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46-714: The bill was introduced by Representative Bill Thomas on June 4, 2004, passed the House June 17, the Senate on July 15, and was signed by President George W. Bush on October 22. The Office of Tax Analysis of the United States Department of the Treasury summarized the tax changes as follows: A report by the Tax Policy Center identifies the following main provisions and their costs over

92-661: A right-leaning counterpart to the left-leaning Brookings Institution ; however, the two entities have often collaborated. From 1998 to 2008, they co-sponsored the AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies, and in 2006 they launched the AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project. In 2015, a working group consisting of members from both institutions coauthored a report entitled Opportunity, Responsibility, and Security: A Consensus Plan for Reducing Poverty and Restoring

138-568: A $ 15,300 check to buy a car. The Bakersfield Californian published an article on Thomas about an affair with Deborah Steelman, a lobbyist for Cigna, Pfizer, Aetna, United Healthcare Corporation, the Healthcare Leadership Council, and Prudential. Thomas was then chair of the House subcommittee that regulates HMOs. "Any personal failures of commitment or responsibility to my wife, family or friends are just that, personal,"

184-475: A Council of Academic Advisers, which includes Alan J. Auerbach , Eliot A. Cohen , Eugene Fama , Aaron Friedberg , Robert P. George , Eric A. Hanushek , Walter Russell Mead , Mark V. Pauly , R. Glenn Hubbard , Sam Peltzman , Harvey S. Rosen , Jeremy A. Rabkin , and Richard Zeckhauser . The Council of Academic Advisers selects the annual winner of the Irving Kristol Award . AEI's board

230-515: A bastion of free-market orthodoxy and center-right policy wonkery during the Obama years", before leaving to become a "happiness expert" and self-help guru. In 2018, Brooks announced that he would step down effective July 1, 2019. On March 25, 2010, AEI resident fellow David Frum announced that his position at the organization had been "terminated." Following this announcement, media outlets speculated that Frum had been "forced out" for writing

276-656: A drift toward the center politically. Centrists like Ford, Burns, and Stein clashed with rising movement conservatives . In 1986, the John M. Olin Foundation and the Smith Richardson Foundation withdrew funding for AEI, pushing it to the brink of bankruptcy. The board of trustees fired Baroody Jr. and, after Paul McCracken then served briefly as interim president. In December 1986, AEI hired Christopher DeMuth as its new president, and DeMuth served in

322-606: A period of 10 years: Another provision revised the definition of the term "covered expatriate" which sets net worth and income tax liability thresholds used to determine if a person who renounces his/her U.S. citizenship must pay an expatriation tax . Bill Thomas William Marshall Thomas (born December 6, 1941) is an American politician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 2007, finishing his tenure representing California's 22nd congressional district and as

368-659: A post to his FrumForum blog called " Waterloo ", in which he criticized the Republican Party 's unwillingness to bargain with Democrats on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act . In the editorial, Frum claimed that his party's failure to reach a deal "led us to abject and irreversible defeat." After his termination, Frum clarified that his article had been "welcomed and celebrated" by AEI President Arthur Brooks, and that he had been asked to leave because "these are hard times." Brooks had offered Frum

414-417: A result. In 1952, a group of young policymakers and public intellectuals including Laird, William J. Baroody Sr. , Paul McCracken , and Murray Weidenbaum , met to discuss resurrecting AEA. In 1954, Baroody became executive vice president of the association. Baroody was executive vice president from 1954 to 1962 and president from 1962 to 1978. Baroody raised money for AEA to expand its financial base beyond

460-573: A seat in the California State Assembly in 1974. He won election to the House of Representatives in 1978, representing the 18th congressional district . Thomas married the former Sharon Lynn Hamilton in 1968. They have two grown children. He and his wife are Baptists . When Washingtonian magazine polled congressional aides on the "best and worst" of Congress, Thomas was voted #2 for "brainiest", #3 for "workhorse", and #1 for "meanest" and overwhelmingly for "hottest temper" in

506-1308: A time when Congress 's portfolio had vastly increased during World War II . AEA opposed the New Deal , and aimed to propound classical liberal arguments for limited government. In 1944, AEA convened an Economic Advisory Board to set a high standard for research; this eventually evolved into the Council of Academic Advisers, which over the decades included economists and social scientists, including Ronald Coase , Martin Feldstein , Milton Friedman , Roscoe Pound , and James Q. Wilson . AEA's early work in Washington, D.C. involved commissioning and distributing legislative analyses to Congress, which developed AEA's relationships with Melvin Laird and Gerald Ford . Brown eventually shifted AEA's focus to commissioning studies of government policies. These subjects ranged from fiscal to monetary policy and including health care and energy policy, and authors such as Earl Butz , John Lintner , former New Dealer Raymond Moley , and Felix Morley . Brown died in 1951, and AEA languished as

