John Locke Foundation

The John Locke Foundation Inc.
Founded 1990
Founder Arthur Pope
Type think tank
56-1656943
Coordinates 35°46′48″N 78°38′31″W / 35.7800°N 78.6420°WCoordinates: 35°46′48″N 78°38′31″W / 35.7800°N 78.6420°W
Key people

John Hood, Chairman

Kory Swanson, President
Budget
 Revenue: $3,425,041
Expenses: $3,383,535
(FYE June 2013)[1]
Website www.johnlocke.org

The John Locke Foundation (JLF) is a conservative 501(c)(3) think tank based in North Carolina started in 1990. Its mission statement says the "John Locke Foundation employs research, journalism, and outreach programs to transform government through competition, innovation, personal freedom, and personal responsibility. JLF seeks a better balance between the public sector and private institutions of family, faith, community, and enterprise."[2] The organization advocates lowering taxes, decreasing spending on social welfare programs, and encouraging free markets. Kory Swanson is its current president.

It is named after the philosopher John Locke, who was a primary contributor to what academia understands as the idea of classical liberalism.

The Foundation is concerned primarily with state and local issues. The John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy was in its initial stages a project of the John Locke Foundation. A co-founder is Art Pope, and his family foundation provides most of the support for the center.[3]

History and organization

The foundation was founded in 1990 to be an independent think tank that would work “for truth, for freedom, and for the future of North Carolina.” [4]

Research publications

The John Locke Foundation's research staff regularly publishes scholarly articles and reports on topics such as budget and tax policy; regulatory, legal, and environmental policy; education policy; and county and local government, including transportation and land-use policies. Those reports are available for review online.[5]

According to North Carolina's WRAL news, "John Locke Foundation are frequently quoted in news outlets across the state and appear as guests on public affairs programs. Columns by foundation staff appear in local newspapers." [6]

The foundation initiated publishing an index of freedom, ranking each of the states in their relative freedom. [7][8]

The foundation and has joined with conservative groups to write Congress urging an end to an end to tax credits for wind power and natural gas-fueled vehicles.[9]

Every two years, the John Locke Foundation produces an agenda document that focuses on key issues North Carolina state and local governments must address. The latest version of that document is Agenda 2010.[10]

The John Locke Foundation also publishes the Carolina Journal, a monthly publication, as well as CarolinaJournal.com and a weekly hour-long news program, Carolina Journal Radio.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Quickview data". GuideStar. See also "Charity Rating". Charity Navigator.
  2. ↑ John Locke Foundation: About
  3. ↑ Miller, John J. (December 4, 2009). "The Fisherman's Friend".
  4. ↑ http://www.wral.com/john-locke-foundation/12148346/#D4JTRPB2yxgH58F5.99
  5. ↑ John Locke Foundation: Research
  6. ↑ http://www.wral.com/john-locke-foundation/12148346/#D4JTRPB2yxgH58F5.99
  7. ↑ http://reason.com/blog/2015/02/23/florida-the-freest-state-in-the-country
  8. ↑ http://nypost.com/2015/03/01/high-taxes-regulations-make-ny-dead-last-in-freedom/
  9. ↑ Abowd, Paul (October 22, 2012). "Obscure nonprofit threatens campaign finance limits beyond Montana". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  10. ↑ John Locke Foundation: 2010 Agenda
  11. ↑ John Locke Foundation: Carolina Journal

External links