National Center for Policy Analysis

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The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) is a free market think tank primarily funded by private foundations established by wealthy conservative business families and billionaires, including Charles and David Koch. NCPA's mission is to, "unleash the power of ideas for positive change by identifying, encouraging and aggressively marketing the best scholarly research and innovative solutions. We work to educate the public, the media and policy makers about ways to create an opportunity economy for all Americans." [1] The NCPA website states, "Our goal is to develop and promote private, free-market alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector." [2] NCPA is a former associate member of the right-wing State Policy Network (SPN). Several NCPA studies have been featured on SPN's website, including those on healthcare[3] and tax reforms. [4] [5] SPN has also featured joint studies by NCPA and Beacon Hill Institute, which focused on the proposed tax plans of the 2016 presidential candidates. [6] [7]

Koch Wiki

Charles Koch is the right-wing billionaire owner of Koch Industries. As one of the richest people in the world, he is a key funder of the right-wing infrastructure, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN). In SourceWatch, key articles on Charles Koch and his late brother David include: Koch Brothers, Americans for Prosperity, Stand Together Chamber of Commerce, Stand Together, Koch Family Foundations, Koch Universities, and I360.

State Policy Network

SPN is a web of right-wing “think tanks” and tax-exempt organizations in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and the United Kingdom. As of April 2023, SPN's membership totals 163. Today's SPN is the tip of the spear of far-right, nationally funded policy agenda in the states that undergirds extremists in the Republican Party. SPN Executive Director Tracie Sharp told the Wall Street Journal in 2017 that the revenue of the combined groups was some $80 million, but a 2022 analysis of SPN's main members IRS filings by the Center for Media and Democracy shows that the combined revenue is over $152 million.[8] Although SPN's member organizations claim to be nonpartisan and independent, the Center for Media and Democracy's in-depth investigation, "EXPOSED: The State Policy Network -- The Powerful Right-Wing Network Helping to Hijack State Politics and Government," reveals that SPN and its member think tanks are major drivers of the right-wing, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)-backed corporate agenda in state houses nationwide, with deep ties to the Koch brothers and the national right-wing network of funders.[9]

In response to CMD's report, SPN Executive Director Tracie Sharp told national and statehouse reporters that SPN affiliates are "fiercely independent." Later the same week, however, The New Yorker's Jane Mayer caught Sharp in a contradiction. In her article, "Is IKEA the New Model for the Conservative Movement?," the Pulitzer-nominated reporter revealed that, in a recent meeting behind closed doors with the heads of SPN affiliates around the country, Sharp "compared the organization’s model to that of the giant global chain IKEA." She reportedly said that SPN "would provide 'the raw materials,' along with the 'services' needed to assemble the products. Rather than acting like passive customers who buy finished products, she wanted each state group to show the enterprise and creativity needed to assemble the parts in their home states. 'Pick what you need,' she said, 'and customize it for what works best for you.'" Not only that, but Sharp "also acknowledged privately to the members that the organization's often anonymous donors frequently shape the agenda. 'The grants are driven by donor intent,' she told the gathered think-tank heads. She added that, often, 'the donors have a very specific idea of what they want to happen.'"[10]

A set of coordinated fundraising proposals obtained and released by The Guardian in early December 2013 confirm many of these SPN members' intent to change state laws and policies, referring to "advancing model legislation" and "candidate briefings." These activities "arguably cross the line into lobbying," The Guardian notes.[11]

News

On July 10, 2017 the NCPA announced that it would be closing due to financial problems. [12]

Ties to the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

NCPA events, studies, and analyses have been featured in the Bradley Foundation's monthly newsletters. [13] [14] [15] At the end of each newsletter entry, the Bradley Foundation states, "The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation in Milwaukee substantially supports NCPA."

