Heartland Institute
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The Heartland Institute is a free-market oriented public policy think tank based in Chicago. It is a non-profit organization, designated 501(c)(3) by the IRS. Contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations make up the bulk of its funding.
The Heartland Institute's research covers a variety of issues including government spending, taxation, healthcare, and the environment with an emphasis on policies relevant to the Midwestern United States. In addition to research, the Heartland Institute features an Internet application called PolicyBot which serves as a clearinghouse for conservative research from other think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation, American Legislative Exchange Council, and Cato Institute. The Institute's president is Joseph L. Bast.
The Heartland Institute's publications include School Reform News, Budget and Tax News, Environment News, Health Care News, Lawsuit Abuse Fortnightly, and Info Tech and Telecom News. These are primarily aimed at state legislators. School Reform News, Budget and Tax News, Environment News and Health Care News are arranged in newspaper format and include articles by experts drawn mostly from other free-market think tanks.
[edit] Global warming
The Institute is a member organization of the Cooler Heads Coalition which asserts that global warming is a myth. The Board of Directors for the Heartland Institute includes Walter F. Buchholtz, a lobbyist for Exxon Mobil and Thomas Walton, an executive of General Motors Corporation.
[edit] Tobacco
The Institute has been actively involved in debate over tobacco policy. The Institute received over $150,000 from the Phillip Morris over three years from 1997 to 1999 [1].
