Helpful Think Tanks
Think tanks are one of the primary engines in changing US domestic and international policy. These organizations provide ideas and analysis on new ideas that later become law. An example is welfare to work. Before this concept became popular and later law, it was discussed at length by think tanks.
Think tanks constantly publish excellent data and analysis, then place it on the web, for free. Generally, the goals of think tanks are to educate people, propose new policy, justify new policy and advocate new policy. The primary ways these objectives are accomplished is by publishing papers and analysis for use by elected officials, congressional and adminstration staff; testifying before congressional committees; writing articles and editorials for newspapers and magazines; commenting for TV media; sponsoring speakers and debates; and hosting forums.
The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute are broad based. Others like Insitute on the Economics of Taxation (IRET), Committee for a Responsible Budget and Concord Coalition focus on a few issues. Some of my favorites:
Overall Conservative Issues:
Heritage Foundation. This one covers almost any policy of interest and is my first choice. Briefs, backgrounders and analysis are outstanding. Founded in 1973, this organization changed the way think tanks operated in Washington. www.heritage.org
American Enterprise Institute (AEI). AEI is among the oldest conservative think tanks in the US. www.aei.org
National Center for Policy Analysis. This is a young and aggressive think tank started in Dallas, Texas. In the beginning, it focused on health care, but has since greatly expanded into other policy areas. www.ncpa.org
Hudson Institute. Conservative think tank started in Indianapolis. www.hudson.org
Frontiers of Freedom. This think tank was started by former Senator Malcolm Wallop. It reflects his western conservatism and focus on defense issues. www.ff.org
Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI). IPI was formed in 1987 by ex House Majority Leader Dick Armey. This think tank's primary focus is domestic issues. www.ipi.org.
Hoover Institute. This think tank is based in California. www.hoover.org.
FreedomWorks. Chaired by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, this think tank is the result of a merger of Empower America and Citizens for a Sound Economy. www.freedomworks.org
Cato Institute. This is more of a libertarian than conservative think tank. Yes, conservatives do differ on some issues with liberatarians. www.cato.org
Focused Organizations
Institute for the Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET). IRET was started by Dr. Norman Ture. He served in the Reagan Administration and was a major force in Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. Excellent research and analysis of tax and reform issues. www.iret.org
Americans for Tax Reform. This is Grover Norquist's think tank. As you can guess from the title, this organization focuses on lowing taxes and spending. www.atr.org
Committee for a Responsible Budget. This think tank's primary focus is budget and spending issues. It is bipartisan. www.cfrb.org.
Concord Coalition. Formed in 1993 by ex Secretary of Commerce Pete Petersen, former Senator Warren Rudman and the late Senator Paul Tsongas. This think tank also focuses on budget and spending issues and is also bipartisan. www.concordcoalition.org
Council on Competitiveness. The Council was created as a forum for elevating national competitiveness to the forefront of national consciousness. www.compete.org
The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness. The center looks at federal regulation. www.thecre.com
The Manhatten Institute. This center looks at domestic/social issues focused on New York City. The City Journal is entertaining reading. www.manhattan-institute.org/
Foreign Affairs
Council on Foreign Relations. This is a nonpartisan think tank established in 1921. Excellent analysis and data. www.cfr.org.
Center for Strategic and International Studies www.csis.org
Henry Stimson Center. This center is a little liberal for me, but the work is very good. https://www.stimson.org
GOP Websites
Ripon Society - an organization formed in 1962 for moderate republicans. The Ripon Forum is an enjoyable and educational read. https://www.riponsoc.org.
Republican Main Street Partnership. Another moderate GOP organization formed in 1998. https://www.republicanmainstreet.org
Senate GOP Policy Committee - excellent analysis of legislation before the US Senate. https://www.senate.gov/~rpc/
Senate Republican Conference. Good site for GOP talking points. https://www.senate.gov/src
House GOP Policy Committee - excellent documents pertaining to the legislation before the US House of Representatives. https://policy.house.gov/
Republican Study Committee. This organization consists of conservative members of the US House of Representatives. It produces excellent conservative alternatives and analysis to pending legislation. https://johnshadegg.house.gov/rsc/index.htm
Please let me know if you have any other think tanks you regularly access.
