SPN State Updates Jan/Feb 2008

Published on Friday, February 01, 2008
ARTICLES

ALASKA

The Institute of the North's Security and Defense program published its first issue of the Vanguard on Nov. 28. It's a weekly e-newsletter on national security for state and local policymakers. The Vanguard will address such issues as missile defense and the space-based option, energy security, state portfolio reviews and divestment, electromagnetic pulse attack, and port and coastline security, in addition to highlighting the ways in which local leaders are contributing to security at their level. There are many venues toward achieving a better prepared civil and military response force. Through regular news updates, the Vanguard will address the current challenges facing America's homeland security structure while highlighting the innovation of other states in confronting those challenges and suggesting practical ways for the state and local leader to implement security strategies of their own. institutenorth.org

ARIZONA

In December the Goldwater Institute delivered to every Arizona lawmaker "100 Ideas for 100 Days." A single idea to advance freedom for every day of the upcoming legislative session, the recommendations range from transportation infrastructure funding to transparency in state budgeting to school choice. The Institute honored the courage of human rights activist and New York Times best selling author Ayaan Hirsi Ali with the Goldwater Award for Liberty at its annual dinner. In an amazing two-for-one, Steve Forbes also made remarks. When Ward Connerly began pushing an initiative in Arizona to ban racial and gender preferences by government, opponents claimed no such programs even existed in the state. But using a cursory web search, litigation director Clint Bolick and former Ronald Reagan Fellow John Robb documented more than 30 racial and gender preference programs. Their findings are written up in "Dividing Line: Racial Preferences in Arizona." The Institute welcomes Berry Nelson as the new director of finance and administration. goldwaterinstitute.org

ARKANSAS

Three new charter schools that will utilize Arkansas Policy Foundation recommendations in their day-to-day operations were approved by the Arkansas Board of Education in December. The Board approved applications for E-STEM charters serving elementary, middle and high school students in metropolitan Little Rock. E-STEM is an acronym for the Economics of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The new charters are to rely on a management infrastructure that includes performance-based budgeting and merit pay in their operations. Both were recommendations of the Murphy Commission, a Policy Foundation project (1995-98) that spearheaded Arkansas's charter expansion from zero to 25 schools in 10 years. Freshman Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe will address a Jan. 23 Policy Foundation forum on his 50 percent reduction in the state sales tax on groceries, the largest tax cut in Arkansas history. The Foundation recommended the tax cut last year as a policy to help poor and middle-class Arkansans. The Wall Street Journal and Forbes have cited the Foundation on the tax cut. arkansaspolicyfoundation.org

CALIFORNIA

The Pacific Research Institute's most recent education book, Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice, received extensive media coverage, including The Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, San Francisco Chronicle and "Kudlow & Co." The book was very popular at the 2007 California School Board Association Annual Conference and PRI's School Board Training Seminar, both held in San Diego. PRI also published "Lights On: An Energy Policy Survey for California," a report on the Golden State's energy policies. Outreach efforts to law schools and the legal reform community continued with PRI's most recent study, "Jackpot Justice: The True Cost of America's Tort System." PRI's "An Inconvenient Truth... or Convenient Fiction?" DVD sparked movie screening plans from students at prominent universities around the country. pacificresearch.org

COLORADO

Independence Institute President Jon Caldara announced recently that the free market Colorado think tank is filing a lawsuit against state officials to force them to honor the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and allow voters to have their say on the 2007 School Finance Act, which affects school property tax rates for homeowners and business owners. By instituting the measure, the Colorado General Assembly and Gov. Bill Ritter initiated a change in state policy resulting in a net revenue increase without voter approval, which is a violation of TABOR. Attorney Hale Friesen and former Solicitor General Richard A. Westfall will prosecute the lawsuit on behalf of the Institute. Mesa County also has joined the lawsuit; commissioners there cited concerns over rising property taxes and the negative impact the School Finance Act will have on property owners in their county. "There's a very simple solution here - just give voters the opportunity to say yes or no to this tax increase," Caldara said. i2i.org

CONNECTICUT

The Yankee Institute for Public Policy is releasing a paper that examines the problem of financing long term health care in Connecticut, and the solutions for solving it. Long term health care is by far the biggest cost-driver of Medicare. In most parts of the country, the program is jeopardized by middle- and upper-income people who capitalize on eligibility loopholes. But like some other states that have foolishly chased away businesses - and therefore younger employees - with onerous tax rates, Connecticut faces the added problem of a disproportionately large elderly population that threatens to overwhelm Medicaid budgets. With the goal of preserving Medicaid for those who need it most, the study will present free-market financing alternatives for long term health care, such as purchasing insurance, using home equity to cover expenses, and making the state once-again friendly to business. yankeeinstitute.org

GEORGIA

The Georgia Public Policy Foundation is gearing up for an unusually busy legislative session. Major policy issues simmering since last year include tax reform, state and local spending limits, education and transportation funding proposals, and a statewide water management plan that includes drought concerns exacerbated by a tri-state water "war" with Florida and Alabama. The candidate briefing book, Agenda 2008, will also soon be published. gppf.org

HAWAII

Harry Messenheimer, Ph.D. has joined the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. To get a copy of his first GRIH publication on teacher productivity email dick@grassrootinstitute.org. In January, GRIH will have a soft opening of the Pacific Rim Perspectives page on its website, grassrootinstitute.org. The page will feature Asian and American writers from center-right think tanks discussing Pacific Rim topics. Nonoy Oplas, who attended the SPN Pacific Rim Policy Conference in Honolulu in May and who is Secretary-General of Philippine Taxpayers Union and President of the Minimal Government Movement, is a featured author, as are Dr. John Rutledge and Doug Bandow.

