Kansas Policy Institute

Overview

The Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) is a free-market think tank based in Wichita, Kansas, focused on state and local policy issues including education, taxation and spending, and health care. Founded in 1996, KPI is a member of the State Policy Network, a national coalition of state-level free-market policy organizations.

Key functions and role

KPI publishes research and commentary intended to promote limited government, open markets and individual freedom in Kansas, and it hosts events for policymakers, community leaders and the public. It maintains KansasOpenGov, a database tracking state and local government spending and salaries, and KansasVotes.org, which tracks legislation. The Institute also publishes an online news outlet, The Sentinel, and its affiliated Kansas Justice Institute pursues litigation on issues such as government transparency and regulatory overreach.

History

The organization was founded in Wichita in 1996 as the Kansas Public Policy Institute by a group of Kansans, including former longtime Koch Industries and Koch foundations executive George Pearson, who sought to apply a state-focused version of the free-market think tank model associated with the Cato Institute. It was later renamed the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy before readopting the Kansas Policy Institute name in 2009. KPI opened a second office in Overland Park in 2012.

Political positions

KPI describes itself as an independent, free-market think tank. It is widely characterized by media-bias monitors and watchdog groups as a conservative organization, and it is affiliated with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network, both of which have documented financial ties to the Koch family and Koch Industries.

Leadership

Dave Trabert serves as Chief Executive Officer and James Franko serves as President. David Gibson chairs KPI's Board of Trustees.

Location and contact info

Address
250 N. Water St., Suite 216
Wichita, KS 67202, USA
Phone
316-634-0218
Email
information@kansaspolicy.org
Website
https://kansaspolicy.org