Illinois Policy Inst

primary on union hitsee janus baksee also tillman <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman"> https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman</a>mostly on chic teachers strike=Janus:...The NRTWC is also connected to a variety of rightwing groups such as ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), which is notorious for <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/alec-exposed/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none" font-weight="font-weight" bold="bold" color="color" outline="outline" webkit-tap-highlight-color="webkit-tap-highlight-color" rgba="rgba">authoring a wide variety</a> of right-wing legislation. NRTWLDF is a member of the <a href="https://www.politicalresearch.org/2013/11/25/exposed-how-the-rights-state-based-think-tanks-are-transforming-u-s-politics/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none" font-weight="font-weight" bold="bold" color="color" outline="outline" webkit-tap-highlight-color="webkit-tap-highlight-color" rgba="rgba">State Policy Network</a>, a Koch-backed network of state-based right-wing think tanks and foundations. NRTWC <a href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/06/12498/who-behind-national-right-work-committee-and-its-anti-union-crusade" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none" font-weight="font-weight" bold="bold" color="color" outline="outline" webkit-tap-highlight-color="webkit-tap-highlight-color" rgba="rgba">spent $7 million</a> in the 2012 elections. In 1984, they were <a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/916/10/1516315/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none" font-weight="font-weight" bold="bold" color="color" outline="outline" webkit-tap-highlight-color="webkit-tap-highlight-color" rgba="rgba">accused of spending $100,000</a> on private detectives who infiltrated the AFL-CIO and other progressive groups.The Liberty Justice Center’s Director of Litigation, Jacob Huebert, is <a href="https://libertyjusticecenter.org/cases/janus-v-afscme" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">one of Janus’s lawyers</a>. The center is a public interest law firm, so its funding isn’t visible, but it is connected to the Illinois Policy Institute. This institute is part of the State Policy Network, and receives money from Koch-linked groups such as Donors Trust. The Illinois Policy Institute <a href="http://conservativetransparency.org/basic-search/?q=illinois+policy+institute&sf%5B%5D=candidate&sf%5B%5D=donor&sf%5B%5D=recipient&sf%5B%5D=transaction&sf%5B%5D=finances" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">also received money</a> from the Mercer Family Foundation. The Mercers have funded <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/heres-how-breitbart-and-milo-smuggled-white-nationalism" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Far Right propaganda outfits</a> with connections to White Nationalists such as Breitbart and alt-right troll Milo Yiannopoulos.In addition to these two groups, dozens of organizations have submitted <a href="http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/janus-v-american-federation-state-county-municipal-employees-council-31/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">amici curiae briefs</a> in Janus, showing a cross-section of the right-wing groups who are supporting this attack. They include the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan. Mackinac <a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/05/17/8890/alec-anti-union-push-includes-key-players-michigan-arizona-think-tanks" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">specifically targets public sector unions</a>; one email from a staffer said, “Our goal is to outlaw government collective bargaining in Michigan.” Mackinac supported <a href="https://www.politicalresearch.org/2013/11/25/exposed-how-the-rights-state-based-think-tanks-are-transforming-u-s-politics/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">a 2011 Michigan law</a> that gave the governor the power to abolish unions and local governments. It is also part of the State Policy Network and <a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/05/17/8890/alec-anti-union-push-includes-key-players-michigan-arizona-think-tanks" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">receives Koch-linked funding</a>.<div>=</div><div><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman">https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman</a></div><div>
</div><div>Since 2007, John Tillman has been chairman and CEO of the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_Policy_Institute" class="mw-redirect" title="Illinois Policy Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Illinois Policy Institute</a> (IPI), a conservative think tank which describes itself as an "independent organization generating public policy solutions aimed at promoting personal freedom and prosperity in Illinois."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[1]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-ROE-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[2]</a></div>Tillman is accredited with "leading the re-launch" of IPI. He also holds various other titles with "liberty" and "free-market" groups. Some of which are associated with the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network" title="State Policy Network" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">State Policy Network</a> (SPN).<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[3]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[4]</a> Tillman himself has been honored by both SPN and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).He lives in Chicago.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-ROE-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a><div id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); padding: 7px; display: table; zoom: 1;"><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#News_and_Controversies" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">News and Controversies</a><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 0.5em 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#Opposition_to_J.B.Pritzker" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1.1Opposition to J.B. Pritzker</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#Relationship_to_Anti_Union_Lawsuits" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1.2Relationship to Anti Union Lawsuits</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#Relationship_with_Bruce_Rauner" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1.3Relationship with Bruce Rauner</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#Ethically_Questionable_Dealings" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1.4Ethically Questionable Dealings</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#Titles_and_Compensation_as_a_leader_of_Right_Wing_Organizations" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">2Titles and Compensation as a leader of Right Wing Organizations</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#Ties_to_SPN" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">3Ties to SPN</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#Ties_to_ALEC" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">4Ties to ALEC</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#References" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">5References</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">News and Controversies</h2><h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.6;">Opposition to J.B. Pritzker</h3>An opinion piece under Tillman's name was published in The Chicago Tribune in opposition to Illinois Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker around one month prior to the election. Tillman, who is described as " a small business owner [and] CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute" cites "people who study policy, such as those at the Illinois Policy Institute," to claim that Pritzker's policy agenda would "require nearly doubling Illinois’ personal income tax to almost 10 percent."Tillman says that if Pritzker wins Democrats will take control of the state government, which is "a choice Illinois voters can’t afford to make come Nov. 6." He advocates for re-electing Gov. <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bruce_Rauner&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Bruce Rauner (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Bruce Rauner</a> due to the incumbent's "demonstrated commitment to blocking tax hikes and restraining spending rather than increasing it faster than taxpayer incomes."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[5]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.6;">Relationship to Anti Union Lawsuits</h3>Tillman's <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Liberty_Justice_Center" title="Liberty Justice Center" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Liberty Justice Center</a> worked with the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Right_to_Work_Legal_Defense_Foundation" title="National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation</a> to "represent Mark Janus" in <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Janus_vs.AFSCME,U.S.Supreme_Court_Case" title="Janus vs. AFSCME, U.S. Supreme Court Case" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Janus v. AFSCME</a>, the Supreme Court Case argued before the Supreme Court on February 26, 2018. Mark Janus was a child support worker for the State of Illinois who did not want to pay the agency fees (also known as fair share fees) required to compensate the union representing Illinois state workers for the cost of his representation. This case is part and parcel of a coordinated legislative and legal strategy to dismantle unions being advanced in a systematic manner by an interlocking group of right-wing funders and state-based groups.A report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) on those who side with the plaintiff in <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Janus_vs.AFSCME,U.S.Supreme_Court_Case" title="Janus vs. AFSCME, U.S. Supreme Court Case" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Janus v. Janus v. AFSCME Council 31</a> found "Janus, and the two fair share cases that preceded it, did not grow from an organic, grassroots challenge to union representation. Rather, the fair share cases are being financed by a small group of foundations with ties to the largest and most powerful corporate lobbies. These organizations and the policymakers they support have succeeded in advancing a policy agenda that weakens the bargaining power of workers. In Janus, these interests have focused their attack on public-sector workers—the workforce with the highest union density."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-EPI-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[6]</a>LJC represented Mark Janus pro bono. EPI investigated who funds LJC and the associated IPI, "a review of LJC and IPI’s 990s provides a limited view of their financial profile, but it is clear that they survive off of the same core group of corporate-backed organizations that contribute to many political and legal fights against unions. <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Donors_Trust" class="mw-redirect" title="Donors Trust" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Donors Trust</a>, the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lynde_and_Harry_Bradley_Foundation" title="Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation</a>, the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ed_Uihlein_Family_Foundation" title="Ed Uihlein Family Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Ed Uihlein Family Foundation</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=William_A.Dunn" title="William A. Dunn" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Dunn’s Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking</a>, and the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Charles_Koch_Institute" title="Charles Koch Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Charles Koch Institute</a> have supported the Illinois Policy Institute and Liberty Justice Center."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-EPI-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[6]</a>LJC is a part of the "a small group of people working for deep-pocketed corporate interests" which CMD's Mary Bottari outlined in her "Behind Janus: Documents Reveal Decade-Long Plot to Kill Public-Sector Unions" piece for In These Times. She writes, "those same people cheer “defunding” and “bankrupting” unions to deal a “mortal blow” to progressive politics in America." <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[7]</a>Following the ruling in the Janus case, the plaintiff was announced as "Senior Fellow" at IPI.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[8]</a><h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.6;">Relationship with Bruce Rauner</h3>The Chicago Sun-Times once described Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Tillman as "close friends and ideological soul mates." But, following the ProPublica and The Chicago Sun-Times investigation, Rauner said he was "very troubled, very troubled by what I’ve learned" and said he would not contribute financially to Tillmans projects anymore.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[9]</a>The Sun-Times once quoted a source saying "that Tillman 'clearly has the ultimate influence [on the governor] at this point.'" Chicago Magazine said "to many, it appears that Tillman tells the governor not only what to think but whom to hire."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-cm-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[10]</a>Tillman disputes characterizations of him having significant influence of Rauner, telling Chicago Magazine stating that their relationship is one where they share a "passion of trying to help the people of Illinois have better lives," and that they "talk a lot [with one another]."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-cm-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[10]</a><h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.6;">Ethically Questionable Dealings</h3>Tillman was able to increase his own bottom line, parlaying a small-government message into growing paychecks for himself and other top staff members" according to a joint investigation from ProPublica and The Chicago Sun-Times. "Through an often-dizzying series of transactions Tillman and his associates have moved millions of dollars around five interconnected nonprofits they run -- while steering money to for-profit ventures they have a stake in and growing their paychecks." The investigation remarked that Tillman's "transactions raise ethical questions and could violate the federal tax code for nonprofits." <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-pp1-11" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[11]</a>This incident lead to many critiques. A former financial supporter of IPI and current Republican Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner vowed to cut ties with the organization. "I’m very troubled, very troubled by what I’ve learned. And I certainly would not give them any more money," said Rauner.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[12]</a> The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board wrote, "the arrangements smell, and we urge state Sen. Chris Nybo, a Republican, to follow through on his threat to push for investigations by the FBI and the IRS ... we have to wonder why the Illinois Policy Institute and the others nonprofits still qualify for tax-exempt status. Intentional or not, this looks like tax-dodging"<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-13" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[13]</a> U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski called upon the Internal Revenue Service to investigate IPI. <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-14" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[14]</a><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Titles and Compensation as a leader of Right Wing Organizations</h2>Tillman holds these titles at various organizations:<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-pp-15" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[15]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[16]</a><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Founder and Director of the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Liberty_Justice_Center" title="Liberty Justice Center" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Liberty Justice Center</a> (LJC)</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Founder, Chairman, and CEO of the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Government_Accountability_Alliance&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Government Accountability Alliance (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Government Accountability Alliance</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Founder and Chairman of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Think_Freely_Media" title="Think Freely Media" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Think Freely Media</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Founder, and former Director/President of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_Opportunity_Project&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Illinois Opportunity Project (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Illinois Opportunity Project</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Chairman of the board at <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Franklin_News_Foundation" title="Franklin News Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Franklin Center for Government Public Integrity</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Part Owner at <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Crowdskout_LLC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Crowdskout LLC (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Crowdskout LLC</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Owner at <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Leadership_Consulting_LLC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Leadership Consulting LLC (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Leadership Consulting LLC</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Majority Owner at <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Waldo_Group/Waldo_Holdings_LLC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Waldo Group/Waldo Holdings LLC (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Waldo Group/Waldo Holdings LLC</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Founder of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_policy&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Illinois policy (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Illinois policy</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Founder of "the Great Communicators Tournament" project</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Founder of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_Liberty_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Illinois Liberty Political Action Committee (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Illinois Liberty Political Action Committee</a></li></ul>According to a ProPublica investigation, "Tillman collected pay that was often well above how comparable organizations in other states compensated their leaders." In 2013, Tillman's income was reported as $485,411. In 2014 - $398,414. In 2015 - $366,631. ProPublica did not state his 2016 compensation, but according to a diagram included int the story it appears to have been around $300,000. His compensation from 2013-2015 "exceeded the pay of top executives at other, similar organizations."