Cornerstone Policy Research#Financial data
{{Short description|American think tank}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Cornerstone Policy Research
Cornerstone Action
| abbreviation = CPR
| formation = 2000
| type = Public policy think tank
| location = Concord, New Hampshire
| leader_title = Executive Director
| leader_name = Kevin H. Smith
| revenue_year = 2015
| expenses_year = 2015
| website = [http://www.nhcornerstone.org/ www.nhcornerstone.org]
}}
Cornerstone 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".{{Citation
| newspaper = New Hampshire Union Leader
| title = Marriage initiative finds support in NH
| url = http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=664a3e8f-cd06-4545-911a-355dd4cbdeac
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
| date = 2010-03-18
| issn = 0745-5798}}
It is a Family Policy Council, the state affiliate of Focus on the Family for New Hampshire.{{cite web
|url=https://familypolicyalliance.com/allies/
|title=Allies
|author=
|website=Family Policy Alliance
|date=12 June 2019
|access-date=2019-11-25 }}
CPR was founded by Karen Testerman, the organization's first Executive Director,{{Citation
| newspaper = Concord Monitor
| first1 = Ray
| last1 = Duckler
| title = Conservative group leader disarms foes: cornerstone's new head a vocal player
| url = http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/conservative-group-leader-disarms-foes
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
| date = 2009-05-10
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110112230210/http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/conservative-group-leader-disarms-foes
| archive-date = 2011-01-12
| url-status = dead
}} Shannon McGinley, current chairwoman of the board,{{cite web |url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080107/n-hampshire-christians-rely-on-grassroots-methods/index.html |publisher=The Christian Post | title=N. Hampshire Christians Rely on Grassroots Methods|first=Jennifer|last=Riley|accessdate=2010-08-26|date=2008-01-07}} and others in 2000. Kevin H. Smith, a former New Hampshire state legislator, became the second Executive Director in 2009 and resigned to pursue public office in October 2011.{{Citation
| newspaper = New Hampshire Union Leader
| title = Kevin Smith resigns from Cornerstone
| first1 = John
| last1 = DiStaso
| authorlink = John DiStaso
| url = http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111019/NEWS06/111019886
| accessdate = 2012-03-06
| date = 2011-10-19
| issn = 0745-5798}}{{cite web
| publisher = Politico
| title = Smith resigns from Cornerstone
| first1 = David
| last1 = Catanese
| authorlink = David Catanese
| url = http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/1011/Smith_resigns_from_Cornerstone_.html
| accessdate = 2012-03-06
| date = 2011-10-19}} As of February 2012 the Cornerstone web site lists Wendy P. Warcholik as the organization's Executive Director.
In addition to the Executive Directors in recent years Ellen Kolb, the organization's legislative policy director,{{Citation
| first = Ted
| last = Siefer
| authorlink = Ted Siefer
| newspaper = New Hampshire Union Leader
| title = Lawmaker says feds did end-run on Planned Parenthood grants
| url = http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120215/NEWS06/702159954
| accessdate = 2012-02-16
| date = 2012-02-15
| issn = 0745-5798}} has spoken for CPR and Cornerstone Action.
The organization has sponsored a number of events in New Hampshire such as a state conservative summit at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in 2009{{Citation
| newspaper = The Telegraph
| title = NH group holding summit on conservative issues
| url = http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/News/StateNewEngland/432512-227/nh-group-holding-summit-on-conservative-issues.html
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
| date = 2009-11-14}} 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".{{Citation
| first = Fergus
| last = Cullen
| authorlink = Fergus Cullen
| newspaper = New Hampshire Union Leader
| title = Sarah Palin's absence from NH is becoming conspicuous
| url = http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=664a3e8f-cd06-4545-911a-355dd4cbdeac
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
| date = 2010-04-10
| issn = 0745-5798}}
Political issues
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."{{Citation
|last=Testerman
|first=Karen
|authorlink=Karen Testerman
|title=Promiscuous Plague
|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-130144940
|date=2004-03-01
|journal=The World & I
|oclc=423869972
|issn=0887-9346
|publisher=Washington Times Corporation
| location = Washington, D.C.
