National Center for Public Policy Research

The National Center for Public Policy Research, founded in 1982, is a self-described conservative think tank in the United States. Its president since its founding has been Amy Ridenour. David A. Ridenour, her husband, is vice president, and David W. Almasi is executive director. Key staff include Caroline May, who oversees environmental programs, and Ryan Balis, who oversees United Nations studies. Dana Joel Gattuso, Council Nedd II, R.J. Smith, Deroy Murdock and Bonner Cohen are among those who frequently speak or publish under the NCPPR banner as senior/distinguished fellows.

Policy areas

NCPPR's work is in the areas of environmental, retirement security, regulatory, economic, and foreign affairs. Particular areas of interest include global warming, endangered species, energy policy, environmental justice, property rights, legal reform, Medicare reform, health care, Social Security, civil rights, foreign affairs/defense and United Nations reform/withdrawal.

NCPPR is a member of the Cooler Heads Coalition, whose object is described as "dispelling the myths of global warming by exposing flawed economic, scientific, and risk analysis".

Publications

Publications include National Policy Analysis papers, Talking Points cards, the newsletters What Conservatives Think, Ten Second Response and In the News among other publications, and a National Center Blog. They also have full editorial control over the contents of the wiki-styled web portal GroupSnoop[1] which hosts conservative analyses of various high profile left-leaning non-profits.

Funding

As of October 31, 2013, the organizations's web site reported that its funding breakdown was 94% from individuals, 4% from foundations and less than 2% from corporations. The organization reported receiving 350,000 individual contributions a year from over 96,000 recent contributors.[2]

Abramoff connections

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was a member of NCPPR's Board of Directors; he resigned in October 2004 after NCPPR's Board of Directors concluded he had violated the organization's conflict of interest policy.[3]

In October 2002, Abramoff directed the Mississippi Band of Choctaws to give $1 million to NCPPR, and then told Amy Ridenour to distribute the funds to Capital Athletic Foundation ($450,000), Capitol Campaign Strategies ($500,000) and Nurnberger and Associates ($50,000). In June 2003, Greenberg Traurig, the firm that employed Abramoff, sent $1.5 million to NCPPR, of which Ridenour distributed $250,000 to Capital Athletic Foundation and the remainder to Kay Gold LLC, both controlled by Abramoff. Ridenour said in testimony that she believed Abramoff co-conspirator Michael Scanlon was the owner of Kay Gold (Kaygold).[4]

Special projects

Since 1992, the group has sponsored Project 21, a "national leadership network of black conservatives". Project 21 provides research and commentary on public policy issues from a conservative black perspective to the U.S. news media at large and to African American community newspapers and media outlets. According to the organization, Project 21 members, all of whom are black, were published, quoted or interviewed over 12,000 times on a variety of public policy issues between 1992-2006.

Edmund Peterson was the first chairman of Project 21. It was also formerly chaired by Mychal Massie. It is now co-chaired by Horace Cooper and Cherlyn Harley LeBon. Deneen Moore formerly served as Project 21's first full-time senior fellow. Project 21's former staff director was David W. Almasi, who is white.

Of Project 21, the liberal magazine The Nation said in May 2005, "Project 21 remains a crucial gear in the right’s propaganda factory. Without [Project 21, its] cadres would probably be at home screaming at the TV. But instead, they’re on TV."[5]

Board of directors

The board of directors of the National Center for Public Policy Research includes author Peter Schweizer, management consultant Victor Porlier, health care analyst Edmund F. Haislmaier, law professor Horace Cooper, Amy Ridenour, and David Ridenour.

Notable Associates of the NCPPR

The following individuals have affiliations with the National Center for Public Policy Research.

References

  1. ↑ GroupSnoop
  2. ↑ "Press Release", National Center for Public Policy Research website, accessed November 11, 2013
  3. ↑ "Oversight Hearing Regarding Tribal Lobbying Matters, et al.". United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (United States Government Printing Office). 2005-06-22. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  4. ↑ "Statement of Amy Moritz Ridenour" (PDF). U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. June 22, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2010.
  5. ↑ Blumenthal, Max (2005-03-24). "The Minister of Minstrelsy". The Nation. Retrieved 2007-12-12.

Further reading

External links

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