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Show-Me Institute

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The '''Show-Me Institute''' (SMI) is a Missouri-based [[think tank]] that describes itself as a nonpartisan "research and educational institute dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Missouri."<ref name="Show-Me About">Show Me Institute, [http://showmeinstitute.org/about/ About], organizational website, accessed March 2008.</ref> However, it is led by wealthy conservatives and Republican campaign staffers.<ref name="SMIreport">Progress Missouri, [http://www.progressmissouri.org/SMI What Missourians Need to Know About the Show-Me Institute], organizational report, accessed May 2013.</ref> It was founded in 2005 by billionaire right-wing political donor [[Rex Sinquefield]].<ref name="WSJ">Naomi Schaefer Riley, [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203897404578078551936968168.html Meet One of the Super-PAC Men], ''Wall Street Journal'', October 26, 2012.</ref> SMI is a state think tank member of the [[State Policy Network]] (SPN).
 
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==Ties to the Koch Brothers==
 
SMI has ties to the Koch brothers. The organization received [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/DonorsTrust_and_Donors_Capital_Fund_Grant_Recipients $76,000] from [[DonorsTrust]] and [[Donors Capital Fund]] between 2010 and 2013. Both of these are partially funded by the Kochs.
 
As of November 2016, SMI is listed as a "partner organization" in the [[Charles Koch Institute]]'s Liberty@Work program.<ref>Charles Koch Institute, [https://www.charleskochinstitute.org/professional-education/partner-organizations/ Partner Organizations], ''Charles Koch Institute'', 2016.</ref>
==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
*Opposition to minimum wage laws/raising the minimum wage
*Pension reform for public employees (calling for a shift from defined-benefit plans to defined-contribution plans)<ref name="SMIreport"/>
 
==Strong Supporter of Privatizing Public Education==
In 2008, the Show-Me Institute released a "policy study" titled "The Fiscal Effects of a Tuition Tax Credit Program in Missouri." In contrast with traditional vouchers, where the state directly reimburses a private school for tuition costs, these "tuition tax credit" proposals—sometimes called neo-vouchers—offer tax credits to individuals and corporations who donate to a nonprofit "school tuition organization." The nonprofit then pays for a student's tuition.
 
The Missouri state constitution's strict separation of church and state requires that those seeking to privatize education do so via these neo-vouchers. Unlike the U.S. Constitution, the Missouri constitution bars the use of any public funds in support of religious institutions, including schools.
 