}}
Karen Testerman spoke against civil unions in New Hampshire, calling gays and lesbians a "special interest group".{{cite web|url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009586752|publisher=All Headline News|title=New Hampshire Legalizes Same-Sex Civil Unions|first=Vittorio|last=Hernandez|accessdate=2010-08-26|date=2008-01-01|archive-date=2008-01-05|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080105123252/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009586752|url-status=dead}} 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."{{Citation
| newspaper = The New York Times
| first1 = Pam
| last1 = Belluck
| title = Civil Unions Gain Ground as a Governor Vows Action
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/us/20civil.html
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
| date = 2007-04-20}} In 2009 CPR under Kevin Smith worked in opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire,{{cite video
| people = Kevin H. Smith
| date = 2009-05-06
| title = Lynch Under Pressure On Same-Sex Marriage: Ads Urge Governor To Veto, Sign Bill
| url = http://www.wmur.com/politics/19383425/detail.html
| publisher = WMUR-TV
| location = New Hampshire
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
}} efforts which included telephoning thousands of constituents in key districts.{{Citation
| newspaper = The Concord Monitor
| first1 = Lauren R.
| last1 = Dorgan
| authorlink = Lauren R. Dorgan
| title = State senators under fire from angry callers galore
| url = 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
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
| date = 2009-04-26}} Cornerstone opposed a New Hampshire bill that would have extended anti-discrimination protections to transgender individuals.{{cite web |url=http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=11640309 |publisher=WCAX-TV | title=Founder of NH conservative group running for gov|accessdate=2010-08-26|date=2009-12-08}}
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. Also in 2009, Cornerstone opposed a 2009 bill in the New Hampshire legislature that would have legalized assisted suicide.{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2009/11/11/committee_rejects_nh_assisted_suicide_bill/ |publisher=Boston.com | title=Committee rejects N.H. assisted suicide bill|first=Norma|last=Love|accessdate=2010-08-26|date=2009-11-11}} Ellen Kolb called the bill "a recipe for elder abuse".{{Citation
| first = Travis
| last = Andersen
| authorlink = Travis Andersen
| newspaper = Foster's Daily Democrat
| title = Keene lawmaker wants NH to legalize assisted suicide
| url = http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090226/NEWS0201/902259897
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
| date = 2009-02-26}} CPR also opposed the 2009 effort to legalize medical marijuana in New Hampshire.{{Citation
| first = Kevin
| last = Landrigan
| authorlink = Kevin Landrigan
| newspaper = The Telegraph
| title = Stage set for fight over vetoes
| url = 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
| accessdate = 2010-08-26
| date = 2009-10-28}} The organization participated in a 2009 protest at one of Barack Obama's "town hall" events on the topic of health care reform.{{cite web |url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090810-NEWS-908109981 |publisher=Seacoastonline.com | title=Protesters ready to deliver message at Obama town hall forum|first=Elizabeth|last=Dinan|accessdate=2010-08-26|date=2009-08-10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/02/03/dozens_pro_and_con_demonstrate_outside/ |publisher=Boston.com | title=Dozens, pro and con, demonstrate outside|first=Eric|last=Moskowitz|accessdate=2010-08-26|date=2010-02-03}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/12/adultery.vote/index.html |publisher=CNN | title=New Hampshire eyes repealing law on adultery|accessdate=2010-08-26|date=2010-01-13}}
See also
{{portal-inline|Conservatism}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.nhcornerstone.org/ www.nhcornerstone.org]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150212051643/http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/020516032/popup/1 Cornerstone Policy Research Profile] – National Center for Charitable Statistics (Urban Institute)
Category:Political and economic think tanks in the United States
Category:Organizations established in 2000