Alabama Policy Institute Explained

Alabama Policy Institute
Founder:Tom Parker, Gary Palmer
Established:[1]
Mission:Preservation of Free Markets, Limited Government, and Strong Families
President:Stephanie Smith
Budget:Revenue: $1,076,626
Expenses: $1,190,677
(FYE June 2017)[2]
Address:200 Missionary Ridge Drive, Suite 110Birmingham, Alabama 35242

The Alabama Policy Institute (API) is a nonprofit, conservative think tank located in Alabama.[3] According to the organization's mission statement, it is "dedicated to influencing public policy in the interest of the preservation of free markets, limited government and strong families."[4] API is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.[4]

History

The Alabama Policy Institute was founded in 1989 as the Alabama Family Alliance. Alabama Supreme Court justice Tom Parker was the founding executive director.[5] Gary Palmer, a co-founder of the Alabama Family Alliance, eventually became its president.[6] In 2000, the Alabama Family Alliance was renamed the Alabama Policy Institute.

After 25 years at the helm, Palmer stepped down from his role as the institute's president in order to successfully run Alabama's 6th congressional district in 2014. He was replaced by Caleb Crosby, who had served as API's vice president and CFO prior to becoming the group's president in September 2014. On January 25, 2023, Stephanie Smith succeeded Caleb Crosby as API's third President and CEO. Her professional experience includes serving as Director of Governmental Affairs for Regions Financial Corporation, President of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, Assistant Director of Finance for the State of Alabama, Deputy Director of Finance for the State of Alabama, and as Principal of the Thatcher Coalition.[7]

Policy positions

API researches policy issues and offers analysis and proposals through reports and publications to public servants, citizens, and the media. As a conservative think tank, API addresses a range of policy issues in the areas of economics, education, the environment, government, family and society.[4]

API has argued for what they consider to be fairer taxes in Alabama.[8] In 2003, API was a staunch opponent of Republican Governor Bob Riley's $1.2 billion tax increase proposal.[9] [10] It commissioned a study by the Beacon Hill Institute about Riley's tax increase legislation.[11] API has been a critic of proposals for an Alabama state lottery, labeling such proposals a regressive tax on the poor.[12] [13]

API has championed charter schools in Alabama.[14] It strongly supports the Alabama Accountability Act, which expanded school choice and school vouchers in the state.[15] [16] API was a proponent of both the Marriage Act, passed in 1998, and Alabama Amendment 774, which was approved by 81% of Alabama voters in 2006.[17]

In 2014, API released a report titled Alabama's Environment 2014: Six Critical Indicators. It covered energy, air quality, water quality, forests and land, toxic release inventory and climate change. It provided a positive outlook on the state of the environment, arguing that the nation's air quality and the environment in general are improving.[18] [19] [20]

In February 2015, the Alabama Policy Institute and the Alabama Citizens Action Program filed a lawsuit asking the Alabama Supreme Court to halt same-sex marriages in the state until the United States Supreme Court addresses the issue.[21] [22]

