What do we know about Tennessee Center for Policy Research?

[helderheid]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200702270009

"In contrast with Stouffer's characterization of TCPR as an "environmental group," TCPR states in its frequently asked questions section on its website that it "focuses its research on economic policy" and has a "framework of individual liberty, property rights, free markets and limited government." TCPR also lists four "Policy Areas": education, healthcare, tax and budget, and "(o)ther," which it defines as "research that reflects the Founding Fathers' vision of a free society grounded in property rights and individual liberty based in personal responsibility.""

from: http://www.theihs.org/internship_programs/id.753/default.asp

Tennessee Center for Policy Research (Nashville, TN): The Tennessee Center for Policy Research promotes personal freedom and limited government through policy solutions that: 1) Generate economic growth through reduced tax and regulatory burdens on individuals and businesses; 2) Create unmatched educational opportunity by empowering parents, students and teachers with choices and opportunities; 3) Advance healthcare solutions that restore dignity and encourage personal responsibility; 4) Identify opportunities to reduce cost and increase efficiency in all levels of government; and 5) Reflect the Founding Fathers’ vision of a free society grounded in property rights and individual liberty and based on personal responsibility. Interns will mainly research policy issues and author op-eds and press releases. At other times the intern may attend meetings and interviews with legislators/policy makers, attend other policy-related events, and help out with development/office activities. Candidates should preferably have an interest in state government and knowledge of Tennessee government and geography. A basic economics/econometrics and statistics understanding is valued and knowledge of Excel is useful. Candidates with coursework in business, political science, or economics is preferred.

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=9&screen=news&news_id=54656

Dept. of Revenue says conservative think tank ‘not a legitimate group’
By John Rodgers, [e-mail]
February 16, 2007

The state’s Department of Revenue is refusing to respond to inquiries from a conservative watchdog organization over a controversial tax, labeling them “not a legitimate group.”

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR), who bills themselves as an “independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research and educational institute,” made the inquiries to different employees of the Department of Revenue in early January regarding the unauthorized substances tax’s budget.

A City Paper public records request revealed inner-department e-mails about the decision not to respond to the Tennessee Center for Policy Research or its executive director, Drew Johnson.

The conservative watchdog group has been very critical of the unauthorized substances tax, or the “crack tax,” which requires drug dealers to buy stamps from the state showing that they have paid taxes on the illicit drugs.

TCPR says administering the tax costs more than the revenues the state collects and cites a Davidson County Chancery Court ruling that the tax is unconstitutional.

Officials in the revenue department elected not to respond to TCPR’s phone calls about the “crack tax.”

“Heads up: Several in the department are receiving calls from this group, re: the unauthorized substances tax. Please let your staff know this is not a legitimate group and therefore, we’re not responding to them. Let me know if anyone in your group is contacted by them. (By the way, this is Drew Johnson’s org.) Thanks,” a Jan. 3 e-mail from Director of Communications Emily Richard to the revenue department’s general counsel and its audit director.

In response, Johnson said the revenue department is “overtly keeping information from the public” and “overtly trying to block information from a group that they are afraid might be critical of them.”

More at link

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=9&screen=news&news_id=54656

edit: emphasis added

Please add your own research

[helderheid]

1. kick

[displacedtexan]

2. Visit the site and click on "about"...

Pepperdine, AEI people, etc.

(not that all Pepperdine grads are wingnuts... just the ones I know.)

[mcscajun]

3. About its president, Drew Johnson...

The president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, Drew Johnson, served for a time at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI). AEI is a RW think-tank, and one of the designers behind Shrub's public policy.

[helderheid]

4. I actually see this all as an encouraging sign - no one would go to such lengths unless they were

terrified.

[Jacobin]

5. Libertarians, maybe?

Libertarians are republicans who like to smoke dope.

[spanone]

6. Says it all: Dept. of Revenue says conservative think tank ‘not a legitimate group’

Only proves how compliant our media is when it comes to coddling the right wingers.

[helderheid]

7. true true