ILLINOIS

The Illinois Policy Institute's Chicago Transit Authority study, "CTA: Looking in all the wrong places" has been a big hit in print (Chicago Tribune), on the airwaves (Chicago's top talk radio stations) and in the statehouse, where the GOP caucus has been using it as a guide in their deliberations. IPI was recently invited to co-sponsor a poll with the Friedman Foundation that revealed four out of five Illinoisans would opt out of traditional public schools if they could. By 2-1 they would pick a private school over a public school if they had the option. No wonder the unions hate school choice. That stunning news has also been making the media rounds, as have education studies director Collin Hitt and Institute CEO John Tillman. Tillman recently debated a Chicago public school official on the merits of choice. Guess who won? The Institute hired two new interns, Zach Davis and Liam Rinehart. Both will be doing research, communications and outreach - and maybe the occasional cup of coffee. illinoispolicyinstitute.org

INDIANA

The Indiana Policy Review Foundation continues its work with Reason Foundation's Lisa Snell to educate Indiana legislators, editors and teachers on weighted student funding, a systemic reform that allows parents and students choice of schools and principals and teachers the freedom to teach. Tangentially, the Foundation's Dr. Jeff Abbott, a lawyer and a former Indiana school superintendent, constructed a 52-point test of whether the wider community, not merely the legal entity of the school district, can afford a given issue. Gov. Mitch Daniels' tax-reform package is critiqued by Foundation economists, who fear it is designed to protect the government treasury rather than bolster the Indiana economy. inpolicy.org

KANSAS

The Flint Hills Center for Public Policy co-hosted two premier showings of "The Call of the Entrepreneur," an Acton [Institute] Media Production. The well-attended events sparked community interest for more showings. Also in November, Flint Hills scholars Gregory Schneider and Sarah McIntosh gave presentations at a Kansas legislative retreat on SCHIP and state spending. In response to an upcoming bond proposal in Wichita, the Center published a study in December on city schools spending and achievement. John LaPlante's research and analysis shows that even with student enrollment stagnant, there has been little improvement in performance. Taxpayers are nevertheless being asked to dig deeper for public education. flinthills.org

IOWA

The Iowa Public Interest Institute recently published four new policy studies covering taxation, health care and transportation. In "Federal Tax Deductibility in Iowa: Who Benefits and Why it Should Continue," research analyst Jonathan Miltimore crunches numbers and demonstrates why this provision of the Iowa code should not be eliminated. Senior research analyst Amy K. Frantz outlines Iowa's transportation needs and the proposals to fund those projects in "Spending Our Transportation Dollars Wisely." Should Iowa alter the current School Infrastructure Local Option (SILO) and Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST) system for funding certain educational needs in our state? The question is addressed in "Is the SILO LOSST?", by research analyst Deborah D. Thornton. Finally, Jonathan Miltimore looks at questions surrounding the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program in "SCHIP: Don't Just Sink it, Reform it." limitedgovernment.org.

KENTUCKY

New Gov. Steve Beshear, who wants to expand casino gambling, played Chicken Little in his first press conference on the state budget. In his "sky-is-falling-message," Beshear pointed to a $434-million "shortfall," which, when including $145 million in cash leftover from the Fletcher administration, amounted to a $289-million current budget deficit. It turns out all but about $130 million of the shortage was due to either agencies spending more than lawmakers appropriated or spending projects approved by the General Assembly with no proposals on how to pay for them, including incentives for a Ford Motor Co. plant in Louisville. State bureaucrats didn't even try to market these incentives as job creation, but instead to keep jobs from leaving the state. (Please note: A photo in the Nov./Dec. SPN News identified the Bluegrass Institute's Jim Waters with a group at the SPN Annual Meeting in Maine. Jim Waters did not attend that conference. It appears that the person identified as Mr. Waters would be his elder instead.) bipps.org

MAINE

Effective Jan. 1, Tarren Bragdon became chief executive officer for the Maine Heritage Policy Center. Bragdon has been with MHPC since 2003 as director of health reform initiatives. Bill Becker will remain with MHPC's management team, assuming the position of president of the board of directors. Bragdon will oversee implementation of the Center's Maine Government Integrity Project, a new initiative to give Mainers greater oversight of government. Highlights of the program include a website tabulating all state legislators' votes (thereby matching politicians' rhetoric with reality), and an examination of the role and details of state contracts, which were previously unavailable to Maine citizens. mainepolicy.org

MARYLAND

During its first full year of operation, the Free State Foundation published 29 papers in its "Perspectives of FSF Scholars Series" on topics ranging from federal and state regulatory policies to Maryland's tax and budget proposals. "Perspectives" authors for 2007 included such prominent regulatory policy scholars as Richard Epstein, Christopher Yoo, James Speta and Randolph May. The Foundation initiated its "FSF Distinguished Speaker Series" publications in the last quarter. The first two publications, taken from remarks delivered at a communications policy conference held in October, are "Hold the Line on Light Touch Regulation" by U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, and "The Public Interest in Free Markets" by U.S. Senator Jim DeMint. freestatefoundation.org

MASSACHUSETTS

The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University released its seventh annual State Competitiveness Report in December. Utah finished first in its ability to generate economic growth and sustain high income for its residents. Massachusetts, which finished first last year, placed second. Washington state is the only new entrant to the top ten this year, improving from 13th to 7th place. Montana shows the largest improvement this year, moving up from 28th to 15th position. The largest drop in rank this year belongs to Michigan, moving down seven places from 34th to 41st. New Hampshire slipped from third to ninth. The BHI competitiveness index is based on 42 indicators divided into eight sub-indexes: government and fiscal policy, security, infrastructure, human resources, technology, business incubation, openness and environmental policy. Jonathan Haughton, senior economist, presented the Institute's annual forecast during revenue hearing testimony for the Joint Ways and Means Committee and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. Executive director David Tuerck published an op-ed in the New York Sun about Mike Huckabee's embrace of the FairTax. The Institute is preparing a corporate tax reform proposal for Massachusetts to serve as a template for other states seeking to simplify their tax codes by expanding the base and lowering rates. beaconhill.org

MICHIGAN

The Mackinac Center received a Silver Davey Award for a design graphic arts manager Daniel Montgomery created for Students for a Free Economy, the Center's campus outreach program. The postcard design, entered in the "invitation" category, included a caption declaring: "I shot the tariff, but I did not shoot the subsidy." The International Academy of the Visual Arts received more than 4,000 entries for the 2007 Davey Awards, which honor the creative work of small firms. SFE in November hosted June Arunga, noted Kenyan documentarian, for talks with students, faculty and others at Michigan State University, Central Michigan University and the University of Michigan. The Center released 16 major publications in 2007, including three books that make up its school management series, detailing collective bargaining, finance and privatization in Michigan's public schools. Emily J. Holty has joined the Center as an advancement officer. She previously worked in graduate admissions at Northwood University. Be sure to regularly visit Mackinac's website as the Center celebrates its 20th anniversary with special events, guest speakers and timely, incisive policy analysis. mackinac.org

