Stay abreast of Fraser Institute's research by signing up for Fraser Insight. am.eri.ca

FreedomWorks took advantage of the run-off for Senate in Georgia to build its organization. Volunteers from surrounding states adopted congressional districts throughout Georgia to recruit and train volunteers to assist with a voter education campaign. Over the next three weeks, activists held 13 meetings to plan their efforts and start new FreedomWorks chapters. The AFL-CIO poured paid staff into the state, and bragged it would be distributing 80,000 pieces of literature. In contrast, FreedomWorks volunteers passed out 90,000 pieces of literature all over Georgia, going door to door and car to car. From that campaign, new volunteer leaders have emerged in every congressional district where they will continue to grow their chapters and engage on local, state and federal issues. Georgia is a great example of what can be done with good help, an agitated population and an important issue at stake. FreedomWorks will be working throughout 2009 to replicate this success in key states like Virginia and New Jersey. freedomworks.org

The month of December proved to be a busy one for the staff of the Indianapolis-based Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. On Dec. 3, lawyer, teacher, actor, comic, economist, and expert on finance Ben Stein spoke at a fundraising dinner benefiting school choice in Indiana. Nearly 300 attended the event, which was hosted by the Friedman Foundation and the Educational CHOICE Charitable Trust, an Indianapolis-based, privately-funded school choice program. Stein was a family friend of Milton and Rose Friedman and told the crowd several stories about his relationship with the Friedmans. He also shared numerous anecdotes and stories about the nation's educational system, and argued that the country must do a better job in educating its citizens. The following week, the Foundation hosted a conference for leaders of the school choice movement and its partners on how to better use social media outlets to generate advocates and build communities. The conference featured expert speakers covering a wide variety of topics on new media. friedmanfoundation.org

Over 1,000 students from more than 80 different countries participated in The Fund for American Studies' programs in the Czech Republic, Greece, Hong Kong, Latin America and Washington, D.C. The TFAS Alumni network surpassed the 10,000 member-mark. With representatives from more than 100 countries, TFAS alumni hold leadership positions in public policy, government, business, philanthropy, international affairs and media. Construction began on the Center for Teaching Freedom, the Fund's new educational space set to open in 2009. Two new programs were successfully launched: the Legal Studies Institute and the Institute for Leadership in the Americas...viva libertad! Jan. 10-24, ILA assembled students from across Latin American in Santiago, Chile for a two-week academic program on the foundations of prosperity in a free society. Students were given the tools to develop their leadership abilities by applying concepts of economics, political theory, and rule of law to institutions in their home countries. Save-the-Date: The 2009 Annual Conference is April 16-17 in Washington, D.C. tfas.org

Transitioning to a new year and a new administration, the Galen Institute has been laying the groundwork for a spirited health reform debate. Galen president Grace-Marie Turner has been meeting with Capitol Hill staffers, state officials and colleagues in the Health Policy Consensus Group to focus educational efforts on ideas that support personal freedom and consumer choice. She has spoken to groups ranging from CEOs to health underwriters and young conservatives, explaining the challenges market-based health reform will face in the near future. At the end of 2008, Turner worked to educate seniors about their options in Medicare Part D. Galen hosted Prof. Michael Schlander, an expert on comparative effectiveness, who presented sobering information about European efforts to exert centralized political control over the availability of medical treatments. The Galen Institute is also preparing for a March 9 conference, exploring the lessons America must learn from these European experiments. galen.org

In March, the Heartland Institute will sponsor the second International Conference on Climate Change, calling attention to new research that contradicts claims that the moderate warming during the 20th century is a crisis. This conference is a follow-up to a hugely successful conference last year, where more than 500 of the world's leading scientists, economists and policy analysts explored key issues overlooked by advocates of the theory of man-made global warming. March 8-10, 2009 at the Marriott New York Marquis Times Square Hotel, Heartland will examine where the alarmists have lost credibility and where skeptics are gaining momentum. Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby featured our upcoming conference, noting: "The scientists and scholars Heartland is assembling are not members of the gloom-and-doom chorus. ... They are far from monolithic, but on this they would all agree: Science is not settled by majority vote, especially in a field as young as climate science." The article was reprinted by the International Herald Tribune. heartland.org

