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Institute Updates May/June 2008


Published on Sunday, June 01, 2008
ARTICLES

ALASKA

A resolution to defend Alaska against electromagnetic pulse attack - drafted by the Institute of the North's Security and Defense program - unanimously passed the Alaska State Legislature. The resolution establishes as policy the recommendations of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack, and it also urges the Department of Homeland Security to support states in doing this. Alaska is the first state to pass such legislation. The Institute of the North hosted its first Spring Alaska Dialogue May 8-10 to help better develop understanding of Alaska's public policy issues for emerging leaders, build social networks for young professionals and create strong leadership opportunities for Alaskans.The discussion series offers a non-partisan venue for brainstorming solutions to issues facing the state. institutenorth.org

ARIZONA

Each year, American politicians spend millions in tax dollars on broadcast ads, billboards and glossy brochures under the guise of "public service announcements." These same officials are often featured prominently in the ads, yielding increased name identification and boosting their favorability ratings. Compounding the ethical issues (especially in Arizona, where most politicians already benefit from public funding of their official campaigns) is that the cost of these ads is rarely, if ever, disclosed. Goldwater is now scrutinizing the money being spent on this backdoor electioneering in Arizona and will publish its findings this summer. The Wall Street Journal ran an op-ed by Arizona's governor placing blame for the state's $2 billion deficit with Congress. The Journal then published a rebuttal by Goldwater Institute president Darcy Olsen (rebuttal available at the Institute website). Goldwater welcomes Katie Nutter as communications director and Nick Dranias as the director of Goldwater's Center for Constitutional Government. goldwaterinstitute.org

ARKANSAS

Freshman Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe discussed education reform and the largest tax cut in state history - a 50 percent reduction in the state sales tax on groceries - at an Arkansas Policy Foundation forum in March. The Foundation recommended ending the grocery tax in 2002. Gov. Beebe linked further reductions in the tax to state revenue estimates. He was also asked about dynamic analysis in Arkansas's revenue estimation process, a 1998 Foundation recommendation. Arkansas print and electronic media covered the event. In February more than 300 people attended a Foundation forum on education reform at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. The forum featured UCA president Lu Hardin and two academics discussing reforms like charter schools and tax credits. Expansion of Arkansas charters was approved in 2007. arkansaspolicyfoundation.org

CALIFORINA

An important new book by Pacific Legal Foundation vice president M. David Stirling is now available. Green Gone Wild - Elevating Nature Above Human Rights (greengonewildbook.com) tells the real story behind the politicized birth, the oppressive tactics and the harsh impact of modern environmentalism. It chronicles how enforcement of the Endangered Species Act by overbearing federal regulators andhardcore environmentalist organizations has led to human deaths, destroyed thousands of livelihoods and businesses, and confiscated untold acres of private property without "just compensation." Warns economics professor Walter Williamsof George Mason University, "Unless abated by informed people, this below-the-radar heavy-handedness willultimately eliminate the concept of private property in America as we know it."pacificlegal.org

Thanks to Pacific Research Institute's book about under-performing middle class schools, Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice, for the first time in six years school choice bills were introduced in the California Legislature - five in total. A book-based documentary is scheduled for release later this year. PRI also released its annual Index of Leading Environmental Indicators and unveiled the California flat income tax plan. Studies are forthcoming on the rising costs of health insurance mandates and bilingual education in California 10 years after its elimination. pacificresearch.org

COLORADO

The Independence Institute began the year sponsoring four legislative briefings at the Capitol to "educate those who legislate." Topics covered were: education, climate change, the Second Amendment and health care. A new blog by president Jon Caldara and his minions is up and running (joncaldara.com). The Institute has sponsored several events: Dr. Jerry Wartgow, former Denver Public Schools superintendent spoke about his new book, Why School Reform is Failing and What We Need to Do About It: 10 Lessons from the Trenches; Climate Strategies Watch director Paul Chesser discussed the issues behind climate change; Sheldon Richman, editor of The Freeman, published by The Foundation for Economic Education, discussed whether Congress follows the Constitution when it taxes and spends; Cato Institute director of health and welfare studies Michael Tanner covered health insurance mandates; II policy center directors Randal O'Toole and Jessica Corry brought us up to date on RTD and property seizure in Colorado; Competitive Enterprise Institute president Fred Smith addressed "Eco-Theology"; and Habtamu Dugo described his experiences as a persecuted journalist who dared to defy the brutal Ethiopian government. II's annual Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Party is June 28. i2i.org

CONNECTICUT

In May, "The TALK of Connecticut" joined forces with the Yankee Institute for the second time to co-sponsor a live radio and TV debate, "Balancing the Cost of Education with Property Taxes," at the State Capitol. The debate was broadcast statewide on the four-station network "The TALK of Connecticut" and on CT-N, a citizens' source for complete and balanced television and webcast coverage of Connecticut state government and public policy. The debate, which promoted a discussion on factors driving the ever-increasing costs of public education, featured constituents who represent various facets of legislature and town leaders from large and small communities in Connecticut, all versed on property taxes and/or local education. In June, the Yankee Institute will release, "The Coming Showdown with Public Labor." Written by Yankee executive director Lewis M. Andrews, Ph.D., the study shows that with government costs at all levels - federal, state and local - soaring out of control, politicians will soon be forced to take the only action that can guarantee the continued delivery of public services at a reasonable cost: create laws to make the public sector more efficient and effective. yankeeinstitute.org

FLORIDA

June 19-20 in Orlando the James Madison Institute, in partnership with the Foundation for Excellence in Education, will bring together education experts from across the country at the Excellence in Action: National Summit on Education Reform. Addressing the challenges in providing a quality education to today's students, panelists and participants will immerse themselves in two days of provocative discussions and debates on topics critical to the future of reform, including raising standards, measuring progress, demanding accountability, closing the achievement gap and expanding school choice. Keynote speakers include former First Lady Barbara Bush, John Stossel, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony Williams. Visit jamesmadison.org for more information, and take a look at the Institute's recent policy briefs: "First Steps toward Restoring Florida's Insurance Market" by Eli Lehrer of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and "Transparency in Government Spending: An Idea Whose Time Has Come for Florida" by Sandra Fabry at Americans for Tax Reform.