Bradley Files

In 2017, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), publishers of SourceWatch, launched a series of articles on the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, exposing the inner-workings of one of America's largest right-wing foundations. 56,000 previously undisclosed documents laid bare the Bradley Foundation's highly politicized agenda. CMD detailed Bradley's efforts to map and measure right wing infrastructure nationwide, including by dismantling and defunding unions to impact state elections; bankrolling discredited spin doctor Richard Berman and his many front groups; and more.

Find the series here at ExposedbyCMD.org.

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

NCPA has ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). It has been a member of ALEC's Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force and its Health and Human Services Task Force. According to an August 2013 ALEC board document obtained by The Guardian, however, NCPA terminated its ALEC membership, at least temporarily, due to "budget cutbacks" on April 16, 2013. [16]

About ALEC
ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our ExposedbyCMD.org site.

Publications

NCPA Policy Research publications include Policy Reports, [17] Brief Analyses, [18] Issue Briefs, [19] Books, [20] Special Publications, [21] Policy Backgrounders, [22] and Congressional Briefs. [23]

Funding

Between 1986 and 2014 NCPA received $13,663,378 in donations.[24]

Top donors, per Conservative Transparency: [25]

In 2009, the NCPA had $5,197,716 in assets and took in $4,222,443 in revenue.[27]

Funders (and total estimated amounts given, according to MediaMatters):

Foundations gave the following amounts to the National Center for Policy Analysis think tank in 2004: [29]

Core Financials

2014 [30]

  • Total Revenue: $2,629,925
  • Total Expenses: $3,562,505
  • Net Assets: $501,348

2013 [30]

  • Total Revenue: $5,281,913
  • Total Expenses: $4,544,953
  • Net Assets: $1,433,928

2012 [30]

  • Total Revenue: $3,828,486
  • Total Expenses: $5,030,072
  • Net Assets: $696,968

2011 [30]

  • Total Revenue: $4,132,197
  • Total Expenses: $4,924,654
  • Net Assets: $1,898,554

2010 [30]

  • Total Revenue: $4,831,246
  • Total Expenses: $4,789,821
  • Net Assets: $2,691,011

Founding

The NCPA began its existence in 1983 at the University of Dallas.

Its founding board members were:

Personnel

As of August 2017:

Experts [31]

  • Jacki Pick, Senior Fellow
  • Pamela Villarreal, Senior Fellow
  • John R. Graham, Senior Fellow
  • Devon M. Herrick, Senior Fellow
  • David A. Grantham, Senior Fellow
  • Michael Bond, Senior Fellow
  • Roy G. Boyd, Senior Fellow
  • Bill Caruth, Senior Fellow
  • William B. Conerly, Senior Fellow
  • Michael L. Davis, Senior Fellow
  • Brooks Hamilton, Senior Fellow
  • N. Michael Helvacian, Senior Fellow
  • Thomas A. Hemphill, Senior Fellow
  • Estelle James, Senior Fellow
  • Roger Koppl, Senior Fellow
  • Laurence Kotlikoff, Senior Fellow
  • Richard McKenzie, Senior Fellow
  • John D. Merrifield, Senior Fellow
  • Gerald Musgrave, Senior Fellow
  • Phillip K. Porter, Senior Fellow
  • R. David Ranson, Senior Fellow
  • Andrew J. Rettenmaier, Senior Fellow
  • Thomas R. Saving, Senior Fellow
  • Greg Scandlen, Senior Fellow
  • Barry J. Seldon, Senior Fellow
  • David G. Tuerck, Senior Fellow
  • Linus Wright, Senior Fellow
  • Carole Hornsby Haynes, Contributing Fellow
  • Cherylyn LeBon, Contributing Fellow
  • E. Gaylon McCollough, Contributing Fellow
  • Lawrence Pivnick, Contributing Fellow
  • Senthil Thambidorai, Contributing Fellow
  • Chris Wiley, Contributing Fellow
  • Barry Asmus, Senior Economist

Staff [32]

