Non-profit

Progressive Policy Institute

Website:

https://www.progressivepolicy.org/

Location:

Washington, DC

President:

Will Marshall

Formation:

1989

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The Progressive Policy Institute is a center-left organization which focuses on domestic policy issues including economic policy, technology, entitlement program spending, and education. The institute primarily produces studies and white papers in support of left-of-center policy implementation. 1

History

The Progressive Policy Institute was created in 1989 by Will Marshall. The organization soon gained a reputation as a key think tank driving the Clinton administration’s “new Democrat” strategy of shifting the Democratic Party’s politics towards the center-left. The institute gained a reputation as the Clinton administration’s “idea mill” for its influential policy research. 2

Finances

In 2018, the Progressive Policy Institute received $3,101,404 in total contributions, 3 incurred $2,885,081 in expenses, 4 and reported $765,235 in net assets. 5

In 2018, the Progressive Policy Institute received contributions from the David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation ($75,000), 6 the Eli and Edyth Broad Foundation ($50,000), 7 the Consumer Technology Association ($30,000), 8 NCTA – The Internet and Television Association ($100,000), 9 Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America ($50,000), 10 and the Society for Human Resource Management ($45,000). 11

Policy Positions

The Progressive Policy Institute has produced research on technology regulation, environmentalism, entitlement programs, education, and other economic issues.

Support for Big Tech

The Progressive Policy Institute supports limiting the regulation of large technology and social media companies. 12 The institute has criticized both Democratic and Republican politicians who have considered placing regulations on large technology companies. The institute has claimed that both parties’ concerns related to free speech and consumer privacy are overblown. The Progressive Policy Institute has dismissed Republican officials’ concerns, claiming that they are the result of “supposed” claims of conservatives being “muzzled” on social media platforms. 13

Subsidies for Electronic Vehicle Production

The Progressive Policy Institute was highly critical of the Trump administration’s policies regarding electric vehicle production. 14 The institute claimed that the administration was “losing what is probably the most important new manufacturing opportunity in the world,” 15 and urged the Trump administration to create substantial government subsidies for purchasing electric vehicles by providing tax credits and government funded “trade-in” programs to exchange combustion engine vehicles for electric cars. 16

Entitlement Spending

The Progressive Policy Institute advocates for expanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program and criticized the Trump administration for its attempt to place work requirements on recipients in order to qualify for the program. 17 The institute supports expanding the amount of monthly disbursements made through SNAP; increasing participation in SNAP by simplifying the application process; and lifting traditional restrictions on the use of SNAP funds, such as the ban on using SNAP funds for hot and prepared meals. 18

Charter Schools

Though the Progressive Policy Institute often supports left-of-center policy, the institute has promoted center-right ideas on charter schools and has held policy discussions to promote support for school choice within the Democratic Party and its aligned education-focused organizations. 19 In 2021, the institute held a policy discussion on charter schools. 20 The event’s guest speakers included current and former members of the Washington Teachers Union, Oakland REACH, Democrats for Education Reform, and the Urban League of Greater Miami. 21

Tax Policy

The Progressive Policy Institute panned the Trump Administration’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which simplified the tax code and introduced decreased income tax rates for many Americans. 22 The institute claimed that the tax cuts were a “giveaway,” and though it acknowledged that the tax cuts would not increase the budget deficit over the bill’s 10-year window, the instituted criticized the bill for raising the national deficit by $1.5 trillion between 2017 and 2025. 23

Criticism of EU Antitrust Legislation and the Federal Trade Commission

The Progressive Policy Institute has been critical of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and European Union (EU) antitrust regulators for blocking gene-sequencing company Illumina from acquiring the cancer-diagnostic developer Grail. 24

The institute objected to the EU’s move to prevent the merger of two American companies, referring to its decision as “regulatory imperialism.” 25

The institute was also critical of the FTC, claiming that Illumina’s commitment not to raise the price of services provided by Grail and the potential to advance cancer detection technology beyond what Grail could do independently warranted the merger.26

Leadership

Will Marshall is the founder and president of the Progressive Policy Institute. 27  Prior to creating the organization, Marshall was the press secretary, spokesman, and speechwriter for the 1984 United States Senate campaign of former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt (D). 28