API is a member of the advisory board of Project 2025,[23] a collection of conservative and right-wing policy proposals from the Heritage Foundation to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power should the Republican nominee win the 2024 presidential election.[24]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Gore. Leada. Bush staffer tapped to follow Gary Palmer as head of Alabama Policy Institute. 3 March 2015. AL.com. September 11, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402150731/http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/bush_staffer_tapped_to_follow.html#. 2015-04-02. live.
  2. Web site: World Policy Institute . Candid . 14 October 2019.
  3. News: Ex-Bush Staffer to Head Alabama Policy Institute. 3 March 2015. Associated Press. Alabama Public Radio. September 12, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105657/http://apr.org/post/ex-bush-staffer-head-alabama-policy-institute#. 2015-04-02. live.
  4. Web site: About Us. Alabama Policy Institute. 3 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150306211951/http://www.alabamapolicy.org/about-api/#. 2015-03-06. live.
  5. Web site: Associate Justice Tom Parker . Supreme Court of Alabama . 3 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150307041827/http://judicial.alabama.gov/Bios/parker.cfm . 7 March 2015 .
  6. News: Moseley . Brandon . Crosby to Replace Palmer at API . 3 March 2015 . Alabama Political Reporter . September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122810/http://www.alreporter.com/in-case-you-missed-it-2/6735-crosby-to-replace-palmer-at-api.html . 2 April 2015 .
  7. Web site: API Names Stephanie Smith President and CEO. 25 January 2023.
  8. News: Same tired song. 4 March 2015. The Tuscaloosa News. March 21, 2000.
  9. News: Fund. John. Too Damn Stupid. 4 March 2015. Wall Street Journal. August 28, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402234326/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122462311783055755#. 2015-04-02. live.
  10. News: Editing Out the Facts in Alabama. 4 March 2015. FactCheck.org. Annenberg Public Policy Center. June 25, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150501104750/http://www.factcheck.org/2014/06/editing-out-the-facts-in-alabama/#. 2015-05-01. live.
  11. News: Beyerle. Dana. University of Alabama economist Ferguson disputes tax study critical of Riley's package. 4 March 2015. Gadsden Times. July 18, 2003.
  12. Book: Jones. Jeffrey Douglas. The Unaffordable Nation: Searching for a Decent Life in America. 2007. Prometheus Books. 9781616141240. 51.
  13. News: McCulley. Kaitlin. Should Alabama start an education lottery?. 4 March 2015. WIAT. July 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093936/http://wiat.com/2014/07/07/should-alabama-start-an-education-lottery/. 2 April 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  14. News: Beyerle. Dana. Charter school legislation being developed for 2010. 4 March 2015. Gadsden Times. January 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152215/http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20100101/news/100109995#. 2015-04-02. live.
  15. News: Underwood. Madison. School choice advocates plan march on Montgomery to celebrate Alabama Accountability Act. 4 March 2015. AL.com. January 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150304145257/http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/school_choice_advocates_plan_m.html#. 2015-03-04. live.
  16. News: Barnes. Fred. A Conservative Candidate of Character, Conviction, Knowledge, and Leadership. 4 March 2015. Weekly Standard. May 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150102225944/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/conservative-candidate-character-conviction-knowledge-and-leadership_793445.html#.U8Z4Axakq7I.twitter#.U8Z4Axakq7I.twitter. 2015-01-02. live.
  17. https://www.liberty.edu/media/9980/attachments/2015/021115_Petition_-_Mandamus.pdf Emergency Petition for Writ of Mandamus
  18. News: Beyerle. Dana. Parties Dispute State Highway Commission. 4 March 2015. Alabama Exposure. The Tuscaloosa News. April 25, 2004.
  19. News: Vaughan. Wesley. Conservative think tank takes new measure of Alabama's environmental indicators. 4 March 2015. AL.com. July 30, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402141938/http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/post_16.html#. 2015-04-02. live.
  20. News: Hill. John. Six indicators enable reasoned assessment of the environment: guest opinion. 4 March 2015. AL.com. July 30, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150406220135/http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/07/six_indicators_enable_reasoned.html#incart_river#incart_river. 2015-04-06. live.
  21. News: Reeves. Jay. Home> U.S. Alabama Supreme Court Halts Gay-Marriage Licenses. 4 March 2015. Associated Press. ABC News. March 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150307030050/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/alabama-supreme-court-halts-sex-marriage-29369337#. 2015-03-07. live.
  22. News: Robertson. Campbell. Alabama Court Orders a Halt to Same-Sex Marriage Licenses. 4 March 2015. New York Times. March 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150304203318/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/alabama-court-orders-halt-to-same-sex-marriage-licenses.html#. 2015-03-04. live.
  23. Web site: Advisory Board . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231119034220/https://www.project2025.org/about/advisory-board/ . November 19, 2023 . July 8, 2024 . The Heritage Foundation.
  24. News: Mascaro . Lisa . August 29, 2023 . Conservative Groups Draw Up Plan to Dismantle the US Government and Replace It with Trump's Vision . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230922112031/https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981 . September 22, 2023 . July 8, 2024 . Associated Press News.

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