The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal released the 15th annual Index of Economic Freedom which analyzes data to rank 183 countries around the world. This year, the United States slipped from fifth to sixth in the rankings, due in large part to high levels of corporate taxation. The Index is available at www.heritage.org/index. Heritage released a paper that demonstrated Florida's state-directed education reforms far surpassed No Child Left Behind in improving student achievement - particularly among the disadvantaged student population federal programs specifically target. Heritage will host the 32nd annual Resource Bank meeting in Los Angeles April 23-24. Please contact us at resourcebank@heritage.org to reserve your spot with hundreds of conservative leaders from around the world to discuss issues, strategies and methods for advancing free-market, limited-government public policies. heritage.org

With widespread confusion about the current financial crisis and recession, Independent Institute senior fellow Robert Higgs has been working hard offering sound policy recommendations. Showing that the current state of the economy has nothing to do with free markets and everything to do with government interventionism, Dr. Higgs recently spoke on EconTalk about the real lessons from the Great Depression and the New Deal. Drawing from his Institute book, Depression, War and Cold War, Higgs demonstrated how frequent intervention created and prolonged the Great Depression, and exposed bailouts as entirely misguided and dangerous. In response to the housing crisis, the Institute published "Anatomy of a Train Wreck: Causes of the Mortgage Meltdown," a policy report examining how virtually every branch of government attacked mortgage underwriting standards as early as the 1990s. While the deteriorated standards succeeded in achieving the stated goal of increasing home ownership, an unsustainable price bubble was the unwelcome result. Recently landing on the cover of the National Review, the report was downloaded more than 10,000 times in the first week alone! independent.org

Throughout the fall, the Institute for Policy Innovation engaged both domestic and international audiences on a host of critical free-market issues. IPI's Peter Ferrara filled the airwaves analyzing the detrimental economic effects of president-elect Barack Obama's tax plan, was featured twice on Your World with Neil Cavuto, placed numerous op-eds in outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on dozens of radio shows. In Washington, D.C., IPI introduced state think tank members to industry leaders in communications, health care, insurance and energy at the annual SPN Networking Trip. Overseas, IPI co-hosted a Brussels event with ThinkTEL, engaging policymakers from the European Commission and Parliament on the necessity of network management to better serve consumers and more effectively deploy broadband technologies. ipi.org

The Jesse Helms Center and Wingate University have been awarded a ten-year, $500,000 grant by BB&T of Winston-Salem, N.C. to establish a special program on the moral foundations of free enterprise. The program will be offered on the campus of Wingate University and will be open to students of all disciplines. Central to the grant is the development of the course, The Foundations of Capitalism in U.S. Economic History. Although the course will present all points of view, it will focus on the moral foundations of capitalism and the philosophical underpinnings that enable the free enterprise system to flourish, spotlighting the work of Ayn Rand, Michael Novak, Thomas Sowell and Israel Kirzner. Additionally, a new scholars program will be established providing financial aid to Wingate University students who pursue in-depth study on the morality of free markets and the fundamental integration between economic freedom and political freedom. Also as part of the grant, a lecture series will present prominent speakers to discuss the core values of capitalism, the morality of free markets, and the impact of government policy on free enterprise and individual liberty. jessehelmscenter.org