References

  1. Goodman, Veronica and Edwards, Kaitlin. “Reimagining SNAP after the pandemic” June 29, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/reimagining-snap-after-the-pandemic/
  2. “Will Marshall” Progressive Policy Institute. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/people/will-marshall-2/
  3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Third Way Foundation dba Progressive Policy Institute. Part I, line 12. 2018.
  4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Third Way Foundation dba Progressive Policy Institute. Part I, line 18. 2018.
  5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Third Way Foundation dba Progressive Policy Institute. Part I, line 22. 2018.
  6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). David & Francie Horvitz Family Foundation. Part XV. 2018.
  7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Eli and Edyth Broad Foundation. Part XV. 2018.
  8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Schedule I. Consumer Technology Association. Part II, line 12. 2018.
  9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Schedule I. NCTA – The Internet & Television Association. Part II, line 75. 2018.
  10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Schedule I. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Part II, line 342. 2018.
  11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Schedule I. Society for Human Resource Management. Part II, line 8. 2018.
  12. Marshall, Will. “A memo to pro-growth Democrats” Progressive Policy Institute.  June 14, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/a-memo-to-pro-growth-democrats/
  13. Marshall, Will. “A memo to pro-growth Democrats” Progressive Policy Institute. June 14, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/a-memo-to-pro-growth-democrats/
  14. Bledsoe, Paul. “NEW IDEAS FOR A DO SOMETHING CONGRESS NO. 7: WINNING THE GLOBAL RACE ON ELECTRIC CARS” Progressive Policy Institute. April 1, 2019. Accessed July 25, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/winning-the-global-race-on-electric-cars/
  15. Bledsoe, Paul. “NEW IDEAS FOR A DO SOMETHING CONGRESS NO. 7: WINNING THE GLOBAL RACE ON ELECTRIC CARS” Progressive Policy Institute. April 1, 2019. Accessed July 25, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/winning-the-global-race-on-electric-cars/
  16.  Bledsoe, Paul. “NEW IDEAS FOR A DO SOMETHING CONGRESS NO. 7: WINNING THE GLOBAL RACE ON ELECTRIC CARS” Progressive Policy Institute. April 1, 2019. Accessed July 25, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/winning-the-global-race-on-electric-cars/
  17. Goodman, Veronica and Edwards, Kaitlin. “Reimagining SNAP after the pandemic” June 29, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/reimagining-snap-after-the-pandemic/
  18. Goodman, Veronica and Edwards, Kaitlin. “Reimagining SNAP after the pandemic” June 29, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/reimagining-snap-after-the-pandemic/
  19. Valentine, Curtis. “WEBINAR: PARENT CHOICE… IS IT A CIVIL RIGHT?” Progressive Policy Institute. February 5, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/webinar-parent-choice-is-it-a-civil-right/
  20. Valentine, Curtis. “WEBINAR: PARENT CHOICE… IS IT A CIVIL RIGHT?” Progressive Policy Institute. February 5, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/webinar-parent-choice-is-it-a-civil-right/
  21. Valentine, Curtis. “WEBINAR: PARENT CHOICE… IS IT A CIVIL RIGHT?” Progressive Policy Institute. February 5, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/webinar-parent-choice-is-it-a-civil-right/
  22. “PPI STATEMENTS PRIOR TO THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: “TRUMP’S INFRASTRUCTURE PROMISES ARE LIES” Progressive Policy Institute. January 30, 2018.  Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/pressrelease/ppi-statements-prior-state-union-address-trumps-infrastructure-promises-lies/
  23.  “PPI STATEMENTS PRIOR TO THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: “TRUMP’S INFRASTRUCTURE PROMISES ARE LIES” Progressive Policy Institute. January 30, 2018.  Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/pressrelease/ppi-statements-prior-state-union-address-trumps-infrastructure-promises-lies/
  24.  Mandel, Mike. “BIOTECH INNOVATION: TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS” Progressive Policy Institute. June 30, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/biotech-innovation-two-important-questions/
  25. Mandel, Mike. “BIOTECH INNOVATION: TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS” Progressive Policy Institute. June 30, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/biotech-innovation-two-important-questions/
  26. Mandel, Mike. “BIOTECH INNOVATION: TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS” Progressive Policy Institute. June 30, 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/biotech-innovation-two-important-questions/
  27. “Will Marshall” Progressive Policy Institute. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/people/will-marshall-2/
  28. “Will Marshall” Progressive Policy Institute. https://www.progressivepolicy.org/people/will-marshall-2/
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