Open main menu

Changes

John Locke Foundation

19,191 bytes added, 21:00, 12 November 2018
{{#badges: Climate change}} The '''John Locke Foundation''' (JLF) is a right-wing, free-market think tank pressure group based in North Carolina. The JLF Created in 1990, it describes itself as, "...an independent, nonprofit [[think tank]] that would work 'for truth, for freedom, and for the future of North Carolina.'" <ref>John Locke Foundation, [http://www.johnlocke.org/about/ "About the John Locke Foundation"], accessed November 2007.</ref> It is an affiliate member of the [[State Policy Network]] (SPN).<ref>State Policy Network, [https://spn.org/organization/john-locke-foundation/ John Locke Foundation], ''SPN website'', Accessed August 23, 2017.</ref>
==The John Locke Foundation and global warming==JLF publishes the monthly [https://www.carolinajournal.com/about/ Carolina Journal] a right-wing nonprofit news site.
__TOC__
 
==News and Controversies==
 
===JLF Called Out for Blocking Action on Climate Change===
 
In July of 2016, nineteen U.S. Senators delivered a series of speeches denouncing climate change denial from 32 organizations with links to fossil-fuel interests, including the John Locke Foundation.<ref name="sw">Sheldon Whitehouse, "[https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/senators-call-out-web-of-denial-blocking-action-on-climate-change Senators Call Out Web of Denial Blocking Action On Climate Change]," ''Office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse'', July 15, 2016.</ref> Sen. Whitehouse (RI-D), who led the effort to expose "the web of denial" said in his remarks on the floor that the purpose was to,
:"shine a little light on the web of climate denial and spotlight the bad actors in the web, who are polluting our American discourse with phony climate denial. This web of denial, formed over decades, has been built and provisioned by the deep-pocketed [[Koch brothers]], by [[ExxonMobil]], by [[Peabody coal]], and by other fossil fuel interests. It is a grim shadow over our democracy in that it includes an electioneering effort that spends hundreds of millions of dollars in a single election cycle and threatens any Republican who steps up to address the global threat of climate change. . . . [I]t is long past time we shed some light on the perpetrators of this web of denial and expose their filthy grip on our political process. It is a disgrace, and our grandchildren will look back at this as a dirty time in America’s political history because of their work.”<ref name="sw"/>
{{Template:KochConnection}}
 
==Ties to the Bradley Foundation==
 
The [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]] provided $1.5 million over three years (2015-2017) to the [[Civitas Institute]] and the John Locke Foundation (JFL) in North Carolina. Both are affiliated with the State Policy Network and both are almost entirely underwritten by Art Pope, Bradley’s new board chairman and a long-time Koch ally. <ref name="DA2017">David Armiak, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2017/05/31/bradley-foundation-funds-right-wing-media-machine/ Bradley Foundations Funds Right Wing Media Machine], ''Center for Media and Democracy website'', May 31, 2017.</ref>
 
Bradley wants the groups to “create a comprehensive communications infrastructure around four primary elements: radio, online content aggregation, mobile applications, and an AP-style news service for local newspapers” (The Barder Fund, 8/18/15). <ref name="DA2017"/>
 
Bradley also encourages its “[[think tanks]]” to engage in opposition research. It is funding a “Mapping the Left” website at Civitas to track the connections between progressive organizations in North Carolina. There is also a Mapping the Left app:
 
“The Mapping the Left (MTL) project combines data, research and news articles to show the magnitude of the radical Left’s infrastructure in North Carolina. For decades, the liberal/progressive movement has mostly been invisible to the general public. Hiding from the ‘liberal’ label, the well-organized progressive movement has built a network of groups that work together to push an extreme, liberal/progressive agenda that the media has failed to report upon.”
{{Bradley}}
==Connections to Art Pope==
 
The John Locke Foundation receives around 80 percent of its funding from [[Art Pope]], who controls the institute's agenda from its board of directors. It received over $2.5 million from the Pope family foundation in fiscal years 2010-2011.<ref>John William Pope Foundation, [http://jwpf.org/grants/ Grants], organizational website, accessed February 2013.</ref> From its founding in the early 1990s until 2006, "the organization was not taken seriously," according to one North Carolina political figure, but when Pope gained control of his family's fortune in 2006 he began to invest significantly in the organization as he aimed to gain a voice in North Carolina conservative policy circles.<ref name="Mayer">Jane Mayer, "[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/10/10/111010fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all State For Sale]," ''The New Yorker'', October 10, 2011.</ref>
 
