Principles That Matter (PTM) is a non-partisan public policy think tank that advocates for free markets, limited government, and individual liberty. 1 PTM’s primary areas of concern are health care, immigration, and the Colorado Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).
Principles That Matter is an associate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free-market state-level policy organizations. 2 While Principles That Matter is non-partisan, its executive director has affiliations with the Republican Party.
Activity
Principles That Matter (PTM) is a non-partisan public policy think tank that advocates for free markets, limited government, and individual liberty. 1 PTM’s primary areas of concern are health care, immigration, and Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).
Principles That Matter advocates for health care policy that would replace the Affordable Care Act with consumer-friendly options, in order to increase access to affordable, quality health care. PTM claims that state governments are better equipped to handle health care policy than the federal government and should be given authority and control over those policies. PTM further claims that removing government regulations would allow the private sector to innovate health care solutions at a more reasonable cost. 3
Principles That Matter advocates for immigration reform that disincentivizes illegal entry and creates a quicker, simpler process for legal entry. PTM claims that current immigration law is too complicated and bureaucratic, and it advocates for streamlining the immigration process, including a temporary worker program as a means to meet economic demands. PTM further advocates for reforms that are “fair, just, and compassionate,” claiming that the solution is neither a mass roundup of illegal aliens nor blanket amnesty for those who have broken the law. 4
Principles That Matter opposes repeal of Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), claiming that doing so gives the state the ability to raise taxes at any time. PTM claims that TABOR makes Colorado voters more educated about taxing and spending, makes state politicians more fiscally disciplined, and has created economic growth in the state. 5
Funding
Principles That Matter is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. While PTM does not disclose its donors, tax filings show donations from the Tyl Foundation, which contributed between 2017 and 2018,6 and the Pema Foundation, which contributed between 2017 and 2018. 7
The only tax filing on record for Principles That Matter as of April 2021 is a form 990-N filed in 2017, reporting revenue of less than $50,000. 8
People
Allen Fuller is the executive director of Principles That Matter. 9 Fuller formerly served as director of the Colorado Republican Business Association and on the board of the Steamboat Institute. 10 Fuller formerly worked as digital director for the Centennial Institute. 11
References
- “About.” Principles That Matter, 2020. Accessed April 8, 2021. https://www.principlesthatmatter.org/about/.
- “The Network: Alabama.” State Policy Network, 2021. Accessed April 8, 2021. https://spn.org/directory/#AL.
- “Health Care.” Principles That Matter, 2020. Accessed April 11, 2021. https://www.principlesthatmatter.org/issues/healthcare/.
- “Immigration.” Principles That Matter, 2020. Accessed April 11, 2021. https://www.principlesthatmatter.org/issues/immigration/.
- “The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.” Principles That Matter, 2020. Accessed April 11, 2021. https://www.principlesthatmatter.org/issues/tabor/.
- Tyl Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017-2018, Part XV, Line 3a.
- Pema Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017-2018, Part XV, Line 3a.
- “Principles That Matter.” IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Accessed April 11, 2021. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=821189845&name=Principles%20That%20Matter&city=Lafayette&state=CO&countryAbbr=US&dba=&type=CHARITIES,%20DETERMINATIONLETTERS,%20EPOSTCARD&orgTags=CHARITIES&orgTags=DETERMINATIONLETTERS&orgTags=EPOSTCARD.
- “Our Team.” Principles That Matter, 2020. Accessed April 8, 2021. https://www.principlesthatmatter.org/team/.
- “Allen Fuller.” LinkedIn, 2021. Accessed April 11, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenfuller/.
- “Joining the Centennial Institute.” Allen Fuller, December 2, 2014. Accessed April 11, 2021. https://www.allenfuller.com/joining-centennial-institute/.