Buckeye Institute

The Buckeye Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, free-market public policy think tank.[2][4] The organization, based in Columbus, Ohio, says its mission is "to advance free-market public policy in the states."[5]

The Buckeye Institute
Formation1989 (1989)[1]
FounderSam Staley[2]
TypeNonprofit public policy think tank
Location
President & CEO
Robert Alt
Revenue (2015)
$1,663,628[3]
Expenses (2015)$1,135,692[3]
Websitewww.buckeyeinstitute.org

History and leadership

In 1989, economist Sam Staley founded the Urban Policy Research Institute (UPRI) in Dayton, Ohio.[2] In 1994, UPRI was reorganized into the Buckeye Institute. The organization's original researchers were centered at Wright State University. In 1999, The Buckeye Institute moved from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio.[1]

Columbus Mayor Greg Lashutka was a former chair of the organization's board of directors.[6] Matt Mayer, who went on to found Opportunity Ohio, led the organization from 2009 through 2011.[7] Robert Alt, The Buckeye Institute's current president, assumed that role in October 2012.[8]

Organizational structure

The Buckeye Institute has several research fellows and scholars responsible for conducting the group's research into various public policy debates, including health care, education, and economic development. The Buckeye Institute started a legal advocacy group, the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, which was eventually spun off on its own.[9]

Policy issues

The Buckeye Institute has eight focus areas: accountable government, budget and taxes, education, energy and environment, federalism, health care, labor, and legal.[10] In each of those issue areas, Buckeye staff produce peer-reviewed policy reports, provide expert testimony to Ohio's state legislature and the United States Congress, and submit amicus briefs to state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

As part of its accountable government priority area, the Buckeye Institute also has searchable salary databases, using publicly available information, for local, state, K-12, and higher education public employees. The organization has called its salary databases “the key to transparency” for government.[11] Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel mirrored the Buckeye Institute's efforts on his own transparency website.

Taxes and spending

The Buckeye Institute has supported a reduction in the Ohio state income tax.[12] The Buckeye Institute has twice published "The Piglet Book", an account of government spending that it deems wasteful.[13]

In 2006, the organization supported a proposed constitutional amendment that would have placed annual limits on the growth of tax revenue and government spending, similar to other states' Taxpayer Bills of Rights.[14]

Education

The Institute produces reports and research that promote a market-based approach to education, including vouchers and charter schools.[15]

In 2008, the Buckeye Institute launched a database which includes publicly available information about the salaries of Ohio public school teachers.[16]

References
  1. Crawford, Dan (August 9, 1999). "Central location prompts Buckeye Institute to move". Columbus Business First. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  2. "Buckeye Institute taps Staley". Dayton Business Journal. June 7, 2002. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  3. "Buckeye Institute" (PDF). Foundation Center. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  4. Weiser, Carl (February 6, 2012). "Former Portman aide selected to lead Buckeye Institute". Cincinnati.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  5. "About Us". Buckeye Institute. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  6. "Lashutka lands on Buckeye Institute board". Columbus Business First. December 11, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  7. Rouan, Rick (November 7, 2011). "Buckeye Institute chief stepping down". Columbus Business First. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  8. "Buckeye Institute names new president from Heritage Foundation". Columbus Business First. October 1, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  9. Provance, Jim (January 2, 2012). "Lucas Co. native leads new breed of law writer". Toledo Blade. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  10. "Issues » The Buckeye Institute". www.buckeyeinstitute.org. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  11. "Ohio teacher salaries available through Buckeye Institute database". Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  12. Miller, Jay (March 16, 2014). "Kasich's plan is taxing nerves of some business and conservative leaders". Crain's Cleveland Business. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  13. Horne, Bill (June 5, 2006). "Put our interests before special interests". The Times-Gazette. Hillsboro, Ohio. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  14. "Blackwell joins think tank as public-policy scholar". The Toledo Blade. Toledo, Ohio. February 16, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  15. Hawthorne, Michael (April 30, 1998). "Issue 2 vote won't settle education debate". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  16. McRae, Sarena (December 11, 2008). "Ohio teacher salaries available through Buckeye Institute database". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2009.

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