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-pp-15" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[15]</a><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Ties to SPN</h2>Tillman is the founder and director of LJC. According to the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network" title="State Policy Network" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">State Policy Network</a>, "the Liberty Justice Center [is] the litigation partner of the State Policy Network affiliate Illinois Policy Institute." <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[17]</a>Amicus briefs in the Janus case were filed by the following SPN associates and affiliates:<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_Madison_Institute" title="James Madison Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">James Madison Institute</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mackinac_Center" class="mw-redirect" title="Mackinac Center" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Mackinac Center</a>, The <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Buckeye_Institute" class="mw-redirect" title="Buckeye Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Buckeye Institute</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Freedom_Foundation" title="Freedom Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Freedom Foundation</a>, "Brief of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pacific_Legal_Foundation" title="Pacific Legal Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Pacific Legal Foundation</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Goldwater_Institute" title="Goldwater Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Goldwater Institute</a>, The <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Fairness_Center" title="Fairness Center" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Fairness Center</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Empire_Center_for_Public_Policy" title="Empire Center for Public Policy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Empire Center for Public Policy</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pioneer_Institute" class="mw-redirect" title="Pioneer Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Pioneer Institute</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Reason_Foundation" title="Reason Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Reason Foundation</a>, Individual Rights Foundation, and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Yankee_Institute_for_Public_Policy" title="Yankee Institute for Public Policy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Yankee Institute for Public Policy</a>," <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Competitive_Enterprise_Institute" title="Competitive Enterprise Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Competitive Enterprise Institute</a> and The Fairness Center</li></ul><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Franklin_News_Foundation" title="Franklin News Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">The Franklin Center</a>, where Tillman is the Chairman of the board, is a state affiliate of the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network" title="State Policy Network" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">State Policy Network</a>. <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Think_Freely_Media" title="Think Freely Media" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Think Freely Media</a> is also a part of SPN.In 2011, Tillman received the "Roe Award." SPN's "prestigious award" "pays tribute to those in the state public-policy movement whose achievements have greatly advanced the free-market philosophy. It recognizes leadership, innovation and accomplishment." SPN president <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tracie_Sharp" title="Tracie Sharp" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Tracie Sharp</a> said of Tillman that he has "a passion for liberty, a willingness to work for it, and noteworthy achievement in turning dreams into realities."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-ROE-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network" title="State Policy Network" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">SPN</a> is a web of right-wing “think tanks” and tax-exempt organizations in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and the United Kingdom. As of August 2020, SPN's membership totals 162. Today's SPN is the tip of the spear of far-right, nationally funded policy agenda in the states that undergirds extremists in the Republican Party. SPN Executive Director <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tracie_Sharp" title="Tracie Sharp" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Tracie Sharp</a> told the Wall Street Journal in 2017 that the revenue of the combined groups was some $80 million, but a 2019 analysis of SPN's main members IRS filings by the Center for Media and Democracy shows that the combined revenue is over $120 million.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[18]</a> Although SPN's member organizations claim to be nonpartisan and independent, the Center for Media and Democracy's in-depth investigation, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/2/25/SPN_National_Report_FINAL.pdf" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: url("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Icons-mini-file_acrobat.gif") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 16px;">EXPOSED: The State Policy Network -- The Powerful Right-Wing Network Helping to Hijack State Politics and Government</a>," reveals that SPN and its member think tanks are major drivers of the right-wing, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=SPN_Ties_to_ALEC" title="SPN Ties to ALEC" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Legislative Exchange Council</a> (ALEC)-backed corporate agenda in state houses nationwide, with deep ties to the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Koch_brothers" class="mw-redirect" title="Koch brothers" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Koch brothers</a> and the national right-wing network of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=SPN_Funding" title="SPN Funding" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">funders</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[19]</a>In response to CMD's report, SPN Executive Director <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tracie_Sharp" title="Tracie Sharp" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Tracie Sharp</a> told national and statehouse reporters that SPN affiliates are "fiercely independent." Later the same week, however, The New Yorker's <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jane_Mayer" title="Jane Mayer" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Jane Mayer</a> caught Sharp in a contradiction. In her article, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/11/is-ikea-the-new-model-for-the-conservative-movement.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%2212%22 height=%2212%22%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M1.5 4.518h5.982V10.5H1.5z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M5.765 1H11v5.39L9.427 7.937l-1.31-1.31L5.393 9.35l-2.69-2.688 2.81-2.808L4.2 2.544z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 d=%22M9.995 2.004l.022 4.885L8.2 5.07 5.32 7.95 4.09 6.723l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); padding-right: 13px;">Is IKEA the New Model for the Conservative Movement?</a>," the Pulitzer-nominated reporter revealed that, in a recent meeting behind closed doors with the heads of SPN affiliates around the country, Sharp "compared the organization’s model to that of the giant global chain IKEA." She reportedly said that SPN "would provide 'the raw materials,' along with the 'services' needed to assemble the products. Rather than acting like passive customers who buy finished products, she wanted each state group to show the enterprise and creativity needed to assemble the parts in their home states. 'Pick what you need,' she said, 'and customize it for what works best for you.'" Not only that, but Sharp "also acknowledged privately to the members that the organization's often anonymous donors frequently shape the agenda. 'The grants are driven by donor intent,' she told the gathered think-tank heads. She added that, often, 'the donors have a very specific idea of what they want to happen.'"<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[20]</a>A set of <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/842271-spn-budget-proposals-state-by-state.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%2212%22 height=%2212%22%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M1.5 4.518h5.982V10.5H1.5z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M5.765 1H11v5.39L9.427 7.937l-1.31-1.31L5.393 9.35l-2.69-2.688 2.81-2.808L4.2 2.544z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 d=%22M9.995 2.004l.022 4.885L8.2 5.07 5.32 7.95 4.09 6.723l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); padding-right: 13px;">coordinated fundraising proposals</a> obtained and released by <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_Guardian" title="The Guardian" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">The Guardian</a> in early December 2013 confirm many of these SPN members' intent to change state laws and policies, referring to "advancing model legislation" and "candidate briefings." These activities "arguably cross the line into lobbying," The Guardian notes.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[21]</a><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Ties to ALEC</h2>The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) lauded Tillman as "one of the nation’s most prominent leaders of a state-based think tank" and accredited him with "transform[ing] what many wrote off as a blue state into a place ripe for free market reform."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Tillman#cite_note-ALEC-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[22]</a>Tillman was a speaker at the 2016 annual ALEC meeting. During his speech commended <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lisa_Nelson" title="Lisa Nelson" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Lisa Nelson</a>, telling her "You really have done an extraordinary job... many of us in Illinois watch what you have done with ALEC and admire it very much, congratulations....<div>
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</div><div><a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2019/05/28/corporate-funded-groups-continue-campaign-cripple-public-sector-unions">https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2019/05/28/corporate-funded-groups-continue-campaign-cripple-public-sector-unions</a></div><div>
</div><div>don weiner</div><div>519</div><div>
</div><div>The same corporate-funded groups that bankrolled a successful ten-year campaign to cripple public employee unions by having the U.S. Supreme Court strike down “fair share” fees for nonmembers in Janus v. AFSCME last year are now suing to retroactively recover fees paid before the Court’s ruling.This is the latest move in the right-wing’s quest to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/30/rightwing-alliance-unions-defund-defang" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">“defund and defang”</a> public sector unions with a goal of delivering a “mortal blow” to progressive politics, and mirrors similar “clawback” suits filed across the country over the past year.Two groups that spearheaded the Janus case, the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Liberty_Justice_Center" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">Liberty Justice Center</a> (LJC) and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Right_to_Work_Legal_Defense_Foundation" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation</a> (NRTWLDF), have now filed a federal lawsuit in Illinois seeking repayment of $2 million in fair share fees paid by 2,700 Illinois public employees to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) between May 1, 2017 and June 27, 2018.Public employee unions are required to represent all workers, whether they join the union or not, so unions have collected <a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/janus-and-fair-share-fees-the-organizations-financing-the-attack-on-unions-ability-to-represent-workers/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">“fair share” fees</a>, also known as agency fees, for many decades to cover the basic costs of bargaining for higher wages and benefits. That practice was upheld by the Supreme Court unanimously in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education in 1977, but the Court turned its back on that precedent in <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Janus_vs.AFSCME,U.S.Supreme_Court_Case" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">the Janus case</a> and struck them down on First Amendment grounds.A similar lawsuit by the two groups filed in a different federal district court was thrown out earlier this year when the judge ruled that AFSCME had collected the dues “in good faith.”“That ruling echoes what more than a dozen other federal and state courts have decided in similar cases,” AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-fair-share-lawsuit-20190501-story.html" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">told</a> the Chicago Tribune. “The anti-worker, corporate-funded front groups prolonging this failed litigation want to use the courts to further their political attack on working people and our union. Their repeated lawsuits are nothing but a greedy grab for more.”In its Janus decision, the Court’s majority acknowledged that public sector unions would now have to represent nonunion members even without their agency fees, creating an entire class of free-riders.With respect to both lawsuits and the earlier Janus case, public sector unions note that the plaintiffs never complained about receiving the wage increases, health insurance coverage, vacation time, and other benefits that the union negotiated for on their behalf.In addition to the new lawsuit, LJC and NRTWLDF <a href="https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190327/former-state-worker-janus-asks-court-to-order-union-fee-repayment" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">have appealed</a> the original case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