Pioneer Institute focused much of this past fall on education. In October, Pioneer released a study by William Howell and Mindy Spencer, "School Choice Without Vouchers: Expanding Education Options Through Tax Benefits." The paper was released at an Oct. 5 event headlined by Thomas Finneran, formerly Massachusetts' House speaker. In November, Pioneer hosted the 9th annual Lovett C. Peters Lecture in Public Policy. Visionary philanthropist Peter Diamandis asked, "If an X prize can spur private exploration of space, can a similar prize help achieve private solutions to improve how we educate our children?" Pioneer, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Charter School Association, hosted "Why Democrats Support Charter Schools?" Joining the forum discussion were Joe Williams, executive director of Democrats for Education Reform, and Kevin Chavous, former member of the Council of the District of Columbia. pioneerinstitute.org

MINNESOTA

Recent and imminent Center of the American Experiment publications - all based on Center Forums - included "Achievement Gaps: What Will It Take to Close Them?" by Paul E. Peterson; "A Kitchen Table Conversation About Minneapolis and Its Future," a panel featuring Peter Bell, Gary Cunningham and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak; "Who Really Cares: America's Charity Divide" by Arthur C. Brooks; "Searching for Climate Change: A More Temperate Take on Global Warming" by John R. Christy; and "Safeguarding and Rebuilding America's Physical Infrastructure: The Indispensable Role of Markets" by Robert Poole. Recent and upcoming public events include "Is America an Experiment?" with Wilfred M. McClay; a discussion on how politicians can adhere to principle without brutalizing one another; a luncheon with education critic Chester E. Finn, Jr. talking about his new autobiography, Troublemaker. Ambassador John Bolton will keynote American Experiment's 2008 Annual Dinner in the spring. Special invitation to SPN colleagues: Get yourself to St. Paul on May 15 and the chicken (maybe even steak) is on us. americanexperiment.org/

More than 200 people packed the Minneapolis Hilton for the 2007 Citizens' Council on Health Care's annual policy event, "Aiming High for Health Care in 2008...Showcasing Patient-Friendly Alternatives to Universal Health Care." State legislators, congressional staffers, a member of the Governor's Health Cabinet and people from states as far away as Maine attended. CCHC's newest online feature survey is "Who Owns Your DNA?" Two citizen petitions, one seeking elimination of the state newborn DNA database, the other opposing an individual health insurance mandate proposal, are on the website (cchconline.org). Together with Minnesota Majority, CCHC is hosting several online Health Care Town Meetings, the first on Jan. 8. Topics include health care coverage and cost, medical privacy and health care quality. CCHC president Twila Brase was recently appointed as a member of the Minnesota Genetic Information Work Group. Brase is also an invited member of the Minnesota E-Health Privacy and Security Working Group. cchconline.org

The Minnesota Free Market Institute (formerly the Taxpayers League Foundation) has been "performing heart surgery on a jogging patient," says its president, David Strom. While keeping highly visible in the media, Strom and staff have been developing a business approach to policymaking. "Our mission isn't just producing more research and rhetoric," says Strom. "A lot of great center-right organizations already do that. Our ‘market opportunity' is distilling that body of work into definable, positive policy agendas that solve problems without more government control and then building constituencies for those agendas." Joining Strom at the Minnesota Free Market Institute as a senior policy fellow is Craig Westover, a contributing columnist with the St. Paul Pioneer Press. King Banaian, chairman of the economics department at St. Cloud State University, has been named an economics fellow and contributes to the Free Market Institute's web site (mnfmi.org). Via the Institute's web site visitors can access podcasts of "The David Strom Show" (townhall.com/talkradio). "Our message is resonating," says Strom. "We're starting 2008 financially strong with a solid action plan."

MISSISSIPPI

The Mississippi Center for Public Policy hosted a policy seminar for legislators on Nov. 29. ATR president Grover Norquist spoke about spending transparency, Jonathan Williams of ALEC addressed the principles of taxation, and the Heritage Foundation's Ed Haislmaier described a health insurance exchange for small employers advocated by his organization and proposed by Gov. Haley Barbour. A former public school superintendent plead movingly for reforming Mississippi's charter school law. MCPP's charter school reform legislation has twice passed the state Senate but failed in the House. Newly-elected Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant invited MCPP president Forest Thigpen to speak to a trio of policy seminar panels Jan. 3 and 4. The topics the lieutenant governor is interested in hearing discussed include education competition, how to improve bureaucratic accountability and transparency and what the latest economic and cultural trends mean for Mississippi. mspolicy.org

MISSOURI

The Show-Me Institute hosted a groundbreaking conference about education funding issues in late October. Scholars from across the country presented seven working papers examining the adequacy lawsuit trend that has sprouted up in 34 states, presenting statistics on whether judicial education rulings correlate with academic achievement, demonstrating models for how litigation can be a powerful tool in helping to improve access to educational options, and discussing how alternative funding arrangements - such as performance-based teacher bonuses - might lead to positive change. These papers are at SMIinfo.org. Show-Me ended its second full year of operations, publishing almost double the number of policy studies as in 2006, and almost three times as many op-eds, which have been printed in newspapers throughout Missouri. The Institute's blog, ShowMeDaily.org, has accumulated more than 600 entries since launching in April. Soon scheduled for release are new policy studies on tuition tax credits, Kansas City's light-rail plan and a joint project with the Reason Foundation on public-private partnerships for Missouri transportation projects. showmeinstitute.org

NEBRASKA

The Platte Institute for Economic Research is open for business and raring to unleash Nebraska's untapped economic potential using the power of free-market ideas. Not-for-profit status was granted in late-September and Platte Institute president Pete Ricketts focused on hiring an executive director. Roger Lempke accepted the position in November. Roger had recently retired as adjutant general of Nebraska in charge of the National Guard and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency at the grade of federally recognized Major General. Lempke is a Nebraska native with extensive experience in private business and state government, as well as military matters. The timing couldn't be better. Taxation and spending are center stage because Nebraska continually rates near the top of highly taxed states with property taxes being the greatest nemesis to citizens. The Platte Institute is conducting research to educate Nebraskans on solutions. platteinstitute.org

