Show-Me Institute

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Show-Me Institute is an American free-market think tank based in St. Louis, Missouri (The Show Me State). Founded in 2005,[1] it focuses on economic policy[2] issues in the state of Missouri. The self-declared mission of the Show-Me Institute is "advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy."[3] The president of the Show-Me Institute is Rex Sinquefield and the chairman is Crosby Kemper III.[4]

The institute's first study, released in March 2006, argued for the elimination of the earnings tax in St. Louis and Kansas City.[5] In February 2007, the institute released a widely-discussed report on mayoral control of the St. Louis public school system.[6] In October 2007, the Institute held a conference with leading education policy and legal scholars on the impact of the Missouri Supreme Court's school finance decision.[7] While the institute was not involved in the case, three of the organization's board members intervened on behalf of taxpayers in the case and helped defeat a judicially-mandated increase in education funding. In January 2008, the institute released a study on the fiscal impact of a proposed tax cut for parents of privately schooled children[7] via a tuition tax credit. In August 2010, the institute released a study on the correlation of school superintendent pay and student performance.[8]

Criticism

Rex Sinquefield, president of the Show-Me Institute, has received criticism for his heavy donations to political candidates in the state.[9] The Show-Me institute has been criticized because much of its leadership, including Sinquefield, have made large donations to state politicians whose policies are related to the subjects of Show-Me Institute studies.[10][11] The Institute performed a poll of parental attitudes toward school choice that some critics described as a push poll.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Tom Petruno (2005-12-30). "Dimensional's 'Passive' Course Pays Off; Rex Sinquefield retires 33 years after setting out key tenets of the investment strategy.". Los Angeles Times. 
  2. ↑ Show-Me Institute Policy Areas
  3. ↑ About the Show-Me Institute
  4. ↑ Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
  5. ↑ "Think Tank Urges KC To Do Away With Earnings Tax". KMBC.com. 2006-05-24. 
  6. ↑ Steve Giegerich, "Mayoral control of schools is best, report concludes." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 6, 2007.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Miller, Susan. "Washington Missouri - Bill Would Give Tax Break to Private School Parents". www.emissourian.com. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  8. ↑ Martin, Catherine. "Study examines influences on superintendents’ pay". Columbia Daily Tribune. 
  9. ↑ Rosenbaum, Jason. "Politics Blog – The Rex Factor". Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  10. ↑ "Pro Voucher Contributors Increase their Efforts", Missouri Citizen Education Fund, accessed 2009-3-26
  11. ↑ "Voucher Supporters are Blunt's Biggest Contributors", The Turner Report, accessed 2009-3-26
  12. ↑ Show-Me daily article on criticism by St. Louis Post Dispatch

External links

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