<h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-spacing: 3.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Lawsuits Bankrolled by Corporate Foundations and a Megadonor</h2><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Richard_Uihlein" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">Richard Uihlein</a>, an Illinois businessman and GOP megadonor, the Koch brothers’ donor network, and the Milwaukee-based Bradley Foundation have bankrolled much of the groups’ legal war on public sector unions.The LJC, part of the right-wing <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_Policy_Institute" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">Illinois Policy Institute</a> at the time of the Janus ruling, has received $1.7 million since 2010 from the Koch donor network’s funding vehicles, Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund, and $320,000 since 2009 from the Bradley Foundation, which the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) exposed in a <a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/bradley-files/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">series of articles</a> in 2017.Uihlein has given over <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/illinois-policy-institute-john-tillman-transactions" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">$8.6 million</a> to Illinois Policy Institute since 2009 and at least another <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ed_Uihlein_Family_Foundation" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">$800,000</a> since 2014 to LJC. Uihlein is notoriously anti-union and spent millions to support the gubernatorial campaigns of the anti-worker governors Scott Walker and Bruce Rauner.Uihlein has also given <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ed_Uihlein_Family_Foundation" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">$300,000</a> since 2014 to NRTWLDF, which has received $1.3 million since 2003 from Bradley and $833,000 since 2010 from DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund, according to IRS filings.LJC’s most recent <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6022369-Liberty-Justice-Center-2017-990.html" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">IRS 990 filing</a> shows that its revenue jumped from $494,000 in its fiscal year 2016 to $692,000 in 2017, a 40 percent increase, while it was working on the Janus case. LJC’s chair, John Tillman, was paid over $400,000 in 2017 from affiliated nonprofits, principally the Illinois Policy Institute.LJC is a member of the State Policy Network (SPN). In the states, SPN groups peddle cookie-cutter “studies” to back the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) agenda.Bradley Foundation grants to SPN “affiliate” and “associate” members stretch back decades and amount to approximately $133 million, according to Bradley grant summary documents <a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2017/09/05/bradley-foundation-funnels-millions-state-policy-network-groups/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">tallied</a> by CMD.A 2016 Bradley internal file on SPN <a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2017/09/05/bradley-foundation-funnels-millions-state-policy-network-groups/" target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">notes</a> that SPN’s focus in recent years has been on “catalyzing further efforts to curb public-sector unions’ excesses” and “mobilizing nonprofits, donors and citizens to uphold the principles of donor privacy and freedom of speech.” The right-wing effort is part of a concerted campaign to bankrupt unions in order to cripple the Democratic Party and, more broadly, the progressive movement.The new wave of legal assaults on public employee unions as we head into the 2020 elections appears to be the latest stage of that campaign.David Armiak contributed research to this report.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2018/06/27/trumps-supreme-court-strikes-blow-government-workers-good-paying-jobs/">https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2018/06/27/trumps-supreme-court-strikes-blow-government-workers-good-paying-jobs/</a>In a major blow to organized labor and good paying government jobs, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that government workers who choose not to join a union cannot be charged fees to reimburse the union for the cost of representing them in collective bargaining.The decision was 5-4 in the Janus vs. AFSCME Council 31 case, with Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch supplying the deciding vote. Justice Samuel Alito, who actively invited a challenge to union fees, wrote the decision for the Court’s right-wing majority.In today’s decision, Alito wrote that the fees, called “agency fees,” violated the First Amendment. In doing so, Alito overruled a 41-year-old Supreme Court decision legalizing these fees in the Abood vs. Detroit Board of Education decision.The decision ushers in “right to work” style conditions for public employees in states across the nation. These anti-union measures <a href="http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2017/08/racist-who-pioneered-right-work-laws" target="blank" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out; text-decoration-line: none;">originated in the Jim Crow South</a> as a means of undermining unions who were organizing black and white workers together in the same shop. Predictably, Koch brothers groups–such as Americans for Prosperity, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and the State Policy Network–cheered the ruling, while union leaders prepared to renegotiate thousands of contracts and deal with a new legal landscape for unions across the land.<h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">CROWN JEWEL IN ASSAULT ON UNIONS BY RIGHT-WING BILLIONAIRES AND CORPORATIONS</h2>The case should be seen in the context of a sustained assault by extremist billionaires, corporations, and foundation on unions, the organized voice of working families and a major player in campaigns and elections on the Democratic side.Over the past decade, as ALEC legislators aggressively advanced union-busting bills in red states like Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia and Kentucky, a slew of rapid fire cases were advanced by allied groups in blue states, as Center for Media and Democracy detailed in an <a href="http://inthesetimes.com/features/janus_supreme_court_unions_investigation.html" target="blank" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out; text-decoration-line: none;">award-winning article</a> on the Janus case. A number of these cases, including Knox v. SEIU (2012), Harris v. Quinn (2014), and Friederichs v. California Teachers Association (2016), made it to the U.S. Supreme Court and were used by Justice Alito to justify the Janus decision.The Janus case originated with Republican Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois. The American Federation of State County and Municipal Workers (AFSCME) represents state workers in Illinois and campaigned hard against the venture-capitalist in his 2014 race for governor. When Rauner was found not to have standing, attorneys from the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute" target="blank" rel="noopener" style="background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out; text-decoration-line: none;">Illinois Policy Institute</a>–a State Policy Network think tank–substituted Illinois child care worker Mark Janus as the lead plaintiff. Rauner said that “taking this issue on was one of my primary reasons for running for governor in the first place,” and flew to Washington, DC this week to await the ruling.The case involves the obscure technical issue of agency fees. In over 20 states, even if public sector workers do not want to be represented by a union, they must pay agency or “fair share fees” to cover the cost of their representation. These fees were ruled fair and constitutional in 1977 by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Abood decision, to prevent a “free rider” problem and because unions are legally required to represent all workers in a bargaining unit. The fees fund the unions’ collective bargaining process and other services they provide to state workers; they cannot be used for political action.Justice Alito wrote that the free rider problem was not a “compelling state interest.”<h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“WEAPONIZING” THE FIRST AMENDMENT</h2>Dissenting justices portrayed the case is a radical re-write of labor law, with dramatic consequences for dozens of states and thousands of binding contracts.“There is no sugarcoating today’s opinion. The majority overthrows a decision entrenched in this Nation’s law–and in its economic life–for over 40 years,” wrote Kagan,who read her dissent from the bench. In doing so the Court has “weaponized the First Amendment,” she said.The radical nature of the case was explained by Justice Kagan during oral arguments:<blockquote style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 40px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Twenty-three states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, all would have their statutes declared unconstitutional at once. Thousands of municipalities would have contracts invalidated. Those contracts probably cover millions, maybe up to over 10 million, workers. So property and contract rights, the statutes of many states and the livelihoods of millions of individuals affected all at once. When have we ever done something like that? What would be the justification for doing something like that?</blockquote>Kagan also wrote that in overturning Abood the Court “disregards the defining characteristic of this free-rider argument–that unions, unlike those many other private groups, must serve members and non-members alike…. That special feature was what justified Abood.”“But the worse part of today’s opinion is where the majority subverts all known principles of stare decisis,” the principle that rulings should be based on precedent, Kagan wrote. The majority can’t just “throw some gratuitous criticisms into a couple of opinions and a few years later point to them as ‘special justifications’ for their actions,” she said.Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers had previously stressed this point. “Rarely is there a situation where a next-generation Supreme Court overrules or changes precedent of a unanimously decided opinion. This is a completely ideological movement to end unions as we know it and to redefine the First Amendment as a weapon against people,” <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2018/05/randi_weingarten_qa.html" target="blank" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out; text-decoration-line: none;">she said</a>.<h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">TRUMP COURT ATTACKS BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS</h2>The decision, along with the recent <a href="https://host.madison.com/ct/opinion/column/mary-bottari-epic-fail-supreme-court-turns-back-clock-to/article_2d61881f-950f-5281-8822-68bf06669a28.htm" target="blank" rel="noopener" style="background-image: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out; text-decoration-line: none;">EPIC Systems v. Lewis</a> case, will make the Trump-Gorsuch court one of the worst for working families in history. Gorsuch wrote the May 2018 EPIC Systems decision, which held that businesses can prohibit their workers from banding together to battle their employers in court in disputes over a wide array of issues such as wage theft, sexual harassment, civil rights, and gender discrimination.“This is probably the most relentlessly anti-democratic and specifically anti-worker court since the ‘Lochner Era’ of the late 19th and early 20th century,” University of Wisconsin Law Professor Joel Rogers told the Center for Media and Democracy.“But Janus shows it’s arguably worse, since it doesn’t even respect freedom of contract. This Court doesn’t stand for the ‘rule of law,’ which means putting constraints on the arbitrary and abusive use of power. It’s ‘let’s concoct a legal justification for giving abuse a free rein,'” said Rogers. The 1905 Lochner case held that limits on the work day or work week violated the Constitution.“These are two devastating 5-4 decisions–two decisions that could have easily gone the other way but for the sabotage of the appointment of Merrick Garland,” said Courtlyn Roser-Jones, visiting Assistant Professor at the Ohio State Mortiz College of Law. Garland was appointed by President Obama in 2016, but the Republican Senate refused to confirm him leading to Trump’s appointment of Neil Gorsuch.The Janus decision could lead to weaker unions, lower wages for government workers, and poorer public services.“We are living in a system that is rigged to benefit special interests and billionaires, all at the expense of working people. Today’s radical decision by the Supreme Court is a blatant slap in the face for educators, nurses, firefighters, police officers and all public servants who make our communities strong and safe… [U]nions will continue to be the best vehicle on the path to the middle class,” said Lily Eskelsen García, President of the National Education Association.And the agenda is broader that just unions, the court is going after the policies that unions advocate for, say experts.“This is a concerted, corporate-funded effort to get rid of public employee unions–to stop them from advocating for higher minimum wages, affordable healthcare or a right to paid sick leave, to stop them winning wages and benefits that force private sector employers to raise their own wages, and to stop them from insisting on a level of public services–schools, libraries, transportation and more–that we all have a right to just by dint of being citizens,” said Gordon Lafer, a professor at the University of Oregon’s Labor Education and Research Center.<h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">TEAM TRUMP IS BUILDING A LASTING ANTI-WORKER LEGACY, BUT UNIONS ARE FIGHTING BACK</h2>The Trump administration frequently claims to be on the side of the little guy, but it is building a strong track record of harming workers and working families in the courts, in Congress, and in administrative agencies.The 2018 EPIC Systems ruling will harm millions of non-union workers who will be newly subject to arbitration. The huge tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by Trump the end of 2017 will exacerbate an already profound income inequality gap between the wealthy and working families. And the Trump administration has aggressively rolled back a 2016 rule strengthening overtime protections for low- and middle-income workers, and took steps to gut regulations that protect restaurant workers from having their tips taken by their employers. Michael Arria noted in <a href="https://www.salon.com/2017/09/17/in-attacking-overtime-pay-trump-is-hurting-his-biggest-fans_partner/" target="blank" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: 0px 0px; transition: all 500ms ease-in-out; text-decoration-line: none;">Salon</a> that by “attacking overtime pay, Trump is hurting his biggest fans.”But unions are not sitting idly by. Massive teachers’ strikes have succeeded in winning major concessions for government workers in multiple states. “Don’t count us out,” said AFT’s Weingarten. “Workers are sticking with their unions, because they know that unions are the best vehicle for workers to get ahead.”Richard Trumka, the head of the national AFL-CIO, also noted the recent revival of organized labor. “All over the country, workers are organizing and taking collected action as we haven’t seen in years. More than 14,000 workers recently formed or joined unions in just a single week. This followed a year where 262,000 workers organized and the approval of unions reached a new high.”“The corporate narrative of the labor movement’s downfall is being dismantled by working people every single day,” said Trumka.<hr style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-image: initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; margin: 1em 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" />Mary Bottari</div>=ref
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/business/economy/labor-court-conservatives.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/business/economy/labor-court-conservatives.html</a>?smid=tw-shareBehind a Key Anti-Labor Case, a Web of Conservative DonorsBy NOAM SCHEIBER and KENNETH P. VOGELFEB. 25, 2018
In the summer of 2016, government workers in Illinois received a mailing that offered them tips on how to leave their union. By paying a so-called fair-share fee instead of standard union dues, the mailing said, they would no longer be bound by union rules and could not be punished for refusing to strike.“To put it simply,” the document concluded, “becoming a fair-share payer means you will have more freedom.”The mailing, sent by a group called the Illinois Policy Institute, may have seemed like disinterested advice. In fact, it was one prong of a broader campaign against public-sector unions, backed by some of the biggest donors on the right. It is an effort that will reach its apex on Monday, when the Supreme Court hears a case that could cripple public-sector unions by allowing the workers they represent to avoid paying fees.One of the institute’s largest donors is a foundation bankrolled by Richard Uihlein, an Illinois industrialist who has spent millions backing Republican candidates in recent years, including Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois.Tax filings show that Mr. Uihlein has also been the chief financial backer in recent years of the Liberty Justice Center, which represents Mark Janus, the Illinois child support specialist who is the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case.And Mr. Uihlein has donated well over $1 million over the years to groups like the Federalist Society that work to orient the judiciary in a more conservative direction. They have helped produce a Supreme Court that most experts expect to rule in Mr. Janus’s favor.The case illustrates the cohesiveness with which conservative philanthropists have taken on unions in recent decades. “It’s a mistake to look at the Janus case and earlier litigation as isolated episodes,” said Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, a Columbia University political scientist who studies conservative groups. “It’s part of a multipronged, multitiered strategy.”In doing so, these donors have not just brought labor to the brink of crisis but threatened the Democratic Party as well.Amid changes in the campaign finance landscape and the decline of private-sector unions, the party and its candidates have increasingly relied on major public unions for funding, including hundreds of millions of dollars in direct and indirect spending during the 2016 presidential cycle. Those unions include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, whose Council 31 is the defendant in the Janus case.Mark Janus, the plaintiff in a Supreme Court case challenging mandatory union fees, at the Illinois State Capitol. Credit Whitney Curtis for The New York TimesA recent paper by Mr. Hertel-Fernandez and two colleagues may foretell what Democrats can expect if Mr. Uihlein and his fellow philanthropists succeed. It found that the Democratic share of the presidential vote dropped by an average of 3.5 percentage points after the passage of so-called right-to-work laws allowing employees to avoid paying union fees. That is larger than Democrats’ margin of defeat in several states that could have reversed their last three presidential losses.And that is clearly on the mind of Republicans. In a recent interview, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, acknowledged the potential of the Janus case to hurt Democratic fund-raising for the coming midterm elections. “In states where they got rid of the automatic deduction and employees figured they could keep their own money, they did,” he said. “So it could have an impact.”Conservative groups aren’t alone in locking arms to advance an ideological agenda. For decades, liberal donors and foundations, sometimes working together through coalitions like the Democracy Alliance, have promoted liberal goals in a variety of ways. Some backed groups, like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, that used litigation to move American society leftward.But the extent of