The appeal of neo-vouchers is that the funding for a religious school's tuition doesn't come directly from the state; it comes from the nonprofit "school tuition organization." Even though the nonprofits are funded by tax credits, proponents argue that neo-vouchers wouldn't violate the state constitution's ban on taxpayer funds for religious institutions.<ref name="bf"/>
==Ties to the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity==
==Funding==
On its website the think tank states that "the Institute's board of directors funds the basic operations of the Show-Me Institute. In addition, we seek financial support from individuals, foundations, and corporations who share our vision for the state and want to improve the quality of the public debate. To preserve our independence, we accept no government funding, and we do not perform contract work."<ref name="Show-Me About"/>SMI receives close to a million a year from the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, a group established by Rex Sinquefield, the founder of SMI, and his wife.<ref name="bf">Brendan Fischer and Lisa Graves, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/04/12459/show-me-money-meet-multimillionaire-squeezing-missouris-schools Show Me the Money: Meet the Multimillionaire Squeezing Missouri's Schools], ''PRWatch'', April 29, 2014.</ref> In addition, the non-profit has received a lot of its funding from national organizations, including:*[[Cato Institute]]: $50,000 (2006)<ref>Cato Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/237/432/2006-237432162-02d95084-9.pdf 2006 Annual Report], pages 19-23.</ref>*[[DonorsTrust]] and [[Donors Capital Fund]]: [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/DonorsTrust_and_Donors_Capital_Fund_Grant_Recipients $76,000] (2010-2013)*[[State Policy Network]]: [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Contributions_of_the_State_Policy_Network $82,600] (2013-2014) ==Core Financials== '''<big>2014</big>'''<ref>Show-Me Institute, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2016_01_EO/20-1957878_990_201412.pdf 2014 IRS Form 990], ''Show-Me Institute'', November 16, 2015.</ref>:*Total Revenue: $1,768,351*Total Expenses: $1,362,011*Net Assets: $985,079
In its 2006 annual report, the [[Cato Institute]] stated that it provided a grant of $50,000 to the '''<big>2013</big>'''<ref>Show-Me Institute.<ref>Cato Institute, [http://wwwpdfs.guidestarcitizenaudit.org/FinDocuments2014_12_EO/2006/237/432/2006-237432162-02d9508420-91957878_990_201312.pdf 2006 Annual Report2013 IRS Form 990], pages 19''Show-23Me Institute'', November 10, 2014.</ref>:*Total Revenue: $1,572,668*Total Expenses: $1,476,503*Net Assets: $578,739
The '''<big>2012</big>'''<ref>Show-Me Institute, [[State Policy Networkhttp://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2013_08_EO/20-1957878_990_201212.pdf 2012 IRS Form 990]] gave $87,951.49 to the ''Show -Me Institute in 2007'', according to its 2007 990 tax formAugust 7, 2013.</ref>:*Total Revenue: $1,458,096*Total Expenses: $1,443,711*Net Assets: $482,574
According to a report by ''Progress Missouri'<big>2011</big>', the ''<ref>Show-Me Institute's other right-wing donors include the Koch-funded [[Donors Trust]] and [[Donors Capital Fund]], the [[Bradley Foundation]]IRS form 990, the 2011. [[Roe Foundation]], and the Koch's [[Claude Rhttp://www. Lambe Charitable Foundation]] and [[Charles Gguidestar. Koch Charitable Foundation]org/ GuideStar].</ref name="SMIreport"/>:*Total Revenue: $1,434,730*Total Expenses: $1,383,822*Net Assets: $468,189
==Personnel=====Board of Directors===As of May 2013:'''<big>2010</big>'''<ref>Show-Me Institute, IRS form 990, 2010. [http://showmeinstitutewww.guidestar.org/about-us/board-of-directorsGuideStar].html "Board of Directors"], organizational website, accessed May 2013</ref>:*Total Revenue: $1,695,988*Total Expenses: $1,574,040*Net Assets: $417,281
*Crosby Kemper III'''<big>2009</big>'''<ref>Show-Me Institute, Chairman of the Board*Rex SinquefieldIRS form 990, President*Kevin Short, Vice Chairman of the Board*W2009. Bevis Schock, Secretary*Joseph Forshaw, Treasurer*Stephen F[http://www. Brauer*James Gguidestar. Forsyth III*Louis Griesemer *Honorg/ GuideStar]. Robert M. Heller</ref>:*Michael PodgurskyTotal Revenue: $1,931,999*Gerald A. ReynoldsTotal Expenses: $1,764,858*Steve TrulaskeNet Assets: $295,333
==Personnel==
===Staff===
