Ocean State Policy Research Institute
Encyclopedia
Ocean State Policy Research Institute (OSPRI) was a Rhode Island
-based think tank
from July 2007 until July 2011. They were dedicated to “crafting sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values” . OSPRI was a member of the State Policy Network
.
principles in education
and social services. As Rhode Island
’s first and only free market
think tank, it had emerged as a resource for the state, national, and international political community . Felkner was replaced as Executive Director by Mike Stenhouse
in the spring of 2011, and OSPRI itself was dissolved in late July 2011.
The organization had been a strong advocate for “work first” based reforms to the Rhode Island welfare system. Their research on education issues has supported change to “school choice” and the opportunity for parents to have more say in affecting their children’s education.
OSPRI promoted an immigration policy
that does not constrict the economy
or increase costs of social services. They supported a guest worker program but suggested that guest workers should not be eligible for taxpayer funded welfare programs.
Ocean State Policy was a leader in the call for governmental transparency. They have “tackled the confusion of education union contracts by developing spreadsheets that outline the multitude of compensation methods often hidden from the public” and were developing an interactive website listing all state and local contracts and expenditures. They had begun a network of local blogs to promote transparency in each city and town in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
-based think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
from July 2007 until July 2011. They were dedicated to “crafting sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values” . OSPRI was a member of the State Policy Network
State Policy Network
The State Policy Network is a U.S. national network of free-market oriented think tanks focused on individual U.S. states. SPN is based in Arlington, Virginia.-History:SPN was founded in 1992 by Thomas A...
.
Background
Ocean State Policy Research Institute was founded on July 4, 2007 by William J. Felkner, who is chiefly known as an advocate for libertarianLibertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
principles in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and social services. As Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
’s first and only free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
think tank, it had emerged as a resource for the state, national, and international political community . Felkner was replaced as Executive Director by Mike Stenhouse
Mike Stenhouse
Michael Steven Stenhouse is a former outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Montreal Expos from -, the Minnesota Twins in , and the Boston Red Sox in . Listed at 6'1", 195 lb., Stenhouse batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
in the spring of 2011, and OSPRI itself was dissolved in late July 2011.
Projects
The Rhode Island Center Right Coalition meeting, a collection of conservative and libertarian groups was coordinated through OSPRI.The organization had been a strong advocate for “work first” based reforms to the Rhode Island welfare system. Their research on education issues has supported change to “school choice” and the opportunity for parents to have more say in affecting their children’s education.
OSPRI promoted an immigration policy
Immigration policy
An immigration policy is any policy of a state that deals with the transit of persons across its borders into the country, but especially those that intend to work and to remain in the country. Immigration policies can range from allowing no migration at all to allowing most types of migration,...
that does not constrict the economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
or increase costs of social services. They supported a guest worker program but suggested that guest workers should not be eligible for taxpayer funded welfare programs.
Ocean State Policy was a leader in the call for governmental transparency. They have “tackled the confusion of education union contracts by developing spreadsheets that outline the multitude of compensation methods often hidden from the public” and were developing an interactive website listing all state and local contracts and expenditures. They had begun a network of local blogs to promote transparency in each city and town in Rhode Island.