Adam Smith Foundation
Encyclopedia
This article concerns the Adam Smith Foundation based in the state of Missouri in the United States, as opposed to the Adam Smith Foundation based at the University of Glasgow
in Scotland
.
The Adam Smith Foundation is a 501(c)(4) conservative advocacy organization formed in June, 2007. Jo Mannies, in a blog entry in St. Louis Post Dispatch, claimed that the organization was founded by a group of Missouri Republican activists.
and the Missouri Plan
. Shortly after its launch the Foundation sponsored a series of radio ads and billboards critical of the Missouri Plan
method for the nonpartisan selection of judges.
, John Elliott, the President of the Adam Smith Foundation, argued that the recent state surplus should be given back to the public either through tax cuts or through a large refund.
The foundation had only $109 in December of last year, and has never been involved in large scale campaigns or anything outside of Missouri, so its contribution of nearly half a million dollars to the campaign to undo California's clean air law has led to calls for investigations. According to Los Angeles Times, "Who in Missouri could have an interest in killing a California greenhouse gas program? Harris and Elliott both went out of their way, curiously, to mention the effect environmental regulations have on coal. "Anything to do with energy affects Missouri, No. 1 because we rely heavily on coal," Elliott said. Harris observed, "We in Missouri generate 80% of our electricity from coal."
The No on 23 campaign points out that Ohio-based Murray Energy Corp., which bills itself as the nation's largest privately owned coal company, has contributed $30,000 to the Proposition 23 campaign. It also turned up the fact that several utilities are clients of a marketing and website design firm run by Elliott and his wife." 7
The Springfield News-Leader
has run a column accusing the foundation of a misleading billboard campaign on "activist judges."
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Judicial Reform
The Adam Smith Foundation opposes the process by which Missouri's appellate judges are appointed. This process is known as the "Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan,"Missouri Plan
The Missouri Plan is a method for the selection of judges. It originated in Missouri in 1940, and has been adopted by several states of the United States...
and the Missouri Plan
Missouri Plan
The Missouri Plan is a method for the selection of judges. It originated in Missouri in 1940, and has been adopted by several states of the United States...
. Shortly after its launch the Foundation sponsored a series of radio ads and billboards critical of the Missouri Plan
Missouri Plan
The Missouri Plan is a method for the selection of judges. It originated in Missouri in 1940, and has been adopted by several states of the United States...
method for the nonpartisan selection of judges.
Tax Reform
The Adam Smith Foundation believes in low taxes and making sure that the government lives within its means. In an Op-Ed piece published in the Southeast MissourianSoutheast Missourian
The Southeast Missourian is a daily newspaper published in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, and serves the southeastern portion of Missouri.- History :...
, John Elliott, the President of the Adam Smith Foundation, argued that the recent state surplus should be given back to the public either through tax cuts or through a large refund.
Criticism
California's Proposition 23California Proposition 23 (2010)
Proposition 23 was a California ballot proposition that was on the November 2, 2010 California statewide ballot It was defeated by California voters during the statewide election by a 23% margin.. If passed, it would have suspended AB 32, a law enacted in 2006 that is in extenso, legally referred...
The foundation had only $109 in December of last year, and has never been involved in large scale campaigns or anything outside of Missouri, so its contribution of nearly half a million dollars to the campaign to undo California's clean air law has led to calls for investigations. According to Los Angeles Times, "Who in Missouri could have an interest in killing a California greenhouse gas program? Harris and Elliott both went out of their way, curiously, to mention the effect environmental regulations have on coal. "Anything to do with energy affects Missouri, No. 1 because we rely heavily on coal," Elliott said. Harris observed, "We in Missouri generate 80% of our electricity from coal."
The No on 23 campaign points out that Ohio-based Murray Energy Corp., which bills itself as the nation's largest privately owned coal company, has contributed $30,000 to the Proposition 23 campaign. It also turned up the fact that several utilities are clients of a marketing and website design firm run by Elliott and his wife." 7
The Springfield News-Leader
Springfield News-Leader
The Springfield News-Leader is the predominant newspaper for the city of Springfield, Missouri and covers the Ozarks. The News-Leader has a morning circulation of 60,889 and a Sunday circulation of 88,970...
has run a column accusing the foundation of a misleading billboard campaign on "activist judges."