National Center for Policy Analysis

The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) was a non-profit American think tank[3] whose goals were to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control. Topics it addressed include reforms in health care, taxes, Social Security, welfare, education, and environmental regulation.

National Center for Policy Analysis
AbbreviationNCPA
Formation1983
Dissolved2017
TypePublic policy think tank
Allen West (as of 2015)[1]
BudgetRevenue: $2,629,925
Expenses: $3,562,505
(FYE September 2015)[2]

The NCPA was founded in February 1983[4] and ceased operation in mid-2017, announcing it had faced three years of serious financial trouble.[5] An NCPA website is being maintained by a former board member at NCPAThinkTank.org,[6] where publications have been archived.[7] A history of the organization and summary of its accomplishments may be found at the Goodman Institute.[8]

History

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NCPA was founded by British businessman Antony Fisher[9] together with Dallas businessmen Russell Perry (CEO of Republic Financial Services),[10] Wayne Calloway (CEO of Frito-Lay), John F. Stephens (CEO of Employers Insurance of Texas),[11] and Jere W. Thompson (CEO of the Southland Corporation).

Its founding president was libertarian economist John C. Goodman. Its first offices were at the University of Dallas. The organization later had offices in Dallas and Washington, D.C.. An NCPA website is being maintained by a former board member at NCPAThinkTank.org.[12] Publications have been archived at www.ncpathinktank.org/pdfs.[13] A history of the organization and summary of its accomplishments may be found at Goodmaninstitute.org [14]

In June 2014, the NCPA board and Goodman accused each other of misconduct, and Goodman left the organization.[15]

Leadership of the NCPA included:

  • Steve Ivy, Chairman of the Board. July 1, 2016
  • James H. Amos Jr., President and CEO July 1, 2016
  • Allen West, Executive Director, July 1, 2016

Its first offices were at the University of Dallas. The organization later had offices in Dallas and Washington, D.C.

Issues

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Media attention focused on the NCPA (for example, U.S. News & World Report,[16] Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel,[17] Orange County Register[18]) for recommending pension reform legislation including automatic enrollment into companies' 401(k) plans.

The NCPA was a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition, an organization created by the now-defunct non-profit group Consumer Alert that described itself as "an alliance of some two dozen non-profit public policy groups concerned about the implications of the Kyoto Protocol for consumers," and which generally rejected the scientific basis for anthropogenic global warming.[19] NCPA has also attempted to debunk peak oil claims.[citation needed]

Funding

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NCPA's revenues for the fiscal year ending 9/30/14 were $5,281,913 against expenses of $4,544,953;[20] for the fiscal year ending 9/30/10 were $4,222,403 against expenses of $5,888,951; for the fiscal year ending 9/30/09 were $4,222,403 against expenses of $7,569,793; for the fiscal year ending 9/30/08 they were revenues of $6,603,905 against expenses of $4,898,261.[21] As of November 2013, the organization's web site reported that for 2011 its funding breakdown was 52% from foundations, 21% from individuals and 22% from corporations.[22] The press release it issued in July 2017 announcing its dissolution attributed the Board's decision to cease operations immediately as necessitated by three years of financial difficulty.[5]

According to Greenpeace, the NCPA received at least $570,000 from Koch Industries in the eleven-year period ending in 2008.[23]

In 1992, The New York Times reported that the NCPA was partially funded by the insurance industry.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Man, Anthony (2014-11-10). "It's goodbye for Allen West, who's leaving Florida". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  2. ^ "National Center for Policy Analysis" (PDF). Foundation Center. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  3. ^ Kolata, Gina (March 8, 1992). "The philosophical fight over what insurance should be". The New York Times. p. E5.
    Jackson, David (August 1, 1993). "Pursuit of ideas primes research institute; Conservative Dallas organization is part of movement to shape national politics". The Dallas Morning News. p. 37A.
    Warsh, David (April 28, 1996). "MSAs a suicidal shoal for GOP". The Boston Globe. p. A97.
    McKee, Mary (January 20, 2001). "Bush tie may benefit Dallas-based group; The think tank president has advised the president-elect on health care issues". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 21.
  4. ^ Miller, Robert (June 27, 1988). "Is it too early to anticipate a spin with the '88 rotogravure?". The Dallas Morning News. p. 2D.
    Reed, Steven R. (September 30, 1990). "A Texas think tank for 'us' and 'them'". Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b "Dallas-based think tank, NCPA, closes its doors after 34 years – NCPA.org". Health Policy Blog. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  6. ^ "NCPAThinkTank – Where We Are Now".
  7. ^ "Index of /pdfs".
  8. ^ "Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research".
  9. ^ May, John Allan (January 19, 1984). "A quiet Briton whose think tanks back a free market". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 9.
    Henderson, Keith (May 3, 1985). "Think tanks spread free-market ideas worldwide". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 23.
  10. ^ Jennings, Diane (November 30, 1986). "Russell Perry – A transplanted Yankee combines his understanding of business and the community to become a major fund-raiser in his adopted city of Dallas". The Dallas Morning News. p. 1E.
    Aycock, Thomas Matthew (January 18, 2008). "Republic Financial Services". Texas State Historical Association.
  11. ^ Simnacher, Joe (May 6, 2004). "John F. Stephens - Veteran, executive, civic activist". The Dallas Morning News. p. 9B.
  12. ^ [1] NCPAThinkTank.org
  13. ^ [2] www.ncpathinktank.org/pdfs/
  14. ^ [3] The Goodman Institute
  15. ^ Ramesh Ponnuru – "John Goodman Knows Wehbycare Won’t Work", June 12, 2014
  16. ^ The Case Against 401(k) Automatic Enrollment, June 30, 2009
  17. ^ Look For Law To Boost Defined Contribution Plans by Humberto Cruz, August 23, 2006
  18. ^ Pension Protection Act puts the onus on you, September 4, 2006
  19. ^ "Testimony of David A. Ridenour Before the House Subcommittee on National Economic Growth". nonprofitwatch.org. 1999-07-15.
  20. ^ National Center for Policy Analysis IRS Form 990, available at www.charitynavigator.org
  21. ^ National Center for Policy Analysis IRS Form 990, available at www.guidestar.com
  22. ^ "Financials NCPA", National Center for Policy Analysis website, accessed November 11, 2013
  23. ^ "National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) – Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group". greenpeace.org.
  24. ^ Kolata, Gina (March 8, 1992). "The philosophical fight over what insurance should be". The New York Times. p. E5.
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32°56′30″N 96°49′17″W / 32.9416°N 96.8213°W / 32.9416; -96.8213