 

GEORGIA

 

A new report says a minimum of $112 billion a year in taxpayer costs result from high divorce rates and unmarried childbearing. It identifies national, state and local costs which account for more than $1 trillion in the last decade. This landmark scholarly study, "The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing: First-Ever Estimates for the Nation and All 50 States," was released April 15 at the National Press Club by Institute for American Values, Georgia Family Council, Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and Families Northwest. Dr. Benjamin Scafidi of Georgia College and State University is the principal investigator of the study. gafam.org

The Georgia Legislature ended its 2008 session after passing many ideas promoted by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.Barring a veto,the bills will enable transparencyfor state spending and contracts, tax-credit education scholarships and funding equity for charter schools. The governor signed health care legislation that allows health plans to offer financial rewards and incentives (previously illegal), eliminates premium taxes on HSA-eligible high-deductible plans, allows individuals to deduct 100 percent of their premiums from their state income taxes, and allows small businesses to make defined contributions to HRA accounts. gppf.org

HAWAII

 

As the first major step of a leadership transition, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii welcomed new president Jamie Story from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, where she served as an education policy analyst.The Institute offers its sincere appreciation to all in SPN who helped make this happen.Dick Rowland is now president emeritus, continues to serve on the board of directors and works on development projects and selected programs. Dr. Harry Messenheimer's study, "Elementary Principles of Monopoly: Government-run Schools Get Less with More," generated discussion throughout the state, not to mention favorable response from Gov. Linda Lingle. GRIH is seeking interns for the summer and fall semesters. grassrootinstitute.org

 

ILLINOIS

 

In April, the Illinois Policy Institute released the "2008 Illinois Piglet Book," revealing more than $686 million in wasteful spending. Highlights included $500,000 for the conservation of pheasants, $550,000 to administer a tanning permit act, and $40,000 for, yes, a figure skating club. The

"Piglet Book" made a splash across the state and was featured on the top television, radio and print venues statewide. Other new developments included the launch of a new, redesigned website. The Institute is also continuing its work on transparency, encouraging open books on both the local and statewide level. The Institute joined a statewide coalition with a press conference supporting the proposed Illinois Accountability Portal and has partnered with local leaders who are working for greater transparency in school districts. Throughout the summer, the Institute will launch new education projects centering on tax credits and charter schools. Kate Campaigne is the Institute's new transportation policy director. illinoispolicyinstitute.org

 

INDIANA

As revenue-strapped and blame-averse Indiana politicians turn their attention at last to finding a more efficient system of public education, Dr. Jeff Abbott, a former superintendent and adjunct scholar writing in the Indiana Policy Review Foundation's quarterly journal, puts forward a detailed model that would save $50 million the first year. The model, based in part on those proposed by the Reason Foundation's Lisa Snell and the Cato Institute, customizes a weighted-student formula for the particular school cultures, politics and budgets of Indiana. Also, Andrea Neal, a foundation scholar and former editorial page editor of the Indianapolis Star, releases a five-part series examining the ballooning costs of higher education in the state. She explains, among other things, how administrators hide costs in surcharges on food and dormitory services. inpolicy.org

IOWA

Ellen Racheter has joined Iowa Public Interest Institute's staff and will focus on government transparency. Ellen graduated from Indiana State University in Terre Haute with bachelor and master degrees in education. She earned a master of divinity degree from the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis and previously served churches in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa before joining the Institute staff. limitedgovernment.org

KANSAS

 

The Flint Hills Center for Public Policy released a primer on the economic realities of early childhood education as well as the moral implications of such policies. Flint Hills senior fellow John LaPlante analyzes and debunks the so-called "successful" childhood education programs. The Center hosted Bob Novak in April at this year's sold-out annual dinner event. The Center's votes.org will be up and running for the next Kansas legislative session. The site will promote greater legislative transparency through bill searches and legislator voting records. flinthills.org

 

KENTUCKY

 

The Atlas Economic Research Foundation announced that the Bluegrass Institute is the only U.S. think tank among its first class of recipients of Dorian & Antony Fisher Venture Grants. The $100,000 grant will fund a new website, the centerpiece of the Institute's government transparency efforts. Only nine of 180 think tanks were selected to receive grants. For Bluegrass, the grant was "exactly the jumpstart we needed," said Chris Derry, Institute founder and president. "Using the Internet to empower Kentuckians to take back their freedoms is one of the most important initiatives we have launched." The Institute helped facilitate a school-choice benchmarking trip to Milwaukee May 7-8 for 15 of Louisville's African-American community leaders. The Friedman Foundation funded the trip, which offered participants a firsthand look at school choice in urban communities. Attendees met with various community, political and educational leaders, including School Choice Wisconsin president Susan Mitchell, and Howard Fuller, founder of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. The group also toured schools participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice program. Kentucky is one of only four states without some type of statewide parental school-choice program. bipps.org

MAINE

The Maine Heritage Policy Center outlined $217 million in spending cuts to help close a $190 million state budget shortfall. After piecing together a balanced budget without breaking an Election Day promise to lower the state's tax burden, the Maine Legislature ended the session with an ironic (on April 15) tax hike of $50 million by taxing medical claims paid; increasing wholesale taxes on beer and wine; and adding another new tax on soft drinks and soda syrup. School choice is another hot topic right now, with consolidation actually eliminating Maine's 100-plus year tradition of school choice in many smaller towns. MHPC's director of education policy is making press appearances and has issued several new publications on this issue. The Maine Issues Forum and Maine Prosperity Luncheon series in Portland and Bangor are growing in popularity and will be expanded throughout Maine. Martin Sheehan is MHPC's new communications director. mainepolicy.org

 

MARYLAND

 

The Free State Foundation played a leading role in fighting to repeal a tax on computer services the Maryland Assembly adopted last fall. Senior fellow Cecilia Januszkiewicz's "Random Acts of Taxation" urging repeal ran in the Baltimore Examiner. FSF president Randolph May submitted legislative testimony in support of the repeal, which was signed into law the day after the session ended. May also testified in favor of legislation to track state spending online. FSF has been active in the debate about Maryland's structural deficit and its proper resolution. In February, the Baltimore Sun published "Reckless Spending" by Januszkiewicz. In March, the Baltimore Examiner ran her "The Illusion of Declining Revenues, Reduced Spending," and then the Montgomery Gazette printed Januszkiewicz's article urging rejection of legislation postponing recommendations to address the state's growing retirement benefit liabilities. freestatefoundation.org

Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., a Maryland Public Policy Institute board member, hosted a reception for the Institute's donors last month. He and the MPPI president Christopher Summers presented recent accomplishments and plans for the future. One of the Institute's key initiatives is education reform and Summers testified before the Maryland General Assembly's Ways and Means Committee regarding the Foster Care Incentive Program. This new legislation, based on MPPI proposals, provides educational choice to foster care children. An Institute forum in Annapolis, "Electricity 101: Understanding Maryland's Electricity Market," educated media and policymakers about the economics of electricity markets and the impact of regulation. Attendees heard from Peter Van Doren, Ph.D., senior fellow at the Cato Institute, and Timothy J. Brennan, Ph.D., Professor of Public Policy and Economics - UMBC. Also, in April the MPPI and the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies of Halifax, Nova Scotia, released "Single-Payer Health Care for Maryland: Two Analyses," a joint evaluation of the proposal for a universal health care system in Maryland, providing both an American and Canadian prospective. mdpolicy.org

 

MASSACHUSETTS

 

The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University released a business tax reform plan that would provide a stimulus to the Massachusetts economy. Using its STAMP-CGE model, the Institute found that its reform plan could create about 4,000 new private sector jobs. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette praised the Institute's plan, which "provides a worthy template for a business tax code that combines a significantly lower rate with a set of rules that are consistent and equitable." BHI released a cost-benefit analysis of proposed climate change legislation in North Carolina. BHI dismissed estimates of job creation and projected instead a loss of more than 33,000 jobs. The Institute also applied its economic analysis to a controversial wind farm on Cape Cod calling into question the excessive public subsidies required. BHI president David G. Tuerck published two opinion editorials in two Boston daily newspapers: a critique of the corporate tax reform before the legislature and one questioning the wisdom and efficiency of additional excise taxes on tobacco. beaconhill.org

 

Pioneer Institute had a busy spring - seven events and four publications, including an in-depth study of how public-private partnerships can help build and maintain transportation assets, as well as a policy brief to improve math and science education in our schools. A Pioneer event examined how wetlands regulations stymie development of needed new housing. In April, Pioneer held a conference to announce its government transparency project, an effort to benchmark municipal government performance and make the data available to citizens. Pioneer also co-hosted an event with the Fordham Institute to mark the release of "Who Will Save America's Urban Catholic Schools?" In May, Pioneer held a conference with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon Wood to discuss civic education and a lunch with the Cato Institute to promote Gene Healey's new book, The Cult of the Presidency. In June, Pioneer will recognize the winners of its Better Government Competition at a dinner with Washington, D.C. School Chancellor Michelle Rhee. pioneerinstitute.org

 

MICHIGAN

 

The Mackinac Center increased the scope of its transparency project this spring, garnering positive reviews from elected officials, school leaders and media. Taxpayers can visit showmichiganthemoney.org to see how some of their money is being spent. The Center compiled revenue and expenditure reports for every public school district in Michigan, as well as every public school collective bargaining agreement. Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land agreed to a request from the Center to post quarterly expenditure reports. "I commend the Mackinac Center for its commitment to government accountability and taxpayer rights," Land said. The Transparency Project includes MichiganVotes.org, which tracks in plain English every bill, amendment and vote in the state Legislature and lists the voting records and campaign contributions of individual legislators. In April, the Center received a 2008 Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Students for a Free Economy, a Center organization spreading the free-market message to Michigan colleges, captured the "Innovative Projects" award.mackinac.org

 

MINNESOTA

 

Recent and upcoming Center of the American Experiment speakers include education critic Chester E. Finn, Jr., talking about his new autobiography, Troublemaker; Joesph Fornieri, of the University of Rochester, addressing what might be learned from Lincoln when it comes to religion's proper role in public squares; and Ambassador John Bolton at the Center's 2008 Annual Dinner. Publications have included the launch of Policy in Detail, a new occasional series focusing on the more technical aspects of complex policy issues, with a first installment on health care pricing by policy fellow Peter Nelson. Other publications have included columns by founder and president Mitch Pearlstein on Minnesota taxes, state budget shortfalls and the late Bill Buckley, and a column by Nelson on the importance of relying more on markets and less on government in reforming health care. In the works is American Experiment's newest symposium, featuring upwards of 40 writers from around Minnesota and the nation, on what also can be learned from Lincoln in finding the right balance in the perpetual tension between principle and pragmatism in political and public life. americanexperiment.org

 

MISSISSIPPI

 

Mississippi Center for Public Policy president Forest Thigpen has been appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour to serve on a 37-member commission to study Mississippi's tax code and recommend reforms. To aid in the commission's work, MCPP hosted The Wall Street Journal's Steve Moore to discuss the "Rich States, Poor States" report he and Arthur Laffer wrote for the American Legislative Exchange Council. Transparency legislation drafted by MCPP was signed into law by Barbour. The new law requires that all state expenditures, grants and contracts be posted on a searchable website, which MCPP is helping design. MCPP is also working with local governments and school districts to develop transparency database websites of their own. mspolicy.org

 

MISSOURI

 

In February, the Show-Me Institute released a new policy study in conjunction with the Reason Foundation that analyzes Missouri's transportation needs and outlines several potential market-based approaches. The Institute's new speaker series has so far brought two national education policy experts to Missouri for well-attended and widely-publicized events cosponsored by Saint Louis University. Eric Hanushek, who spoke on Feb. 19, is the Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University; chairman of the Executive Committee for the Texas Schools Project at the University of Texas at Dallas; a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research; and a member of the Koret Task Force on K-12 Education. James Guthrie, who spoke on April 17, is a professor of public policy and education; chair of the Leadership, Policy and Organizations department; and director of the Peabody Center for Education Policy at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. He also founded and chairs Management Analysis & Planning, Inc., a private sector management consulting firm specializing in public finance and litigation support. showmeinstitute.org

 

MONTANA

 

The Montana Policy Institute's continuing fiscal reform efforts are centered around three areas: performance-based budgeting proposals, transparency, and limiting government growth and expenditures. MPI hired Curt Nichols, an expert on Montana's fiscal practices, to lead its push to create a fully searchable web-based data repository for state and local budget information. MPI is expanding into the area of climate change with the just-published Beacon Hill Institute study highlighting the shortcomings of Montana's Climate Change Action Plan. The Plan ignored basic economic principles and, if used as a basis for policy, could consume enormous resources while providing, at best, dubious benefits to the climate and to Montana's economy. montanapolicy.org

 

NEBRASKA

 

