The Platte Institute for Economic Research is a non-partisan public policy think tank that promotes free enterprise and individual liberty. Its research focuses on government spending, regulatory reform, and tax policy in Nebraska. ¹

The Platte Institute is an affiliate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free-market state-level policy organizations. ²

Activity

Currently, the Platte Institute encourages citizen action on two bills, both of which are sponsored by Republican-aligned state senators. It supports a “truth in taxation” law, requiring taxpayers to be notified about board votes on local property tax increases and legislation to eliminate certificates of public convenience and necessity. ³ The Platte Institute claims that the competitor’s veto law violates economic freedoms by supporting a system designed to inhibit competition among businesses. ⁴

In 2020, the Platte Institute published a report demanding more transparency in government spending, especially regarding the money Nebraska received from the federal government as part of the CARES Act. While the state made its CARES Act spending more transparent, the Platte Institute points to another $9.75 billion in federal pandemic aid that is unaccounted for and advocates for policies that would inventory all pandemic aid coming into Nebraska, followed by a more comprehensive inventory of all federal funds coming into the state. This would also include regular audits, risk assessments, and performance assessments of funds. The Platte Institute supported legislation to require a federal funding inventory, but it has not passed into law. ⁵

The Platte Institute supports occupational license reform and universal recognition, which would make it easier for licensing and work experience to carry across state lines. The Platte Institute supports a universal recognition framework in Nebraska. ⁶

Funding

The Platte Institute is funded by donations from individuals, businesses, and other organizations. Notable donors include Donors Capital Fund, which contributed between 2010 and 2013,⁷ and the State Policy Network (SPN), which contributed between 2013 and 2017. ⁸

People

Staff

Sarah Curry is the policy director at the Platte Institute and the former director of fiscal policy studies at the John Locke Foundation. ⁹

Hunter Gorby is the development director of the Platte Institute and is a former development associate for the Institute for Justice. Gorby formerly interned for the Atlas Network. ¹⁰

Jim Vokal is the CEO of the Platte Institute and formerly served on the Omaha City Council, where he held the position of City Council President for several years. Vokal formerly served on the Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds. ¹¹

Laura Ebke is appointed as a senior fellow and Nicole Fox works as the director of government relations. ¹²

Board of Directors

Jon Abegglen serves as the chair of the City of Kearney Community Redevelopment Authority, on the board of the Buffalo County Economic Development Council, and on the committee for the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Innovation Task Force. ¹³

Sid Dinsdale ran as a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014. ¹⁴

Bob Dudley serves on the board of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce. ¹⁵

Jim Greisch is the public policy chair of the Greater Omaha Chamber. ¹⁶

Blake Hoogeveen was previously involved with Greater Omaha Chamber and formerly served on its Young Professionals council. ¹⁷

Jim Jenkins serves on the board of the Agriculture Builders of Nebraska. Jenkins is the former chair of the Nebraska Ethanol Board, a former member of the board of the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition, and the former executive director of the Nebraska Corn-Fed Beef program. ¹⁸ Patrick Keenan serves on the Quality Growth Fund Committee and formerly served as the chair of the North Platte Development Corporation. ¹⁹

Owen Palm serves as the chair of the board. Palm formerly served as commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, chair of the Nebraska chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and president of the Twin Cities Economic Development Corporation. ²⁰

Gail Werner-Robertson serves as chair of the Nebraska Investment Council and on the board of the Greater Omaha Chamber. ²¹

Joseph Young serves on the boards of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Invest Nebraska, and the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. ²²

1. “About.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/about/.
2. “The Network: Nebraska.” State Policy Network, 2020. Accessed November 21, 2020. https://spn.org/directory/#NE.
3. “Take Action.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/take-action/.
4. Vokel, Jim. “End the Competitor’s Veto.” Platte Institute, January 31, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/end-the-competitors-veto/.
5. Curry, Sarah. “Nebraska has Spent Half its CARES Act Funds, But More Transparency is Needed.” Platte Institute, October 15, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/nebraska-has-spent-half-its-cares-act-funds-but-more-transparency-is-needed/.
6. Ebke, Laura. “Republican and Democratic Governors Say Licensing Reforms are ‘Jobs Bills.’” Platte Institute, October 14, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/republican-and-democratic-governors-say-licensing-reforms-are-jobs-bills/.
7. Donors Capital Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2010-2013, Schedule I, Part II.
8. State Policy Network, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2013-2017, Schedule I, Part II.
9. “Sarah Curry.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/sarah-curry/.
10. “Hunter Gorby.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/hunter-gorby/.
11. “Jim Vokel.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/jim-vokal/.
12. “About.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/about/.
13. “Jon Abegglen.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/jon-abegglen/.
14. “Sid Dinsdale.” Ballotpedia. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Sid_Dinsdale.
15. “Bob Dudley.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/bob-dudley/.
16. “Jim Gresich.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/jim-greisch/.
17. “Blake Hoogeveen.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/blake-hoogeveen/.
18. “Jim Jenkins.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/jim-jenkins/.
19. “Pat Keenan.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/pat-keenan/.
20. “Owen Palm.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/owen-palm/.
21. “Gail Werner-Robertson.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020.  https://platteinstitute.org/people/gail-werner-robertson/.
22. “Joseph Young.” Platte Institute, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2020. https://platteinstitute.org/people/joseph-young/.