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'''Judgepedia''' is an online collaborative encyclopedia, which provides information on the nation's judges and court systems. The site is sponsored by the [[Lucy Burns Institute]] (LBI), a Madison-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The organization also sponsors [[WikiFOIA]], which provides information on how to use Freedom of information laws at the state and local level; and [[Ballotpedia]], which tracks elections and ballot measures at the state level.
Through these online resources, LBI says it is dedicated to "openness in politics on both sides of the aisle"
Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/ Home], organizational website, accessed November 2012.
and "empowering ordinary citizens with ways to both learn about local government, and share the information they learn with others."
Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/faq FAQ], organizational website, accessed November 2012.
Even though the organization is a major proponent of transparency in government operations and budgeting, it provides limited information about how the organization itself is funded.
For the Center for Media and Democracy's piece "The Lucy Burns Institute (Publishers of Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and WikiFOIA) and Her Right-Wing Bedfellows" click [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/11/11791/lucy-burns-institute-publishers-ballotpedia-judgepedia-and-wikifoia-and-her-right here].
==LBI and the [[Sam Adams Alliance]]==
The president of LBI, Leslie Graves, is married to Eric O'Keefe, the CEO of the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance (SAM). LBI took over Ballotpedia and Judgepedia from SAM in 2009
Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/events/lucy-burns-institute-is-the-new-sponsor-of-ballotpedia-and-judgepedia.html "Lucy Burns Institute is the new sponsor of Ballotpedia and Judgepedia,"] organizational press release, June 2009.
and continues to receive funding from SAM, as of their most recent IRS filing.
IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/205/792/2010-205792227-07ed1352-9.pdf Sam Adams Alliance IRS 990 form,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
SAM is a 501(c)3 public charity that says it is devoted to pushing "free-market principles."
PR Newswire, [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sam-adams-alliance-launches-new-website-85374402.html "Sam Adams Alliance Launches New Website,"] Sam Adams Alliance press release, accessed November 2012.
Of its $3.9 million budget,
IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/ReportNonProfit.aspx?ein=20-5792227 Sam Adams Alliance IRS Filing,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
SAM also provides funding to groups such as the Tea Party Patriots Foundation, the First Freedom Foundation, and the Citizens in Charge Foundation. SAM gets funding from the State Policy Network (SPN) which is partially funded by The Claude R. Lambe Foundation, a project of Charles Koch who co-owns Koch Industries with his brother David.
==LBI Staff==
[[Image:Lucy_Burns_Institute500px.jpg|250px|right]]The LBI staff -- based both in Madison and other parts of the country -- have links to right-wing organizations and individuals, including the Kochs.
Leslie Graves is the president of LBI.
Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/meet-the-staff Meet the Staff], organizational website, accessed November 2012.
In 2006, Graves started Renewal Voter
Outreach,
Technology Marketing Corporation, [http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/08/27/1833041.htm "Petition's origins tied to at least nine states"], Cross post from the Omaha World-Herald, August 27, 2006.
registering it as a Nebraska Limited Liability Corporation (LLC).
[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/08/04/233235/--Unlimited-Terms-of-Endearment-Part-VIII-America-At-Its-Worst Unlimited Terms of Endearment, Part VIII: America At Its Worst], The Daily Kos, August 4, 2006.
The
company was paid
$1.4 million
Technology Marketing Corporation, [http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/08/27/1833041.htm "Petition's origins tied to at least nine states"], Cross post from the Omaha World-Herald, August 27, 2006.
to conduct petition drives for two ballot initiatives in Nebraska. One was in favor of a "Humane Care" amendment to the state constitution which would prevent the withholding of food and water from terminally ill patients at the request of their kin, unless there were a written "advance directive," or living will, specifying otherwise. According to The Omaha World-Herald, about one out of every five signatures
New Nebraska Network, [http://newnebraska.blogspot.com/2006/09/downside-of-humane-care-amendment-not.html The Downside of "Humane Care" Amendment Not Making the November Ballot], Captures parts of an The Omaha World-Herald article which is no longer accessible, August 4, 2006.
needed to get the amendment on the ballot, were
thrown out.
Jones and Bartlett Publications. [http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763744352/44352_ch03_pass1.pdf "Right or Wrong: Legal and Ethical Issues and Decision-Making"], Book Chapter, accessed November 2012.
The other petition drive was for a ballot measure to put a cap
on state spending, which also failed. A blogger
[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/08/04/233235/--Unlimited-Terms-of-Endearment-Part-VIII-America-At-Its-Worst Unlimited Terms of Endearment, Part VIII: America At Its Worst], The Daily Kos, August 4, 2006.
traced the string of connections between a nonprofit organization, tied to her husband Eric O'Keefe (who previously sat on the board) and his daughter (who served as director),
IRS,[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/975/2005-363975580-02a91cbf-9O.pdf Americans for Limited Government IRS 990 Form], Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
which provided money to a group which then funded two other
groups which in turn provided funding to Graves' LLC to collect the petitions.
Graves has also been very involved
Patron Saint Productions, Inc. [http://www.patronsaintpr.com/resources/articles/newsletter/bp05-4.pdf Rachel's Vineyard Blooms], August 2002.
with Rachel's Vineyard, a Catholic organization that offers weekend retreats for women who have had abortions, which is intended to reconcile what the ministry calls "the sin of abortion."
Rachel's Vineyard, [http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/PDF/Articles/Post%20Abortion%20Healing%20-%20Theresa%20Burke.pdf "Post-Abortion Healing Reconciling an Abortion in the Catholic Church,"] organizational newsletter, September 1996.
Graves, formerly known as Leslie Key, became the Wisconsin chair of the Libertarian Party in 1979 and served as a regional representative on the Libertarian National Committee until 1983.