NEW HAMPSHIRE

City spending caps patterned after TABOR have been more effective at restraining property taxes than raising other taxes, the Bartlett Center for Public Policy has found. In the 2007 election the Dover became the fourth New Hampshire city to adopt a spending cap. Budget issues continue to simmer in New Hampshire, and our December policy paper shows the state faces a $75 million shortfall for 2008. Tracking that shortfall and pressing government to provide accurate and timely budget information to voters is the essential mission of the Center's State Budget Watchdog project over the next several months. To encourage local government reform, the Center will push spending caps statewide in 2008 and build on the Google government project as an anti-corruption measure. The Center has also emerged as the leading voice against wasting millions of dollars on commuter rail and draining the state's highway trust fund. jbartlett.org

NEW MEXICO

The Rio Grande Foundation spent a great deal of time educating New Mexico legislators on the importance of education tax credits. Andrew LeFevre of the Pennsylvania-based REACH Foundation and Trish Wilger of the Iowa-based ACE Foundation both visited the state for meetings with legislators and media outlets statewide. Tax credits will be discussed during the 2008 legislative session. Continuing with the education theme, the Foundation made the case for education reform with its new study, "The Way to Education Success in New Mexico: Breaking Free from Failed Reforms" by Dr. Harry Messenheimer. Despite ever-increasing resources, students in New Mexico's K-12 schools continue to fall behind their peers in other states on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The Foundation continues to focus on development issues including the perils of tax increment financing. In recent years, New Mexico has expanded the use of this development tool which involves major wealth transfers from existing to politically-determined areas. The Foundation has publicized the negative economic impact of such subsidies. riograndefoundation.org

NEW YORK

The Manhattan Institute announced two senior staff changes. Lindsay Young Craig has been promoted to vice president, communications and marketing. Previously serving as the executive director, communications, Ms. Craig has worked in the Institute's Communications Department for 10 years. William Boltz joined the Institute in November 2007 as the new vice president for development. Boltz brings over ten years of nonprofit and fundraising experience. He has a Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from the University of Chicago. City Journal's winter 2008 features an essay by Rudolph Giuliani, who details his blueprint for U.S. homeland security. manhattan-institute.org

NEVADA

The Nevada Policy Research Institute is launching a new, state-of-the-art website (npri.org). The new site offers easy access to NPRI publications, including its commentaries and policy studies, and also features a new blog. Please log on and read all about what the Institute is up to! And be sure to download NPRI's latest study, "Getting Plucked in Nevada - How Government Covertly Increases Your Tax Burden." The report exposes the secretive manner in which Nevada's government has increased taxes on Silver State citizens over the years.

NORTH CAROLINA

In November, voters in 16 counties unanimously rejected new real-estate transfer taxes. Those votes followed publication of John Locke Foundation research that showed local governments had enough revenue sources to meet county government needs. Other JLF research questioned local school bond proposals on the November ballot. Researchers also highlighted flaws in N.C. transportation policy, the value of market-pricing for water allocation during drought conditions, potential benefits of charter schools on public university campuses; and pitfalls linked to tax-increment financing. Meanwhile, JLF's Carolina Journal exposed poor planning tied to the state's first TIF project, a failing theater named for Dolly Parton's brother, Randy. The North Carolina History Project brought historian Donald Critchlow to Raleigh to discuss his new book, The Conservative Ascendancy. Columnist Amity Shales spent the anniversary of Black Tuesday in North Carolina, discussing themes from her book about the Great Depression. P.J. O'Rourke shared wit and wisdom with a Charlotte JLF audience, and the same city hosted a JLF discussion with international terrorism expert Steven Emerson. johnlocke.org

OHIO

The Founders' original intent - as manifested in the U.S. Constitution - was the topic of the Buckeye Institute's inaugural Founders Lecture by Dr. David Forte.A noted constitutional scholar and senior editor of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution, Dr. Forte asked the nearly 100 assembled state legislators, policymakers and business leaders if they wanted a living constitution or a Constitution. "The problem with a living constitution is that it seems to change with the times," said Dr. Forte. "In a deep sense, if you have a living constitution you don't have a Constitution because the purpose of the Constitution is to give stability over time." Buckeye Institute President David Hansen presented each member of the Ohio legislature with a personalized copy of the Heritage Guide in an effort to convey and sustain the Founders' vision. "The purpose of this book and of this discussion will not be lost on me, and I am certain, will not be lost on the legislators sitting in this room," remarked House Speaker Jon Husted. buckeyeinstitute.org

OKLAHOMA

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs has three top policy objectives for the New Year and coming legislative session. First, the Council will renew its push for comprehensive lawsuit reform. OCPA originally published a 14-point plan, most of which is yet to be enacted, to restore the state's civil litigation system, dubbed by The Wall Street Journal as "jackpot justice." OCPA is developing a comprehensive Oklahoma health care reform proposal, led by Tom Daxon, a former finance and revenue secretary under Gov. Frank Keating. Daxon also served as the state's finance office director, where he prepared state budgets. Finally, OCPA experts will advance school choice. "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave Oklahoma's school system an ‘F.' "As Oklahoma begins its second century, it's time to move away from our antiquated, heavily unionized, government-owned-and-operated monopoly toward a choice model," said Brandon Dutcher, OCPA's school-choice spokesman. ocpathink.org

OREGON

Founded in 2007, the Better Government Project's mission is to study and expose irresponsible government practices in Oregon and promote accountability and transparency. BGP is expanding its focus in 2008 to include the study of corrupting government influences in other states. BGP will promote Paul Chesser's continued investigation and exposure of state-level "stealth environmental advocacy" and global warming alarmism aimed at instituting extreme regulatory policies. BGP remains concerned with political bias in state regulatory enforcement as well as prosecutorial and judicial decision-making.BGP will actively investigate opportunities to expose such bias and, where appropriate, curb such practices through litigation. The Better Government Project is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Portland.