  • James H. Amos, Jr., President & CEO
  • Allen West, Executive Director & Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
  • Jacki Pick, General Counsel and Senior Energy Fellow
  • Joe Barnett, Sr., Director of Policy Research
  • Kristina E. Barton, Special Assistant to the President and CEO
  • Alan Hamill, Development and Policy Associate
  • Luke Twombly, Media Manager
  • Brian Williams, Legislative Director

NCPA Board of Directors [33]

  • Steve Ivy, NCPA Chairman
  • Allen West, NCPA Executive Director and Vice Chairman
  • James H. Amos, Jr., NCPA President & CEO
  • Larry Wedekind
  • Michael Whalen

NCPA Emeritus Board of Directors [33]

Former Staff [34]

  • John C. Goodman, President
  • Jeanette N. Goodman, Chief Development Officer
  • Richard Walker, Senior Vice President
  • Joe Barnett, Director of Publications
  • Ron Lyon, Director of Online Operations
  • Tab Boyles, Director of Events
  • Sharyn L. Casey, Director of Development
  • Eileen Resnik, Senior Development Officer
  • Barry Asmus, Senior Economist
  • H. Sterling Burnett, Senior Fellow
  • Sean R. Tuffnell, Director of Communications
  • Devon M. Herrick, Senior Fellow
  • Brian Williams, Legislative Director

Former Board Members [35]

NCPA Projects

NCPA Project include National Security, [36] Health Care, [37] Taxes,[38] Retirement, [39] Energy,[40] and Youth Programs. [41]

NCPA’s Environment Team (E-Team) [42]

Former Environmental Task Force [57]

Contact

Employer Identification Number (EIN): 75-1804932

Dallas Headquarters:
14180 Dallas Parkway, Suite 350
Dallas, TX 75254
Phone: (972) 386-6272

Washington Office:
600 Pennsylvania SE, #310
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: (202) 830-0177

Web: http://www.ncpa.org/
Blogs: http://www.ncpa.org/ourblogs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NCPA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalCenterforPolicyAnalysis
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-center-for-policy-analysis

Emails:
Allen West: allen@ncpa.org
Donor Relations: development@ncpa.org
Events: events@ncpa.org
Media: media@ncpa.org
Publications: publications@ncpa.org
Washington, DC Office: govrel@ncpa.org
Webmaster: online@ncpa.org

