- Cornerstone Policy Research
-
Cornerstone Policy Research
Cornerstone Action
Abbreviation CPR Motto Working to Protect New Hampshire Families Formation 2000 Type Public policy think tank Location Concord, New Hampshire Executive Director Kevin H. Smith Website www.nhcornerstone.org
www.cpraction.orgCornerstone Policy Research and its legislative action arm Cornerstone Action are a conservative think tank headquartered and primarily active in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The organization describes itself as "dedicated to the preservation of strong families, limited government and free markets".[1]
CPR was founded by Karen Testerman, the organization's first Executive Director,[2] Shannon McGinley, current chairwoman of the board,[3] and others in 2000. Kevin H. Smith, a former New Hampshire state legislator, became the second Executive Director in 2009.[2]
In addition to the Executive Directors in recent years an activist named Ellen Kolb has spoken for CPR and Cornerstone Action.
The organization has sponsored a number of events in New Hampshire such as a 2004 award ceremony for New Hampshire's Longest Marriage, a 2005 event honoring pro-life state lawmakers,[4] a state conservative summit at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in 2009[5] and a debate amongst the Republican Primary candidates for the U.S. Senate seat in 2010. CPR holds an annual dinner event as well.
Fergus Cullen, a former director of the New Hampshire Republican Party, referred to Cornerstone Action as "New Hampshire's best-organized advocacy group on the right".[6]
Contents
Political issues
In 2008 one author positioned CPR in a national list of state organizations that "work to persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence on issues relating to the family."[7] CPR opposes embryonic stem cell research.[8] In 2001 the organization signed a letter to Senator Jefferson Sessions of Alabama, then a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to judicial activism.[9]
In 2004 then-Executive-Director Karen Testerman wrote in an article entitled "Promiscuous Plague" that sexually transmitted diseases are "encouraged by a message of 'safe sex' and an adult population that acts as if self-control and traditional morality are outdated and without value."[10] In 2008 Testerman signed a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee criticizing the body for the slow progress on hearing and reporting on the nominations of judicial candidates. The letter said that there is a "basic unfairness of denying qualified nominees a fair up-or-down vote by the committee and full Senate" and attributed the delays to partisan politics and personal grudges on the part of some senators.[11] In 2008 Karen Testerman signed a letter in the name of CPR expressing opposition to online gambling and urging that the provisions of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 be finalized and implemented.[12]
Karen Testerman spoke against civil unions in New Hampshire, calling gays and lesbians a "special interest group."[13] She indicated that due to the incidence of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases amongst the gay population civil unions "could promote the acceptance of a behavior that is jeopardizing the health of our children." She went on to say, "Multiple partners when you’re doing something unnatural — it’s just not good."[14] In 2009 CPR under Kevin Smith worked in opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire,[15] efforts which included telephoning thousands of constituents in key districts.[16] Cornerstone opposed a New Hampshire bill that would have extended anti-discrimination protections to transgendered individuals.[17]
In 2009 CPR urged the New Hampshire Department of Education to adopt a resolution for the removal of controversial federal Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education Kevin Jennings.[18] Also in 2009, Cornerstone opposed a 2009 bill in the New Hampshire legislature that would have legalized assisted suicide.[19] Ellen Kolb called the bill "a recipe for elder abuse."[20] CPR also opposed the successful 2009 effort to legalize medical marijuana in New Hampshire.[21] The organization participated in a 2009 protest at one of Barack Obama's "town hall" events on the topic of health care reform.[22][23] In 2010 Kevin Smith asserted that the health insurance mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.
In 2010 Kevin Smith spoke in opposition to legislative action in New Hampshire to repeal a law making adultery a criminal offense. After passage of the law CPR sought to amend the repeal measure to specify that adultery was still a civil offense and grounds for divorce.[24]
Financial data
United States IRS forms 990EZ for Cornerstone Policy Research Organization Name State Year Gross Receipts Total Assets Form Pages EIN Cornerstone Policy Research - 2002 NH
2002
$41,957
$14,320
990EZ
12
02-0516032
Cornerstone Policy Research - 2003 NH
2003
$43,532
$11,089
990EZ
14
02-0516032
Cornerstone Policy Research - 2004 NH
2004
$64,420
$10,595
990EZ
12
02-0516032
Cornerstone Policy Research - 2005 NH
2005
$54,267
$7,380
990EZ
12
02-0516032
Cornerstone Policy Research - 2006 NH
2006
$67,631
$13,796
990EZ
13
02-0516032
Cornerstone Policy Research - 2007 NH
2007
$68,010
$10,010
990EZ
14
02-0516032
Cornerstone Policy Research - 2008 NH
2008
$105,036
$11,651
990EZ
15
02-0516032
Dinner banquet
- 2004: expenses $17,136, net loss $9,526
- 2005: expenses $12,692, net income $7,943
- 2006: expenses $13,598, net income $8,147
- 2007: expenses $9,800, net income $4,270
- 2008: unlisted
Rick Perry has denied being under the influence of drugs or alcohol when he delivered a speech to the 2011 annual banquet.[25]
Company officers
With the exception of Kevin Smith this information is current to 2008.
