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{{#badges:AEX}}The '''Pioneer Institute''' (PI) is a conservative right-wing pressure group headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, that describes itself as a "[[think tank]] " that describes itself as is "committed to individual freedom and responsibility, limited and accountable government, and the application of free market principles to state and local policy".<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/ Pioneer Institute], organizational website, accessed 2012</ref> It Lovett Peters founded the Pioneer Institute and the [[Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation]] contributes over $100,000 a year to the Institute, according to Annual Reports available on its website.<ref name="ar">Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/annual-reports/ Annual Reports], ''Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research'', 2016.</ref> The Pioneer Institute houses and runs the Center for School Reform,<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/pioneers-staff/ Staff], organizational website, accessed February 2013.</ref> the Shamie Center for Better Government,<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/tag/shamie-center-for-better-government/ Shamie Center for Better Government], organizational website, accessed February 2013.</ref> and the Center for Economic Opportunity.<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/center-for-economic-opportunity/ Center for Economic Opportunity], organizational website, accessed February 2013.</ref> It is known for having a staff that has served in various positions in the recent Republican Massachusetts governors’ governors' administrations (Weld, Cellucci, Swift,<ref>Paul Dunphy and Mark Umi Perkings, Political Research Associates, ''[http://www.publiceye.org/libertarian/pioneer-institute/pi-summ.html The Pioneer Institute: Privatizing the Common Wealth]'', book published by research organization, July 2002.</ref> and Romney).<ref name="Globe2">Yvonne Abraham, [http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4857-DSH0-00SX-Y1NT&csi=8110&oc=00240&perma=true Pioneer Group’s Voice Grows Stronger, Think Tank’s Influence Seen In Romney’s Plan] (sub. req'd.), ''Boston Globe'', March 17, 2003.</ref>

__TOC__===Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council=New and Controversies==

The ===Former PI Executive Director Charlie Baker Takes Office as Governor of Massachusetts===On January 8, 2015, Charlie Baker (R) was inaugurated as Governor of the state of Massachusetts.<ref name="baker">Pioneer Institute is for Public Policy Research, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/featured/congratulations-to-gov-charlie-baker/ Congratulations to Gov. Charlie Baker], ''Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research'', January 8, 2016.</ref> Gov. Baker was an executive director of PI for many years and the organization highlighted this on its website on the day he assumed office, "Our confidence stems in part from the fact that the new Governor was one of this organization’s first executive directors, and played a role in a state think tank member number of research initiatives since that time. Our founder, the [[State Policy Network]]late Lovett C. “Pete” Peters, which is surely smiling down on today’s Inauguration with a private sector member great deal of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC)pride. "<ref name="baker"/>

PI is also a member of the ALEC [[Education Task Force]].<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35_day_mailing_ed_stfs2012(1).pdf Education Task Force Meeting, Spring Task Force Summit, The Westin Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, May 11, 2012], organizational meeting agenda, May 11, 2012, document obtained and released by Common Cause.</ref><ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/press_releases/rejection-of-anti-common-core-model-legislation-a-sad-end-to-a-bizarre-process/ Rejection of Anti-Common Core Model Legislation a Sad End to Bizarre Process], organizational press release, November 29, 2012.</ref> {{about_ALEC}}===Ties Strong Connection to Former Gov. Mitt Romney===

==Ties to the Franklin Bradley Foundation==In 2014 the Pioneer Institute received [[Contributions of the Bradley Foundation | $50,000]] from the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]. Bradley detailed the most recent grants in internal documents examined by the Center for Government Media and Democracy (CMD). Below is a description of the grant prepared by CMD. The quoted text was written by Bradley staff. '''2014''': $50,000 to support its distribution of its study on the impact of the Common Core State Standards. “Faced with the prospect of the Common Core Initiative overwhelming its successful K 12 reform effort, the Pioneer Institute produced a series of white papers from 2010 13 in the US Department of Education’s promotion of the CCSSI. These papers found the following: that under the Common Core high performing states such as Massachusetts, California, Indiana, Georgia and New Hampshire would see a significant reduction in student exposure to classic works of literature, higher level math and history and civics courses; that under the Common Core the federal government was in violation of laws prohibiting the US Department of Education from directing K 12 curricula, curricular materials, and instructional practice in the states; and that under the Common Core some $16 billion in unfunded mandates will be placed on the states.” Pioneer planned to use the grant to publish its findings, authored by Peter Wood, President of the National Association of Scholars. “Pioneer will work with strategic partners such as Heritage, Cato, the American Principles Project and SPN and certain key attorneys general to provide testimony on the Core and to develop a public policy at the state level for the adoption of K 12 state curricular standards.”{{Bradley}}==Ties to the Koch Brothers==The Pioneer Institute for Public IntegrityPolicy Research has strong ties to the Koch Brothers. PI is a "partner organization" in the [[Charles Koch Institute]]'s Liberty@Work program, which places students at its Institute in non-profits aligned with Koch interests across the country.<ref>Charles Koch Institute, [https://www.charleskochinstitute.org/professional-education/partner-organizations/ Partner Organizations], ''Charles Koch Institute'', 2016.</ref> In addition, [[David Koch]] has contributed over a $100,000 a year nearly every year between 1998 and 2014.<ref name="ar"/> {{Template:KochConnection}} ==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==

The Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research is has ties to the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC). It has been listed as hosting a member of the ALEC [[Franklin Center for Government and Public IntegrityEducation Task Force]] "investigative journalists." <ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.sourcewatchcommoncause.org/imagesatf/ecf/e4%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/Franklin_Center_Statehouse_News_Bureaus35_day_mailing_ed_stfs2012(1).jpg Statehouse News Bureauspdf Education Task Force Meeting, Spring Task Force Summit, The Westin Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, May 11, 2012], [http://www.sourcewatch.org Source Watch]organizational meeting agenda, accessed March 23May 11, 2012 , document obtained and released by Common Cause.</ref> The Franklin Center funds reporters in over 40 states.<ref>The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. Pioneer Institute, [http://www.franklincenterhqpioneerinstitute.org/2376press_releases/thinkrejection-of-anti-common-tankcore-journalismmodel-thelegislation-a-sad-end-futureto-ofa-investigativebizarre-reportingprocess/ Think tank Journalism: The Future Rejection of Investigative JournalismAnti-Common Core Model Legislation a Sad End to Bizarre Process]. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011organizational press release, November 29, 2012.</ref> Despite their non-partisan description, many of and the websites funded [[Health and Human Services Task Force]]. An August 2013 ALEC board document obtained by ''The Guardian'' suggests that the Franklin Center have received criticism for their conservative bias.Pioneer Institute terminated its ALEC membership on March 18, 2013 after it was "kicked out of ALEC (?) because of education issue"<refname="ALECboard">The Portland Press Herald. American Legislative Exchange Council, [httphttps://wwws3.pressheraldamazonaws.com/news/watchdog-website-puts-a-new-spin-on-politics_2010-10-02s3.html 'Watchdog' website puts a new spin on politics']documentcloud. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011. <org/ref><ref>Truthout. [http:documents/841593/www.truthalec-outdocs.org/koch-spider-web/1312231636 The Koch Spider Webpdf ALEC 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting Board Meeting packet]. News website. Accessed , organizational documents, August 196, 2013, released by ''The Guardian'' December 3, 20112013. </ref> On it(presumably a resolution in opposition to Common Core that passed the Education Task Force twice but was voted down by ALEC's website, the Franklin Center claims that it "provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwideboard)." <ref> Sara JervingPioneer Institute, [http://www.prwatchpioneerinstitute.org/newspress_releases/2011/10/10971/franklinrejection-of-anti-common-core-model-legislation-centera-rightsad-wingend-fundsto-statea-newsbizarre-source Franklin Center: Rightprocess/ Rejection of Anti-Wing Funds State News SourceCommon Core Model Legislation a Sad End to a Bizarre Process], [http://www.prwatch.org PR Watch]organizational press release, October 27November 29, 2011 2012.</ref>SPN is also a private sector member of ALEC.

==Pioneer's History: Ties to Oil the Franklin Center for Government and Gas Magnate and GOP ApparatchiksPublic Integrity==

