Texas Public Policy Foundation
| Texas Public Policy Foundation | |||
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| Basic facts | |||
| Location: | Austin, Texas | ||
| Type: | 501(c)(3) | ||
| Top official: | Brooke Rollins, CEO and President | ||
| Founder(s): | James R. Leininger | ||
| Year founded: | 1989 | ||
| Website: | Official website | ||
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The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank based in Austin, Texas. The foundation was initially founded and funded in 1989 by James R. Leininger.[1]
The Foundation notes that its guiding principles are "liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise."[2]
Mission
According to the TPPF website, the stated mission of TPPF is as follows:[2]
| " |
The Foundation's mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.[3] |
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Background
The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank based in Austin, Texas.[1] The nonprofit conducts research as well as oversees several projects, including Right on Crime, See Thru EDU, Fueling Freedom and Think Local Liberty.[2]
The TPPF has 10 issue-area centers:
- Center for the American Future
- Economic Freedom
- Education Freedom
- Effective Justice
- Energy & Environment
- Fiscal Policy
- Health Care
- Höhere Bildung
- Local Governance
- Tenth Amendment
These centers issue research reports and briefing papers monthly.[4]
In addition to monthly policy events, known as "Policy Primers," TPPF hosts an annual conference known as the "Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature." Both events cover a range of topics.[5] In January 2016, during the TPPF's 14th annual conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for a constitutional convention, which has only taken place once in U.S. history, in 1787. The Constitution's Article V allows such a convention, but requires that "[t]wo-thirds of state legislatures...to call for one to amend the U.S. Constitution. And to become law, three-quarters of the states would have to ratify anything flowing out of such a gathering."[6][7] Abbott's intent, according to the San Antonio Express-News, is too limit federal power from infringing on state's rights.[6][8] Abbot's call at the TPPF conference has gathered the support of Tennessee, Alabama, Alaska, Florida, and Georgia.[9]
In February 2016, the TPPF joined with the Texas Association of Business in announcing that they intend to advance legislation which would lower title-insurance rates—Texas is among the highest in the nation—and eliminate anti-competition laws. TPPF executive director, Arlene Wohlgemuth, stated that "[t]his arcane and unnecessary system prohibits consumers from shopping for better prices and quality on title insurance, and prohibits insurers from offering lower prices or additional coverage options."[10]
"Texas Budget Source"
Texas Budget Source was a project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The goal was to provide a single source for information on state and local budgets and spending in an effort to bring greater transparency to government spending. TexasBudgetSource.com not only provides links to existing publications and data released by state agencies and local governments, but also provides unique analysis that puts government budgets and spending in context.[11]
Leadership
The following is a list of the executive board of TPPF:[12]
- Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm, Chair
- Tim Dunn, Vice Chair
- Brooke Rollins, President and CEO
- Ernest Angelo, Treasurer
- Thomas Lyles, Secretary
- Phil Adams
- Rick Fletcher
- Windi Grimes
- Stacy Hock
- Victor Leal
- Linda Mays McCaul
- L.C. "Chaz" Neely
- Brenda Pejovich
- Jeff Sandefer
- Kyle Stallings
- George W. Strake
Finances
The following is a breakdown of TPPF's revenue from contributions and grants, total revenue and expenses for 2010-2013 fiscal years, as reported to the IRS.
| Annual contributions and grants received, total revenue and expenses for TPPF, 2010-2013 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Contributions and grants received | Total annual revenue | Expenses |
| 2014[13] | $8,568,131 | $8,887,301 | $5,636,703 |
| 2013[14] | $5,341,794 | $5,288,989 | $4,731,140 |
| 2012[15] | $7,271,035 | $7,612,280 | $4,364,605 |
| 2011[16] | $5,520,526 | $5,756,074 | $4,948,598 |
| 2010[16] | $4,099,459 | $4,674,836 | $3,390,188 |
See also
External links
- TPPF website
- TPPF Transparency website
- TPPF Higher Education website
- TPPF on Facebook
- TPPF on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Tribune, "Texas Public Policy Foundation," accessed May 19, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Texas Public Policy Foundation, "About," accessed May 19, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Texas Public Policy Foundation, "Centers," accessed May 19, 2015
- ↑ Texas Public Policy Foundation, "Events," accessed May 19, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 San Antonio Express-News, "Abbott’s dangerous proposal," January 23, 2016
- ↑ TPPF, "Press Release," January 8, 2016
- ↑ Governor of the State of Texas, "Restoring the Rule of Law with States Leading the Way," accessed February 15, 2016
- ↑ Herald-Tribune, "Tennessee lawmakers approve 'atomic bomb of politics'," February 4, 2016
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "High title insurance costs spur calls for reform," February 2, 2016
- ↑ Channel 8 Austin News, New Web site lets Texans see where tax money goes, July 8, 2008
- ↑ TPPF, "Board of Directors," accessed October 13, 2015
- ↑ Guidestar, "TPPF, IRS Form 990 (2014)," accessed February 15, 2016
- ↑ Guidestar, "TPPF, IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed October 13, 2015
- ↑ Guidestar, "TPPF, IRS Form 990 (2012)," accessed October 13, 2015
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Guidestar, "TPPF, IRS Form 990 (2011)," accessed October 13, 2015
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