Cascade Policy Institute sponsored Oregon's premier showing of the Acton Institute film, "The Call of the Entrepreneur." More than 100 enthusiastic guests attended. Cascade will continue to promote the film on Oregon's college campuses throughout 2008. Cascade is now a regular contributor to Oregon's leading policy blog, OregonCatalyst.org. With 20,000-plus visitors per day, this blogsite is generating intense interest in local and statewide public policy issues. Based on a recent report released by the Cato Institute, Cascade has decided to modify its education reform efforts from promoting a voucher system pilot project to advancing a statewide tax credit program. This approach stands to gain better traction in the state by integrating a broader base of support. Cascade thanks Cato for its generous support and collaboration on a recent Book Forum in Portland featuring Randal O'Toole and his new release, The Best Laid Plans. cascadepolicy.org

PENNSYLVANIA

The Allegheny Institute continues to write influential policy briefs that are frequently republished by other organizations, papers and magazines. Recent examples include studies on taxes paid by local professional sports teams, government subsidies to US Airways despite the airline's declining presence in the area, and an index of worker freedom. Institute staff continues to be called upon to provide expert testimony. A state Senate committee asked Allegheny President Jake Haulk to testify about ways the state can help with the problems of Pennsylvania's urban centers - specifically Pittsburgh. Governing Magazine also asked him to participate in a panel discussion on aging which included the governor, mayor and members of city council. alleghenyinstitute.org

In late 2007, with the assistance of the Commonwealth Foundation, legislation was introduced to reform Pennsylvania's public pension systems. The Foundation is working with legislators to address the coming health care crisis for retired public employees. Spending limits are a top priority for the Commonwealth Foundation in 2008 as budget negotiations heat up in the spring. The Foundation's work in last year's budget process helped restrain spending to a much lower level than previous years. Commonwealth Foundation spending legislation and the proposed constitutional amendment are currently in committee. The Foundation continues to push leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike to better fund transportation infrastructure. Commonwealth is also promoting public-private partnerships in mass transit, and on the education front, its "Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act" (the Friedman Foundation award-winning school choice proposal) as the best means to reduce public schools' dependence on property taxpayers. Tune in to "The Box" radio program at www.theBOXprogram.com. commonwealthfoundation.org

RHODE ISLAND

The Ocean State Policy Research Institute held its first fundraising dinner in December: It was a resounding success. Bringing together Rhode Islanders eager for change, the attendees included politicians, advocates, citizens and government officials. Included was former Supreme Court Justice and chair of the state Board of Regents, Robert G. Flanders and former Secretary of the Navy and founding member of the Heritage Foundation, Ambassador J. William Middendorf.The event key speaker was Grover Norquist.Participants left encouraged and energized as OSPRI president, William J. Felkner, outlined a plan to bring transparency to all levels of government and pledged to fight for changing how Rhode Island government does business in general. Pervasive government intervention, onerous taxes and debilitating social service policies have create a $450 million operating budget deficit. Rhode Island can no longer afford to continue business as usual, but fortunately OSPRI has the right ideas and is in the right place at the right time. oceanstatepolicy.org

SOUTH CAROLINA

After 18 years at the South Carolina Policy Council, president Ed McMullen left the organization in December to launch a private consulting firm. McMullen served as SCPC president for 13 years and was part of many successful initiatives, including welfare reform and education accountability. He served on many state boards and committees and received the Governor's Order of the Palmetto for his leadership. SCPC's board and staff wish Ed luck in the private sector - contact him at mcmpublicaffairs@aol.com. SCPC's board named vice president for public affairs Ashley Landess as interim executive director. Ashley has been with SCPC for 10 years, has worked closely with conservative leaders and served on several state task forces and commissions. In November, SCPC released "Taxes in South Carolina: No Relief in Sight," by Beacon Hill economist Dr. David Tuerck, which addressed the dangers of "revenue neutral" tax swaps and the need for spending caps. Senate Majority Glenn McConnell introduced a constitutional state spending cap, and at his request Landess testified before the committee in favor of state and local caps. scpolicycouncil.com

TENNESSEE

A state senator exposed by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research for funneling campaign contributions into his private bank account for personal use was fined $120,000 in November based on a TCPR complaint. It was the largest disciplinary action in the history of the state's campaign finance bureaucracy. In the wake of the complaint, Sen. Jerry Cooper resigned after serving 22 years in the senate. Apparently, elected officials in Knox County forgot TCPR was making a list of politicians who'd been naughty to taxpayers throughout the year. The Knox County mayor and commissioners were "honored" in December with the Center's annual "Lump of Coal" award. Mayor Mike Ragsdale and the bad boys and girls on the commission earned the award by running a county government rife with secrecy and waste, in violation of both Tennessee's open-meetings laws and their constituents' trust. TCPR president Drew Johnson appeared on star-studded Federalist Society panels in Nashville and Memphis to discuss Johnson v. Bredesen, the Center's case currently winding through federal court. Through the case, TCPR is fighting to force the state to follow the Tennessee Constitution by allowing voters, and not closed-door panels of political appointees, to select state Supreme Court Justices. tennesseepolicy.org

TEXAS

The Texas Public Policy Foundation's board of directors elected Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm as its new chairman. Gramm, a noted economist and former chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, previously served as the Foundation's chairman from 1999 until 2004. Joe Nixon, former chairman of the Texas House Civil Practices Committee, joined the Foundation as a senior fellow in the Center for Economic Freedom. Nixon authored Proposition 12, the tort and medical liability legislation that's become a national model since its approval by Texas voters five years ago. The Foundation concluded its two-year research on math and science education in Texas with the release of a "best practices" report and reform agenda. All reports from this project are available at www.MathAndScienceBestPractices.org. Bill Peacock, director of the Foundation's Center for Economic Freedom, promoted free market principles in his testimony before the Texas House Regulated Industries Committee at its Dec. 10 hearing on the NFL Network dispute. texaspolicy.com

UTAH

The Sutherland Institute is hosting Edwin J. Feulner, the most prominent leader of the conservative think tank movement over the past 30 years, to celebrate the opening of the Institute's new offices. Dr. Feulner, president and founding trustee of the Heritage Foundation, will present the keynote address at 12:30 pm in the Sutherland Transcend Conference Room of the Institute's offices, now located in the historic Crane Building, (Open house and tour between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Please RSVP to Liv Moffat at 801.355.1272 or lmoffat@sutherlandinstitute.org.) "We are honored to have Dr. Feulner with us for this special occasion," said Paul T. Mero, Sutherland president. "Welcoming this outstanding conservative leader to Utah, the nation's conservative capital, is a perfect fit." Please update your records to reflect the new address: Sutherland Institute, Crane Building, 307 West 200 South, Suite 5005, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. sutherlandinstitute.org