Articles and Resources

External Links

References

  1. National Center for Policy Analysis, Our Mission, NCPA website, Accessed on August 10, 2017.
  2. National Center for Policy Analysis About the NCPA, NCPA website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  3. State Policy Network, Associate Member Updates: National Center for Policy Analysis, SPN website, July/August 2017.
  4. State Policy Network, Associate Member Updates: National Center for Policy Analysis, SPN website, May/June 2016.
  5. State Policy Network, Associate Member Updates: National Center for Policy Analysis, SPN website, January/February 2016.
  6. State Policy Network, Associate Member Updates: Beacon Hill Institute, SPN website, December 2016.
  7. State Policy Network, Associate Member Updates: Beacon Hill Institute, SPN website, October/November 2016.
  8. David Armiak, State Policy Network and Affiliates Raises $152 Million Annually to Push Right-Wing Policies, ExposedbyCMD, September 30, 2022.
  9. Rebekah Wilce, Center for Media and Democracy, EXPOSED: The State Policy Network -- The Powerful Right-Wing Network Helping to Hijack State Politics and Government, organizational report, November 13, 2013.
  10. Jane Mayer, Is IKEA the New Model for the Conservative Movement?, The New Yorker, November 15, 2013.
  11. Ed Pilkington and Suzanne Goldenberg, State conservative groups plan US-wide assault on education, health and tax, The Guardian, December 5, 2013.
  12. Camille Caldera, Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis think tank to close after financial struggles, Dallas News, July 10, 2017.
  13. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, National Center for Policy Analysis to celebrate 25th anniversary with gala dinner, conference, Bradley Foundation website, July 2008.
  14. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, NCPA asks how baby boomers are spending their money, Bradley Foundation website, September 2012.
  15. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, National Center for Policy Analysis' Bob McTeer analyzes the Fed's mandate, Bradley Foundation website, February 2011.
  16. American Legislative Exchange Council, ALEC 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting Board Meeting packet, organizational documents, August 6, 2013, released by The Guardian December 3, 2013.
  17. National Center for Policy Analysis, Policy Reports, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  18. National Center for Policy Analysis, Brief Analyses, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  19. National Center for Policy Analysis, Issue Briefs, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  20. National Center for Policy Analysis, Books, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  21. National Center for Policy Analysis, Special Publications, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  22. National Center for Policy Analysis, Policy Backgrounders, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  23. National Center for Policy Analysis, Congressional Briefs, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  24. Conservative Transparency, Total Value Of Contributions, Conservative Transparency website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  25. 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 25.15 25.16 25.17 25.18 25.19 25.20 25.21 25.22 25.23 25.24 25.25 Conservative Transparency, Top Supporters of National Center for Policy Analysis, Conservative Transparency website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  26. Contributions of the Bradley Foundation, Contributions of the Bradley Foundation: 2015, SourceWatch website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  27. Media Matters: Action Network, National Center for Policy Analysis: Recipients, Archive.org, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  28. Media Matters: Action Network National Center for Policy Analysis: Recipients, Archive.org, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  29. Media Transparency, Recipient Grants: National Center for Policy Analysis, Archive.org website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 ProPublica, National Center for Policy Analysis, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  31. National Center for Policy Analysis, About: NCPA Experts, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  32. National Center for Policy Analysis, About: NCPA Staff, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  33. 33.0 33.1 National Center for Policy Analysis, About: NCPA NCPA Board of Directors, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  34. National Center for Policy Analysis, About the NCPA: NCPA Staff, Archive.org website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  35. National Center for Policy Analysis, About the NCPA: NCPA Board of Directors (partial Listing,NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  36. National Center for Policy Analysis, National Security, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  37. National Center for Policy Analysis, Health Care, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  38. National Center for Policy Analysis, Taxes, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  39. National Center for Policy Analysis, Retirement, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  40. National Center for Policy Analysis, Energy, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  41. National Center for Policy Analysis, Youth Programs, NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  42. National Center for Policy Analysis, About the NCPA’s Environment Team (E-Team), NCPA website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  43. Brian Seasholes, LinkedIn Profile, LinkedIn website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  44. Competitive Enterprise Institute, Christopher C. Horner: Senior Fellow, CEI website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  45. The Hudson Institute, Dennis T. Avery: Former Senior Fellow, HI website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  46. Center for Global Food Issues, Dennis T. Avery, CGFI website, Accessed August 9, 2017.
  47. Heartland Institute, Who We Are: Larry Bell, Heartland Institute website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  48. Reason Foundation, Reason Foundation: Michael De Alessi, Reason Foundation website Accessed August 10, 2017.
  49. Institute for Energy Research, About Us: Robert L. Bradley, Jr., IER website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  50. Cato Institute, Robert L. Bradley Jr.: Adjunct Scholar, Cato Institute website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  51. Cato Institute, Robert J. Michaels: Adjunct Scholar, Cato Institute website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  52. Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Mercatus Center: Robert J. Michaels, Mercatus Center website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  53. California State University at Fullerton, Prof. Robert J. Michaels, CSUF website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  54. Heartland Institute, Who We Are: S. Fred Singer, Heartland Institute website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  55. University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Governmental Studies: Steven F. Hayward, 'UC Berkeley website Accessed August 10, 2017.
  56. Washington Policy Center, Todd Myers: Director, Center for the Environment, WPC website, Accessed August 10, 2017.
  57. National Center for Policy Analysis, Environmental Task Force, Archive.org website, Accessed August 9, 2017.