The Platte Institute for Economic Research's first study - "Nebraska's Tax Competitiveness: Should I Live in Nebraska?" - shines the spotlight on how Nebraska's tax environment has stacked-up with bordering states over the past 10 years. The study, written in conjunction with Dr. Ernie Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University, also reveals what the next decade will look like without meaningful change. In the Omaha television market alone, the study received more than 13 minutes of prime airtime coverage. The Platte Institute's staff doubled recently with the addition of Ranee Taylor as administrative assistant and Nicole Barrett as senior policy advisor. Taylor brings marketing and public relations experience, and Barrett has worked with more than a dozen political campaigns in her career. She's a graduate of Creighton University School of Law, where she specialized in international and comparative law, with an emphasis in election law. platteinstitute.org

 

NEVADA

 

The Nevada Policy Research Institute released a new study that reveals how increasing access to charter schools would improve the Silver State's failing education system. Authored by Dr. Matthew Ladner of the Goldwater Institute, the study contrasts the robust charter school program in Arizona with Nevada's significantly weaker system. It also makes recommendations as to how Nevada can meet its educational challenges - in terms of both quality (academic achievement) and quantity (the state's booming student population) - and do so cost-effectively. NPRI welcomes two new staffers: Louis Dezseran, who will serve as NPRI's point person on fiscal policy and transparency, and Mary Stubblefield, who will serve as education initiatives coordinator. NPRI has moved, new adress: 3155 E. Patrick Lane, Suite 10, Las Vegas, NV 89120. npri.org

 

NEW MEXICO

 

The Rio Grande Foundation hosted John Stossel at an April 30 Albuquerque luncheon. Attended by nearly 350 people, the event was the largest in Foundation history. The Foundation recently earned great coverage when president Paul Gessing was quoted in an Associated Press story on the Legislature's having earmarked money to help a private company demonstrate its product, which cleans trash cans. The article appeared in newspapers throughout the state. Although the Rio Grande Foundation has been one of Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez's leading critics in recent years, having publicly disagreed with him on a streetcar and taxpayer-financed arena, to name just two high-profile cases, the Mayor's 2009 budget is quite restrained. Gessing argued this point in an Albuquerque Journal op-ed. Particularly when compared with the profligacy seen in Santa Fe in recent years, such fiscal restraint deserves support. riograndefoundation.org

 

NORTH CAROLINA

 

As voters in more than 20 North Carolina counties prepared to cast ballots in May on proposed local tax increases, John Locke Foundation research showed most counties could avoid tax hikes by setting better spending priorities. Raleigh rescinded a controversial ban on new garbage disposals after JLF staff challenged the idea. Analysts also highlighted ineffective state job training and high school dropout prevention programs, battled myths about wind power and greenways, and critiqued proposed North Carolina global warming policies. JLF's N.C. Education Alliance also unveiled a new report card on state-based education tax credits. Meanwhile, as the state's largest newspaper highlighted JLF's new government transparency project, a public records controversy revealed that the N.C. governor's staff refused to return calls from JLF's Carolina Journal. Pressure from the state's top newspapers helped CJ's editor win a seat at the table when the governor discussed the controversy with media leaders. Two weeks before the primary, political analyst Dick Morris discussed recent developments in the presidential race for a JLF audience in Asheville. johnlocke.org

 

The North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law researches, educates and advises the general public, policy makers and attorneys on the rights of citizens under the constitutions of the State of North Carolina and the United States of America. Founded in 2003, the non-partisan NCICL focuses primarily on economic issues as they relate to the state and federal constitutions - among them, business subsidies and other corporate incentives, unconstitutional tax policies and taxpayer funding programs. NCICL has taken the lead on studying the constitutionality of corporate welfare in the state of North Carolina. After extensive research and review, NCICL may decide to engage in litigation on behalf of citizens. The Institute has two senior staff attorneys, Jason Kay and Jeanette Doran, and recently hired Chester Johns as education officer.

 

OHIO

 

In May, the Buckeye Institute announced the formation of its Center for Transparent and Accountable Government. Dedicated to the central tenet that all sound policy must be based upon an accurate and honest understanding of the facts, the Center will work to enable Ohio citizens "to discover the basic operating data of all levels of state and local government," said transparency director Mike Maurer. Such data ranges from essential financial data to ordinary minutes and agendas, and includes the gamut of public records. "Transparency" is a favored term used by politicians often intending merely to obscure their true policy intentions. Nevertheless, the concept is enshrined in both the federal and state constitutions, which require that a "regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published," added Maurer, a former statehouse reporter and attorney. He will focus on research, policy analysis and writing about topics such as government accountability, intergovernmental relations, private property, journalism and major state programs such as education and health care. buckeyeinstitute.org

OREGON

John Charles, president of Cascade Policy Institute, was invited to testify at an Oregon House Environment and Energy Committee hearing in May about upcoming climate change legislation involving carbon taxes and cap-and-trade programs. Charles will keynote an Atlas Society conference in late June discussing "Freedom in Oregon." Policy analyst Sreya Sarkar has been promoted to head Cascade's Asset Building Policy Center. She was also selected to attend the Atlas MBA program in Virginia this summer. Cascade school choice project director Matt Wingard launched the Oregon Education Tax Credit program, which is working its way through legislative counsel prior to its official release during the 2009 legislative session. Cascade hosted a successful book forum featuring Cato Institute senior fellow Gene Healy, who discussed his latest work, The Cult of the Presidency. Cascade also brought Dr. Matt Manweller, a professor and Washington Policy Center board member, to Portland to speak on "A Heretic's Voice From the Ivory Tower: Understanding the Liberal Bias in American Academia." In late May, Cascade partnered with the Evergreen Freedom Foundation to bring the film "Flunked" to Portland. cascadepolicy.org

PENNSYLVANIA

The Allegheny Institute continues to call for reducing costs and improving the efficiency at Allegheny County's mass transit agency. Despite a threat from the county executive to withhold agency funding (thereby jeopardizing state funding), cost reductions and efficiencies may be difficult to achieve as negotiations on a new union contract begin. Allegheny's feasibility study of a proposed merger between the financially strapped city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County offered alternatives to merging the two governments, such as privatization and consolidating duplicative services. alleghenyinstitute.org

As Pennsylvania entered its annual budget battle, the Commonwealth Foundation focused on limiting the state spending growth and preserving cyber school choice. The public school establishment has been attacking the state's 11 cyber schools serving more than 20,000 students. The Commonwealth Foundation has launched schoolchoicesaves.org to help show how school choice rescues children from under-performing schools and guards against higher taxes. Although the Taxpayer Protection Act and Amendment - which would limit state spending to inflation plus population growth over the past three years - remains bottled up in committee, the Foundation continues its campaign to "Put Pennsylvania state government on a spending diet." The Foundation will soon launch PennsylvaniaVotes.org to help make state government more transparent. commonwealthfoundation.org

