Drew Johnson

Jason A. (Drew) Johnson is president of the Nashville-based Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR) and a Fellow of the Davenport Institute, Pepperdine University School of Public Policy. 

Johnson is the "son of a former NASCAR series driver".

Johnson was a Koch Fellow in the Summer Fellow Class of 2002 at the libertarian Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University. 

"In 2002, while at the American Enterprise Institute, Johnson’s research on the link between increased campaign finance regulation and rates of incumbent reelection served as the empirical backbone in the Supreme Court Case 'McConnell v. FEC.' As a research analyst for the Modern Red Schoolhouse Institute in Nashville, he examined state educational standards, education reform and pedagogical use of technology." 

Johnson, from Johnson City, TN, "graduated from Belmont University in 2001 with a BS in Political Science" and received a Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University in 2003. 

National Taxpayers Union Foundation
Before founding TCPR, Johnson was a policy analyst at the right-wing-funded National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF), the research arm of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU). 

In July 2004, while with NTUF, Johnson co-authored the economic policy study "Kerry's Fiscal Agenda 'Makeover' Won't Improve Budget Picture for Taxpayers" on Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's spending recommendations.

On an undated "Statement of Concern for Freedom in Russia" posted on the NTU website, the signatories&mdash;among which are Johnson, representing TCPR; Grover Norquist, of the conservative, tobacco industry-related Americans for Tax Reform; and Leonard Liggio of the conservative Atlas Economic Research Foundation&mdash;identify themselves as "representatives, of liberal think-tanks and movements".

On Bush's Spending
"Fiscal conservatives, too, are less than pleased with the current administration," Brian Montopoli wrote January 22, 2004, in The National Review Online. "'Since Bush came into office, federal spending is up 24 percent,' says Drew Johnson, policy analyst at National Taxpayers Union. 'I always thought that if the Republicans could control both houses of Congress and the presidency, taxes would fall, spending would fall, and the deficit would go down. So it's frustrating that once we finally got our way the Republicans stopped acting like Republicans.' He complains about excess pork in the 2004 Omnibus spending bill and the newly unveiled space exploration initiative, which the president chose not to mention in the State of the Union address. 'There is enough frustration that perhaps a Libertarian could skim off some fiscal conservative votes,' he says."

Profiles

 * President, TCPR bio.
 * Fellow, Davenport Institute, Pepperdine University School of Public Policy bio.
 * "3 Chattanoogans Included In Bredesen Board Appointments," The Chattanoogan.com, June 13, 2003. Johnson appointed to Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth by Governor Phil Bredesen.
 * "Belmont Grad Provides Expert National Political Research," Belmont University Forum, Nashville, TN, January 22, 2004.
 * Trapper Michael, "D.C. Meets Tennessee," The Vanderbilt Torch, November 11, 2004.
 * Anne Malinee, "From Beltway to Bible Belt. Drew Johnson's Tennessee Center for Policy Research, a state-based, free market think tank, is up and running," The Vanderbilt Torch, December 15, 2005 (cache file).

Studies and commentaries authored/co-authored by Drew Johnson

 * "Army of $1 billion recruits?" Chicago Sun-Times (FindArticles.com), July 12, 2003.
 * "Army Ads and NASCAR: Racing Away with Your Money," National Taxpayers Union, July 16, 2003.
 * "'Hi' Culture at an Even Higher Price," National Taxpayers Union, October 20, 2003.
 * With Peter J. Sepp and Jeff Dircksen, "EVERY Democrat Presidential Candidate's Platform Would Raise, Not Lower, Federal Budget Deficits," National Taxpayers Union, January 19, 2004.
 * "The Return of Fuzzy Math and Risky Schemes: How Presidential Hopefuls Would Deepen Deficits," National Taxpayers Union, January 19, 2004.
 * With Peter J. Sepp (Pete Sepp), "Deficit Denial. Think Bush is a big spender? Wait till you see what the Dems propose," WSJ OpinionJournal, January 25, 2004.
 * With Peter J. Sepp and Annie Patnaude, "Study: Kerry's Fiscal Agenda 'Makeover' Won't Improve Budget Picture for Taxpayers," National Taxpayers Union, July 12, 2004.
 * "One Hand in Your Pocket: How Kerry’s Campaign Pledges Stand to Cost Taxpayers Billions," National Taxpayers Union, July 12, 2004.
 * "Tax Reform: Say It Is So, Mr. President," Human Events Online, September 17, 2004.
 * "Combining Common Sense and Passion–Advice for Young Think Tanks," Highligts/Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Spring 2006. Scroll down to page 12.

Articles & Commentary

 * Brian Montopoli, "Acid Base," The National Review Online, January 27, 2004.
 * Caroline Baum, "In Fiscal Discipline, It's a Race to the Bottom," Bloomberg, July 14, 2004.
 * David N. Mayer, "The Two Johns: The Real Poop Behind the Bullshit,", Mayer Blog, September 27, 2004. See section "John Kerry, 'Deficit Hawk'."
 * James W. Crawley, "Military Drives for Recruits at NASCAR," Media General News Service, September 19, 2005.
 * James W. Crawley, "Coast Guard, Marines Hit Brakes on NASCAR," Media General News Service (WRBL.com), November 13, 2006.
 * Dave Johnson and James Boyce, "Drudge Attacks Gore Over Utility Bills - Rush Update," Daily Kos, February 26, 2007.
 * egalia, "Tennessee Center For Policy Research: Rightwing Smear Machine," Tennessee Guerilla Women Blogspot, February 27, 2007.
 * mrs panstreppon, "Al Gore's Electricity Bills: Tennessee Center For Policy Research," TPM Cafe, February 28, 2007. Article and comments include significant research data on TCPR.