VERMONT

On Nov. 26 the Ethan Allen Institute released a comprehensive report on the often disturbing, sometimes harrowing 110-year history of the Vermont State Hospital for the Insane. In "Don't Send Me to Waterbury!", EAI scholars also look to the future of mental health treatment. Most notably, they advocate using "recovery in community" programs like those at Minnesota's Fairweather Lodges, Vermont's Safe Haven, and similar facilities in other states. EAI's report condemns a proposed new hundred-million-plus dollar asylum facility planned to house a maximum of 53 patients at $276,000 a year per patient. EAI's report quickly stimulated outbursts of resentment from the Vermont State Employees Association. A union spokesperson perceptively declared that the report is "clearly furthering [EAI's] agenda of shrinking the size of state government." (Guilty as charged, says EAI!) On Dec. 1 the Institute held a spirited annual strategy meeting for its board, advisory council and key members. Special guest Daniel Erspamer of Americans for Prosperity is exploring establishment of a new chapter in Vermont. EAI finished 2007 with a record 634 members and will commemorate its 15th anniversary with a gala event in 2008. ethanallen.org

VIRGINIA

The Thomas Jefferson Institute wrapped up the year with a vigorous agenda likely to have a significant impact on long-term policy in Virginia. Its reception honoring retiring House Appropriations Chairman Vince Callahan was co-chaired by the House speaker and the incoming Senate majority leader, and all living Virginia governors served as honorary chairmen, adding to the Jefferson Institute's clout in Richmond. The annual Innovations in Government Conference, cosponsored with the Mercatus Institute, featured two Virginia cabinet secretaries, former New Zealand Cabinet Minister Maurice McTigue, and the chairman of the Cost-Cutting Caucus. Jefferson Institute senior fellow David Schnare twice addressed the statewide Commonwealth of Virginia Energy and Sustainability Conference on free-market approaches to environmental stewardship. He also testified before the U.S. Senate Committee for the Environment and Public Works. The Institute released two studies, "Only the Market Can Clean Up the Chesapeake Bay" and "Relieving Traffic Congestion: 21st Century Ideas." In January the Institute released an updated tuition tax credit study and a survey on privatization efforts among Virginia school districts. thomasjeffersoninst.org

WASHINGTON

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation filed a December amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the Indiana Voter ID case.EFF supports the constitutionality of the Indiana law and planned to attend oral arguments Jan. 9.The Foundation is creating a constant stir following a series of performance audits on the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Port of Seattle.Each performance audit has been more terrible than before, and EFF is beating the drum for media exposure of the "worst practices" infecting the system.After calling the 80-year-old"steel-electric" car ferries serving one route the state's "Titanics," the ferry system told a legislative committee those boats were in generally good condition.Three weeks later, citing an emergency, the ferry system retired the four boats because they were no longer safe. Flunked, EFF's upcoming full-length documentary on education reform, is in final production and will premier in late January or early February.The film is narrated by award-winning actor Joe Mantegna, currently the star of "Criminal Minds" on CBS. effwa.org

On Apr.15 in Seattle, Washington Policy Center will hold a national, half-day conference on budget transparency, "Government Reform 2008: Making Government Work for Taxpayers."U.S. Comptroller General David Walker will keynote.Panelists include former New Zealand Government Minister Maurice McTigue; Donna Arduin, former budget director for Governors Jeb Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger; Chris Atkins, senior fiscal policy adviser to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels; Jonathan Williams, director, Tax & Fiscal Policy Task Force for ALEC; Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag; and Larisa Benson of the Washington State Government Management and Accountability Performance program.Following the conference there will be an interactive SPN workshop discussing how to implement budget transparency reforms in your state.WPC's new Center for Government Reform has released two studies, "Creating a Free, Searchable Website of State Spending" and "Ending Abuse of the Emergency Clause: Restoring Our Right of Referendum," and has been working with the governor's office and the legislature about implementation of a searchable website for state spending.washingtonpolicy.org

NATIONAL

The American Legislative Exchange Council released its first economic ranking of all 50 states, "Rich States, Poor States: ALEC - Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index," by renowned economist Dr. Arthur Laffer and Wall Street Journal economics writer Stephen Moore. The authors identify 16 policy variables with a proven impact on the migration of human and investment capital in and out of states. According to their findings, a record eight million Americans moved from one state to another in 2006, revealing which states have the most dynamic and desirable economies, and which are "has-been" states. The winners are generally the states with the lowest tax, spending and regulatory burdens. The biggest losers are California, the Northeast and the Midwest. "States are in direct competition with each other and those that think they can attract jobs and people, and grow their economies, by taxing their citizens and businesses at a higher rate than their neighbors are sadly mistaken," said Arkansas State Senator Steve Faris, ALEC's 2008 national chairman. alec.org

In January and throughout the election cycle, America's Future Foundation kicks off a nationwide tour, hosting debates between libertarians and conservatives about the future of the movements. First stop: Chicago, where Grover Norquist and Ramesh Ponnuru debate, "The State of the Republican Brand." Is the "leave us alone" coalition still the uniting principle behind the Republican Party? Is voter support for limited government declining? Are the Republican presidential candidates reflecting voter preferences, or vice versa? Want "AFF on the Road" to stop in your city? Contact David Kirby, kirby@americasfuture.org. americasfuture.org

In December, the Alliance for Worker Freedom, a special project of Americans for Tax Reform, released The 2007 Index of Worker Freedom. The IWF is the first state-by-state comparative study that measures the level of worker freedom by analyzing actual policy as well as quantitative state data. With this inaugural edition, the Alliance for Worker Freedom has taken the first step in providing a metric to use as a basis for time-series and trend analysis from this point forward. The Index of Worker Freedom will provide the public, researchers, policy-makers, federal and state legislatures, employees and business owners with a tool for cross-national comparative analysis and future research on the level of employee's rights and worker freedom in each state. In response to the omnibus spending bill passed by Congress in December, ATR, as part of a coalition of 19 other organizations, urged the president to stop non-binding spending requests tucked in to the bill.Over 9,000 non-binding pork barrel spending projects are found within the recently passed omnibus bill. ATR applauds the one year patch of the Alternative Minimum Tax passed by Congress on Dec. 19. By waiving pay-go rules Congress spared millions of Americans from being ensnared by the onerous and ill-conceived AMT in 2008. atr.org