The REACH Foundation recently hosted its 7th Annual Educational Improvement Tax Credit Birthday Party, honoring the program's 2001 passage. The May 6 event at the State Capitol in Harrisburg drew more than 2,700 students, parents, teachers, administrators and citizens in attendance - making this year's event the largest to date. Highlighting the strong bipartisan support for the EITC program, seven legislators, representing both sides of the aisle, spoke about the success of the program within the Commonwealth and how it has specifically impacted their constituents. REACH is also in the midst of its "Visions of Choice" campaign around the state, highlighting individual students and families for whom school choice is a reality. REACH is working with legislators to revise provisions for the EITC program. These include raising the donation cap for each contributing business and including a wider range of tax liabilities for potential business donors. paschoolchoice.org

RHODE ISLAND

The Ocean State Policy Research Institute's transparency project launched on March 24 and is moving well ahead of schedule. The website will contain the budget, payroll and public employee contracts for each city, town and school district. Rhode Island also saw Hades freeze, or at least some thought so, as the House Finance Committee removed the burden of dependency from 3,400 people with a budget amendment that redefined who was eligible for welfare benefits. Other cost saving measures included a redefined eligibility for public health care and public employee co-pays. The total savings to the 2007-2008 budget was $168 million. But this is just the beginning. With nearly a $500 million deficit estimated for the 2008-2009 budget, free-market solutions abound. oceanstatepolicy.org

SOUTH CAROLINA

The South Carolina Policy Council publicized a Senate proviso mandating that counties post check registers and credit card statements online. The legislation's sponsor, Sen. Kevin Bryant, credited SCPC research for illustrating how online spending registries can be accomplished without cost to the taxpayer. State Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom also credited SCPC research with pointing out that online check registers have little to no fiscal impact on government. In the House, Rep. Nikki Haley credited SCPC research for her bill to ban voice votes on any legislation spending public money. SCPC has added two new employees. Bryan Cox joined SCPC as communications director after a 12-year career as a television reporter and an Air Force public affairs officer. Jamie Shuster was named research associate. Shuster comes to SCPC from the state Republican Party, and she previously worked as a Congressional assistant in Washington, D.C. Jamie has also conducted opposition research for candidates. scpolicycouncil.com

TENNESSEE

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research brought a lawsuit against the state Department of Finance for withholding public records. The lawsuit was settled when the department replaced its public records administrator and offered TCPR unprecedented access to agency emails and state budget documents. On April 23, TCPR released the "2008 Tennessee Pork Report," the Volunteer State's only comprehensive examination of waste, fraud and abuse of tax dollars at all levels of government. The "Pork Report" revealed more than $260 million in misused taxpayer money, including $1.7 million for a "Barge to Nowhere" and $6.5 million to eradicate boll weevils - even though the cotton crop-consuming beetles have already been eradicated in Tennessee. For the third consecutive year, Citizens Against Government Waste co-sponsored the "Pork Report." Justin Owen joined TCPR as a legal policy analyst. Owen, a 2007 SPN / IHS Koch Summer Fellow at TCPR, graduated from Memphis University's Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. tennesseepolicy.org

TEXAS

The Texas Public Policy Foundation hosted Congressmen Mike Pence and Jeb Hensarling at a March 8 reception for supporters in Dallas.The Foundation continues to release monthly papers in its Thinking Economically series. TPPF hosted a May 7 luncheon in Dallas with the series' author, Dr. Arthur Laffer.The Foundation's Center for Fiscal Policy - under the direction of former House Appropriations Chairman Talmadge Heflin - is facilitating a legislative workgroup taking an in-depth look at the Texas state budget and the legislative budget process.The Foundation unveiled the Texas Electric Meter, a new project that will monitor Texas' competitive electric markets.Other recent Foundation research covered school choice, early childhood education, interstate purchasing of health insurance, transitioning from property to consumption taxes and teacher compensation.James Quintero, a recent Master's of Public Administration graduate from Texas State University-San Marcos, joined the Foundation as a fiscal policy analyst; natural resources policy analyst Drew Thornley is now a contributor to National Review's "Planet Gore" blog. texaspolicy.com

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility's political action committee was engaged in the primary elections. Of the candidates and incumbents to receive an Empower Texans PAC endorsement, 89 percent were elected or re-elected. The election season gave the organization a reason to reach out to more than a million Texas voters through mail, radio and live conference calls. One notable campaign effort caught headlines and votes. In an open-seat primary, a former city council member challenged a conservative businessman for the Republican nomination. TFR and the PAC highlighted the council member's frivolous spending of taxpayer dollars on luxury hotels, lavish meals and expensive gift chocolates. Around Texas, the organization was able to successfully drive a strong message of strict fiscal accountability and budget restraint. The organization has started a successful video effort, mixing informative interviews and humorous spoofs - including one about a slumlord state representative to the tune of Mister Roger's "Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." empowertexans.com

UTAH

The Sutherland Institute had tremendous response for its Earth Week 2008: The Future of Utah. The weeklong event began on April 22, Earth Day, and featured some of the nation's top energy and climate experts, who discussed what effects "green" policies will have on Utah. Approximately 400 people, including Utah legislators, attended the daily presentations. Roy Innis, national chairman of CORE, discussed why affordable and efficient energy is the new civil rights battle. The week concluded with the screening of the documentary, "Mine Your Own Business," with Irish filmmakers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney in attendance. "While our documentary focuses only on foreign areas, we see the same story playing itself out right here in Utah," said McElhinney. "Local environmentalists are working to pull the plug on energy and resource development. The consequence is higher energy and food prices and the robbing of funds that could go to improving the state's education and infrastructure." sutherlandinstitute.org

VERMONT

On April 10 an enthusiastic crowd attended the Ethan Allen Institute's 15th Annual Jefferson Day Dinner to meet with Mr. Jefferson himself, portrayed by humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson. Mr. Jefferson shared his views on internal taxation (abolish it), national debt (prohibit incurring it), and sedition laws (repeal them). These views were favorably received. The Institute also brought atmospheric physicist James Peden to a Statehouse Roundtable to explain why carbon dioxide emissions cannot possibly cause the terrifying scenarios painted by Al Gore and other alarmists. Undeterred, the liberal legislature continued on its path toward a Green Police State, where every "significant" carbon dioxide emission would be registered in a state inventory, after which the state would create a "carbon budget," apportion emission tickets, and impose a cap-and-trade scheme. The same legislature is also trying to put out of business the cleanest, most dependable, lowest cost generator of one-third of the state's electricity consumption, which emits no greenhouse gases: the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The Institute's work here is not yet done. ethanallen.org