Think tanks constantly publish excellent data and analysis, then place it on the web, for free. Generally, the goals of think tanks are to educate people, propose new policy, justify new policy and advocate new policy. The primary ways these objectives are accomplished is by publishing papers and analysis for use by elected officials, congressional and adminstration staff; testifying before congressional committees; writing articles and editorials for newspapers and magazines; commenting for TV media; sponsoring speakers and debates; and hosting forums.
The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute are broad based. Others like Insitute on the Economics of Taxation (IRET), Committee for a Responsible Budget and Concord Coalition focus on a few issues. Some of my favorites:
Overall Conservative Issues:
Heritage Foundation. This one covers almost any policy of interest and is my first choice. Briefs, backgrounders and analysis are outstanding. Founded in 1973, this organization changed the way think tanks operated in Washington. www.heritage.org
American Enterprise Institute (AEI). AEI is among the oldest conservative think tanks in the US. www.aei.org
National Center for Policy Analysis. This is a young and aggressive think tank started in Dallas, Texas. In the beginning, it focused on health care, but has since greatly expanded into other policy areas. www.ncpa.org
Hudson Institute. Conservative think tank started in Indianapolis. www.hudson.org
Frontiers of Freedom. This think tank was started by former Senator Malcolm Wallop. It reflects his western conservatism and focus on defense issues. www.ff.org
Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI). IPI was formed in 1987 by ex House Majority Leader Dick Armey. This think tank's primary focus is domestic issues. www.ipi.org.
Hoover Institute. This think tank is based in California. www.hoover.org.
FreedomWorks. Chaired by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, this think tank is the result of a merger of Empower America and Citizens for a Sound Economy. www.freedomworks.org
Cato Institute. This is more of a libertarian than conservative think tank. Yes, conservatives do differ on some issues with liberatarians. www.cato.org
Focused Organizations
Institute for the Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET). IRET was started by Dr. Norman Ture. He served in the Reagan Administration and was a major force in Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. Excellent research and analysis of tax and reform issues. www.iret.org
Americans for Tax Reform. This is Grover Norquist's think tank. As you can guess from the title, this organization focuses on lowing taxes and spending. www.atr.org
Committee for a Responsible Budget. This think tank's primary focus is budget and spending issues. It is bipartisan. www.cfrb.org.
Concord Coalition. Formed in 1993 by ex Secretary of Commerce Pete Petersen, former Senator Warren Rudman and the late Senator Paul Tsongas. This think tank also focuses on budget and spending issues and is also bipartisan. www.concordcoalition.org
Council on Competitiveness. The Council was created as a forum for elevating national competitiveness to the forefront of national consciousness. www.compete.org
The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness. The center looks at federal regulation. www.thecre.com
The Manhatten Institute. This center looks at domestic/social issues focused on New York City. The City Journal is entertaining reading. www.manhattan-institute.org/
Foreign Affairs
Council on Foreign Relations. This is a nonpartisan think tank established in 1921. Excellent analysis and data. www.cfr.org.
Center for Strategic and International Studies www.csis.org
Henry Stimson Center. This center is a little liberal for me, but the work is very good. https://www.stimson.org
GOP Websites
Ripon Society - an organization formed in 1962 for moderate republicans. The Ripon Forum is an enjoyable and educational read. https://www.riponsoc.org.
Republican Main Street Partnership. Another moderate GOP organization formed in 1998. https://www.republicanmainstreet.org
Senate GOP Policy Committee - excellent analysis of legislation before the US Senate. https://www.senate.gov/~rpc/
Senate Republican Conference. Good site for GOP talking points. https://www.senate.gov/src
House GOP Policy Committee - excellent documents pertaining to the legislation before the US House of Representatives. https://policy.house.gov/
Republican Study Committee. This organization consists of conservative members of the US House of Representatives. It produces excellent conservative alternatives and analysis to pending legislation. https://johnshadegg.house.gov/rsc/index.htm
Please let me know if you have any other think tanks you regularly access.
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