A conservative Nebraska think tank -- the Platte Institute for Economic Research -- has been labeled by two watchdog groups as a so-called “stink tank” that is part of a nationwide network promoting an extreme right-wing agenda.
According to a report by the Center for Media and Democracy and Progress Now, the Platte Institute is aligned with the State Policy Network, or SPN, "an $83 million web of right-wing think tanks " in every state across the country.
"These organizations present themselves as nonpartisan, objective and scholarly," the report said. "But instead of being actual, honest think tanks, all of these organizations are funded by and/or work for groups like the corporate-backed American Legislative Exchange Council, Americans for Prosperity, the Koch brothers and other billionaire conservative and corporate funders.
"SPN and its affiliates push an extreme right-wing agenda that aims to privatize education, block healthcare reform, restrict workers' rights, roll back environmental protections and create a tax system that benefits most those at the very top level of income," the report said.
SPN officials did not respond to a request for comment, but Jim Vokal, executive director of the Platte Institute, dismissed the report.
"Our group and SPN are being attacked based on our philosophy and our success in advancing free-market solutions," he said. "There are people out there that do not support free-market solutions.
They want bigger government. And that's what I think this is -- an attempt to attack those who believe in what we believe in."