As of May 2013November 2016:<ref>Show-Me Institute, [http://showmeinstitute.org/aboutour-us/staff.html "Staff"team Our Team], organizational website, accessed May 2013November 2016.</ref>*Brenda Talent, CEO*Sara Meyr Addison, Development Assistant*Rick Edlund, Communications Consultant*Jessica Gatewood, Director of Development*Michael Highsmith, Policy Researcher*Patrick Ishmael, Director of Government Accountability*Michael Q. McShane, Director of Education Policy*Graham Renz, Policy Researcher*Scott Tanner, Executive Assistant*Patrick Tuohey, Western Missouri Field Manager*Andrew B. Wilson, Fellow and Senior Writer*Emily Runge, Research Assistant*Michael Austin, Policy Analyst
'''Former Staff'''*Rick EdlundJennifer Bumb, Communications DirectorOffice Manager*Patrick IshmaelKacie Galbraith, Policy AnalystResearch Assistant
*Elizabeth Lanier-Shipp, Director of Development
*Michael Rathbone, Policy Researcher
*Paul Smith, Development Assistant
*David Stokes, Policy Analyst
*Brenda Talent, Executive Director
*Patrick Tuohey, Western Missouri Field Manager
*Andrew B. Wilson, Fellow
'''Former staff include''':* Jennifer Bumb, Office Manager* Kacie Galbraith, Research Assistant ===Fellows and Scholars===As of May 2013November 2016:<ref>Show-Me Institute, [http://showmeinstitute.org/aboutfellows-and-us/scholars.html "Fellows and Scholars"], organizational website, accessed May 2013November 2016.</ref>*Michael Podgursky, Director - Professor of Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia*Michele BoldrinHoward Wall, Research Fellow - Professor Director of the Institute for the Study of Economics and the Environment (ISEE) at Lindenwood University*Joseph Haslag, Chief Economist - [[Kenneth Lay]] Chair in Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia*Rik W. Hafer, Research Fellow - Professor of Economicsand Finance, Washington Southern Illinois Universityand the Director of the Center for Economics and the Environment at Lindenwood University *Daniel Thorton, Research Fellow - Vice President and economic advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis*Beverly Gossage, Research Fellow
*Susan K. Feigenbaum, Research Fellow - Professor of Economics, University of Missouri-St. Louis
*Beverly Gossage, Research Fellow
*Rik W. Hafer, Research Fellow - Professor of Economics and Finance, Southern Illinois University
*Joseph Haslag, Chief Economist - [[Kenneth Lay]] Chair in Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia
*Michael Podgursky, Director - Professor of Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia
*David C. Rose, Research Fellow - Professor and Chair of Economics, University of Missouri-St. Louis
*Daniel ThortonJames V. Shuls, Ph.D., Research Distinguished Fellow of Education Policy- Vice President Assistant professor of educational leadership and economic advisor policy studies at the Federal Reserve Bank University of StMissouri–St. Louis*Howard WallMichele Boldrin, Research Fellow - Director of the Institute for the Study Professor and Chair of Economics , Washington University*Andrew B. Wilson, Fellow and the Environment (ISEE) at Lindenwood UniversitySenior Writer '''Former Scholars'''
*Bonnie Wilson, Research Fellow - Associate Professor of Economics at Saint Louis University
==Core Financials=Board of Directors===As of May 2013:<ref>Show-Me Institute, [http://showmeinstitute.org/about-us/board-of-directors.html "Board of Directors"], organizational website, accessed May 2013</ref> *Crosby Kemper III, Chairman of the Board*Rex Sinquefield, President*Kevin Short, Vice Chairman of the Board*W. Bevis Schock, Secretary*Joseph Forshaw, Treasurer*Stephen F. Brauer*James G. Forsyth III*Hon. Robert M. Heller*Gregg Keller*Louis Griesemer *Michael Podgursky*Gerald A. Reynolds
'''<big>2011</big>Former Directors'''<ref>Show-Me Institute, IRS form 990, 2011. [http://www.guidestar.org/ GuideStar].</ref>:*Total Revenue: $1,434,730*Total Expenses: $1,383,822*Net Assets: $468,189'''<big>2010</big>'''<ref>Show-Me Institute, IRS form 990, 2010. [http://www.guidestar.org/ GuideStar].</ref>:*Total Revenue: $1,695,988*Total Expenses: $1,574,040*Net Assets: $417,281'''<big>2009</big>'''<ref>Show-Me Institute, IRS form 990, 2009. [http://www.guidestar.org/ GuideStar].</ref>:*Total Revenue: $1,931,999*Total Expenses: $1,764,858*Net Assets: $295,333Steve Trulaske
==Contact DetailsInformation==
Show-Me Institute<br>
4512 West Pine Blvd.5297 Washington Place<br>Saint Louis, MO 63108<br>
Phone: (314) 454-0647<br>
Fax: (314) 454-0667<br>
E-mail: info AT @showmeinstitute.org <br>Website: http://showmeinstitute.org<br>Twitter: https://twitter.com/showme<br>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/showmeinstitute
==Articles and Resources==
[[Category:Think tanks]][[Category:United States]][[Category:Politics (US)]][[Category:ALEC Exposed]]
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