{{Template:Franklin Ties}} ==History== The Pioneer Institute was founded with a $160,000 grant (and matching grants requested from personal friends)<ref name="Globe">Joan Vennochi, [http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=3SJD-VDF0-0038-832T&csi=8110&oc=00240&perma=true Pioneer Institute, which has the ear of the new governor, emerged from the rubble of conservative think tanks] (sub. req'd.), ''Boston Globe'', December 11, 1990.</ref> in 1988 by businessman Lovett C. Peters (1913-2010), who made his millions in the oil and gas industry, including at Energy Ventures, Conoco , and Bankers Trust. Civil rights attorney Harvey A. Silverglate told the ''Boston Globe'' upon Peters' death in 2010, "His creature, the Pioneer Institute, follows Pete’s lead . . ." Peters' son Daniel runs the Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation, a major donor to the cause of education privatization.<ref>J.M. Lawrence, [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2010/11/19/lovett_pete_peters_founder_of_pioneer_institute_at_97/?page=full Obituaries: Lovett ‘Pete’ Peters, founder of Pioneer Institute; at 97], ''Boston Globe'', November 19, 2010.</ref> Peters received the "Roe Award" -- named after SPN founder [[Thomas A. Roe]] -- from SPN and the "Champions of Freedom Award" from SPN member the [[Mackinac Center for Public Policy]] in Michigan. He was a member of the [[Mont Pelerin Society]]<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://web.archive.org/web/20100110211041/http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/about_lovett_c_peters.php About: Pioneer's Staff: Lovett C. Peters], organizational website, archived by the WayBack Machine January 10, 2010.</ref> (a right-wing "free market" organization convened in 1947 by economist [[F.A. Hayek]] that counts among its current and former members [[Charles G. Koch]]<ref>[[Mercatus Center]], [http://mercatus.org/charles-koch Charles Koch], organizational biography, accessed February 2013.</ref> and [[Thomas A. Roe]]).<ref name="CRC">John J. Miller, [https://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1185478634.pdf Safeguarding a Conservative Donor’s Intent: The Roe Foundation at 39], ''Foundation Watch'', Capital Research Center publication, May 2007, accessed September 2012</ref>

Known SPN think tanks do not as a general rule publicly disclose their donors. Pioneer, however, does list select donors (without specific donation amounts) in its [http://pioneerinstitute.org/annual-reports/ annual reports], which show that David Koch has given at least $100,000 a year directly to the organization in most years since 1998.<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/annual-reports/ Annual Reports], organizational website, accessed November 2013.</ref> CMD has also discovered that [[David Koch]] gave $125,000 directly to the Massachusetts-based SPN member think tank [[Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research]] in 2007, making him (individually) the largest donor that year. A list of 2007 funders that was disclosed to the IRS was inadvertently made public. That list of funders -- featuring Pennsylvania-based Sovereign Bank, oil and gas magnate Lovett C. Peters, banker William Edgerly, retired Blue Seal Feeds CEO Dean Webster (former director of the right-wing think tank Capital Research Center), Mitt Romney's lieutenant governor Kerry Healey, and textile heir Roger Milliken in addition to David Koch -- provides an important case study in how SPN's member think tanks are funded, and by whom.<ref>Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/222/632/2007-222632081-040b0d54-9.pdf 2007 Form 990], organizational IRS filing, April 28, 2008, Schedule B on file with CMD.</ref> Other known funders of the Pioneer Institute include:

*Mary Z. Connaughton, Director of Government Transparency & Director of Finance and Administration*Joshua ArchambaultBarbara Anthony, Director of Health Care Policy and Program ManagerSenior Fellow in Healthcare*Tom Birmingham, Middle Cities InitiativeDistinguished Senior Fellow in Education

*Erin ElefanteRebekah Paxton: Research Assistant*Gregory Sullivan, Research Director, Director of the Centers for Better Government and Economic Opportunity*Chase Bosworth, Communications Assistant*Lauren Corvese, DevelopmentCoordinator and Research Assistant

*Iliya AtanasovGeorge Parker, Director of Individual Giving*Joshua Archambault, Senior Fellow*Cara Candal, Senior Fellow on Financein Education

*Amy LischkoIliya Atanasov, Senior Fellow on Health CareFinance*Lovett C. Peters Fellow in Healthcare*John Sivolella, Senior Fellow in Law and Policy 

*Stephen Fantone, Chairman ; President/CEO, Optikos Corporation

*C. Bruce Johnstone, Vice-Chair; Managing Director and Senior Marketing Investment Strategist, Fidelity Investments*Nancy AnthonyJames Joslin, Treasurer

Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research <br>85 185 Devonshire Street , Suite 1101<br>Boston, MA 0210902110 <br>

URLWebsite: http://wwwpioneerinstitute.org<br>Email: pioneer@pioneerinstitute.org<br>Twitter: https://twitter.com/PioneerBoston<br>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PioneerInstitute/ ==Articles and Resources== ===Related SourceWatch Articles=== {{Template:SPN SW}} ===Related PRWatch Articles=== {{Template:SPN PRW}} ===External Resources=== {{Template: SPN Ex}}

[[Category:think Think tanks]]{{stub}}[[Category:Right wing]][[Category:SPN Exposed]][[Category:ALEC Exposed]][[Category:ALEC Members]][[Category:ALEC Non-Profits]][[Category:Koch Connection]][[Category:Politics (U.S.)]]