Judicial Watch litigation director Paul Orfanedes testified Dec. 18 before the Illinois House Special Investigative Committee considering the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested earlier in the month on a series of corruption charges. Judicial Watch educated the committee on its ongoing investigations regarding Blagojevich corruption. Judicial Watch also hosted an educational panel in Washington, D.C., "Is Hillary Clinton Constitutionally Ineligible to be Secretary of State?" The panel focused on a constitutional barrier (known as the Emoluments Clause) to the Clinton appointment. In October, the First District Court of Appeals for the State of California ruled in a Judicial Watch taxpayer lawsuit that the San Francisco Police Department must comply with a state law requiring police officers to notify federal authorities when they arrest a person for various narcotics offenses whom they suspect to be an alien, legal or illegal. This lawsuit is part of Judicial Watch's nationwide campaign to enforce our nation's immigration laws. judicialwatch.org

The Manhattan Institute was honored to host President Bush Nov. 13at theFederal Hall National Memorial in New York City.The President defended free markets and remarked on the world economy. The Manhattan Institute ended 2008witha groundbreaking proposal "Greater Justice, Lower Cost: How‘Loser Pays' Rule Would Improve the American Legal System," by Marie Gryphon, senior fellow at the Institute's Center for Legal Policy. This new report examines how the legal system in America would be impacted by a loser-pays rule, under which the loser in a civil suit must cover the reasonable legal expenses of the winner. This report also provides guidelines for implementing a loser-pays reform proposal. Welfare reform, green jobs, carbon footprints and the dangers of overregulation are some of the topics the winter 2009 issue of City Journal addresses. Be sure to visit www.manhattan-institute.org to see and hear the latest op-eds, reports, and books by our scholars.

The Moving Picture Institute, a New York-based foundation that promotes freedom through film, is pleased to introduce The Battle of Brooklyn, a feature-length documentary that explores the poorly understood phenomenon of eminent domain abuse. This haunting and infuriating film from award-winning filmmakers Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley and David Beilinson investigates how real estate developers, local government, community activists and the media have clashed over the largest single-source development project ever proposed in New York City. Widely known as the Atlantic Yards Project, this undertaking has for the past four years been a major source of contention as local residents resist a billionaire developer's attempt to use eminent domain to seize their homes and businesses. Done in the name of development, schemes such as this one eviscerate private property rights and make a mockery of the Fifth Amendment - while developers freely exploit lucrative taxpayer subsidies, easements, and tax abatements. The trailer and information about how to support the film through post-production are available at thempi.org.

General Tommy Franks has joined the board of directors of the National Center for Policy Analysis. Franks, former commander-in-chief of the U.S. Central Command, is best known for leading the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. NCPA board chairman Pete du Pont said the NCPA is privileged to have a person of Gen. Frank's stature and experience become part of the board. Meanwhile, NCPA president John Goodman's health care blog continues to gain in popularity. The number of visitors to the blog has increased more than 90 percent since the first of the year. Goodman is known for putting a humorous spin on the health care news of the day as well as providing news updates and thoughtful analysis. Also, the NCPA has named Lynda Campbell as its new controller. A Certified Public Accountant, Lynda will oversee daily operations and requirements of the organization's financial department. ncpa.org

The National Right to Work Foundation has filed two high-profile complaints with the Federal Election Commission. The first asks the FEC to investigate a recently adopted Service Employees International Union political fundraising scheme which allegedly violates federal labor and election laws by imposing financial penalties on local affiliates that fail to meet PAC fundraising targets. The second complaint is against NEA union and affiliates, alleging a money laundering scheme in which an affiliate union official forced educators to contribute to the NEA's PAC. Union bosses docked funds from teacher-delegates' NEA convention reimbursements and diverted the funds to the NEA's PAC. When challenged, a union official first claimed the funds were not earmarked for political purposes but rather for a "children's fund." Later, the official admitted the money would go to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The complaint alleges that union officials violated federal law by soliciting contributions under false pretenses and without informing the educators of their right to refuse to contribute without reprisal, and also by using union membership dues to pay for the PAC contributions. nrtw.org

