The Ocean State Republican

Providence, RI — On the day our nation celebrates its independence, the Ocean State Policy Research Institute announces its mission to promote freedom in Rhode Island.

The Ocean State Policy Research Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization that conducts scholarly research and analysis of Rhode Island public policy. The Institute’s mission is to advance sound policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and the traditional American values of individual liberty and personal responsibility. Institute staff pursues this mission by conducting timely research on important issues and then sharing the findings with elected leaders, the media, business leaders, community organizations, and individual citizens.

Rhode Island is broke and broken,” said William Felkner, Ocean State Policy Research Institute president.  “Education costs are high but achievement is well below average, human services are exorbitant, but poverty is rising, and a bloated and intrusive government has produced a tender economy and a failing infrastructure.”

As we face fiscal deficits and some of the highest taxes in the country, it becomes crystal clear that the current structure of services in RI are not effective nor efficient,” said Felkner.  “Ocean State Policy will, through a coalition of over 100 national free-market think tanks and a growing list of RI advocacy groups, promote free-market solutions for RI’s future.”

Ocean State Policy Research Institute will, with the input of experts from private industry, public services and academia, identify policy solutions by providing a forum for the exchange of views and a laboratory for developing ideas into practical public policy solutions.  The Institute will provide the policymaking community and opinion leaders with timely, impartial research by regularly publishing and distributing commentaries, data and policy and program evaluations relevant to Rhode Islanders.

“Ocean State Policy’s goal is to empower all citizens with the research needed to make informed policy decisions.”  According to Felkner, “There are many states in the country that do succeed in expanding their economy, educating their children, and reducing poverty.  And they do it for considerably less than RI spends on failing efforts.  We can do better.”

For additional information or a sample copy, Contact:

William Felkner
Ocean State Policy Research Institute
(401) 474-1893
bfelkner [at] oceanstatepri [dot] org
www.oceanstatepri.org

(Editor’s Note: The Ocean State Republican is not related to the Ocean State Policy Research Institute)