A ''New Yorker'' exposé explains that Pope invests not only in the Foundation, but in state-level political elections and other non-profit institutions designed to make his takeover of the North Carolina GOP complete. Marc Farinella, an adviser to North Carolina Governor [[Bev Perdue]], commented that "The Republican agenda in North Carolina is really Art Pope’s agenda. He sets it, he funds it, and he directs the efforts to achieve it. The candidates are just fronting for him. There are so many people in North Carolina beholden to Art Pope—it undermines the democratic process.”<ref name="Mayer"/>
 
==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
 
The John Locke Foundation has ties to several of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC) "task forces." Staff members Daren Bakst, Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies, and Fergus Hodgson, Director of Fiscal Policy Studies, sit on the [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] and the [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]], respectively.<ref>[http://johnlocke.org/research/bio/221 "About JLF Research: Daren Bakst"], organizational website, accessed November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.johnlocke.org/research/bio/511 "About JLF Research: Fergus Hodgson"], organizational website, accessed November 2012</ref> Mr. Bakst gave a presentation to the [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] at ALEC's 2010 annual meeting: “The Limits of EPA Regulatory Power."<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting agenda and materials, July 1, 2010, on file with CMD</ref>
 
John Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies, represents John Locke on the [[Health and Human Services Task Force]].<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, Health and Human Services Task Force meeting agenda and materials, June 30, 2011, on file with CMD</ref> Coletti has sponsored model legislation (the "Patients First Medicaid Reform Act") and has made presentations to the task force.<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, Health and Human Services Task Force meeting agenda and materials, July 1, 2011, on file with CMD</ref><ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, Health and Human Services Task Force meeting agenda and materials, March 31, 2011, on file with CMD</ref>
 
Director of Regulatory Studies, Jon Sanders, was a member of the now defunct [[Public Safety and Elections Task Force]]<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, Public
Safety and Elections Task Force meeting agenda and materials, June 30, 2011, on file with CMD</ref> and Director of Education Studies, Terry Stoops, is a member of the [[Education Task Force]].<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, Education Task Force meeting agenda and materials, July 1, 2011, on file with CMD</ref>
 
An August 2013 ALEC board document obtained by ''The Guardian'' lists the John Locke Foundation as having been part of the [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] and the [[Education Task Force]], but as having terminated its membership on May 11, 2013, although it "would like to join again if can fit in budget."<ref>ALEC 40th Annual Meeting, [https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/841593/alec-docs.pdf ALEC 40th Annual Meeting: Board Meeting], ''ALEC website'', August 6, 2013.</ref>
 
'''Please see [[SPN Ties to ALEC]] for more.'''
 
{{about_ALEC}}
 
==Ties to the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity==
{{Template:Franklin Ties 2}}
 
