The Independence Institute (II) is a libertarian think tank based in Denver, Colorado.[2] The group's stated mission "is to empower individuals and to educate citizens, legislators and opinion makers about public policies that enhance personal and economic freedom."[5]
History
A view of the entrance to the Independence Institute and the statue of Thomas Jefferson outside of it
The Independence Institute was founded in 1985 by John Andrews, a former Republican state legislator from Colorado.[1][6] Since 1999, Independence Institute has been led by Jon Caldara.[3]
Policy positions
The Independence Institute is a proponent of educational choice and charter schools, as well as the right to bear arms in accordance with the Second Amendment. II supported school board members in Douglas County, Colorado who became the majority there in 2009 and subsequently curtailed the power of the teachers' union, expanded school choice, and attempted to initiate a voucher system.[7][8] However, a new school board majority elected in 2017 has promised to reverse many of these policies.[9]
In 2013, II opposed Amendment 66, an unsuccessful ballot measure that would have increased the state's income tax by $950 million (which would have begun the hollowing out of Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)).[12] The organization supported the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), which was passed by Colorado voters in 1992.[13]
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