Alabama Policy Institute

The Alabama Policy Institute (API) is a nonprofit, conservative think tank located in Alabama.[3] According to the organization's mission statement, it is "dedicated to influencing public policy in the interest of the preservation of free markets, limited government and strong families."[4] API is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.[4]

Alabama Policy Institute
Founder(s)Tom Parker, Gary Palmer
Established1989 (1989)[1]
MissionPreservation of Free Markets, Limited Government, and Strong Families
PresidentStephanie Smith
BudgetRevenue: $1,076,626
Expenses: $1,190,677
(FYE June 2017)[2]
Address200 Missionary Ridge Drive, Suite 110 Birmingham, Alabama 35242
Coordinates33.4774°N 86.7773°W / 33.4774; -86.7773
Websitewww.alabamapolicy.org
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History

The Alabama Policy Institute was founded in 1989 as the Alabama Family Alliance. Alabama Supreme Court justice Tom Parker was the founding executive director.[5] Gary Palmer, a co-founder of the Alabama Family Alliance, eventually became its president.[6] In 2000, the Alabama Family Alliance was renamed the Alabama Policy Institute.

After 25 years at the helm, Palmer stepped down from his role as the institute's president in order to successfully run Alabama's 6th congressional district in 2014. He was replaced by Caleb Crosby, who had served as API's vice president and CFO prior to becoming the group's president in September 2014. On January 25, 2023, Stephanie Smith succeeded Caleb Crosby as API's third President and CEO. Her professional experience includes serving as Director of Governmental Affairs for Regions Financial Corporation, President of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, Assistant Director of Finance for the State of Alabama, Deputy Director of Finance for the State of Alabama, and as Principal of the Thatcher Coalition.[7]

Policy positions

API researches policy issues and offers analysis and proposals through reports and publications to public servants, citizens, and the media. As a conservative think tank, API addresses a range of policy issues in the areas of economics, education, the environment, government, family and society.[4]

API has argued for what they consider to be fairer taxes in Alabama.[8] In 2003, API was a staunch opponent of Republican Governor Bob Riley's $1.2 billion tax increase proposal.[9][10] It commissioned a study by the Beacon Hill Institute about Riley's tax increase legislation.[11] API has been a critic of proposals for an Alabama state lottery, labeling such proposals a regressive tax on the poor.[12][13]

API has championed charter schools in Alabama.[14] It strongly supports the Alabama Accountability Act, which expanded school choice and school vouchers in the state.[15][16] API was a proponent of both the Marriage Act, passed in 1998, and Alabama Amendment 774, which was approved by 81% of Alabama voters in 2006.[17]

In 2014, API released a report titled Alabama's Environment 2014: Six Critical Indicators. It covered energy, air quality, water quality, forests and land, toxic release inventory and climate change. It provided a positive outlook on the state of the environment, arguing that the nation's air quality and the environment in general are improving.[18][19][20]

In February 2015, the Alabama Policy Institute and the Alabama Citizens Action Program filed a lawsuit asking the Alabama Supreme Court to halt same-sex marriages in the state until the United States Supreme Court addresses the issue.[21][22]

References
  1. Gore, Leada (September 11, 2014). "Bush staffer tapped to follow Gary Palmer as head of Alabama Policy Institute". AL.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  2. "World Policy Institute" (PDF). Candid. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  3. "Ex-Bush Staffer to Head Alabama Policy Institute". Alabama Public Radio. Associated Press. September 12, 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  4. "About Us". Alabama Policy Institute. Archived from the original on 2015-03-06. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  5. "Associate Justice Tom Parker". Supreme Court of Alabama. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. Moseley, Brandon (September 2014). "Crosby to Replace Palmer at API". Alabama Political Reporter. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. "API Names Stephanie Smith President and CEO". 25 January 2023.
  8. "Same tired song". The Tuscaloosa News. March 21, 2000. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  9. Fund, John (August 28, 2003). "Too Damn Stupid". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  10. "Editing Out the Facts in Alabama". FactCheck.org. Annenberg Public Policy Center. June 25, 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-05-01. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  11. Beyerle, Dana (July 18, 2003). "University of Alabama economist Ferguson disputes tax study critical of Riley's package". Gadsden Times. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  12. Jones, Jeffrey Douglas (2007). The Unaffordable Nation: Searching for a Decent Life in America. Prometheus Books. p. 51. ISBN 9781616141240.
  13. McCulley, Kaitlin (7 July 2014). "Should Alabama start an education lottery?". WIAT. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  14. Beyerle, Dana (January 1, 2010). "Charter school legislation being developed for 2010". Gadsden Times. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  15. Underwood, Madison (January 21, 2015). "School choice advocates plan march on Montgomery to celebrate Alabama Accountability Act". AL.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-04. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  16. Barnes, Fred (May 22, 2014). "A Conservative Candidate of Character, Conviction, Knowledge, and Leadership". Weekly Standard. Archived from the original on 2015-01-02. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  17. Emergency Petition for Writ of Mandamus Archived 2015-02-17 at the Wayback Machine to the Supreme Court of Alabama, filed on February 11, 2015 by the Alabama Policy Institute and Alabama Citizens Action Program. Court filing is linked from a Liberty Counsel press release Archived 2015-02-17 at archive.today, posted February 13, 2015. Both documents accessed on 2015-02-16.
  18. Beyerle, Dana (April 25, 2004). "Parties Dispute State Highway Commission". Alabama Exposure. The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  19. Vaughan, Wesley (July 30, 2014). "Conservative think tank takes new measure of Alabama's environmental indicators". AL.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  20. Hill, John (July 30, 2014). "Six indicators enable reasoned assessment of the environment: guest opinion". AL.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  21. Reeves, Jay (March 3, 2015). "Home> U.S. Alabama Supreme Court Halts Gay-Marriage Licenses". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2015-03-07. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  22. Robertson, Campbell (March 3, 2015). "Alabama Court Orders a Halt to Same-Sex Marriage Licenses". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-03-04. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
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