==The John Locke Foundation and Global Warming==
In July 2007, the John Locke Foundation released a report authored by [[Joel Schwartz]] (a [[climate change skeptic]] then at the [[American Enterprise Institute]]), titled, "A North Carolina Citizen's Guide to Global Warming." <ref>"[http://www.johnlocke.org/policy_reports/display_story.html?id=86 Policy Reports: A North Carolina Citizen's Guide to Global Warming]," John Locke Foundation website, July 25, 2007.</ref> In the report, Schwartz claims that [Al] "Gore's brand of over-the-top climate hysteria has nothing to do with reality"; and that "Most of the greenhouse effect is natural and is due to water vapor naturally in the atmosphere, as well as natural levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and a few other greenhouse gases." <ref>Joel Schwartz, "[http://www.johnlocke.org/acrobat/policyReports/globalwarmingguide.pdf Policy Reports: A North Carolina Citizen's Guide to Global Warming (pdf)]," John Locke Foundation, July 2007.</ref>
In a 2010 investigation by the Institute for Southern Studies, the John Locke Foundation was found to be one of the most outspoken [[climate skeptics]] in North Carolina, working in concert with other groups funded by the [[Koch Brothers]] and [[Art Pope]] to creation the illusion of disagreement about the fundamentals of climate science. Examples cited by the Institute include:<ref name=ss>Sue Sturgis, [http://www.southernstudies.org/2010/10/a-pope-of-climate-denial.html "A Pope of climate denial"] Facing South, October 26, 2010.</ref> * In 2005, shortly after legislation addressing climate change was first introduced at the General Assembly, the foundation released a public policy statement titled "Global Warming Policy: NC Should Do Nothing," which claimed that climate science remains "unsettled."* That same year, the Locke Foundation distributed to all members of the state legislature the Michael Crichton novel "State of Fear," a work of fiction that promoted the views of Dr. [[Fred Singer]], a prominent [[climate skeptic]]. Singer has held positions with the [[Cato Institute]], which was co-founded in 1977 by [[Charles Koch]] and funded by the Kochs, and with other Koch-financed groups including the [[American Council on Science and Health]], the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]], [[Frontiers of Freedom]], [[Heritage Foundation]], [[Institute for Humane Studies]], and the [[National Center for Policy Analysis]].* In 2007, as North Carolina began working on ways to reduce the state's [[greenhouse gas]] emissions, it turned for technical assistance to the [[Center for Climate Strategies]], a nonprofit group of scientists, engineers, business strategists and policy experts that has worked with governments in the U.S., Mexico and Canada on tackling climate change issues. In response, the Locke Foundation launched a series of attacks on the Center, charging that it was founded by an "environmental advocacy group known to take alarmist positions on global warming" -- when in fact it was founded by the [[Pennsylvania Environmental Council]], a business-friendly group whose directors have included representatives of [[Reliant Energy]], [[Dow]], and the [[Academy of Natural Sciences]]. Locke has also teamed up with the [[Heartland Institute]] -- a climate-skeptic group that's been financed by the Kochs -- to hold a conference call during which Locke's research director accused the Center of peddling false assumptions like the idea that "[[carbon dioxide]] emission reduction is the solution to [[global warming]]."* Also in 2007, the Locke Foundation released a policy report titled "A North Carolina Citizen's Guide to Global Warming," assuring readers that the "alarming view" of global warming does not represent the scientific consensus. It went on to assert that "[m]ost of the greenhouse effect is natural and is due to water vapor naturally in the atmosphere, as well as natural levels of [[carbon dioxide]] (CO2), [[methane]], and a few other [[greenhouse gases]]." The report was written by [[Joel Schwartz]], who at the time was a visiting scholar at the Koch-funded [[American Enterprise Institute]].* In addition, Locke has questioned mainstream climate science through a series in the Carolina Journal, the foundation's monthly newspaper, and opinion pieces published by its staff in other outlets, like the 2006 American Spectator article in which Locke editor Paul Chesser accused Christian climate activists of "Biblical illiteracy" and warned that "God has some serious global warming of His own planned." It's also spread its message of doubt through speaking engagements by climate science skeptic [[Pat Michaels]], a climatologist who left the University of Virginia under a cloud of controversy over his industry funding and contrarian views to become a fellow at the Koch-founded and funded [[Cato Institute]], as well as through its Carolina Journal radio show, which has discussed topics like "the biases that help convince global warming alarmists that their cause deserves so much attention." In 2007, North Carolina passed Senate Bill 3 to adopt a minimum requirement for the use of [[renewable energy]] sources by investor-owned electric utilities. The bill requires that 12.5 percent of all electricity sold in the state by 2020 must come from renewable sources or improved efficiency. The John Locke Foundation would like to do away with it altogether, according to the group's 2010 climate agenda.