VIRGINIA

The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy's senior fellow for environmental stewardship, Dr. David Schnare, delivered a paper at the 2008 International Conference on Climate Change. The paper, which offered geo-engineering and "no regrets" policy alternatives on climate change, was released and widely distributed on Earth Day, and was the subject of follow-up meetings with the staff director for the science subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Gerard Robinson, president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, accompanied Institute vice president Chris Braunlich on visits to historically black colleges and members of the Legislative Black Caucus to promote expanded charter school options. Institute president Mike Thompson brought in the Reason Foundation's Leonard Gilroy and Michael Flynn to meet key legislators, including House of Delegates Transportation Chairman Joe May and committee members Dave Albo and Tom Rust. This effort was aimed at refocusing solutions for Northern Virginia's transportation crisis on free market solutions for congestion relief. thomasjeffersoninst.org

The Virginia Institute for Public Policy and its sister organization, Tertium Quids, are taking conservative public policy advocacy to the next level, tackling not only some of the most important issues facing the commonwealth, but bringing to bear the talent necessary to see those issues resolved along conservative, free-market lines. Among the highest priorities in the last General Assembly session was budget transparency. Tertium Quids assembled a bipartisan coalition to back a transparency measure and held a widely-attended news conference introducing the bill. The Institute is working to mount an even stronger effort next January, in addition to pushing for a package of fundamental reforms on spending, taxation, education and property rights. To assist in these efforts, Tertium Quids hired Norman Leahy, who, in addition to his policy background, is also one of Virginia's most respected political bloggers. Norman launched a new blog, tertiumquids.blogspot.com, as well as our social networking efforts to help unite, inform and inspire Virginians. virginiainstitute.org

WASHINGTON

Sonya Jones recently joined Evergreen Freedom Foundation as Labor Policy Center director. A graduate of the Texas Tech University School of Law, she previously worked with the Pacific Legal Foundation and Washington State Senate GOP caucus. Jones replaces long-time LPC director Mike Reitz, who is now EFF's general counsel. A special sneak peak event in Seattle for EFF's "Flunked" attracted more than 650 people. The documentary film highlights teachers and principals from Harlem to South Central Los Angeles who're getting results in difficult situations. Nationally syndicated conservative talk radio host and film critic Michael Medved called it "a fine film" that's "very informative" and "very challenging." The film will be featured in June at the Excellence in Action Conference sponsored by Jeb Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education. EFF continues to work with the state Office of Financial Management to develop a budget transparency website. A bill setting up the website was approved by the state legislature earlier this year. effwa.org

On April 1 Washington's governor signed into law Washington Policy Center's recommendation that the state create a free, searchable website of all state spending. Center for Government Reform director Jason Mercier worked with lawmakers throughout the process of developing the bill and was part of the bill signing ceremony. The budget site will be live by Jan. 1, 2009. On April 15 WPC hosted a national fiscal policy conference in Seattle. Attendees included representatives from 26 SPN groups across the country. WPC's Jason Mercier led a private SPN strategy session on advancing transparency solutions. WPC has nearly completed its $4.2 million "Free Markets for Washington" capital campaign, launched with the goal of funding eight research centers. In March WPC hired Dr. Roger Stark, a retired surgeon, as health care policy analyst for the new Center for Health Care. He'll be looking at Medicaid reform and analyzing reform efforts in other states. Todd Myers, director of WPC's Center for the Environment, has been highlighting the potential economic costs of climate change and "green-collar jobs" legislation. washingtonpolicy.org.

WYOMING

The Wyoming Liberty Group is working with the Wyoming Liberty Index to assign a liberty rating to the 500-some bills introduced in our legislature. (On the basis of voting records, WLI has been producing rank-order scores for state senators and representatives since 2003.) Volunteers will have finished rating this year's bills by the middle of May. CSPI and WLI hope to extend the tracking to the legislative committees, where most of the decisions are made. We will share this information with the many liberty-oriented groups in Wyoming. cowboystate.org

NATIONAL

More than 2,000 state legislators, business leaders and public policy experts will gather in Chicago July 30 through August 2 for the American Legislative Exchange Council's 35th Annual Meeting. They'll participate in an exchange of ideas to further our common goal of a limited government that promotes free markets and individual liberties. ALEC's Annual Meeting will feature workshops, plenary sessions, issue seminars, task force meetings, an extensive exhibit hall and evening networking events. Participants will be able to effectively communicate across state lines, share experiences and work in unison with the private sector to create effective public policies.alec.org

The Alliance for School Choice recently assessed the nation's educational progress in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of "A Nation at Risk." The Alliance is encouraging activists around the country to contact state leaders and media outlets to promote education reform. The Alliance also recently revised two flagship publications, School Choice Activist and School Choice Digest. Each is available at the Alliance's website - along with the "Nation at Risk" report. allianceforschoolchoice.org

 

Americans for Tax Reform is launching a new project: The Center for Fiscal Accountability. Headed by executive director Sandra Fabry, CFA will work to shed light on government expenditures, and promote fiscal accountability, fiscal restraint and free-market principles. The Center will publish the annual "Cost of Government Day Report," which will be calculated by the Thomas Jefferson Fellow, who will be hired to perform this and other economic research and analysis. On May 1 ATR published its first annual Legislative Briefing Book. This tool provides an overview of major issues facing fiscally conservative state legislators across the country, including government accountability, property taxes, budget fights and "sin taxes."Along with commentary and insight on how to best fight the expansion of state government, legislators are provided with sample legislation and statistics to aid them as they defend taxpayers' interests in the state capital. atr.org

Americans for Prosperity's national Hot Air Tour (www.hotairtour.org) is dedicated to rallying citizens against expensive global warming energy taxes and regulatory schemes.Global warming alarmist policies will have devastating consequences for our economy - lost jobs, higher energy prices and less freedom. AFP's 70-foot hot air balloon has already made stops in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana to educate citizens on unaffordable climate change schemes. At least 20 grassroots Tour events around the nation are planned. americansforprosperity.com