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552-731: Is chaired by Daniel A. D'Aniello . Current notable trustees include: AEI is a member of the Atlas Network of ultra- free market thinktanks. As of 2016, it was listed as a partner of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute , an allied organization of the American Federation for Children , and an associate member of the State Policy Network of conservative think tanks. The AEI is sometimes described as neoconservative , "ultra-conservative" or libertarian . In

598-536: The 1964 presidential election . "Even though Baroody and his staff sought to support Goldwater on their own time without using the institution's resources, AEI came under scrutiny of the IRS in the years following the campaign," author Andrew Rich wrote in 2004. Representative Wright Patman subpoenaed the institute's tax papers, and the IRS initiated a two-year investigation of AEI. After this, AEI's officers attempted to avoid

644-583: The AEI World Forum , which he hosted until 2005. Other staff hired during this time included Walter Berns and Herbert Stein . Baroody's son, William J. Baroody Jr. , a Ford White House official, also joined AEI, and later became president of AEI, succeeding his father in that role in 1978. The elder Baroody made an effort to recruit neoconservatives who had supported the New Deal and Great Society but were disaffected by what they perceived as

690-810: The American Enterprise Institute ( AEI ), is a conservative center-right / right-wing think tank based in Washington, D.C. , that researches government, politics, economics, and social welfare. AEI is an independent nonprofit organization supported primarily by contributions from foundations , corporations , and individuals. Founded in 1938, the organization is aligned with conservatism but does not support political candidates. AEI advocates in favor of private enterprise , limited government , and democratic capitalism . Some of their positions have attracted controversy, including their defense policy recommendations for

736-474: The Iraq War , their analysis of the financial crisis of 2007–2008 , and their energy and environmental policies based on their more than two-decade-long opposition to the prevailing scientific opinion on climate change . AEI is governed by a 28-member Board of Trustees. Approximately 185 authors are associated with AEI. Arthur C. Brooks served as president of AEI from January 2009 through July 1, 2019. He

782-639: The U.S. Capitol Police to eject Democrats from a meeting room. A few days later, he tearfully apologized on the House floor for what he called his "just plain stupid" decision to ask the police to eject the Congressmen. American Enterprise Institute Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Miscellaneous Other The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research , known simply as

828-557: The "Top Fifty United States Think Tanks". As of 2019, the American Enterprise Institute also leads in YouTube subscribers among free-market groups. AEI's research is divided into seven broad categories: economic policy studies, foreign and defense policy studies, health care policy studies, political and public opinion studies, social and cultural studies, education, and poverty studies. Until 2008, AEI's work

874-705: The 2000s, AEI was the most prominent think tank associated with American neoconservatism , in both the domestic and international policy arenas. Irving Kristol , widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of neoconservatism, was a senior fellow at AEI (arriving from the Congress for Cultural Freedom following the revelation of that group's CIA funding) and the AEI issues an 'Irving Kristol Award' in his honour. Many prominent neoconservatives—including Jeane Kirkpatrick , Ben Wattenberg , and Joshua Muravchik —spent parts of their careers at AEI. Paul Ryan has described

920-495: The AEI as "one of the beachheads of the modern conservative movement". AEI has close ties with pro- Brexit politicians in the British Conservative Party . For instance, Sajid Javid , Michael Gove , Boris Johnson , and Liz Truss have all made regular appearances at its World Forum and other events, and Suella Braverman and Liam Fox have been hosted by it. The institute has been described as

966-607: The American Dream . In contrast, E.J. Fagan of the University of Illinois Chicago has conducted research on US thinktanks and identifies AEI as a "partisan" thinktank that helps drive polarization in US elite opinion. According to the 2011 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report ( Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program , University of Pennsylvania ), AEI is number 17 in the "Top Thirty Worldwide Think Tanks" and number 10 in

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1012-672: The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee . Thomas was born in Wallace, Idaho , moving with his parents to Southern California . He graduated from Garden Grove High School , attended Santa Ana College , earning an associate's degree before transferring to San Francisco State University , where he earned his bachelor's degree and master's degree in political science in 1963 and 1965, respectively. He became an instructor at Bakersfield College before running for and winning

1058-536: The Democrats in congress who opposed the Bush stimulus plan were foolish for doing so as he saw the plan as a major success for the administration. Strain has advocated for payday lenders . As the financial crisis of 2007–2008 unfolded, The Wall Street Journal stated that predictions by AEI staff about the involvement of housing GSEs had come true. In the late 1990s, Fannie Mae eased credit requirements on

