Texas Public Policy Foundation

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Logo of the Texas Public Policy Foundation

The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), a conservative think tank based in Austin, Texas, has in recent years become influential in Texas politics. The stated mission of TPPF is to[1], "improve Texas government by generating academically sound research and data on state issues, and by recommending the findings to opinion leaders, policy makers, the media and general public." The Foundation notes that its guiding principles are "individual liberty, personal responsibility, private property rights, free markets and limited government."

[edit] History

The Texas Public Policy Foundation was initially founded and funded in 1989 by James R. Leininger. Today, the Foundation's [2]board of directors includes nearly two dozen men and women from around the state. TPPF was originally based in San Antonio, and moved to Austin in 2003.

TPPF is organized in issue-area centers: Health Care, Education, Fiscal, Economic Freedom, and Effective Justice. Those centers issue research reports and briefing papers monthly.

TPPF hosts an annual conference known as the "Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature," and draws in excess of 600 attendees.

During the year, the organization hosts monthly policy events, known as "Policy Primers" covering a range of issues.

TexasBudgetSource.com is a project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation with the goal of providing 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.

[edit] TPPF staff

Brooke Rollins, President
Bill Peacock, Vice President of Administration Director, Center for Economic Freedom
Mary Katherine Stout, Vice President of Policy, Director, Center for Health Care Policy Studies
Shari Hanrahan, Vice President of Outreach and Director of Development
David Guenthner, Director of Media and Government Relations
Talmadge L. Heflin, Director, Center for Fiscal Policy Studies
Marc Levin, Director, Center for Effective Justice
Kathleen Hartnett White, Director, Center for Natural Resources
Brooke Dollens Terry, Policy Analyst, Center for Education Policy
Drew Thornley, Policy Analyst, Center for Economic Freedom/Center for Natural Resources
Kalese Hammonds, Policy Analyst, Center for Health Care Policy Studies
James Quintero, Policy Analyst, Center for Fiscal Policy Studies
Arlene Wohlgemuth, Visiting Research Fellow, Center for Health Care Policy Studies
Joe Nixon, Visiting Research Fellow, Center for Economic Freedom
Sally Lay, Director of Development
Scott Specht, Donor Relations Manager
Angie Choueifati, Events Manager
Nancy Druart, Publications and Marketing Manager
Greg Sindelar, Director of Operations
Mike Joyce, Operations Manager
Katherine Broyles, Executive Assistant