The Atlas Economic Research Foundation again hosts the Atlas Experience, which takes place July 17-19 at the picturesque Queen's Landing Inn & Conference Resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, a short ride from Niagara Falls. The July 18 dinner keynote speaker is George Gilder, chairman of Gilder Fund Management, LLC and host of the Gilder Telecosm Forum, a powerful network of talented, tech savvy investors, engineers and entrepreneurs. He is also a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, where he directs Discovery's program on high technology and public policy, and the former editor-in-chief of the Gilder Technology Report (published by Forbes Inc., 1996-2007). Gilder co-hosts with Steve Forbes the annual Gilder/Forbes TELECOSM Conference, which offers attendees elite analysis of ascending and disruptive technologies and social politics. atlasusa.org

 

Who are the real free traders in Congress? The Cato Institute has unveiled a new web feature that allows you to search a decade's worth of congressional votes - 41,000 individual votes in total. Global warming is a hot issue; a new study by Indur Goklany, author of The Improving State of the World, calls for a wait-and-see approach. Cato senior fellow Randal O'Toole says cities trying to curb greenhouse emissions shouldn't look to subways, trains and other light rail transit. His blockbuster finding is that most light rail transit lines use more energy per passenger mile, and generate more greenhouse gases, than the average car. Cato's 20th Annual Benefactor Summit in Las Vegas featured P.J. O'Rourke, Michael Barone and keynote speaker Glenn Greenwald. Don't miss Cato University, "Freedom's Campaign in the 21st Century," July 20-25 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in sunny San Diego. The Cato Institute has brought aboard Jeff Patch to investigate earmarks and Elizabeth Karasmeighan as budget analyst. Cato seeks a senior economist to step in as director of financial regulation, covering Sarb-Ox and subprime issues. cato.org

The Center for Competitive Politics submitted amicus briefs in two important campaign finance cases. The first addressed the U.S. Supreme Court case of Davis v. Federal Election Commission. CCP argued that the so-called "Millionaires' Amendment" of McCain-Feingold burdens First Amendment rights of self-financing candidates and relies on a novel "egalitarian" justification, that if recognized by the Court, would give Congress a new tool with which to regulate political speech. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 22 and a decision is expected this summer. The second brief urged the Supreme Court to accept a case that could impact scores of state statutes regulating political speech. The Voters Education Committee challenges a Washington state law requiring any organization that supports or opposes a candidate or ballot issue to register as a "political committee" absent of express advocacy. The VEC contends that the standard is vague and too broad, and that political-committee status should only apply to non-party organizations that engage in express advocacy. campaignfreedom.org

 

The Center for Education Reform has gone public with its Weekly Research Digest, a handy research compilation of the latest important research from school choice to standards. A new interactive Google Maps directory provides a complete look into the nation's 4,100 charter schools at "Find a Charter School Today!", CER's online directory since 1995. Phase I of CER's new online database of charter school funding is ready. "Follow the Money" is an interactive resource for understanding charter school funding streams and inequities in each state's law. Check out CER's Grassroots Action Center to drive communication to your policymakers and keep their feet to the fire to help make schools better for all kids! Renovations at www.edreform.com now give state-based thought leaders easier access to the most comprehensive information in the education reform space.

The Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute held its first annual Western Women's Summit in April for conservative West Coast women of all ages. The two-day Santa Barbara conference featured such speakers as author Star Parker, Fox News commentator Kate Obenshain, radio personality Melanie Morgan and author Nonie Darwish, who received the Woman of Exceptional Courage Award. In February the Institute held its Mid-America Activism Seminar for college women in Kansas City. There the students networked with each other and heard from speakers like Townhall.com's Amanda Carpenter and conservative talk radio host Darla Jaye. At CPAC, the Institute's new "I am a Luce Lady" posters featuring Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin became a hit among conservative college students, and the annual luncheon featured 2008's Woman of the Year, Becky Norton Dunlop of The Heritage Foundation. The Institute continues to work with students to host conservative speakers on their campuses, and on June 6 will host its annual Capitol Hill Seminar for students interning in Washington, D.C. cblpi.org

 

The Claremont Institute's Center for Local Government hosted a major conference on state and local government May 31. The purpose of the California Public Policy 2008 symposium is to stimulate a serious and candid discussion of local and state government policies for both citizens and policymakers. Panelists included officials of both parties from local, county and state governments; distinguished academics and policy analysts; real estate developers; and editorial writers. Topics for discussion included: "Major Issues Facing California Today"; "Land Use, Redevelopment, and Property Rights"; "Federalism and Decentralization"; "The Budget Crisis and California Taxation"; and "The California Economy: What Can Be Done?" The conference was held at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, California. claremont.org

FreedomWorks recently launched two national campaigns against earmarks and government bailouts during the so-called mortgage "crisis." FreedomWorks is encouraging sitting congressmen, senators and candidates to sign a "No Earmark Pledge." Earmarks have become a symbol of so much that is wrong in Washington, D.C. and FreedomWorks has been able to hold leaders accountable through a new website, earmarkpledge.com. In the midst of the housing market upheaval there has been a forgotten group of people - everyone else. Only about two percent of homes are in foreclosure (a normal average is about 1.6 percent) and the rest of the population - renters, homeowners and everyone who made prudent financial decisions - aren't thrilled at the prospect of bailing out those who made poor decisions. Angryrenter.com, a website that features a video and open letter to Congress opposing bailouts, has quickly become a hub for thousands to vent their frustration. freedomworks.org

The Galen Institute welcomes Brian Lee Crowley as its newest senior fellow. A leader in the Canadian public policy arena, Crowley will help advance the debate about the importance of bringing market-based solutions to problems in the health sector. Grace-Marie Turner testified April 3 before members of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee about legislation that would block seven new rules designed to curb fraud and abuse in Medicaid. Galen co-hosted a major forum on Medicare with the American Enterprise Institute and The Heritage Foundation. The forum featured HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, who spoke about Medicare's looming threat to taxpayers, the economy and the function of the federal government. His speech was followed by a Medicare experts panel discussion on solutions for sustainability. A full report is at galen.org.