the coordination on the right often dwarfs liberal efforts. Especially on the state level, conservative groups are “doing different things, mobilizing different constituencies,” Mr. Hertel-Fernandez said. “But they’re all working with one another. You don’t see the same thing on the left.”As the percentage of unionized private-sector workers has collapsed in recent decades, public-sector unions, which have held steady in the mid-30s since the early 1980s, have increasingly become a target.Conservatives chafe at the unions’ political influence, which they believe not only props up the Democratic Party but also drives up government spending and skews public policy on issues like education.In 2011, Wisconsin rolled back the right of most public unions to bargain over anything other than wages and eliminated the requirement that nonmembers pay fees. The portion of unionized public-sector workers in the state plummeted from half to just over one-quarter within five years.In seeking to produce similar results nationally, conservative donors have created a symbiosis between groups aiming to overturn Supreme Court precedent favorable to unions and groups that take advantage of those rulings to drain unions of members.The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation of Wisconsin, which had over $800 million in assets in 2016, has funded both kinds of organizations.In a 2014 case brought by a group that had received more than $1 million in contributions from the Bradley Foundation, the Supreme Court ruled that home-care aides and other “partial-public employees” paid through Medicaid could not be forced to pay fair-share fees if they left their unions. Unions say these fees, typically about 80 percent of standard dues, are necessary to compensate them for representing nonmembers in bargaining and grievance proceedings.A fund-raising solicitation from the Illinois Policy Institute, one of several groups that have fueled efforts to weaken public-sector unions.Then in 2016, the court heard a case, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, that could have struck down fair-share fee requirements for all public employees represented by unions in more than 20 states, including California, Illinois and New York. The case was brought by a group that has received millions of dollars from the Bradley Foundation.During 2015 and 2016, the foundation also substantially increased its contributions, totaling well over $1 million, to groups like the Independence Institute of Colorado and the Freedom Foundation of Washington State. Those groups have used such tools as direct mail, phone calls and door knocking to persuade public-sector workers to give up union membership.Richard Graber, the chief executive of the Bradley Foundation, said the foundation avoided short-term tactical considerations in its giving. But he acknowledged that the increase was driven partly by the recent Supreme Court developments, which promised to make such opt-out campaigns more compelling for union members. (Some conservative groups are currently raising money for even more ambitious opt-out campaigns to take advantage of a favorable ruling this year.)Our columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin and his Times colleagues help you make sense of major business and policy headlines — and the power-brokers who shape them.In February 2016, the month after the Supreme Court heard the Friedrichs case, Justice Antonin Scalia died, depriving conservatives of a decisive fifth vote to strike down mandatory union fees. That gave the Liberty Justice Center, backed by Mr. Uihlein, a chance to try again.Few philanthropists have funded a more sweeping assault on labor than Mr. Uihlein, who with his wife, Elizabeth, founded a Wisconsin-based shipping supply company called Uline.Mr. Uihlein is an ardent conservative who considers many Republican office holders too moderate on fiscal and social issues, according to those who know him.“It’s not just politics for him,” said his friend Leonard A. Leo, the Federalist Society executive vice president, who declined to offer specifics on Mr. Uihlein’s views. “I think he is philosophically attuned to conservative ideas,” added Mr. Leo, whom the Trump White House enlisted to shepherd the Supreme Court nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch, Justice Scalia’s successor.The Uihleins have spent tens of millions of dollars over the past decade supporting Republican candidates and committees. That includes contributions to super PACs backing the 2016 presidential campaigns of Mr. Walker and Mr. Cruz, and at least $250,000 to help Mr. Walker survive a 2012 recall election. (Mr. Uihlein did not respond to a request for comment.)The Uihleins appear to be preoccupied with state employee pensions and the unions that negotiate them.“Bruce is the only one in the race who isn’t beholden to public-sector unions,” Mr. Uihlein said of Mr. Rauner, the year before his 2014 election as Illinois governor, in an interview with Crain’s Business Chicago. The Uihleins gave more than $2.5 million to his campaign.Justice Neil Gorsuch speaking in November before the Federalist Society, which seeks a judiciary aligned with conservative values. He filled the Supreme Court seat vacated by Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016. Credit Sait Serkan Gurbuz/Associated PressMr. Rauner has been a major ally in the fight against public-sector unions. Shortly after taking office in 2015, he challenged the constitutionality of mandatory union fees in federal court.By the time a judge ruled that Mr. Rauner lacked standing for his lawsuit, the Illinois Policy Institute, which drew more than one-third of its $5.8 million in revenue that year from Mr. Uihlein’s foundation, had found a viable plaintiff to replace him: Mark Janus. The Liberty Justice Center and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which Mr. Uihlein also contributes to, represented Mr. Janus in court.Since then, the policy institute has sought to persuade state employees to leave their union through its mailing campaign. It said it had obtained employees’ names through Freedom of Information Act requests.Mr. Rauner’s administration has amplified the institute’s message, and vice versa. In an August 2016 email to state workers, the administration highlighted a benefit of giving up union membership and urged workers to visit a website that would help them do so. The policy institute soon promoted the same website and provided similar guidance in its mailings to state workers.Mr. Uihlein’s foundation has supplemented these efforts by supporting a nonprofit called Think Freely Media, which uses storytelling techniques to champion free-market ideas, including right-to-work laws. The Uihlein foundation contributed more than $1.5 million to Think Freely from 2014 to 2016, the last year for which tax records are available.At the center of this network is a longtime conservative activist named John Tillman, who serves as the chief executive of the Illinois Policy Institute as well as the chairman of the Liberty Justice Center and Think Freely Media.In an interview, Mr. Tillman, who managed a call center earlier in his career and talked up his “marketing-centric approach” to promoting free enterprise, said the institute is fighting the enormous power of union leaders but is not anti-union per se.“In the late 1800s, early 20th century, business owners had all the power, and workers had very little power,” he said. “Unions and collective bargaining emerged as a way to level the playing field. I think it was an amazing story of success.”But in other contexts, Mr. Tillman has been less conciliatory.In a fund-raising solicitation by the policy institute in December, Mr. Tillman claimed credit for helping more than 2,600 workers leave their union, resulting in a loss of $1.2 million in union revenue.“It’s time for Illinois to throw off the shackles of big labor and big government,” he wrote.“When you and I look around Illinois and see the devastation the union-dominated status quo has inflicted,” he continued, “we simply have no choice.”Follow Noam Scheiber and Kenneth P. Vogel on Twitter: @noamscheiber, @kenvogelCongressman Calls For Investigation Of Conservative Think TankVeteran Democrat Lipinski joins critics of the Illinois Policy Institute with a letter to the IRS.
by Mick Dumke, ProPublica, and Tina Sfondeles, Chicago Sun-Times Feb. 15, 4:30 p.m. CST Rep. Dan Lipinski represents Illinois' 3rd congressional district. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)This story was produced in collaboration with the Chicago Sun-Times.
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski is asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether a series of financial deals improperly benefited the leaders of the Illinois Policy Institute — the latest call for authorities to examine the influential conservative think tank.In an open letter to the head of the IRS, Lipinski — a Democrat who represents parts of Chicago and the western suburbs — wrote that institute chairman and CEO John Tillman may have violated federal tax laws by channeling money from his nonprofits to for-profit companies Tillman owned or co-owned.Lipinski cited an investigation by ProPublica Illinois and the Chicago Sun-Times that detailed the transactions.“Federal law provides tax benefits that help nonprofits pursue their agendas, including ideological agendas,” Lipinski wrote to David Kautter, the acting commissioner of the IRS. “What it does not allow, however, is for an individual to use a non-profit organization to inure excessive benefits to himself. I fear that is exactly what Mr. Tillman has done.”Neither Tillman nor a spokeswoman for the institute responded to a request for comment. But Tillman said previously the transactions were appropriate and properly disclosed in tax filings.
Read Rep. Lipinski's Letter“Obviously, these are all fully disclosed transactions, all at fair market value as they should be,” Tillman wrote in response to questions.But experts in nonprofit tax laws told ProPublica Illinois and the Sun-Times that some of the transactions raised ethical and legal concerns. Among the list of potential red flags: a zero-interest, $49,400 loan from Think Freely Media, a nonprofit Tillman founded and served as board president, to Crowdskout, a for-profit data and marketing firm owned by a company he controlled.
That loan was essentially a gift, experts said.“No loans are made on zero interest because you lose the inflation value. That means it’s a financial benefit to a for-profit business,” said Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a professor at the University of Notre Dame Law School. “Under federal tax law it’s called an excess-benefit transaction.”
Think Freely Media also made another $60,000 in loans to Crowdskout on which it collected interest. On other occasions, Think Freely Media gave grants to nonprofit organizations that hired Crowdskout or other companies in which Tillman had a stake.Lipiniski, a 13-year veteran of Congress, called for the IRS investigation as he faces a primary election challenge from Marie Newman, an activist and nonprofit leader who charges that Lipinski has a “far-right” record of siding with conservatives.The Third congressional district includes parts of Chicago’s Southwest Side and adjacent suburbs. It includes most of Chicago’s 13th Ward, the home base of state House speaker and Democratic Party chairman Michael Madigan, a frequent target of attacks from Tillman and the Illinois Policy Institute.
Read the Original Investigation
As Conservative Group Grows In Influence, Financial Dealings Enrich Its Leaders
Illinois Policy Institute has called for government reform while channeling money to firms owned by insiders.Lipinski is the latest elected official to cite the ProPublica Illinois/Sun-Times investigation while raising questions about the financial dealings of Tillman and nonprofits connected to the institute.Gov. Bruce Rauner — a former ally of Tillman’s and donor to the institute — said last week he was “very troubled” by the report and wouldn’t give the organizations “another nickel.”“It sounds like there’s been improper structure there and improper benefits,” Rauner said.
State Sen. Chris Nybo, R-Elmhurst, emailed Senate Republican colleagues to explore whether to draft a Joint House-Senate Resolution asking for investigations by the FBI, the IRS or the Attorney General’s office.
Maura Possley, a spokeswoman for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan — Mike Madigan’s daughter — said Thursday the office continues to review the transactions, but added, “It is clear that it is also a matter for the IRS, which has greater authority over nonprofits.”Illinois Policy Action was another organization that benefited from Wellspring’s grants in 2016, receiving $2.5 million; it’s the lobbying arm of the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative Chicago think tank in Chicago that has ties to the state’s billionaire governor, Republican Bruce Rauner, <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-speaker-madigan-movie-met-1013-20161012-story.html" target="blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-speaker-madigan-movie-met-1013-20161012-story.html&source=gmail&ust=1511375231158000&usg=AFQjCNEnEjCbhOVhrp4ql4ezsKltZcgixA" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">according to the Chicago Tribune</a>. In 2016, the institute released a documentary critical of Rauner’s political opponent, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, a Democrat.http://exxposeexxon.com/ 2005?exxon secrets:The Illinois Policy Institute is a free market oriented think tank dedicated to state public policy issues in Illinois. The Institute is the only free market think tank located in the State Capital of Springfield.  From the IPC website "The Illinois Policy Institute is a free market oriented think tank dedicated to state public policy issues in Illinois. The Institute is the only free market think tank located in the State Capital of Springfield. The Illinois Policy Institute’s mission is to preserve and strengthen the societal foundations of the Land of Lincoln. Through the promotion of the benefits of limited government, competitive private enterprise as well as Illinois’ critical cultural and political institutions via rigorous inquiry, debate, and writing the Institute strives to unleash the full potential of the citizens of Illinois to lead good and productive lives. The Institute provides state policymakers, the press, and the general public with real time policy analyses, in-depth original research, and forums for public discussions of contemporary policy dilemmas facing the state government. The Institute does not lobby policymakers, support candidates or parties, nor engage grass roots lobbying. Instead, the Institute works to create a more educated policy environment where the benefits of competitive free enterprise and individual autonomy from a limited, yet strong, state government can be addressed. The Institute is comprised of a small core staff and a Board of Advisors who shape and guide the Institute’s efforts. The Board of Advisors includes leading state activists, policymakers, and individuals who support competitive free enterprise and limited government. In addition to its own research and education efforts, the Institute acts as a center for these individuals to come together and work toward shared goals. Illinois is geographically large and demographically dispersed. By opening its doors and providing resources to support others who cannot locate themselves at the heart of the Illinois state government, the Institute augments these leader’s efforts. This unique structure of a small core staff and a Board of Advisors gives the Institute a lean but flexible structure; allowing the Institute to address a range of critical policy issues in an efficient and cost effective manner. Founded in June, 2002, the Illinois Policy Institute is non-profit, non-partisan think tank. The Institute is organized as a tax exempt charitable corporation under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code engaged in public policy education and research in Illinois. The Institute is an independent think tank that receives no funds from government organizations. Instead, the Institute derives its funding from individuals, charitable foundations, and corporations supportive of the Illinois Policy Institute’s mission."  Board member
Terry T. Campo is a partner in the Washington, DC-based law firm, Farrell & Campo, specializing in energy, environmental and transportation regulation. A native of Springfield, IL, Campo was a Republican candidate for Congress in the 20th District in IL in 1994 and served as National Chairman of the Young Republicans from 1989 to 1991. Following his term as Young Republican Chairman, Campo was the Treasurer for the youth division of the International Young Democrat(ic) Union, an organization founded by Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl and George H.W. Bush to train young political leaders in Eastern Europe. Terry held political posts in the Reagan Administration, where he served as the General Counsel and Director of Legislative Affairs for the independent federal agency, ACTION, and later as its White House Liaison and Representative to the President's Council on Private Sector Initiatives. Prior to becoming General Counsel of the independent agency, Campo also served as a political appointee as the Special Assistant and chief of staff for the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy, where he served as the principal counsel to the 1987 Energy Security Study. From 1983 to 1985, Campo served as a Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, where his principal client was Sen. Charles Grassley’s (R-IA), and later as the General Counsel to its Subcommittee on Administrative Practice and Procedure. Terry Campo is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Springfield and Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago. He now resides in Arlington, VA. 
<h3 style="padding: 10px; margin: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">ORGANIZATIONS</h3><a href="http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=120" style="text-decoration: none;">Illinois Policy Institute</a>
Source: <a href="http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=1160#src0" style="text-decoration: none;">Illinois Policy Institute website</a>

