Alabama Policy Institute

History

The Alabama Policy Institute was founded in 1989 as the Alabama Family Alliance. Alabama Supreme Court justice [[Tom Parker (judge)| Tom Parker]] was the founding executive director. Gary Palmer, a co-founder of the Alabama Family Alliance, eventually became its president. 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.

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.

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

API has championed charter schools in Alabama. It strongly supports the Alabama Accountability Act, which expanded school choice and school vouchers in the state. 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.

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.

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.

API is a member of the advisory board of Project 2025, a collection of conservative and right-wing policy proposals from the Heritage Foundation to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power should the Republican nominee win the 2024 presidential election.

References

References

1. (September 11, 2014). "Bush staffer tapped to follow Gary Palmer as head of Alabama Policy Institute". AL.com.
2. (9 May 2013). "Alabama Policy Institute Inc - Nonprofit Explorer".
3. (September 12, 2014). "Ex-Bush Staffer to Head Alabama Policy Institute". Alabama Public Radio.
4. "About".
5. "Associate Justice Tom Parker". Supreme Court of Alabama.
6. (September 2014). "Crosby to Replace Palmer at API". Alabama Political Reporter.
7. (25 January 2023). "API Names Stephanie Smith President and CEO".
8. (March 21, 2000). "Same tired song". The Tuscaloosa News.
9. (August 28, 2003). "Too Damn Stupid". Wall Street Journal.
10. (June 25, 2014). "Editing Out the Facts in Alabama". Annenberg Public Policy Center.
11. (July 18, 2003). "University of Alabama economist Ferguson disputes tax study critical of Riley's package". Gadsden Times.
12. (2007). "The Unaffordable Nation: Searching for a Decent Life in America". Prometheus Books.
13. (July 7, 2014). "Should Alabama start an education lottery?". WIAT.
14. (January 1, 2010). "Charter school legislation being developed for 2010". Gadsden Times.
15. (January 21, 2015). "School choice advocates plan march on Montgomery to celebrate Alabama Accountability Act". AL.com.
16. (May 22, 2014). "A Conservative Candidate of Character, Conviction, Knowledge, and Leadership". Weekly Standard.
17. [https://www.liberty.edu/media/9980/attachments/2015/021115_Petition_-_Mandamus.pdf Emergency Petition for Writ of Mandamus] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-02-17 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 [http://www.lc.org/index.cfm?PID=14100&PRID=1518 Liberty Counsel press release] {{Webarchive). link. (2015-02-17 , posted February 13, 2015. Both documents accessed on 2015-02-16.)
18. (April 25, 2004). "Parties Dispute State Highway Commission". The Tuscaloosa News.
19. (July 30, 2014). "Conservative think tank takes new measure of Alabama's environmental indicators". AL.com.
20. (July 30, 2014). "Six indicators enable reasoned assessment of the environment: guest opinion". AL.com.
21. (March 3, 2015). "Home> U.S. Alabama Supreme Court Halts Gay-Marriage Licenses". ABC News.
22. (March 3, 2015). "Alabama Court Orders a Halt to Same-Sex Marriage Licenses". New York Times.
23. "Advisory Board". [[The Heritage Foundation]].
24. Mascaro, Lisa. (August 29, 2023). "Conservative Groups Draw Up Plan to Dismantle the US Government and Replace It with Trump's Vision". [[Associated Press News]].