- Kevin H. Smith (Director 2006 - 2008, Executive Director 2009–present)
- Shannon McGinley (Director 2000 - 2005, Chairwoman 2008, compensation $0)
- Jason Peroni (Director 2003 - 2004, 2008, Chairman 2005 - 2007 , compensation $0)
- Robert McCrory (Director 2006 - 2008, compensation $0)
- William Dahar (Director 2006 - 2008, compensation $0)
- Ron Tannariello (Director 2004, 2007–2008, compensation $0)
- Paula Yost (Treasurer 2002? - 2004, 2008, Director 2005, compensation $0)
- Mike Wernette (Director 2008, compensation $0)
- William O'Grady (Director 2008, compensation $0)
- Mike Compitello (Director 2008, compensation $0)
Former company officers
- Lisa Phelan (Secretary 2002? - 2003, compensation $0)
- James Phelan (Director 2002? - 2003, compensation $0)
- Karen Testerman (Executive Director 2000-2009, Average 40 hours weekly)
- Compensation: 2002 - $24,000, 2003 - $5,541, 2004-2008 - $0
- David Testerman (Director 2000-2007, compensation $0)
- Jennifer Ruffing (Director 2002, compensation $0)
- Jim Luther (Director 2004 - 2005, compensation $0)
- Rachel Rines-Leach (Treasurer 2005, compensation $0)
- Patricia Galarneau (Treasurer 2006, compensation $0)
- Daryl Erickson (Director 2004 - 2007, compensation $0)
- Joe Medola (Director 2006 - 2007, compensation $0)
References
- ^ "Marriage initiative finds support in NH", New Hampshire Union Leader, 2010-03-18, http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=664a3e8f-cd06-4545-911a-355dd4cbdeac, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ a b Duckler, Ray (2009-05-10), "Conservative group leader disarms foes: cornerstone's new head a vocal player", Concord Monitor, http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/conservative-group-leader-disarms-foes, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ Riley, Jennifer (2008-01-07). "N. Hampshire Christians Rely on Grassroots Methods". The Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080107/n-hampshire-christians-rely-on-grassroots-methods/index.html. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ Ertelt, Steve (2005-04-01). "Pro-Life Senate Leader on Abortion, Human Cloning Considers Prez Bid". LifeNews.com]. http://www.lifenews.com/nat1246.html. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ "NH group holding summit on conservative issues", The Telegraph, 2009-11-14, http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/News/StateNewEngland/432512-227/nh-group-holding-summit-on-conservative-issues.html, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ Cullen, Fergus (2010-04-10), "Sarah Palin's absence from NH is becoming conspicuous", New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=664a3e8f-cd06-4545-911a-355dd4cbdeac, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ Rigby, Jill M. (2008), Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World, New York: Howard Books, p. 229, ISBN 9781416558422, OCLC 191258436
- ^ Perry, Yvonne (2007), Right to Recover: Winning the Political and Religious Wars Over Stem Cell Research in America, Mequon, Wisconsin: Nightengale Press, p. 217, ISBN 9781933449418, OCLC 154710346
- ^ Judicial nomination and confirmation process: hearing before the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, first session, June 26 and September 4, 2001, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 2002, p. 244, ISBN 9780160686146, OCLC 50288305, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-107shrg463/pdf/CHRG-107shrg463.pdf, LCCN 2002-435730
- ^ Testerman, Karen (2004-03-01), "Promiscuous Plague", The World & I (Washington, D.C.: Washington Times Corporation), ISSN 0887-9346, OCLC 423869972, http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-130144940.html
- ^ Congressional Record Volume 154, Issue 50; S2263; 110th Congress, 2nd Session, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 2008, OCLC 304398268, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=CREC-2008-04-01-pt1-PgS2263&packageId=CREC-2008-04-01
- ^ Proposed UIGEA regulations: burden without benefit? : hearing before the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, second session, April 2, 2008, Volume 4, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 2008, p. 195, ISBN 9780160813092, OCLC 234078495, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=CHRG-110hhrg11042714&packageId=CHRG-110hhrg11042714, LCCN 2008-377777
- ^ Hernandez, Vittorio (2008-01-01). "New Hampshire Legalizes Same-Sex Civil Unions". All Headline News. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009586752. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ Belluck, Pam (2007-04-20), "Civil Unions Gain Ground as a Governor Vows Action", New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/us/20civil.html, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ Kevin H. Smith (2009-05-06). Lynch Under Pressure On Same-Sex Marriage: Ads Urge Governor To Veto, Sign Bill. New Hampshire: WMUR-TV. http://www.wmur.com/politics/19383425/detail.html. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ Dorgan, Lauren R. (2009-04-26), "State senators under fire from angry callers galore", The Concord Monitor, http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CMOB&p_theme=cmob&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=127D70106B307138&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ "Founder of NH conservative group running for gov". WCAX-TV. 2009-12-08. http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=11640309. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ Kenny, Jack (2009-10-22), "Effort Continues to Oust "Safe Schools Czar"", The New American, http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/culture/education/2623-effort-continues-to-oust-safe-schools-czarq, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ Love, Norma (2009-11-11). "Committee rejects N.H. assisted suicide bill". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2009/11/11/committee_rejects_nh_assisted_suicide_bill/. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ Andersen, Travis (2009-02-26), "Keene lawmaker wants NH to legalize assisted suicide", Foster's Daily Democrat, http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090226/NEWS0201/902259897, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ Landrigan, Kevin (2009-10-28), "Stage set for fight over vetoes", The Telegraph, http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NTGB&p_theme=ntgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12BA17BD50A3B460&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM, retrieved 2010-08-26
- ^ Dinan, Elizabeth (2009-08-10). "Protesters ready to deliver message at Obama town hall forum". Seacoastonline.com. http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090810-NEWS-908109981. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ Moskowitz, Eric (2010-02-03). "Dozens, pro and con, demonstrate outside". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/02/03/dozens_pro_and_con_demonstrate_outside/. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ "New Hampshire eyes repealing law on adultery". CNN. 2010-01-13. http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/12/adultery.vote/index.html. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ Epstein, Reid J. "New Hampshire speech puts Rick Perry on defensive." Politico, 4 November 2011.
External links
Categories:- Political and economic think tanks in the United States
- Organizations established in 2000
- Conservatism in the United States
- Politics of New Hampshire
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