Liberty Will Run Through It: The Platte Institute starts flowing in Nebraska

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On short notice, 50 people attended the afternoon meeting in Omaha. Many more asked to be kept posted. Some came from as far as Gering - a seven-hour drive. Warren Arganbright, a well-known Nebraska lawyer, and his family drove from Valentine, five hours away. He became a board member of what is now the Platte Institute for Economic Research.

The great distances traveled - for an informational meeting - is one measure of support for a voice for individual liberty, personal responsibility and economic freedom. State Senator Tony Fulton recently said, "Nebraska needs and would benefit greatly from an independent organization whose focus is empirical, quantitative research into free market thinking."

Board members readily explain why a Platte Institute is needed. First, Nebraska has a unique unicameral system of state government with 49 state senators elected on a constitutionally-mandated nonpartisan ballot. They lack staff and resources to do rigorous academic research, leaving them vulnerable to the influences of well-funded special interest lobbyists.

Second, Nebraska is a high tax state. According to the Tax Foundation, residents are burdened with one of the top 10 highest state-local tax ratings in the Union. Likewise, the Foundation's 2008 State Business Tax Climate Index ranks Nebraska in the bottom 10 when it comes to "business-friendly" states. Financial success is penalized with a progressive income tax rate that is higher than all surrounding states save one, and the local property tax structure is driving out middle-income retirees.

Named after the river that flows across the state, the Platte Institute stands upon the foundation of principled board members, starting with Warren Argenbright, an attorney, agriculturist and businessman from north central Nebraska. The board is bolstered by Mike Groene, cofounder of the state-wide Western Nebraska Taxpayers Association. In 2006 he served as chairman of the citizen-led Stop Over Spending initiative campaign, which sought to limit the growth of government spending to the rate of inflation plus population growth.

Third board member Gail Werner Robertson is a prominent Omaha business owner, activist and philanthropist. Former COO of Ameritrade Holding Company Pete Ricketts serves as Institute president. He is also currently board vice chair for the Children's Scholarship Fund-Omaha and just rejoined the board of TD Ameritrade. Ricketts' ran for U.S. Senate in 2006. "The experience," he notes, "solidified my belief that ideas must be advanced outside the realm of election cycles."

The Institute is in the process of hiring an executive director. In late 2007, the Platte Institute will formally begin advancing the principles that lead to prosperity.

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Platte Institute for Economic Research

Pete Ricketts, President

6450 Prairie Avenue

Omaha, NE 68132

(402) 675-0653

pete@petericketts.com