<h3 style="padding: 10px; margin: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">SOURCES</h3><a name="src" style="" /><a name="src0" style="">Illinois Policy Institute website
</a><a href="http://www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org/staff.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org/staff.htm</a>---Greg Blankenship is the founder and Director of the Illinois Policy Institute, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization based in Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Blankenship has degrees from Springfield College in Illinois, the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and Loyola University Chicago. He has held corporate public affairs positions in the telecommunications industry and was on the staff of the Washington D.C. based Center for Security Policy. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute<div id="mw-content-text" lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 22.4px;">The Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) is a conservative <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Think_tank" title="Think tank" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">think tank</a> with offices in Chicago and Springfield, Illinois, and member of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/State_Policy_Network" title="State Policy Network" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">State Policy Network</a>. The IPI describes itself as a "leading independent research and education organization."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-About-1" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[1]</a> They claim that "the ultimate sign of success is when free market ideas are turned into law and change lives for the better."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-About-1" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[1]</a><h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none;">Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council</h2>IPI is a member of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Legislative_Exchange_Council" title="American Legislative Exchange Council" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">American Legislative Exchange Council</a> (ALEC) as of 2011. Brian Costin, IPI Director of Outreach, and Ted Dabrowski, Vice President of Policy, represent IPI on ALEC's <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Tax_and_Fiscal_Policy_Task_Force" title="Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force</a>. At the 2011 Annual Meeting, Costin introduced the "Local Government Transparency Act" model legislation, and Dabrowski introduced the "Pension Funding and Fairness Act" model legislation for adoption by the task force. The latter was adopted and proceeded to the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Board_of_Directors" title="ALEC Board of Directors" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">ALEC Board of Directors</a> for approval.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-TaxMeetingAgenda-2" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[2]</a> Executive Vice President Kristina Rasmussen represented IPI on the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Tax_and_Fiscal_Policy_Task_Force" title="Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force</a> as of April 2010, when she penned an article entitled "Pension Funding Reform: A Solution for Budget Deficits" for ALEC's newsletter, Inside ALEC.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[3]</a>IPI is also a member of ALEC's <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Health_and_Human_Services_Task_Force" title="Health and Human Services Task Force" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Health and Human Services Task Force</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Education_Task_Force" title="Education Task Force" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Education Task Force</a>. Senior Budget and Tax Policy Analyst, Amanda Griffin-Johnson, presented model legislation (the “State Employee Health Savings Account Act”) to the HHS task force at ALEC's 2011 annual meeting.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[4]</a> Collin Hitt, Director of Education Policy, is a private sector member of the Education Task Force representing IPI. He sponsored the “Local Government Transparency Act” at the ALEC 2011 States and Nation Policy Summit.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[5]</a>Please see <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/SPN_Ties_to_ALEC" title="SPN Ties to ALEC" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">SPN Ties to ALEC</a> for more.
FundingIn its 2006 annual report the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Cato_Institute" title="Cato Institute" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Cato</a><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Cato_Institute" title="Cato Institute" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"> Institute</a> states that it made a grant of $50,000 to the Illinois Policy Institute.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-6" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a>IPI does not list its funders publicly. Its website states: "Because the Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, our supporters’ names are kept private, although donors are free to share their reasons for supporting our efforts."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[7]</a><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Ties to the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity</h3>The Illinois Policy Institute has hosted writers from the ALEC-connected <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Franklin_Center_for_Government_and_Public_Integrity" title="Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity</a>, which screens potential reporters on their “free market” views as part of the job application process.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[8]</a> The Franklin Center funds reporters in over 40 states.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[9]</a> Despite their non-partisan description, many of the websites funded by the Franklin Center have received criticism for their conservative bias.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[10]</a><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[11]</a> On its website, the Franklin Center claims it "provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwide."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[12]</a><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background: none;">Franklin Center Funding</h3>Franklin Center Director of Communications Michael Moroney told the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) in 2013 that the source of the Franklin Center's funding "is 100 percent anonymous." But 95 percent of its 2011 funding came from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/DonorsTrust" title="DonorsTrust" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">DonorsTrust</a>, a spin-off of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Philanthropy_Roundtable" title="Philanthropy Roundtable" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Philanthropy Roundtable</a> that functions as a large "donor-advised fund," cloaking the identity of donors to right-wing causes across the country (CPI did a review of Franklin's Internal Revenue Service records).<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-Abowd-13" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[13]</a> Mother Jones called DonorsTrust "the dark-money ATM of the conservative movement" in a February 2013 article.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-14" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[14]</a> Franklin received DonorTrust's second-largest donation in 2011.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-Abowd-13" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[13]</a>The Franklin Center also receives funding from the Wisconsin-based <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Lynde_and_Harry_Bradley_Foundation" title="Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation</a>,<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-15" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[15]</a> a conservative grant-making organization.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[16]</a>The Franklin Center was launched by the Chicago-based <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sam_Adams_Alliance" title="Sam Adams Alliance" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Sam Adams Alliance</a> (SAM),<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[17]</a> a 501(c)(3) devoted to pushing free-market ideals. SAM gets funding from the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/State_Policy_Network" title="State Policy Network" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">State Policy Network</a>,<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[18]</a> which is partially funded by The Claude R. Lambe Foundation.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-19" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[19]</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Charles_Koch" title="Charles Koch" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Charles Koch</a>, one of the billionaire brothers who co-own Koch Industries, sits on the board of this foundation.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-20" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[20]</a> SAM also receives funding from the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Rodney_Fund" title="Rodney Fund" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Rodney Fund</a>.
<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none;">Core Financials</h2><big>2010</big><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-21" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[21]</a>:<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Total Revenue: $1,791,057</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Total Expenses: $1,732,183</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Net Assets: $176,631</li></ul><big>2009</big><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-22" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[22]</a>:<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Total Revenue: $1,469,110</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Total Expenses: $1,327,172</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Net Assets: $117,757</li></ul><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none;">Personnel</h2><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background: none;">Board of Directors</h3><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">William (Bill) G. Becker, III (co-founder of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Maine_Heritage_Policy_Center" title="Maine Heritage Policy Center" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Maine Heritage Policy Center</a>)</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Steve Brown</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Terry T. Campo, Vice-Chairman</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elizabeth Christie</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">John Tillman, CEO</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Richard T. Weiss</li></ul><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background: none;">Staff</h3><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">John Tillman, CEO</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Kristina Rasmussen, Executive Vice President</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Ted Dabrowski, Vice President of Policy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Daniel Anthony, Vice President of Marketing and Communications</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Matt Paprocki, Senior Director of Government Affairs</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Rebecca Kohn, Senior Manager of External Relations</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Brian Costin, Director of Government Reform</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Paul Kersey, Director of Labor Policy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jonathan Ingram, Director of Health Policy and Pension Reform</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Benjamin VanMetre, Senior Budget and Tax Policy Analyst</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Josh Dwyer, Director of Education Reform</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Diana Rickert, Director of Media Relations</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jean Hutton, Operations Manager</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Roxane Tyssen, External Relations Associate</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jen Dillman, Regional Director of External Relations, Central and Southern Illinois</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Scott Reeder, Journalist in Residence</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">MaryAnn McCabe, External Relations Associate</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Chris Andriesen, Outreach Coordinator</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jane McEnaney, Policy Outreach Manager</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Hilary Gowins, Editor</li></ul><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background: none;">Senior Fellows</h3><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Heather Wilhelm, Senior Fellow, Communications</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">J. Scott Moody, Senior Fellow for Budget and Tax Policy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Jerry Agar, Multimedia Fellow</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Don Soifer, Senior Fellow, Education</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Andrew Busch, Senior Fellow, Finance and Markets</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Leonard Gilroy, Senior Fellow, Regulation and Privatization</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Donna Arduin, Senior Fellow, Budget and Tax Policy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">John Hill, Senior Fellow, Energy Policy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Jim Porterfield, Senior Fellow, Health Care Policy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Marc Levine, Senior Fellow, Pension and Investment Policy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">John Stephen, JD, Senior Fellow, Health Care Policy</li></ul><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background: none;">Academic Advisors</h3><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Jonathan Bean, Southern Illinois University</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Rik Hafer, Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">William J. Kresse, Saint Xavier University</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Patrick Mullen, University of Illinois - Springfield</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Robert Podlasek, Bradley University</li></ul><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none;">Contact Details</h2>Website: <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org/" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">http://www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org/</a>Chicago Office
Illinois Policy Institute
190 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1630
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-346-5700
Fax: 312-346-5755
John Tillman, CEO
jtillman@illinoispolicy.org