<ref name=ss/> ==John Locke Foundation Fought Renewable Energy==In December 2011, ''Facing South'' reported that representatives of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]], [[American Tradition Institute]] and the [[John Locke Foundation]] were holding forums in the North Carolina coastal communities of Wilmington and Morehead City titled, [http://www.johnlocke.org/events/event.html?id=951 "The Truth About Wind Power on the Coasts of North Carolina"]. N. C. Senate Bill 3, a law that passed in 2007, made the state the first in the Southeast to adopt a minimum requirement for the use of renewable energy sources by investor-owned electric utilities: 12.5 percent by 2025. The groups dismissed the law as an energy tax on the poor. The John Locke Foundation and is calling for repealing it entirely, as well as abandoning all state efforts to address global warming.<ref>Sue Sturgis, [http://www.southernstudies.org/2011/12/climate-science-deniers-join-forces-against-nc-renewable-energy-program.html "Climate-science deniers join forces against NC renewable-energy program"] Facing South, December 9, 2011.</ref> ==John Locke Foundation Ties to the tobacco industryTobacco Industry==
JLF has received funding from [[Phillip Morris]] (PM), and the former president of the JLF sat on the National Advisory Board of a front-group set up by Phillip Morris called the "[[National Smokers Alliance]]."
==Funding==
On its website JLF states that it is a [[501(c)(3)]] "non-profit, nonpartisan think tank supported entirely from voluntary contributions. JLF does not Between 2010 and would not accept government funds. It has 2015 FAS received support from nearly 1$306,500 individualsfrom DonorsTrust, businesseswhich is affiliated with Donors Capital Fund. The twin Donors organizations are advertised as a way for very wealthy people and corporations to remain hidden when "funding sensitive or controversial issues, and foundations" creating a lack of accountability." <ref>John Locke FoundationDonorsTrust, [http://www.johnlockedonorstrust.org/supportwhere-to-start/frequently-asked-questions/ "Support Us"Frequently Asked Questions], accessed November 2007Organizational website, Accessed August 3, 2017.</ref> JLF does not disclose its corporate or foundation funders(See [[DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Grant Recipients]] for more).
''Media Transparency'' state On its website JLF states that it is a [[501(c)(3)]] "non-profit, nonpartisan think tank supported entirely from voluntary contributions. JLF does not and would not accept government funds. It has received $449support from nearly 1,500 individuals, businesses,559 (unadjusted for inflation) in grants in the 1995-2006 period from a number of and foundations including." <ref>John Locke Foundation, [http://www.mediatransparencyjohnlocke.org/recipientgrants.php?recipientID=2302 support/ "John Locke FoundationDonate"], Media Transparency, accessed November 2007.</ref>:*[[Roe Foundation]]*[[Jaquelin Hume Foundation]]*[[Claude RJLF does not disclose its corporate or foundation funders. Lambe Charitable Foundation]]*[[John Templeton Foundation]]*[[JM Foundation]]*[[Brady Education Foundation]]*[[Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation]]
''Media Transparency'' state that JLF has received $334,000 in grants between 1985-2003.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060525083853/http://www.mediatransparency.org:80/recipientprofile.php?recipientID=2302 "John Locke Foundation"], Media Transparency, accessed August 28, 2017.</ref> While JLF does not disclose who its corporate funders are, some of its funding has come from the tobacco industry.
==Personnel==
===Board of Directors===*William T. Graham, Former Superior Court Judge*Ted Hicks, Private Wealth Advisor*[[John Hood]], President , [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/tzt86c00[Pope Foundation]]*[[Roy Cordato]]Christine Mele, Co-Owner of Advance Sound Company*Brad Muller, Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar of Marketing, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry*[[Daren Bakst]]Paul Slobodian, Legal and Regulatory Policy Analyst [http://www.johnlocke.org/about/display_bio.html?id=221]*[[Joseph Coletti]]Founder of Pivot Consulting, Fiscal Policy Analyst [http://www.johnlocke.org/about/display_bio.html?id=167]LLC*[[David Hartgen]]M. Stover, [http://www.johnlocke.org/about/display_bio.html?id=141]At Large Board Member of the Pope Foundation*[[John Hubisz]] [http://wwwJ.johnlockeM.org/about/display_bio.html?id=47]Bryan Taylor, President of KPB Corporation*[[Michael Sanera]] [http://wwwEdwin M.johnlocke.org/about/display_bio.html?id=230]Thomas, Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
