Right wing groups plan spending spree in 34 states in 2014

NIT – A document published by The Guardian and two other newspapers shows that a right-wing organization with deep pockets hopes to push a conservative agenda in 34 states next year.

According to the Guardian, the State Policy Network, a coordinating body of state-based conservative thinktanks, gathered together 40 grant proposals from 34 states, requesting sponsorship from the Searle Freedom Trust that funds largely right-wing causes. The grant bids provide a blueprint for the conservative agenda in 2014. The Guardian published key excerpts from the documents, including the State Policy Network’s own summary of all the proposals. The excerpts give access to state-by-state conservative plans that could have significant impact throughout the U.S.

Members of the State Policy Network have no plans to spend money in Iowa in 2014, but does plan to pursue reforms to public employee pensions in Minnesota and other states; tax elimination or reduction in Nebraska and other states; promote private and home schooling and conduct campaigns against worker and union rights.

According to its website, The State Policy Network was founded in 1992 by Tom Roe at the urging of Ronald Reagan. It claims to be the only group in the country dedicated solely to improving the practical effectiveness of independent, non-profit, market-oriented, state-focused think tanks. SPN’s programs enable these organizations to better educate local citizens, policy makers and opinion leaders about market-oriented alternatives to state and local policy challenges.