1104-507: The House, Thomas joined the American Enterprise Institute as a visiting fellow working on tax policy, trade policy, and health care policy. Thomas also joined law and lobbying firm Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney . On September 8, 2016, Thomas was named to the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees for Area 1, filling the seat of Rick Wright. He did not run for reelection in 2018. He

1150-462: The House. Thomas is known for being able to comprehend and communicate the intricacies of obscure legislative matters, studying testimony and research reports himself instead of relying on executive summaries from his aides. Thomas is also known for losing his temper when people are unprepared, earning a reputation for sharp interrogations. "He's revered, but he's also reviled to some degree", fellow representative Mark Foley told CQ Weekly . Thomas

1196-516: The appearance of partisan political advocacy. Baroody recruited a resident research faculty; Harvard University economist Gottfried Haberler was the first to join in 1972. In 1977, former president Gerald Ford joined AEI as a "distinguished fellow." Ford brought several of his administration officials with him, including Robert Bork , Arthur Burns , David Gergen , James C. Miller III , Laurence Silberman , and Antonin Scalia . Ford also founded

1242-415: The beginning of the 21st-century, AEI staff have pushed for a more conservative approach to aiding the recession that includes major tax-cuts. AEI supported President Bush's tax cuts in 2002 and claimed that the cuts "played a large role in helping to save the economy from a recession". AEI also suggested that further taxes were necessary in order to attain recovery of the economy. An AEI staff member said that

1288-667: The business leaders on the board. During the 1950s and 1960s, AEA's work became more pointed and focused, including monographs by Edward Banfield , James M. Buchanan , P. T. Bauer , Alfred de Grazia , Rose Friedman , and Gottfried Haberler . In 1962, AEA changed its name to the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) to avoid any confusion with a trade association representing business interests attempting to influence politicians. In 1964, William J. Baroody Sr. , and several of his top staff at AEI, including Karl Hess , moonlighted as policy advisers and speechwriters for presidential nominee Barry Goldwater in

1334-415: The failure of the welfare state. This also included Cold War hawks who rejected the peace agenda of 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern . Baroody brought Jeane Kirkpatrick , Irving Kristol , Michael Novak , and Ben Wattenberg to AEI. While at AEI, Kirkpatrick authored " Dictatorships and Double Standards ", which brought her to the attention of Ronald Reagan , and Kirkpatrick

1380-571: The first chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics and Norman J. Ornstein 's work heading a campaign finance reform working group that helped draft the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act that Bush signed in 2002. When DeMuth retired as president at the end of 2008, AEI's staff numbered 185, with 70 scholars and several dozen adjuncts, and revenues of $ 31.3 million. Arthur C. Brooks succeeded him as president at

1426-636: The foreign policy department. AEI and several of its staff—including Michael Ledeen and Richard Perle —became associated with the start of the Iraq War . Bush used a February 2003 AEI dinner to advocate for a democratized Iraq, which was intended to inspire the remainder of the Mideast. In 2006–07, AEI staff, including Frederick W. Kagan , provided a strategic framework for the 2007 surge in Iraq. The Bush administration also drew on AEI scholars and their work in other areas, such as Leon Kass 's appointment as

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1472-430: The former congressman wrote in an "open letter to friends and neighbors." Neither he nor Steelman explicitly denied the allegations. She was promoted to Vice President of Eli Lilly, a position which she used to steer huge campaign gifts to Thomas's war chest. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 prohibited Medicare from negotiating prescription prices with the drug industry, for instance. In July 2003, Thomas called

1518-496: The mortgages it purchased and exposed itself to more risk. Peter J. Wallison warned that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 's public-private status put taxpayers on the line for increased risk. "Because of the agencies' dual public and private form, various efforts to force Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to fulfill their public mission at the cost of their profitability have failed—and will likely continue to fail", he wrote in 2001. "The only viable solution would seem to be full privatization or

1564-438: The opportunity to write for AEI on a nonsalaried basis, but Frum declined. The following day, journalist Mike Allen published a conversation with Frum, in which Frum expressed a belief that his termination was the result of pressure from donors. According to Frum, "AEI represents the best of the conservative world   ... But the elite isn't leading anymore   ... I think Arthur [Brooks] took no pleasure in this. I think he