The Heritage Foundation hosted the 31st Annual Resource Bank meeting in Atlanta April 24 and 25. Seven hundred participants from 52 countries, 44 states and the District of Columbia heard from experts and exchanged ideas on the principles of limited government, free-market health care reforms, rational responses to global warming alarmism, entitlement reform and much more. Attendees flocked to special training sessions on fundraising and the use of Internet tools to build the capacity of their organizations. They were also treated to two outstanding documentary films, "The Singing Revolution" - recounting Estonia's independence from Soviet rule - and "The Birth of Freedom." Author Jonah Goldberg, Acton Institute founder Father Robert Sirico and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty executive editor John O'Sullivan offered unique and thought-provoking insights on the challenges of our time and lessons from our history. And National Review chairman Daniel Oliver offered a moving farewell tribute to a pillar in the conservative movement, William F. Buckley. Heritage is already making preparations for the 32nd Annual Resource Bank in Los Angeles, April 22-23, 2009. heritage.org

 

On April 25 the Independent Institute was awarded the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award by the Atlas Economic Research Foundation for the publication of the book Street Smart: Competition, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of Roads, edited by Gabriel Roth. This is the seventh time the Independent Institute has been honored with this award for one of its publications. Combining the work of transportation engineers, economists and policy experts, Street Smart examines countries as diverse as the U.S., U.K., Argentina, Australia, Canada, Finland and Singapore to show how private-market principles can be applied to the provision of roads. It also includes specific suggestions for improving road systems in 10 major urban areas domestically. The judging panel noted the exceptional merit of Street Smart in every respect, calling it "excellent," "A+," "comprehensive," "impeccable" and "highly readable." Since its publication, Roth has been interviewed on radio stations across the country and articles by the contributing authors on their findings have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. independent.org

 

Institute for Justice founder and general counsel Chip Mellor teamed up with board member Bob Levy to write The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom. The book discusses the Framers' intent to have a judiciary that ensures that other branches of government respect the constraints placed upon them by the Constitution. Dirty Dozen is available at ij.org, in select bookstores and online. IJ also added to its economic liberty victories with a win in the Arizona desert, defeating an absurd dance ban that received national media attention. The victory affirms the right of an entrepreneur to operate his business free from unnecessary government regulation.

On May 6, the Manhattan Institute's Center for Legal Policy released "Trial Lawyers, Inc: Asbestos," a report exposing the business model underlying asbestos litigation that uses marketing to attract thousands of claimants, generates cases with flimsy diagnoses and packages claims to overwhelm defendants. Litigation, originally seeking redress for the truly injured, has metastasized into an industry that recruits sham victims for the trial bar's profit. The report outlines trial lawyers' newest strategies and proposes reforms legislatures can enact to prevent the worst abuses by Trial Lawyers, Inc. On May 13, the Manhattan Institute's Center for Civic Innovation released its first annual assimilation index, "Measuring Immigrant Assimilation in the United States," by Duke University professor Jacob Vigdor. This quantitative measure of the assimilation of specific immigrant groups is based on a composite of economic, cultural and civic values. Revealing important patterns based on ethnicity and geographic area, the index also examines historical trends of assimilation in America. The index provides important data for the current debate over immigration. manhattan-institute.org

 

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University's state-based educationalprogram, Capital Campus, continues reaching new audiences around the country.Most recently, Mercatus Center senior scholars Eileen Norcross and Frederic Sautet addressedthe New Jersey Republican Caucus about New Jersey's current fiscal crisis and providednew ideas about moving forward.In Pennsylvania, Dr. Bruce Yandle, dean emeritus for the Clemson College of Business and Behavioral Sciences, was invited bythe Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee to evaluateenvironmental protection case studies from across the U.S. and apply the lessons learned to Pennsylvania. Throughout the summer and fall, the Mercatus Center's Capital Campus program will return to Texas and California, and explore opportunities within South Carolina, Florida, Indiana,Virginia and Washington.mercatus.org

The Moving Picture Institute, a New York-based foundation that promotes freedom through film, is delighted to announce the spectacular success of James and Maureen Tusty's "The Singing Revolution." This moving documentary about how Estonia sang its way to a peaceful revolution against totalitarianism has received massive critical acclaim since it premiered last summer in Washington, D.C; it has also won numerous prizes, including the award for Most Inspirational Film at the 2008 Boulder International Film Festival. Currently screening in theaters across the United States and Canada, "The Singing Revolution" has been held over by popular demand in nearly every city where it has shown; it will be coming soon to San Francisco, Santa Fe, Tulsa, Reno, Denver, Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and more. To learn about screenings and sign up to bring the film to your area, visit singingrevolution.com and join thousands of Americans who have pledged to see this path-breaking film. thempi.org

The National Center for Policy Analysis recently welcomed John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, to Texas. Bolton covered a number of foreign policy topics, including Iraq and North Korea, and provided an assessment of the United Nations. In Washington, D.C., the NCPA held a congressional briefing at which NCPA president and CEO Dr. John Goodman discussed the current health insurance system and the NCPA's proposed policy ideas to make health insurance more convenient and economical for consumers. At a separate Capitol Hill event, NCPA distinguished fellow Terry Neese headlined a roundtable discussion focused on policy ideas that would make workplaces more efficient and compatible with modern society. Phil Roth is NCPA's new vice president of marketing and communications. ncpa.org

The National Taxpayers Union released its annual "Rating of Congress," a scorecard based on every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy. In 2007 average Taxpayer Scores plummeted from the previous year, and only 52 lawmakers scored high enough to merit "A" grades and a Taxpayers' Friend Award. NTU's annual Tax Complexity Study found that Americans spend an increasing amount of time and money preparing and filing federal taxes - on average, 26.5 hours and $207. NTU released a paper examining the negative effect of tobacco taxes on all taxpayers - smokers and non-smokers alike. The NTU-led Show Me the Spending Coalition applauds the dozen states, and counting, that have created online government spending databases. NTU Foundation's presidential candidate spending analyses continued to receive widespread media attention with updated estimates for Sens. Clinton and Obama, who would boost annual federal spending by $226.1 billion and $307.3 billion, respectively. NTU and NTUF will commemorate its late president, John Berthoud, with a dinner and reception June 25 at the St. Regis Hotel. ntu.org

 

Young America's Foundation continues to inspire the next generation of conservative leaders, most recently through the Second Annual Reagan Ranch High School Conference. The event, which took place at our Reagan Ranch Center in downtown Santa Barbara, drew more than 100 participants to hear some of the conservative movement's leading speakers, including radio talk show host Michael Reagan, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, World magazine features editor Lynn Vincent and Reagan author Peter Hannaford. Young America's Foundation also organizes monthly Reagan Ranch Roundtable luncheons at the Reagan Ranch Center that allow Santa Barbara community members and area students to hear from prominent speakers.Past Roundtables have featured National Review's John O'Sullivan, Michelle Malkin, John Stossel, Judge Ken Starr, talk radio host Kirby Wilbur and more. yaf.org

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