{{Short description|Public interest organization}} {{Infobox institute |name = Nevada Policy |image = Nevada Policy logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert |image_size = |image_alt = |caption = |motto = |founder = |established = |mission = |focus = Nevada public policy |president = John Tsarpalas |chairman = Ranson Webster |head_label = |head = |faculty = |adjunct_faculty = |staff = |key_people = |budget= Revenue: $1.28million<br />Expenses: $1.37 million<br />(FYE December 2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Nevada Policy - GuideStar Profile |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/88-0276314 |website=www.guidestar.org |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref> |endowment = |debt = |num_members = |subsidiaries = |owner = |non-profit_slogan = |former_name = Nevada Policy Research Institute |location = |city = |state = |country = |coor = |address = |website = {{URL|http://npri.org}} |footnotes = }} '''Nevada Policy''', formerly the '''Nevada Policy Research Institute''', is a private, non-profit, conservative and libertarian{{nbh}}leaning think tank based in Las Vegas, Nevada.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-02 |title=Conservative think tank praises 20 Nevada legislators |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/conservative-think-tank-praises-20-nevada-legislators/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-31 |title=Nevada Supreme Court: 4 lawmakers not violating Constitution by having other public jobs |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/nevada-supreme-court-4-lawmakers-not-violating-constitution-by-having-other-public-jobs |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=The Nevada Independent |language=en |quote=the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI) — a libertarian-leaning think tank...}}</ref> Nevada Policy seeks to promote libertarian causes in Nevada and western United States politics.
== Overview == Nevada Policy researches education, tax and fiscal policy, and labor issues related to public policy.
=== Funding === Contributors include the Donors Capital Fund and the Cato Institute.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nevada Policy Research Institute |url=https://www.desmog.com/nevada-policy-research-institute/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=DeSmog |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Supporters of Nevada Policy Research Institute |url=http://conservativetransparency.org/top/?recipient=3650&yr=&yr1=&yr2=&submit= |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=conservativetransparency.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== LVCVA === On November 30, 2008, the ''Las Vegas Review Journal'' published an article regarding some investigative journalism conducted by Nevada Policy on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. According to Nevada Policy's investigation, it appeared the LVCVA had an inappropriate relationship with a private marketing firm, R&R, that overbilled the LVCVA but the LVCVA never attempted to recoup the losses.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/lvcva-ad-agency-defend-deal/ | title=LVCVA, ad agency defend deal | last= | first= | date=30 November 2008 | website=Las Vegas Review-Journal | accessdate=19 May 2020 }}</ref>
Through public records request Nevada Policy found that the LVCVA not only knew about these irregularities but literally gave R&R the rubber stamp to approve expenditures above $5,000 without any oversight from the LVCVA.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.npri.org/publications/npris-transparency-project-on-the-lvcva | title=NPRI's Transparency Project on the LVCVA | last= | first= | date=3 December 2008 | website=Nevada Policy Research Institute | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602144355/http://www.npri.org/publications/npris-transparency-project-on-the-lvcva | archive-date=2 June 2017 | accessdate=19 May 2020 }}</ref>
According to Nevada Policy's vice president, "In the days following the release of this project, multiple private investigators visited the institute's offices requesting our financial statements and claiming to be working for "the other side." Some of our board members have been approached with broad hints about retaliation if the institute's look into convention authority financing proceeds."<ref>"Authority trying to change subject" by Steven Miller, ''Las Vegas Review-Journal'' [http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/36219714.html]</ref>
== Positions == === Education === Nevada Policy opposes efforts to halt the opening of new charter schools and favors expanding charter school options, tuition tax credits, school voucher programs, and merit pay for teachers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb/20/airing-charter-tensions-set/ | title=Airing of charter tensions set | last=Richmond | first=Emily | date=20 February 2008 | website=Las Vegas Sun | accessdate=9 April 2019 }}</ref><ref>"Quality and Quantity" by Dr. Matthew Ladner, Nevada Policy Research Institute [http://npri.org/publications/quality--quantity]</ref>
Nevada Policy has been critical of the Nevada System of Higher Education, specifically the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno for low graduation rates, despite spending above average per full-time student on education and education related higher education expenditures.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npri.org/a-majority-dont-graduate-unlv-or-unr-within-6-years/ | title=A majority don't graduate UNLV or UNR within 6 years | last= Gibbons| first=Patrick | date=18 February 2009 | website=Nevada Policy Research Institute | accessdate=9 April 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://npri.org/publications/underperformingnot-underfunded | title=Underperforming—not underfunded | last=Gibbons | first=Patrick R. | date=18 February 2009 | website=Nevada Policy Research Institute | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616001903/http://npri.org/publications/underperformingnot-underfunded | archive-date=16 June 2017 | accessdate=19 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npri.org/nshe-needs-to-focus-on-graduating-its-students/ | title=NSHE needs to focus on graduating its students | last=Gibbons | first=Patrick | date=3 March 2009 | website=Nevada Policy Research Institute | accessdate=9 April 2019 }}</ref>
=== Tax and fiscal policy === Nevada Policy supports a balanced budget with controlled growth in government spending, such as a TABOR's or TASC amendment. Nevada Policy claims Nevada's 2008-2009 budget deficit was the result of excessive growth in government spending.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npri.org/its-the-spending-stupid/ | title=It's the spending, stupid | last=Gibbons | first=Patrick | date=17 July 2008 | website=Nevada Policy Research Institute | accessdate=9 April 2019 }}</ref>
Nevada Policy has also argued that Nevada's history as a low-tax state has been slowly eroded by a growing number of fees on Nevada's residents.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/study-shows-how-tax-burden-has-increased/ | title=Study shows how tax burden has increased | last= | first= | date=22 February 2008 | website=Las Vegas Review-Journal | accessdate=19 May 2020 }}</ref>
Nevada Policy opposes tax hikes on individual taxpayers and corporations within Nevada, including a tax hike on the gaming industry.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120494431816721577?mod=todays_us_opinion | title=Nevada Tax Fight | last=Muth | first=Chuck | date=8 March 2008 | website=The Wall Street Journal | accessdate=9 April 2019 }}</ref>
=== Labor issues === Nevada Policy supports protecting secret ballot boxes and paycheck protection and opposes defined benefit plans for union and government workers.<ref>"New approach needed on public pensions" by Doug French, Nevada Policy Research Institute [http://npri.org/publications/new-approach-needed-on-public-pensions]</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|United States|Conservatism|Libertarianism}} * Classical liberalism * Conservatism * Libertarianism * 2008 Nevada budget crisis
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official|http://npri.org}} * [http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/880276314/popup/1 Organizational Profile] – National Center for Charitable Statistics (Urban Institute)
Category:Organizations based in Nevada Category:Politics of Nevada Category:Political and economic think tanks in the United States Category:Libertarian think tanks Category:Libertarian organizations based in the United States