Kansas Economic Policy Institute

Kansas Economic Policy Institute
Name	Kansas Economic Policy Institute
Type	Nonprofit think tank
Founded	1999
Location	Topeka, Kansas

Kansas Economic Policy Institute is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization based in Topeka, Kansas. It focuses on state-level analysis and recommendations for tax, budget, and labor policies relevant to Kansas and neighboring states such as Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The institute engages with policymakers, media outlets including Kansas City Star and The Wichita Eagle, and participates in events at institutions like the University of Kansas and Kansas State University.

History

Founded in 1999, the institute emerged during a period of policy debate that included high-profile legislative actions such as the 2012 Kansas tax cuts and responses to rulings from the Kansas Supreme Court. Early involvement connected the organization with statewide coalitions including Kansas Action for Children and AFT Kansas, and it has interfaced with national networks such as the Economic Policy Institute and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Over time the institute published analyses referenced by organizations like the Pew Charitable Trusts and was cited in coverage by National Public Radio, Bloomberg, and regional outlets including Lawrence Journal-World.

Mission and Activities

The institute states a focus on research that informs debates over taxation, public services, and workforce issues in Kansas. It conducts briefings for members of the Kansas Legislature, testifies before committees such as the Kansas House Committee on Appropriations and the Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee, and partners with advocacy groups like ACLU of Kansas and Kansas Policy Institute opponents in coalition work. Activities include community workshops in cities like Wichita, Overland Park, and Topeka, public forums hosted at venues such as the State Capitol (Kansas), and collaboration with labor organizations including Kansas-Nebraska AFL–CIO.

Research and Publications

The institute publishes policy briefs, data visualizations, and reports on topics including state revenue, tax incidence, income distribution, and public employment. Major reports have analyzed the fiscal impacts of legislation associated with figures like Sam Brownback and discussed implications for institutions such as the Kansas Board of Regents. Research methods draw on datasets from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Internal Revenue Service. Publications are disseminated to outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and local media including The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Policy Positions and Advocacy

The institute has advocated for tax structures and spending priorities it argues would support low- and middle-income families, referencing comparative analyses with states like Iowa, Colorado, and Missouri. It has taken positions on issues such as sales tax policy, state revenue forecasting, and incentives for businesses administered by agencies like the Kansas Department of Commerce. Advocacy efforts include endorsement or opposition to ballot initiatives and collaboration with groups such as Kansas Advocates for Better Care and Children's Action Alliance when filing amicus briefs or submitting policy recommendations to officials including the Governor of Kansas and state legislators.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The institute operates with an executive director, research staff, and an advisory board that has included professionals from universities and nonprofit organizations such as the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration and national think tanks like the Brookings Institution in comparative commentary. Funding sources have included private foundations, charitable trusts such as W.K. Kellogg Foundation-style grantmakers, and individual donors; the organization has also received support via project grants from national entities including the Ford Foundation and collaboration funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Financial statements have been scrutinized in reporting by outlets like Kansas Public Radio.

Impact and Criticism

The institute's analyses have been cited in legislative debates over budgets and tax policy and have influenced public discussion covered by Politico and The Wall Street Journal. Supporters credit the organization with improving transparency about revenue shortfalls and policy trade-offs; critics from groups like the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity have challenged its assumptions and policy prescriptions. Specific controversies have arisen around interpretations of data during the 2012 Kansas tax cuts debate and during budget fights involving the Kansas Department of Education and Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

Category:Nonprofit organizations based in Kansas