History of The Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions
In March of 2003, the city government in Bowling Green, Kentucky quietly slipped in a large tax increase on its businesses. One small business owner had had enough of his local government encroaching on his small marketing firm and hindering him as a successful entrepreneur. Out of this frustration, Chris Derry, Founder, built the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions.
Initially, Chris sought to link up with other free-market think tanks in the state of Kentucky. Surprisingly, his search was fruitless. Not one organization dedicated to free enterprise operated in and for Kentucky. On his own, Chris accomplished little policy change.
Isaac Newton said, “If I see farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”, and Kentucky’s freedom movement started with Larry Reed, president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan.
Larry supported the idea of opening a Kentucky affiliate by referring Chris to several more contacts; Jo Kwong at the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Bridgett Wagner at the Heritage Foundation (Washington D.C.), and Tracie Sharp at the State Policy Network (California). The Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions became a reality and incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit on May 31, 2003.
Initially, our goal was to create a mechanism in Kentucky that would groom those who shared liberty based philosophies, and give them the tools to succeed as elected officials. Our board member, Matt Toebben championed a state based organization which eventually became the Kentucky Club for Growth, mirroring the National Club for Growth.
From the beginning, the Bluegrass Institute operated with minimal staff, limited resources, and volunteer interns and students from area universities. It has always been a small but effective organization.
1st Level of Transparency
In 2003, we began our efforts to bring transparency to government by cloning the best of the State Policy Network and mirroring what the state of Michigan had accomplished with Michigan Votes. During that time, there was virtually no way for the average person to know how their Kentucky legislators were voting. The voting process was completely clandestine. Today, the Bluegrass Institute hosts KentuckyVotes.org which provides legislative analysis in “real people” language. Kentucky voters can now easily and quickly understand the laws being debated that may, in time, govern their lives.
2nd Level of Transparency
Our second initiative dealt with the 21st century’s biggest issue for a competitive state—public education. In Kentucky, 64% of all tax money is spent on K-12 and post secondary education. Despite this high level of funding, the education system continues to produce students that companies can’t hire. Our Wiki at FreedomKentucky.org focuses on transparency to systematically address education freedom in Kentucky.
3rd Level of Transparency
Our latest advance, in a series of innovative projects, is our Transparency, Accountability and Collaboration Initiative (TAC). We are structuring this initiative to become the model that we will use, and other think tanks may duplicate, to shine a disinfecting light on corrupt government practices, bureaucratic abuse and the insidious thwarting of our liberties. Our strategy is pioneering and once established can be copied throughout the nation or the world. |