Springfield Office
Illinois Policy Institute
802 South 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: 217-528-8800
Fax: 217-528-8808
Kristina Rasmussen, Executive Vice President
krasmussen@illinoispolicy.org<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none;">References</h2><ol class="references" style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 3.2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li id="cite_note-About-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-About_1-0" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up to:1.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-About_1-1" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.1</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&t=About-Us" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">"About Us"</a>, accessed November 2012</li><li id="cite_note-TaxMeetingAgenda-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-TaxMeetingAgenda_2-0" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> American Legislative Exchange Council, "Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Meeting," agenda and meeting materials, August 4, 2011, on file with CMD</li><li id="cite_note-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-3" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> American Legislative Exchange Council <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.alec.org/AM/PDF/InsideALEC/INSIDE-ALEC-April-2010.pdf," style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Inside ALEC April 2010</a>, organization newsletter, April 2010, p. 11</li><li id="cite_note-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-4" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> American Legislative Exchange Council, Health and Human Services Task Force meeting agenda and materials, August 4, 2011, on file with CMD</li><li id="cite_note-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-5" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> American Legislative Exchange Council, Education Task Force meeting agenda and materials, April 6, 2012, on file with CMD</li><li id="cite_note-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-6" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Cato Institute, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/237/432/2006-237432162-02d95084-9.pdf" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 16px; background: url(" http="http" upload.wikimedia.org="upload.wikimedia.org" wikipedia="wikipedia" commons="commons" icons-mini-file_acrobat.gif="Icons-mini-file_acrobat.gif" no-repeat="no-repeat">2006 Annual Report</a>, pages 19-23.</li><li id="cite_note-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-7" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Illinois Policy Institute, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&section2=519&page=519&t=FAQs" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">About Us: FAQs</a>, organizational site, accessed September 6, 2011</li><li id="cite_note-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-8" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Franklin Center, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://franklincenterhq.org/2376/think-tank-journalism-the-future-of-investigative-reporting/" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Franklin Affiliates in Your State</a>, organizational website, accessed October 2012.</li><li id="cite_note-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-9" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.franklincenterhq.org/2376/think-tank-journalism-the-future-of-investigative-reporting/" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Think tank Journalism: The Future of Investigative Journalism</a>, organizational website, accessed August 19, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-10" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-10" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Rebekah Metzler, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.pressherald.com/news/watchdog-website-puts-a-new-spin-on-politics_2010-10-02.html" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">"Watchdog" website puts a new spin on politics</a>, The Portland Press Herald, October 2, 2010.</li><li id="cite_note-11" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-11" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Allison Kilkenny, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.truth-out.org/koch-spider-web/1312231636" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">The Koch Spider Web</a>, Truthout, accessed August 19, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-12" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-12" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Sara Jerving, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/10/10971/franklin-center-right-wing-funds-state-news-source" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Franklin Center: Right-Wing Funds State News Source</a>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.prwatch.org/" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">PRWatch.org</a>, October 27, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-Abowd-13" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-Abowd_13-0" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up to:13.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-Abowd_13-1" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">13.1</a> Paul Abowd, Center for Public Integrity, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/02/14/12181/donors-use-charity-push-free-market-policies-states" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Donors use charity to push free-market policies in states</a>, organizational report, February 14, 2013.</li><li id="cite_note-14" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-14" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Andy Kroll, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/02/donors-trust-donor-capital-fund-dark-money-koch-bradley-devos" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Exposed: The Dark-Money ATM of the Conservative Movement</a>, Mother Jones, February 5, 2013.</li><li id="cite_note-15" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-15" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Daniel Bice, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/127259723.html" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Franklin Center boss wants apology from Democratic staffer</a>, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 8, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-16" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-16" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> The Bradley Foundation. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bradleyfdn.org/" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">The Bradley Foundation</a>. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-17" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-17" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Sam Adams Alliance. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.samadamsalliance.org/media/5148/sam_adams_alliance_media_kit.pdf" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 16px; background: url(" http="http" upload.wikimedia.org="upload.wikimedia.org" wikipedia="wikipedia" commons="commons" icons-mini-file_acrobat.gif="Icons-mini-file_acrobat.gif" no-repeat="no-repeat">Sam Adams Alliance Media Kit</a>. Organizational PDF. Accessed August 19, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-18" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-18" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Media Matters Action Network. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Sam_Adams_Alliance/funders" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Sam Adams Alliance</a>. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-19" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-19" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Media Matters Action Network. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/State_Policy_Network/funders" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">State Policy Network</a>. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-20" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-20" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Media Matters Action Network. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Claude_R_Lambe_Charitable_Foundation" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation</a>. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</li><li id="cite_note-21" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-21" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Illinois Policy Institute, IRS form 990, 2010. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.guidestar.org/" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">GuideStar</a>.</li><li id="cite_note-22" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-22" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; -webkit-user-select: none;">Jump up↑</a> Illinois Policy Institute, IRS form 990, 2009. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.guidestar.org/" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">GuideStar</a>.</li></ol><table style="margin: 0.5em 0.57em 0.5em 0.7em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(218, 210, 109); border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 250, 205); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><tbody><tr><td width="100%" style="padding: 0.25em;">This article is a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/SourceWatch:Find_or_fix_a_stub" title="SourceWatch:Find or fix a stub" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">stub</a>. You can <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/SourceWatch:Find_or_fix_a_stub" title="SourceWatch:Find or fix a stub" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">help</a> by <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_Policy_Institute&action=edit" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" c="C" fxml="Fxml" version="version" d="D" encoding="encoding" utf-8="UTF-8" f="F" e="E" csvg="Csvg" http="http" a="A" fwww.w3.org="Fwww.w3.org" f2000="F2000" fsvg="Fsvg" width="width" height="height" cg="Cg" transform="transform" translate="translate" crect="Crect" x="x" y="y" fill="fill" fff="fff" stroke="stroke" cpath="Cpath" m831.194="M831.194" h5.234v5.391l-1.571="h5.234v5.391l-1.571" z="z" m835.424="M835.424" l.022="l.022" fg="Fg" xmlns="xmlns" xmlns:data="data">expanding it</a>.</td><td>
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John Tillman served as president and director of Americans for Limited Government during its start-up phase as well. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, Tillman grew Americans for Limited Government "from a single, part-time employee in May of 2004 to a staff of approximately 25 that had a significant impact on political activity in 13 states in 2006."