'''Former Board of Directors'''*Herb B. Berkowitz*Bruce M. Babcock*Charlie Carter *Dr. James S. Fulghum III, M.D.*Charles F. Fuller*Robert L. Luddy*Dr. Assad Meymandi, M.D.*Baker A. Mitchell, Jr.*Carl Mumpower*Thomas H. Roberg *David M. Stover *J. M. Bryan Taylor *Andy Wells===Staff, Fellows and Scholars==='''President and CEO'''*Kory Swanson President and CEO '''Investor Relations'''*Cindy Kirkley. Manager of Investor Relations '''Outreach'''*Lexi Arthur, Director of Government Affairs & Outreach*Becki Gray, Senior Vice President, John Locke Foundation '''Research Division'''*Dr. Terry Stoops, Director of Research and Education Studies*Donald R. van der Vaart, Senior Fellow*Garland Tucker, Senior Fellow*Dr. Roy Cordato, Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar*Jon Guze, Director of Legal Studies*Joseph Coletti, senior fellow*Jon Sanders, Director of Regulatory Studies*Jordan Roberts, Director of Regulatory Studies '''Communications and Marketing'''*Donna Martinez, VP of Communications and Marketing '''Carolina Journal'''*Don Carrington, Executive Editor, Carolina Journal*Rick Henderson, Editor-in-chief*Mitch Kokai, Senior Political Analyst*Lindsay Marchello, Associate Editor*Kari Travis, Associate Editor, Carolina Journal*John Trump, Managing Editor, Carolina Journal*Dan Way, Associate Editor, Carolina Journal '''Finanace and Operations'''*Bill Gilbert, Vice President of Operations*Page Cox, Director of Financial Operations*Betsy Wilson, Accounting and Outreach '''Design'''*Greg de Deugd, Design Director*Jona McDuffie, Graphic Designer Former staff:*Jon Pritchett, Senior Vice President Donor Relations*Katherine Restrepo, Director of Healthcare Policy*Julie Tisdale, City and County Policy Analyst ==Contact detailsCore Financials==200 West Morgan St'''<big>2016</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/561656943/201840099349301274/IRS990 2016 IRS Form 990], organizational tax filing, December 12, 2017.</ref>*Total Revenue: $3,621,482*Total Expenses: $3,396,192*Net Assets: $1,072,970 '''<big>2015</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, [paper copy 2015 IRS Form 990], organizational tax filing, December 12, 2016. <br/ref>Raleigh*Total Revenue: $3,959,669*Total Expenses: $3,425,195*Net Assets: $859,843 '''<big>2014</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, North Carolina 27601[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/561/656/2015-561656943-0c512694-9.pdf 2014 IRS Form 990], organizational tax filing, December 15, 2015, p. 1.<br/ref>Phone*Total Revenue: $3,370,975*Total Expenses: $3,700,408*Net Assets: (919) 828$317,954 '''<big>2013</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/561/656/2014-561656943-0afc3c82-38769.pdf 2013 IRS Form 990], organizational tax filing, November 14, 2014, p. 1.<br/ref>Website*Total Revenue: $3,335,424*Total Expenses: $3,335,981*Net Assets: $640,906 '''<big>2012</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, [http://www.johnlockeguidestar.org/FinDocuments/2013/561/656/2013-561656943-09e8e855-9.pdf 2012 IRS Form 990], organizational tax filing, November 13, 2013, p. 1.</ref>*Total Revenue: $3,425,041*Total Expenses: $3,383,535*Net Assets: $643,530 '''<big>2011</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/561656943 2011 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, November 13, 2012.</ref>* Total Revenue: $3,446,927* Total Expenses: $3,401,906* Net Assets: $600,823 '''<big>2010</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/561656943 2010 Form 990].</ref>:*Total Revenue: $3,898,632*Total Expenses: $3,644,714*Net Assets: $555,648
==Articles and resources=='''<big>2009</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/561656943 2009 Form 990].</ref>:*Total Revenue: $3,898,632*Total Expenses: $3,644,714*Net Assets: $555,648
===Related SourceWatch articles==='''<big>2008</big>'''<ref>John Locke Foundation, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/561656943 2008 Form 990].</ref>:*[[Joel Schwartz]]Total Revenue: $3,624,086*[[Think tanks]]Total Expenses: $3,549,208*[[Tobacco industry]]Net Assets: $301,730
===References=Contact Information==<references/>Employer Identification Number (EIN): 56-1656943
===External resources==='''John Locke Foundation'''<br>200 West Morgan St, Suite 200<br>Raleigh, North Carolina 27601<br>Phone: (919).828.3876<br>Email: info@johnlocke.org<br>Website: http://www.johnlocke.org/<br>Twitter: [https://twitter.com/JohnLockeNC @JohnLockeNC]<br>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnlockefoundation/
==Articles and Resources==
===Related SourceWatch Articles===
*[[Joel Schwartz]]
{{Template:SPN SW}}
===Related PRWatch Articles===
{{Template:SPN PRW}}===External articlesResources===* StinkTanks.org, "[http://www.stinktanks.org/north-carolina/ SPN in Your State: Art Pope Attempts to Hijack North Carolina's Statehouse with the John Locke Foundation & the Civitas Institute]."* Matea Gold, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-nc-conservative-donor-art-pope-sits-at-heart-of-government-he-helped-transform/2014/07/19/eece18ec-0d22-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_story.html In N.C., conservative donor Art Pope sits at heart of government he helped transform], ''Washington Post'', July 19, 2014.* Saeed Shabazz, "[http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_101081.shtml Activists striking back against conservative legislative agenda in state of North Carolina]," ''The Final Call'', December 26, 2013.{{Template: SPN Ex}}
==References==
<references/>
[[categoryCategory:North Carolina]][[categoryCategory:United States]][[Category:Think tanks]][[Category:Tobaccowiki]][[Category:Tobacco industry]][[Category:Climate change]][[Category:Co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute's International Conference on Climate Change (2009)]][[Category:Renewable energy]][[Category:ALEC Exposed]][[Category:ALEC Non-Profits]][[Category:Koch Connection]][[Category:SPN Exposed]]
1,945

edits