(The Center Square) – The Common Sense Institute (CSI) plans to expand into two states, including Oregon.
CSI, which has chapters in Colorado and Arizona, will expand into Iowa and Oregon. It will staff its expansion with, “local in-state policy experts, researchers, community leaders and board of directors,” according to a press release from the Common Sense Institute.
“We are proud to bring the quality, thorough, and unbiased research of the Common Sense Institute to Iowa and Oregon,” Kristin Strohm, President and CEO of the Common Sense Institute, said. “For nearly 15 years, CSI has demonstrated that facts and data can shape good public policy outcomes, help create jobs, and grow our economy. Iowa and Oregon are very different states that both offer ample opportunities for our research teams to analyze issues, and better inform policymakers and the public. We are thrilled to begin working with our local CSI partners to hit the ground running.”
CSI was founded in 2010 in Colorado. Business and community leaders founded it in response to what they viewed as “divisive partisanship” in lawmaking, according to the release. The organization expanded into Arizona in 2022.
CSI says it has already positively impacted those two states.
“Previous reports have included examining the cost of crime, following the flow of dollars invested into fighting homelessness, measuring the economic impact of the fentanyl epidemic, tracking the impact of school choice initiatives, detailed analysis of state budgets, and regular tracking of jobs data,” the release said.
CSI says it helped defeat tax increase amendments in Colorado in 2013 and 2018, a healthcare public option and paid leave proposal in 2020, and pared back a public option in 2021. It also successfully fought for a $5.4 billion transportation package in 2021 and childcare center property tax exemptions in 2022.
The CSI Board of Directors in Oregon will include former state representative Christine Drazan, R-Klamath Falls; Tom Gerding, CEO of the commercial construction company Gerding Companies; Jenny Pakula, CEO of the Oregon Association of Realtors; former Oregon House Speaker Lynn Snodgrass, a Republican who is now the CEO of the Gresham Chamber of Commerce; Dan Vannoy, Vice President and General Manager of Emery & Sons Construction Group; and Angela Wilhelms, CEO of Oregon Business & Industry, a statewide association that represents business interests.
