Independence

Institute

The Independence Institute (II) is a

libertarian think tank based in Denver,
Colorado.[2] The group's stated mission "is
to empower individuals and to educate
citizens, legislators and opinion makers
about public policies that enhance
personal and economic freedom."[5]
 Independence Institute

Freedom's Front Line

Established 1985[1]

Chair Catherine Shopneck[2]

President Jon Caldara[3]

Budget Revenue: $2,230,351

Expenses: $2,782,204
(FYE December
2017)[4]

Address 727 E. 16th Ave.

Denver, Colorado
 80203

Location Denver, Colorado, U.S.

Coordinates 39.7419°N
104.9779°W (https://g
eohack.toolforge.org/
geohack.php?pagena
me=Independence_In
stitute&params=39.74
19_N_104.9779_W_)

Website www.i2i.org (http://w

ww.i2i.org)

History
The Independence Institute was founded
in 1985 by John Andrews, a former
Republican state legislator from
Colorado.[1][6] Since 1999, Independence
Institute has been led by Jon Caldara.[3]

A view of the entrance, including the sign

and the statue of Jefferson.

Policy positions
The Independence Institute is a proponent
of educational choice and charter schools,
as well as the right to bear arms in
accordance with the Second Amendment.
II supported school board members in
Douglas County, Colorado who became
the majority there in 2009 and
subsequently curtailed the power of the
teacher's union, expanded school choice,
and attempted to initiate a voucher
system.[7] [8] However, a new school board
majority elected in 2017 has promised to
reverse many of these policies.[9]

Prior to winning election to the United

States House of Representatives as a
Democrat, Jared Polis wrote a white paper
for the institute about privatizing the U.S.
Postal Service.[6]
Because of the Institute's pro Second
Amendment stance, it supports gun rights,
including the right of concealed
carry.[6][10][11]

In 2013, II opposed Amendment 66, an

unsuccessful ballot measure which would
have increased the state's income tax by
$950 million (which would have begun the
hollowing out of Colorado's Taxpayer Bill
of Rights (TABOR)).[12] The organization
supported the Taxpayer Bill of Rights
(TABOR), which was passed by Colorado
voters in 1992.[13]
II opposed the Affordable Care Act.[14][15]
The Institute supports the use of fossil
fuels.[16]

See also
Libertarianism
portal
Colorado
portal

State Policy Network – a U.S. national

network of conservative and libertarian
think tanks of which the Independence
Institute is a member
Political activities of the Koch brothers

References
1. "Jon Caldara to speak at annual Republican
 Lincoln Day event" (http://www.vaildaily.co
m/opinion/10039050-113/caldara-county-d
istrict-amendment) . Vail Daily News.
February 3, 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.

2. Jones, Brad (2009-11-27). "Right wing takes

flight at Independence Institute's Founders'
Night Dinner" (https://web.archive.org/web/
20150923205550/http://www.coloradostat
esman.com/content/991432-right-wing-tak
es-flight-independence-institutes-founders-
night-dinner) . Colorado Statesman.
Archived from the original (http://www.colo
radostatesman.com/content/991432-right-
wing-takes-flight-independence-institutes-fo
unders-night-dinner) on 23 September
2015. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
3. "Jon Caldara's political stunt had a
purpose" (http://www.denverpost.com/edit
orials/ci_24053715/jon-caldaras-political-st
unt-had-purpose) . Denver Post. September
9, 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2015.

4. "Independence Institute" (https://990s.foun

dationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/840/840
990300/840990300_201712_990.pdf)
(PDF). Candid. 13 November 2018.
Retrieved 26 November 2019.

5. "About the Independence Institute" (http://w

ww.i2i.org/about.php) . Independence
Institute. 9 January 2015. Retrieved
6 March 2015.
6. Bunch, Joey (August 11, 2013). "Colorado's
free-market Independence Institute finding
its place" (http://www.denverpost.com/polit
ics/ci_23837867/colorados-free-market-ind
ependence-institute-finding-its-place) .
Denver Post. Retrieved 6 March 2015.

7. Tomasic, John (September 1, 2014). "Who's

afraid of Jon Caldara's school board
sunshine?" (http://www.coloradoindepende
nt.com/149000/whos-afraid-jon-caldaras-s
chool-board-contract-meeting-sunshine) .
Colorado Independent. Retrieved 6 March
2015.
8. "Speaking Out for Douglas County's
Important Private School Choice Proposal"
(https://i2i.org/speaking-out-for-douglas-co
untys-important-private-school-choice-prop
osal) . Independence Institute. November
17, 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2018.

9. Whaley, Monte (November 7, 2017). "In

thorny Douglas County school board races
that drew national scrutiny, anti-voucher
candidates prevail" (https://www.denverpos
t.com/2017/11/07/dougco-school-board-ra
ce-election-results) . The Denver Post.
Retrieved 2 February 2018.
10. Overbeck, Joy (February 28, 2013).
"Colorado anti-gun laws target the most
vulnerable" (http://www.washingtontimes.c
om/news/2013/feb/28/colorado-anti-gun-l
aws-target-the-most-vulnerable/?page=al
l) . Washington Times. Retrieved 6 March
2015.

11. Bartels, Lynn (March 7, 2014).

"Independence Institute celebrates victories
during spirited Founders' Night" (http://blog
s.denverpost.com/thespot/2014/03/07/ind
ependence-institute-jon-caldara/106678/) .
Denver Post. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
12. Simpson, Kevin (November 5, 2013).
"Voters reject big tax hike, school finance
measure Amendment 66" (http://www.denv
erpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24462841/vo
ters-reject-big-tax-hike-school-finance-meas
ure?source=infinite) . Denver Post.
Retrieved 6 March 2015.

13. Hoover, Tim (December 23, 2012). "Two

decades later, TABOR praised, blamed for
limiting government" (http://www.denverpo
st.com/recommended/ci_22248157) .
Denver Post. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
14. Richardson, Valerie (November 21, 2012).
"Stryker Corportation [sic] Confirms
ObamaCare Layoffs" (https://web.archive.o
rg/web/20181129012715/http://thecolorad
oobserver.com/2012/11/stryker-corportati
on-confirms-obamacare-layoffs/) .
Colorado Observer. Archived from the
original (http://thecoloradoobserver.com/2
012/11/stryker-corportation-confirms-oba
macare-layoffs/) on 29 November 2018.
Retrieved 6 March 2015.
15. Tomasic, John (March 26, 2012).
"Independence Institute on Obamacare: It's
not about the Commerce Clause" (http://w
ww.coloradoindependent.com/116366/inde
pendence-institute-on-obamacare-its-not-ab
out-the-commerce-clause) . Colorado
Independent. Retrieved 6 March 2015.

16. Ari Natter (April 13, 2017). "Earth Day Art

Contest Showcases 'Awesomeness' of
Fossil Fuels" (https://www.bloomberg.com/
politics/articles/2017-04-13/earth-day-art-c
ontest-showcases-awesomeness-of-fossil-f
uels) . Bloomberg.com. Retrieved April 16,
2017.

External links
Official website (http://www.i2i.org/)
 Organizational Profile (http://nccsweb.ur
ban.org/communityplatform/nccs/orga
nization/profile/id/840990300/popup/
1) – National Center for Charitable
Statistics (Urban Institute)
EDIRC listing (https://edirc.repec.org/da
ta/i2iiius.html) (provided by RePEc)

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This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at

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