The National Taxpayers Union is on Twitter, and has launched a Web site - www.statebooks
.com - to track "tweets" on state budget issues. The site will feature a real-time feed of posts using the "#statebooks" hashtag from Twitter users (tweeps) around the country. NTU released an issue brief analyzing how states could solve budget problems by cutting public employee pay to match similar private-sector positions. The study found that states facing the worst budget deficits also have the biggest disparities between public- and private-employee salaries. NTU released another paper outlining the biggest tax-hike threats of the 111th Congress, which include repeal/expiration of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and an increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes. NTU and NTU Foundation will host the National Taxpayers Conference June 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Virginia. Citizen activists and policymakers from around the country will gather for policy discussions and workshops on a host of important taxpayer issues. ntu.org

The Prometheus Institute is proud to announce that it has been selected a winner of an Atlas Economic Research Foundation 2008 Templeton Freedom Award, winning recognition in the category of Special Achievement for a Young Institute. Prometheus, among 15 other recipients in separate categories, was chosen from more than 170 applications from 58 countries by an independent panel of expert judges.According to the prize committee, Prometheus received the award for its "well-designed initiatives to advance liberty in the United States." The initiatives are Upgrade Social Security, People for the American Dream and Do It Yourself Democracy. The judges praised Prometheus'"innovative methods" as a "value-added contribution to the free market movement" that "shouldbe copied by other institutions and applied in other countries." The Prometheus Institute would like to thank Atlas and the John Templeton Foundation for the generous recognition, and all of our fans and supporters for making this honor possible! theprometheusinstitute.org

In a hard-hitting op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, Reason founder Bob Poole detailed some of the more egregious bailout requests presented by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which include $2.5 million for a duck pond, $20 million for a sports complex and a jaw-dropping $94 million for a parking garage at the University of Miami. As bailout mania has intensified, Reason's extensive coverage continues to raise important questions. In addition to the January issue of Reason, which is devoted to bailout coverage, Reason Online has featured more than 25 articles and more than 50 Hit & Run posts on the disaster. Reason.tv has posted seven original videos, including substantive interviews with former Freddie Mac economist Arnold Kling, UCLA economist Lee Ohanion and George Mason University professor and blogger Russ Roberts. And, Reason.org has published a number of commentaries, including more than 70 breaking-news posts on Out of Control, our daily policy blog. A full bibliography is online. reason.org

The Sam Adams Alliance blogger outreach program and three wiki Web sites (Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and Sunshine Review) are exceeding expectations. To finish up 2008, SAA hosted a holiday party and an Online Identity Management training seminar in Chicago in December and invited friends and allies to attend. The OIM training was led by Leslie Graves, who taught attendees how to cultivate an online presence, including how to fend off attack and how to protect your personal, professional and organizational reputation online. SAA has added several new staff members in 2009: Lorri Pickens, e-outreach coordinator; Lauren Fleming, office manager; Paul Miller, communications; and Sara Karlovics, development director. In April, SAA will honor the winners of the second annual Sammie Awards, a contest recognizing bloggers, filmmakers, open records champions, and other government watchdogs committed to advancing individual and economic liberty. Visit our Web site for more details and submit your entry by Feb. 22. samadamsalliance.org

Young America's Foundation's 2008 West Coast Leadership Conference attracted more than 600 participants from 18 states and 95 campuses to learn conservative ideas and network with other future leaders. Held in Santa Barbara in November, the 9th annual conference featured best-selling author and Foundation director Peter Schweizer; Seattle's leading talk radio host and Foundation director Kirby Wilbur; Reagan Ranch board of governors chairman Frank Donatelli; acclaimed screenwriter Andrew Klavan; Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund and Congressman Mark Souder, among others. Also during November, more than 100 campuses participated in Young America's Foundation's Freedom Week 2008 to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall and Veterans Day - events overlooked on most college campuses. Young America's Foundation provided students with free Freedom Week posters, placards, buttons and other materials. Activists were encouraged to build a mock Berlin Wall to draw comparisons between their school's favoritism towards the Left and the lack of freedoms in former Communist countries. yaf.org