Tillman is also president and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute. Within hours of Rick Santelli's rant, Kristina Rasmussen, who had just been hired as the Executive Vice President by the Illinois Policy Institute that morning, helped kick start the Chicago Tea Party by participating in a February 19 conference call to plan the event. Rasmussen, who was then the Director of Government Affairs at National Taxpayers Union, was the second speaker on the call. Tillman also serves on Sam Adams Alliance's board of directors and was president and COO of Sam Adams Alliance during its start up phase.

Odom formed American Liberty Alliance in March of this year through a combination of the gift of Sam Adams Alliance's blogivists.com, a conservative blog hosting hub, and the #DontGo movement, founded by Odom in 2008 to support offshore drilling.

American Liberty Alliance is not the only Sam Adams Alliance affiliate in this fight, however. American Majority, a self-described "political training institute", is a "concept" of Sam Adams Alliance, which in turn describes itself as AM's "sponsor". American Majority staff includes former George W Bush speechwriter Ned Ryun, http://www.missourirecord.com/news/index.asp?article=10054 regional field director for Bush/Cheney '04 Lonny Leitner, former Republican state legislator Shari Weber, and former director of operations at the Oklahoma Republican Party, Matt Pinnell.

===

Samuel Adams was the brewer and patriot who, in 1773, ginned up a mob of Bostonians dressed as Native Americans which conducted <a href="http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/teaparty.htm">history's original Tea Party</a>. The president of Sam Adams Alliance is <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-tsarpalas/4/ba/b24">John Tsarpalas</a>, former executive director of the Illinois State Republican party. Eric O'Keefe, SAA's <a href="http://action.samadamsalliance.org/popView.php?Table=Newsletters&Prefix=Newsletter&ID=35">chairman</a> and <a href="http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Eric_O%27Keefe">CEO</a>, is a former executive director of the National Libertarian Party. He once worked for Citizens for Congressional Reform (<a href="http://www.michiganlp.org/Past%20Newsletters/Michigan%20Libertarian%20Vol%2020%20%28BIB%201.1%29%201991%20May-%20June.pdf">pdf</a>), a project of David Koch's Citizens for a Sound Economy. Along with noted Libertarian financier Howard Rich, O'Keefe sits on the board of directors of Americans for Limited Government.

Shortly before online activist Eric Odom helped kick-start the Tea Party movement, he was new media director for Sam Adams Alliance. This put him in charge of (among other things) setting up <a href="http://taxdayteaparty.com/2009/11/our-statement-about-tea-party-patriots/">websites</a>, coordinating <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69428711302">Facebook groups</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/libertyalliance">managing</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/taxdayteaparty">Twitter</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/blogivists">accounts</a> and other social networking tasks. Odom's first known acts as a Tea Partier were to set up the <a href="http://officialchicagoteaparty.com/">OfficialChicagoTeaParty.com</a> site and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=152052919129">Facebook</a> pages within hours of Rick Santelli's February rant, then spreading word through Twitter, initially utilizing #TCOT, a Twitter list and hashtag for <a href="http://www.kithbridge.com/tcot/index.php/about-the-list">Top Conservatives on Twitter</a>.

Both Odom and another former Sam Adams Alliance staffer, Ken Marrero, are now leaders of American Liberty Alliance. Odom is executive director and Marrero is director of grassroots outreach and coalitions. Marrero was a regional new media specialist with Sam Adams Alliance. In <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/31/the-ed-morrissey-show-sam-adams-alliance-eyeblast-porkbusters-project/">July 2008</a> he described Sam Adams Alliance as "an outgrowth of, I think, visions and dreams from some people who started at Americans for Limited Government."

John Tillman served as president and director of Americans for Limited Government during its start-up phase as well. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, Tillman grew Americans for Limited Government "from a single, part-time employee in May of 2004 to a staff of approximately 25 that had a significant impact on political activity in 13 states in 2006."

Tillman is also president and CEO of the <a href="http://www.illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&section2=463&page=463">Illinois Policy Institute</a>. Within hours of Rick Santelli's rant, Kristina Rasmussen, who had just been hired as the Executive Vice President by the Illinois Policy Institute that morning, helped kick start the Chicago Tea Party by participating in a February 19 conference call to plan the event. Rasmussen, who was then the Director of Government Affairs at National Taxpayers Union, was the second speaker on the call. Tillman also serves on Sam Adams Alliance's board of directors and was president and COO of Sam Adams Alliance during its start up phase.

Odom formed American Liberty Alliance in March of this year through a combination of <a href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-12-05-images-BlogivistsMovingOn.jpg">the gift</a> of Sam Adams Alliance's <a href="http://blogivists.com/">blogivists.com</a>, a conservative blog hosting hub, and the #DontGo movement, founded by Odom in 2008 to support offshore drilling.

American Liberty Alliance is not the only Sam Adams Alliance affiliate in this fight, however. American Majority, a self-described "political training institute", is a "concept" of Sam Adams Alliance, which in turn describes itself as AM's "sponsor". American Majority staff includes former George W Bush speechwriter <a href="http://www.missourirecord.com/news/index.asp?article=10054">Ned Ryun</a>, regional field director for Bush/Cheney '04 <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/ppl/webprofile?vmi=&id=10478660&pvs=pp&authToken=BBCC&authType=name&locale=en_US&trk=ppro_viewmore&lnk=vw_pprofile">Lonny Leitner</a>, former Republican state legislator <a href="http://www2.ljworld.com/chats/2008/oct/09/shari_weber/">Shari Weber</a>, and former director of operations at the Oklahoma Republican Party, Matt Pinnell.

