John Locke Foundation
{{#badges: Climate change}} The John Locke Foundation (JLF) is a right-wing, free-market think tank in North Carolina. The JLF describes itself as, "...an independent, nonprofit think tank that would work for truth, for freedom, and for the future of North Carolina." [1]
Contents
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." [2] 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." [3]
The John Locke Foundation and the tobacco 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."
A February 2, 2000 letter from RJR Tobacco Company's Executive VP, External Relations, Tommy Payne to the JDL reads, in part, "Please find enclosed a check in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) made payable to the John Locke Foundation." [4]
A June 30, 1994 Philip Morris document lists Marc Rotterman, the former president of the John Locke Foundation, as a Member of the National Board of Advisors for the National Smokers Alliance, a front-group set up by Phillip Morris. [5][6]
An August, 1994 article written by JLF President, John Hood, in Consumer Research argues for "free-choice" for tobacco users and the loosening of restrictions on tobacco use. [7]
JDL received $5,000 in funding from PM for "public policy" work in 1998 according to the company's 1998 public policy contributions records. [8]
According to the November, 2000 edition of "Issues Watch" the JLF received funding from RJ Reynolds in 1996 for "works to improve public policy debate in North Carolina." [9]
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 and would not accept government funds. It has received support from nearly 1,500 individuals, businesses, and foundations." [10] JLF does not disclose its corporate or foundation funders.
Media Transparency state that JLF has received $449,559 (unadjusted for inflation) in grants in the 1995-2006 period from a number of foundations including[11]:
- Roe Foundation
- Jaquelin Hume Foundation
- Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation
- John Templeton Foundation
- JM Foundation
- Brady Education Foundation
- Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation
While JLF does not disclose who its corporate funders are, some of its funding has come from the tobacco industry.
Personnel
- John Hood, President [1]
- Roy Cordato, Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar
- Daren Bakst, Legal and Regulatory Policy Analyst [2]
- Joseph Coletti, Fiscal Policy Analyst [3]
- David Hartgen, [4]
- John Hubisz [5]
- Michael Sanera [6]
Contact details
200 West Morgan St.
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
Phone: (919) 828-3876
Website: http://www.johnlocke.org/
Articles and resources
Related SourceWatch articles
References
- ↑ John Locke Foundation, "About the John Locke Foundation", accessed November 2007.
- ↑ "Policy Reports: A North Carolina Citizen's Guide to Global Warming," John Locke Foundation website, July 25, 2007.
- ↑ Joel Schwartz, "Policy Reports: A North Carolina Citizen's Guide to Global Warming (pdf)," John Locke Foundation, July 2007.
- ↑ T.J. Payne, Letter, Bates Number 522493786, February 2, 2000.
- ↑ Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, "National Smokers' Alliance Exposed", undated, accessed November 2007.
- ↑ "NSA National Board of Advisors", Bates Number 2047870829, June 30, 1994.
- ↑ J. Hood, "Anti-Smoking War Could Deny Consumers Choice", Consumer Research, John Locke Foundation, Bates Number 2503017203, June 1994.
- ↑ Philip Morris, "980000 Public policy Contributors", Bates Number 2065243965, December 17, 1998.
- ↑ Issues Watch, Tobacco industry sponsorship in the United States", Bates Number 2078871332, November 1, 2000.
- ↑ John Locke Foundation, "Support Us", accessed November 2007.
- ↑ "John Locke Foundation", Media Transparency, accessed November 2007.