Alabama Policy Institute

The Alabama Policy Institute (API) is a conservative think tank "dedicated to the preservation of free markets, limited government and strong families." It is a state think tank member of the State Policy Network (SPN) and API's president, Gary Palmer, is president of SPN's board of directors.

"Investigative Journalism"
According to API’s 2011 IRS Form 990, the group spent $17,344 to employ an "investigative journalist."

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
Former API Vice President Michael Ciamarra is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force.

The API also has ties to ALEC through its membership in the State Policy Network (SPN), which itself is an ALEC member. API's president, Gary Palmer, is a founding director of SPN. He has been on the SPN board of directors for six years, the final two as president.

SPN's predecessor, the Madison Group, was "launched by the American Legislative Exchange Council or ALEC . . . and housed in the Chicago-based Heartland Institute," according to a 1991 report by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) found in the University of California-San Francisco's Legacy Tobacco Documents.

The case is strengthened by an October 1987 ALEC directory also available via the Tobacco Documents that says, "The Madison Group is chaired by Mrs. Constance Heckman [now Constance Campanella, founder of the lobbying firm Stateside Associates], Executive Director of ALEC . . ." A speakers list also available in the Tobacco Documents says in Constance Campanella's biography, "She was a co-founder and first President of The Madison Group, the first network of free-market state think tanks."

SPN has been a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) for many years. In the mid-2000s, SPN secured funding for more of its member think tanks to join ALEC in order to help develop model legislation. By 2009, 22 SPN member think tanks were active ALEC members and participants in ALEC task forces, according to an SPN newsletter, and SPN was being rewarded for its services by ALEC. As of 2013, at least 35 SPN member think tanks have demonstrable ties to ALEC in addition to SPN's own ties, and all of SPN's member think tanks push ALEC's agenda in their respective states, according to a review by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD).

See SPN Ties to ALEC for more.

Board of Directors
According to its website, API's Board consists of married couples. As of June 2013: :
 * Barganier, Dr. Paul and Karen
 * Bradford, Tom and Mary Anne – Managing Chairman
 * Brown, Greg and Dee
 * Brown, Dr. Michael and Kay
 * Carlisle, Todd and Karen
 * Collier, Dr. John and Julie – Executive Committee Member
 * Couch, Bob and Mary Ann
 * Cross, Bo and Tammy
 * Fleming, Rev. Aaron and Chris
 * Grubb, Rob and Shawn
 * Harrison, Don and Betty – Treasurer
 * Hendry, Don and Janice – Executive Committee Member
 * Hornsby, John and Virginia
 * Jacks, Hugh and Jan
 * Jett, Chuck and Kim
 * Kennedy, Neil and Helen
 * McInnis, Mac and Jackie
 * McNair, Bill and Lana – Executive Committee Member
 * Muir-Taylor, Alastair and Lisa Ann
 * Newton, Dr. Allen and Brenda
 * Nichols, Roy and Sue
 * Norris, Ronnie and Nancy
 * Palmer, Gary and Ann – API President
 * Parker, John S. and May Moss – Chairman
 * Parrish, Ralph and Lynn – Executive Committee Member
 * Patton, Donny and Katherine
 * Pittman, Randy and Daina
 * Pursley, Dr. Mike and Dr. Holly
 * Reid, Dr. Calvin and Yvonne
 * Steakley, Rod and Linda – Vice Chairman
 * Stephens, Charlie and Susan – Secretary
 * Stimpson, Sandy and Jean – Executive Committee Member
 * Terry, Jim and Darcy
 * Walker, Bob and Beth
 * Wesson, Mark and Missi – Executive Committee Member
 * Williamson, Lex and Mary

Staff
As of June 2013: :
 * Gary Palmer, President
 * Caleb Crosby, Vice President, Strategy and Advancement
 * Richard Garrett, Senior Fellow
 * Ray Hartwell, Senior Fellow
 * John R. Hill, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst
 * Andrew Kinnaird, Policy Analyst
 * JoAnne Lindley, Director, Special Events and Donor Relations
 * Elizabeth BeShears, Policy Analyst and Grant Coordinator
 * Cameron Smith, Policy Director and General Counsel
 * Carol Walden, Publication Manager

Former staff include:
 * Michael Ciamarra, Vice President

Core Financials
 2011 


 * Total Revenue: $1,148,661
 * Total Expenses: $1,219,046
 * Net Assets: $509,497

 2010  :


 * Total Revenue: $1,100,517.00
 * Total Expenses: $1,110,437.00
 * Net Assets: $576,881.00

 2009  :


 * Total Revenue: $1,106,954.00
 * Total Expenses: $1,112,979.00
 * Net Assets: $586,801.00

Contact Information
Alabama Policy Institute 402 Office Park Drive Suite 300 Birmingham, AL 35223

Phone: (205) 870.9900 Fax: (205) 870.4407

Email: info AT alabamapolicy.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alabamapolicyinstitute

External Resources

 * StinkTanks.org, "SPN in Your State: Who is Behind the Alabama Policy Institute?"
 * John Earl, "Alabama Policy Institute mirrors ALEC, Tuscaloosa News letter to the editor, December 24, 2013.