American Majority also got involved this summer on Sam Adams Alliance's American Liberty Tour, offering organizer trainings prior to each tour event. The Tour itself was billed as a project of American Liberty Alliance, Sam Adams Alliance and Americans for Limited Government.

Long before Sam Adams Alliance's recent <a href="http://www.samadamsalliance.org/">website redesign</a>, they altered an <a href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-12-06-images-samadamsalliancekochconnection.jpg">internship recruitment page</a> that connected Sam Adams Alliance to Koch Industries: "Interested parties can apply for a Sam Adams Alliance internship through the Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program administered by the Institute for Humane Studies and the State Policy Network." The internship is still listed on the <a href="http://www.theihs.org/ContentDetails.aspx?id=645">IHS website</a>. Charles Koch founded the IHS. The internship page existed up until the site's ongoing redesign, but recently the Koch reference was absent from the Sam Adams Alliance website. An <a href="http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/03/did_playboy_just_disappear_an.php">article</a> in Playboy Magazine, taken down almost as soon as it was posted, claimed the Koch reference was scrubbed on Feb. 16. Three days later, Santelli's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZB4taSEoA&feature=player_embedded">supposedly-spontaneous</a> rant kick-started the Tea Party movement, enabled by Odom's on-line assistance.

Read full coverage detailing the various parts of the Anatomy of the Tea Party Movement:

<ul>

<li class="first"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380567.html">Tea Party Patriots</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380575.html">FreedomWorks</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380592.html">Tea Party Express</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380608.html">Americans for Prosperity</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380626.html">American Liberty Alliance</a></li>

<li>Sam Adams Alliance</li>

<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380669.html">American Future Fund</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380687.html">RecessRally.com</a></li>

<li class="last"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brantzawadzki/anatomy-of-the-tea-party_b_380691.html">The Media</a></li>

</ul>

----

wikipedia, no support doc

The Illinois Policy Institute (IPI)is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_tank" title="Think tank">think tank</a> whose stated vision is "to make Illinois first in economic outlook and job creation and to become a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism" title="Capitalism">free enterprise</a> leader for the rest of America."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-1">[1]</a>

According to the group's website, it seeks to "define the challenges facing Illinois residents, study how public policy can improve the situation and then craft positive, innovative solutions based on free enterprise principles."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-2">[2]</a> Its primary focus areas include fiscal policy, educational choice and reform, government transparency, health care reform, as well as commerce and labor policy.

The organization is independent and not affiliated with any political party, as it is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501%28c%29_organization" title="501(c) organization">501(c) organization</a>. They "work with anyone who supports our values on a particular issue, regardless of political or ideological affinity, including Democrats, Republicans and independents", though the goals it focuses on are currently associated with conservative ideology in the United States. The Institute does not endorse candidates or donate to political parties.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-3">[3]</a>

<h2>Contents</h2>

</div>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#Goals">1 Goals</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#Personnel">2 Personnel</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#Recurring_projects">3 Recurring projects</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#Funding">4 Funding</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#Political_action_committee">5 Political action committee</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#Relations_with_elected_officials">6 Relations with elected officials</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#References">7 References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#External_links">8 External links</a></li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2>Goals</h2>

The following are the vision, mission and approach of the Illinois Policy Institute, according to their own description: To make Illinois first in economic outlook and job creation and become a free enterprise leader for the rest of America. To inspires changes in "hearts, minds and laws" by "promoting personal freedom and prosperity," and generate "positive and sustainable policy solutions" that promote talent and entrepreneurial ability. To transform liberty principles into marketable policies that become law.

The Institute's "ultimate sign of success" is when free market ideas are turned into law and change lives for the better, when "individuals and businesses become more prosperous without the fear of government favoritism or interference, families can choose a high quality education for their kids, and citizens respect their government because it is open and transparent to all."

<h2>Personnel</h2>

Senior Staff<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-4">[4]</a>

<ul>

<li>John Tillman, CEO. His background is as an entrepreneur in the area of political activism, retailing, e-commerce and internet access. In 2011, he won the Roe Award from the [State Policy Network] for his leadership, innovation and accomplishments in the world of public policy.</li>

<li>Kristina Rasmussen, executive vice president. She directs the Institute's operations, legislative outreach, and policy research. Rasmussen specializes on budget and tax issues, health care, and economic competitiveness. Previously, she worked with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Taxpayers_Union" title="National Taxpayers Union">National Taxpayers Union</a>.</li>

<li>Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy. He develops policy suggestions with a focus on Illinois budget and tax policy, health care, pension reform, education policy and job creation.</li>

<li>Daniel Anthony, vice president of marketing and communications.</li>

</ul>

Board of Directors<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-5">[5]</a>

<ul>

<li>William (Bill) G. Becker III</li>

<li>Steve Brown</li>

<li>Terry T. Campo, Esq.</li>

<li>Elizabeth Christie</li>

<li>Richard T. Weiss</li>

<li>John Tillman</li>

</ul>

<h2>Recurring projects</h2>

The Institute is known for releasing an annual alternative state budget,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-6">[6]</a> a "Piglet Book"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-7">[7]</a> detailing what it sees as wasteful government spending, regular reports on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_school" title="Charter school">charter school</a> achievement as well as a Legislators' Guide to the Issues.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-8">[8]</a>

<h2>Funding</h2>

The Illinois Policy Institute is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501%28c%29_organization" title="501(c) organization">501(c) organization</a>. The Institute obtains all of its funding from private donors and foundations. It does not accept government funding of any kind.

<h2>Political action committee</h2>

The Illinois Policy Institute is not affiliated with a political action committee. According to its FAQs, "The Institute does not endorse candidates or donate to political parties."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-9">[9]</a> BUT

The State Journal-Register's Bernard Shoenburg reported on June 18, 2011, that that head of the Illinois Policy Institute, John Tillman, had created a Political Action Committee, Illinois Liberty PAC, that shared the same Chicago mailing address as the Institute.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-10">[10]</a>

In the article, Kent Redfield, a professor at the University of Illinois Springfield, stated that "When you’re up there delivering a report on Medicaid reimbursements, but you’re also backing candidates and soliciting campaign contributions for your PAC, people are going to wonder how you are balancing those sorts of things."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-11">[11]</a>

Schoenburg later reported on April 12, 2012, that Tillman had cut ties with Illinois Liberty PAC and two other committees. Tillman is a board member of the Illinois Opportunity Project, a 501c4 organization. The project has donated funds to several Republican candidates and to the Illinois Liberty PAC.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-12">[12]</a>

<h2>Relations with elected officials</h2>

According to the group's website, the Institute "work[s] with anyone who supports our values on a particular issue, regardless of political or ideological affinity, including Democrats, Republicans and independents."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-13">[13]</a>

On August 13, 2010, the Pantagraph reported that Illinois <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_Pat_Quinn" title="Governor Pat Quinn" class="mw-redirect">Governor Pat Quinn</a> referenced the Illinois Policy Institute when opening the 2010 Illinois State Fair. "'There are, you know, pinheads who think that we should cut out the state fair,' Quinn said after cutting the ribbon on the 157th running of the fair. 'I think they're all wet. I think the people of Illinois want a state fair to celebrate our agriculture.'"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_note-14">[14]</a>

<h2>References</h2>

<li id="cite_note-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-1">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&t=About-Us">"About Us"</a>. Illinois Policy Institute. Retrieved 2012-09-05.</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-2">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&section2=519&page=519&t=FAQs">http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456§ion2=519&page=519&t=FAQs</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-3">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&section2=519&page=519&t=FAQs">http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456§ion2=519&page=519&t=FAQs</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-4">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&section2=464&page=464">http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456§ion2=464&page=464</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-5">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&section2=463&page=463&t=Board-of-Directors">http://illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456§ion2=463&page=463&t=Board-of-Directors</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-6">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=3929">IPI alternative state budget</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-7">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=2105">IPI Piglet Book</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-8">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://illinoispolicy.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=4029">Legislators' Guide</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-9">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&section2=519&page=519&t=FAQs">http://www.illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456§ion2=519&page=519&t=FAQs</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-10">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x536834849/Bernard-Schoenburg-Illinois-Policy-Institutes-PAC-connection-draws-questions">http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x536834849/Bernard-Schoenburg-Illinois-Policy-Institutes-PAC-connection-draws-questions</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-11">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x536834849/Bernard-Schoenburg-Illinois-Policy-Institutes-PAC-connection-draws-questions">http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x536834849/Bernard-Schoenburg-Illinois-Policy-Institutes-PAC-connection-draws-questions</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-12">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x876162527/Bernard-Schoenburg-Tillman-s-different-hats-can-be-confusing">http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x876162527/Bernard-Schoenburg-Tillman-s-different-hats-can-be-confusing</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-13">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456&section2=519&page=519&t=FAQs">http://www.illinoispolicy.org/content/?section=456§ion2=519&page=519&t=FAQs</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Policy_Institute#cite_ref-14">^{</a></span}> <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_6c58c1c6-a711-11df-b75a-001cc4c03286.html">http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_6c58c1c6-a711-11df-b75a-001cc4c03286.html</a></li>

</ol>

</div>

<h2>External links</h2>

<ul>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.illinoispolicy.org/">The Illinois Policy Institute’s website</a></li>

</ul>

<div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Categories" title="Help:Categories">Categories</a>:

<ul>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Springfield,_Illinois" title="Category:Springfield, Illinois">Springfield, Illinois</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Non-profit_organizations_based_in_Chicago,_Illinois" title="Category:Non-profit organizations based in Chicago, Illinois">Non-profit organizations based in Chicago, Illinois</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Political_and_economic_think_tanks_in_the_United_States" title="Category:Political and economic think tanks in the United States">Political and economic think tanks in the United States</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Libertarian_think_tanks" title="Category:Libertarian think tanks">Libertarian think tanks</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Libertarian_organizations_based_in_the_United_States" title="Category:Libertarian organizations based in the United States">Libertarian organizations based in the United States</a></li>

</ul>

</div>

Illinois Policy Inst

Attachments