1610-668: The organization turned further to the political right. AEI had severe financial problems when DeMuth began his presidency. During the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations, AEI's revenues grew from $ 10 million to $ 18.9 million. Academic David M. Lampton writes that DeMuth was responsive to the financial power of "America's hard right". The institute's publications Public Opinion and The AEI Economist were merged into The American Enterprise , edited by Karlyn Bowman from 1990 to 1995 and by Karl Zinsmeister from 1995 to 2006, when Glassman created The American . AEI

1656-473: The role for 22 years. In 1990, AEI hired Charles Murray (and received his Bradley Foundation support for The Bell Curve ) after the Manhattan Institute dropped him. Others brought to AEI by DeMuth included John Bolton , Dinesh D'Souza , Richard Cheney , Lynne Cheney , Michael Barone , James K. Glassman , Newt Gingrich , John Lott , and Ayaan Hirsi Ali . During DeMuth's tenure,

1702-741: The start of the Late-2000s recession . In a 2009 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal , Brooks positioned AEI to be much more aggressive in responding to the policies of the Barack Obama administration . Under his leadership, supported by billionaire donors the Koch Brothers , the AIE identified itself with " compassionate conservativism " and the maximisation of happiness. Politico said that Brooks "helped elevate [AIE] into

1748-459: The thinktank "rose to prominence" in this period "as the primary intellectual home of supply-side economics and neoconservative foreign policy ." During the Reagan administration , several AEI staff were hired by the administration. But this, combined with prodigious growth, diffusion of research activities, and managerial problems, proved costly. Some foundations then supporting AEI perceived

1794-574: Was a key proponent of several of President George W. Bush's agenda items, including three major tax cut bills and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (PL 108–173), and was also instrumental in the passage of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 . On March 6, 2006, Thomas announced he would not seek reelection, retiring after 28 years in the House. A major influence on his decision

1840-553: Was closely tied to the George W. Bush administration . More than 20 staff members served either in a Bush administration policy post or on one of the government's many panels and commissions, including Dick Cheney , John R. Bolton , Lynne Cheney , and Paul Wolfowitz . Bush addressed the institute on three occasions. "I admire AEI a lot—I'm sure you know that", Bush said. "After all, I have been consistently borrowing some of your best people." Bush Cabinet officials also frequented AEI. In 2002, Danielle Pletka joined AEI to promote

1886-676: Was divided into economics, foreign policy, and politics and social policy. Economic policy was the original focus of the American Enterprise Association, and "the Institute still keeps economic policy studies at its core". According to AEI's annual report, "The principal goal is to better understand free economies—how they function, how to capitalize on their strengths, how to keep private enterprise robust, and how to address problems when they arise". Michael R. Strain directs economic policy studies at AEI. Throughout

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1932-487: Was embarrassed." In January 2019, Robert Doar was selected by AEI's board of trustees to be AEI's 12th president, succeeding Arthur Brooks on July 1, 2019. In October 2023, Doar led an AEI delegation (including Kori Schake , Dan Blumenthal , Zack Cooper, and Nicholas Eberstadt , among others) to visit Taiwan to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen . AEI's officers include Robert Doar , Danielle Pletka , Yuval Levin , Michael R. Strain , and Ryan Streeter . AEI has

1978-606: Was later named U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations . AEI also became a home for supply-side economists during the late 1970s and early 1980s. By 1980, AEI had grown from a budget of $ 1 million and a staff of ten to a budget of $ 8 million and a staff of 125. Baroody Sr. retired in 1978, and was replaced by his son, William J. Baroody Jr. Baroody Sr. died in 1980, shortly before Reagan took office as U.S. president in January 1981. According to Politico ,

2024-502: Was replaced by Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg. U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means – Chairman (2001–2007) U.S. House Committee on Administration – Chairman (1995–2001) In the 1992 Rubbergate banking scandal, involving House members writing checks when the funds were not available, Thomas bounced 119 checks, the tenth-highest amount for a Republican member of Congress. A brief overdraft of $ 16,200, occurred in October 1989, as he wrote

2070-492: Was succeeded by Robert Doar . AEI grew out of the American Enterprise Association (AEA), which was founded in 1938 by a group of New York businessmen led by Lewis H. Brown . AEI's founders included executives from Bristol-Myers , Chemical Bank , Chrysler , Eli Lilly , General Mills , and Paine Webber . In 1943, AEA's main offices were moved from New York City to Washington, D.C. during

2116-563: Was the internal GOP term limits that would require him to relinquish his Ways and Means chairmanship even if he were re-elected. Thomas endorsed a former aide, Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy , who was elected to replace him. Following McCarthy's vote to decertify the 2020 presidential election , Thomas said that McCarthy was a "hypocrite" and generally lambasted his behavior in regard to that election. Thomas has criticized McCarthy in several interviews since that time. In 2007, after leaving

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