The Cato Institute hosted SPN at a special reception at its Washington, D.C. headquarters Dec. 4, kicking off a month that saw Cato deliver the time-honored message of individual liberty, free markets and peace to new audiences nationwide. In cooperation with the Heartland Institute, Cato distributed 75,000 copies of a pocket edition of "School Choice: The Findings" to all private and charter school principals in the country, school board chairmen of all 14,000 U.S. school districts, as well as to members of Congress, state legislators, education reporters and key players. Jerry Taylor ventured deep into corn country to debunk ethanol myths in a debate at the University of Nebraska. And Cato's Will Wilkinson and adjunct scholar Tyler Cowen debated Jeffrey Sachs and Betsey Stevenson at a New York event sponsored by The Economist. Back in D.C., Cato put on "Health Care University," a week-long seminar series on Capitol Hill. To book a Cato scholar, email speakers@cato.org. For book distribution, contact Diane Zoerb, dzoerb@cato.org. cato.org

The Center for Competitive Politics launched a high profile effort that, in the words of one highly respected election law observer, "could change the face of federal campaign finance law." CCP filed an Advisory Opinion Request with the Federal Election Commission on behalf of the independent speech group, SpeechNow.org. SpeechNow asks whether a group of citizens can advocate for or against candidates for federal office, free of government limits. It plans to speak out in support of candidates who favor free speech and oppose those who back so-called campaign finance "reform" that restricts First Amendment rights. At issue is whether groups like SpeechNow.org must register as political committees and face restrictions on contributions. SpeechNow.org supporters are allowed to individually spend as much as they want advocating for or against candidates. However, the law is unclear as to whether two or more of them can work together advocating for free speech. CCP hopes that the FEC will approve the request but is committed to doing whatever it takes to make sure SpeechNow.org's voice can be heard. campaignfreedom.org

The Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute recently released its third annual Great American Conservative Women Calendar. Free to college students, the 2008 edition highlights Heritage Foundation's director of coalition relations Bridgett Wagner, author and Townhall.com reporter Amanda Carpenter, syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin, and other conservative women who influence policy and public debate. The Institute is gearing up for its annual V-Day Unveiled campaign to help students who want to expose the vulgarity of The Vagina Monologues, a play presented around Valentine's Day at more than 600 college campuses. The Institute will also host two spring conferences: a Mid-America Student Activism Seminar in Kansas City on Feb 29, and a Western Women's Summit in Santa Barbara April 25-26. cblpi.org

The Competitive Enterprise Institute and Cooler Heads Coalition hosted a Dec. 11 reception celebrating 10 years of America's refusal to submit to the Kyoto Protocol's global energy rationing scheme. U.S. Sen. James Inhofe and other Cooler Heads members attended. CEI's Myron Ebell testified on Dec. 13 before the House committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. CEI spearheaded a Dec. 17 coalition letter urging President Bush to stop the EPA from classifying CO2 as a pollutant (decision expected in 2008). Meanwhile, CEI hailed a separate EPA decision in December blocking a California law curtailing carbon dioxide auto emissions. Angela Logomasini criticized the crusade against "environmentally wasteful" bottles in op-eds and interviews. John Berlau penned a Dec. 10 op-ed in USA Today against the Bush administration's plan to freeze adjustable interest rate mortgages. Berlau also co-authored a Nov. 8 analysis with Eli Lehrer urging the government against interfering in the sub-prime mortgage "crisis." Meanwhile, Development Vice President Terry Kibbe departed CEI in November to embark on a new project. cei.org

The Foundation for Excellence in Education is an official 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable organization, launched in 2007 by Jeb Bush, Florida's governor from 1999 to 2007. The Foundation staff has hit the ground running to launch programs that identify, quantify, reward and foster excellence in education. The Foundation website is now live, showcasing programs and generous sponsors who help make rewarding excellence in education possible. excelined.org

Last year was full of noteworthy achievements for the Galen Institute. In 2007 Galen was invited to speak at the Vatican, participated in several meetings with President Bush, spoke with John Stossel for ABC News 20/20, gave hundreds of radio interviews and placed numerous op-ed commentaries in prominent news outlets like The Wall Street Journal, wrote speeches, newsletters and testimonies before Congress, won a major award from Consumer Health World, and helped educate national lawmakers on appropriate means of extending (but not expanding) SCHIP program. In 2008 Galen will battle greater government intervention in health care and help educate Americans about the value of putting people and families in charge of their own health care decisions. galen.org

The Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options' new blog, "The Daily Grito," is already getting great media attention, even though it's only two months old! Mentioned by EdWeek's "Learning the Language" blog and profiled in Illinois's Espejo newspaper, the "Daily Grito" is the only blog on the Internet to discuss education reform issues from a Latino perspective. For daily updates on education reform issues that affect the Hispanic community, visit "The Daily Grito" at endthecrisis.blogspot.com. hcreo.org

Independent Institute's research fellow Gabriel Roth continues to garner media attention across the nation for his book, Street Smart: Competition, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of Roads. Involving the work of 22 economists and engineers from around the world, the book explores at least four such possible directions for private services, including testing and licensing vehicles and drivers; market-pricing and management of government-owned road facilities; franchising; and outright private ownership. Articles on the book have appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Orlando Sentinel, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Detroit News, among others. Roth's most recent article ran on Christmas Day in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, and Portland (ME) Sun-Journal. It proposes shifting from state motor vehicle departments to auto insurers the responsibility to test and license illegal immigrants for driver's licenses. With transportation (including traffic congestion) and immigration among the hottest topics facing most states today, Street Smart is paving the way for market-based solutions across the country. independent.org

The Institute for Justice Minnesota Chapter has secured its fourth economic liberty victory in two years. In December, a federal judge ruled that established cab companies in Minneapolis had no legal right to the longstanding licensing scheme that kept potential competitors out of the market. IJ launched two First Amendment lawsuits in November. In Missouri, St. Louis bureaucrats want to censor a powerful and highly visible mural protesting the city's threat to seize an entire neighborhood for private development. In Arizona, the right to free political speech is being defended in a federal challenge to the state's scheme of taxpayer-funded campaigns. In January, IJ published "Doomsday? No Way: Economic Trends & Post-Kelo Eminent Domain Reform." The study lays bare for lack of evidence the claims by eminent domain proponents that restricting government's power to seize private property will grind economic development to a halt. IJ's grassroots Castle Coalition (castlecoalition.org)has officially launched its blog. ij.org

Maurice McTigue, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University's director of the Government Accountability Project, testified Nov. 28 before Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal's Government and Fiscal Reform Advisory Council Hearing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. McTigue focused on measures of Louisiana's government transparency and accountability as compared with best practices in other states. He also provided recommendations for increasing transparency and improving government accountability to Louisianans. "Government should be responsible to those it serves," says McTigue. "By increasing government transparency and making some common sense changes, Louisiana can easily become more accountable to its citizens." Mercatus is also hosting three new visiting scholars this spring through the Social Change Project's Visiting Scholars Program: Dr. David Schmidtz, a specialist on the elements, individual responsibility and moral theory; Dr. Robert Nelson, a returning visiting scholar who studies the economics of religion and local government; and Dr. Jared Rubin, of California State University at Fullerton, whose research focused on applied macroeconomics and economic history. mercatus.org

The New York-based Moving Picture Institute is pleased to announce the release of The Libel Tourist, an incendiary film from MPI fellow Jared Lapidus. This tight, eight-minute short film describes how wealthy terror financiers are using the plaintiff-friendly English courts to suppress exposure and criticism of their actions. Available free online at www.libeltouristmovie.com, The Libel Tourist concentrates on the case of Rachel Ehrenfeld, whose 2003 book, Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed and How to Stop It, accuses Saudi billionaire Sheikh Khalid bin Mahfouz of financing terrorism. Ehrenfeld was ordered to destroy copies of her book after Mahfouz successfully sued her for libel in the United Kingdom; she is now defending her free speech rights in the U.S. courts. The Libel Tourist is drawing major media attention across North America and Europe, and thousands have already viewed this timely commentary on how Saudi petrodollars are eroding free speech in the West. Founded to promote freedom through film, MPI is accepting applications for internships. thempi.org

The National Center for Policy Analysis has revamped its website addressing retirement issues (retirementreform.org). In addition, the NCPA will add Terry Neese as a distinguished fellow. Ms. Neese founded Women Impacting Public Policy and has long been active in public policy. She will head the NCPA's efforts to highlight public policies on women and families. NCPA will produce a new website for the Family Policy Center. The NCPA is also planning a 25th anniversary gala for 2008, and will host nationally syndicated columnist Jonah Goldberg in the Center's first Economic Policy Forum and Author Series. Fox News correspondent and White House Press Secretary Tony Snow will deliver the inaugural NCPA/Hatton W. Sumners Foundation Distinguished Lecture Series. ncpa.org

The National Right to Work Foundation has enlisted cutting edge media tools in the fight against compulsory unionism by creating its very own Right to Work YouTube channel. The channel features a rapidly growing selection of video clips about the Foundation, its cases and clients, as well as clips with Foundation spokesmen on national cable news networks. Click on YouTube and subscribe to the Right to Work channel to receive regular video updates in the months to come. The Foundation has also constructed an in-house digital video production and editing studio from scratch to produce breaking news videos about the Foundation's activities, interviews with Right to Work experts, and commentaries about the Right to Work movement. In addition, the Foundation is launching a complete re-vamp of its website, with a fresh and contemporary look, utilizing a clean "block" structure that includes an updated logo, a video log, a blog and more. Additionally, the new site incorporates the use of cutting edge "social media" technologies. nrtw.org

Following the death of National Taxpayers Union Foundation president John Berthoud in mid-November, Duane Parde was named NTUF's new leader. Parde is well-known to SPN members from his stint with ALEC. Meanwhile, NTUF continued a number of projects, including the sixth annual "Tax Refund Finder" - an online searchable database of unclaimed federal tax refunds that is easier to use than the IRS's version. Shortly after the World Series, NTUF published a timely examination of taxpayer-funded sports facilities. A key finding: Stadiums that were built with 50 percent or more in taxpayer subsidies were $65 million more expensive on average than those built with less than 50 percent in subsidies. In its first evaluation of the 110th Congress, NTUF's BillTally legislative cost-accounting system determined that members of Congress proposed more spending cuts than in recent years; however, fewer than one in seven Representatives and fewer than one in 10 Senators had spending agendas that would reduce the taxpayer's tab. Coming up: NTUF's line-by-line examination of Presidential candidates' fiscal policy platforms. ntu.org

The REACH Foundation is hard at work gearing up for the New Year. Highlighting the various ways Pennsylvania families experience school choice, the organization's 2007 Visions of Choice campaign was an overwhelming success.The 2008 campaign is well underway, with winning students selected from a contest held during the last few months of the previous year.REACH has also moved forward with its legislative priorities, having met with several legislators, school officials and parents in the recent months regarding the extension of school choice to special needs students, who substantially benefit from the ability to choose the school that best suits their unique needs.REACH's annual EITC Birthday Rally is May 6 in Harrisburg.Last year's event attracted over 2,000 schoolchildren with a strong likelihood of more this year. paschoolchoice.org.

The Tax Foundation recently released the 2008 State Business Tax Climate Index, a yearly tool for lawmakers, media and citizens to gauge how their state tax systems compare. Policymakers can pinpoint changes to their tax systems that will improve their states' comparative standing. The Index has been mailed to all state legislators and is at taxfoundation.org. The Tax Foundation seeks a highly motivated person for the position of state tax economist. To qualify for consideration applicants must have a B.A. or M.A. in economics with a background in public finance. Ideal candidates have knowledge of state tax systems, experience working with large databases and familiarity with modeling, as well as the entrepreneurial energy to design projects to advance the reach and effectiveness of the Tax Foundation's state tax policy agenda. The successful candidate will also respond to public and media inquiries and provide expert advice to state lawmakers.