[http://www.lpedia.org/Libertarian_Party_of_Wisconsin Libertarian Party of Wisconsin,] LPedia, accessed November 2012.
Before her stint in politics, Leslie served as an editor for the Update newsletter, published by the Libertarian Review Foundation. The publication was criticized in the Libertarian Forum for being "an unofficial organ" disseminating the views of Ed Crane, the founder of the Cato Institute who served as its president until October 2012. A 1981 memo from Crane to Graves and David Koch illustrates the relationship: "David Koch has indicated he will kick in $10,000 to Update next year. If Leslie is very nice to him we might be able to talk him into $5,000 more (right, David?)."
The Libertarian Forum, [http://mises.org/journals/lf/1982/1982_08.pdf "Smear: The Story of Update -- Part I"], Monthly newsletter, August 1982.
Graves is married to Eric O'Keefe the CEO of the conservative Sam Adams Alliance (SAM). O'Keefe has been featured at events funded by David Koch's Americans for Prosperity (AFP) group which is heavily involved in supporting right-wing politicians with independent expenditures and other assistance that stretches the limits of legality. O'Keefe is a right-wing political operative that has deep ties to the Koch brothers. He helped launch the American Majority Tea Party group which trains right-wing candidates to run for office. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Club for Growth Wisconsin, which ran divisive ads in support of Governor Scott Walker's radical overhaul of collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin workers. He has also served on the board of Koch's Institute for Humane Studies, the Center for Competitive Politics, and chairs the Health Care Compact Alliance.
[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wisconsin-gov-scott-walkers-recall-sharpens-fight-over-money-in-politics/2012/03/22/gIQAbUHDaS_story_1.html "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s recall: Big money fuels small-government fight,"] The Washington Post, accessed November 2012.
Geoff Pallay, special projects director of Ballotpedia,
Ballotpedia, [http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/User:Gpallay User:GPallay,] user profile page, accessed November 2012.
is a graduate of the Koch Associate Program, a program of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.
LinkedIn, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/7/73/Geoff_Pallay_LinkedIn.jpg Geoff Pallay,] LinkedIn profile, accessed August 2012.
He worked as a policy analyst for the South Carolina Policy Council, during which he was "also learning Market-Based-Management -- a management philosophy created by Charles Koch, CEO of Koch Industries."
College of Charleston, [http://blogs.cofc.edu/gradschool/2009/08/19/guest-blogger-geoff-pallay/ Guest Blogger: Geoff Palay,] college blog, August 2009.
Pallay has been featured at events such as a policy forum earlier this year at the Cato Institute (along with Eric O'Keefe).
Cato Institute, [http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=9135 "Citizens v. the Ruling Elite,"] Policy forum video, April 20, 2012.
Kelly O'Keefe, Eric O'Keefe's daughter and the Director of Development for LBI,
Ballotpedia, [http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Ballotpedia:Kelly_O'Keefe Ballotpedia:Kelly O'Keefe,] user profile, accessed November 2012.
worked as development associate for the Koch-funded Institute for Humane Studies (IHS),
Institute for Humane Studies, [http://www.theihs.org/information-accepted-students-3 GENERAL SEMINAR INFORMATION,] organizational handout, June 2010.
which works to identify, develop, and support young libertarians. She was also a Koch associate at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. (LBI also employs Graves' daughter, Sara Key, as Operations Officer.)
Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/meet-the-staff Meet the Staff,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.
Christopher Bedford, an associate editor at the right-wing news outlet The Daily Caller, is a former staff writer for LBI and Koch associate for the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.
LinkedIn, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/a/ae/Christopher_bedford_LinkedIn_.jpg Christopher Bedford,] LinkedIn profile, accessed September 2012.
Eileen McGuire-Mahony, a former Ballotpedia Staff Writer, was also a Koch associate.
LinkedIn,[http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/c/cc/Eileen_McGuire-Mahony_LinkedIn_top.jpg Eileen McGuire Mahoney,] LinkedIn profile(top half), accessed September 2012.
LinkedIn, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/a/af/Eileen_McGuire-Mahony_Experience_.jpg Eileen McGuire-Mahoney,] LinkedIn profile, accessed September 2012.
Hannah Mead, listed as a staff writer for Ballotpedia on her LinkedIn page,
LinkedIn, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/7/73/Hannah_Mead.jpg Hannah Mead,] LinkedIn profile, accessed August 2012.
was also an IHS Koch Summer Fellow.
State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/publications/todays-summer-fellow-tomorrows-center-director "Today’s Summer Fellow, Tomorrow's Center Director,"] organizational release, August 2009.
LBI's board of directors also includes right-wing and Koch ties. LBI's secretary, Jack McHugh, is a senior legislative analyst for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, [http://www.mackinac.org/bio.aspx?ID=295 Jack McHugh,] staff profile, accessed November 2012.
The Mackinac Center is a right-wing think tank, which has received some funding from the Kochs and is also a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Non-Profits ALEC Non-Profits,] Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.
As previously reported by the Center for Media and Democracy, the Mackinac Center has been using ALEC to push efforts to weaken unions, including dismantling public sector collective bargaining rights.
Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11490/koch-funded-mackinac-center-brings-wisconsin-act-10-provisions-alec "Koch-Funded Mackinac Center Brings Wisconsin Act 10 Provisions to ALEC,"] May 2012.
Erick Erickson, the Chairman of the Board and Managing Editor of Redstate, is a board member of LBI. Redstate is the "leading conservative news blog for right of center online activists."
Red State, [http://www.redstate.com/about/ About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.
Breitbart TV describes Erickson as a "right wing hero."
Breitbart, [http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/08/04/Erick-Erickson-Dana-Loesch "REDSTATE INTERVIEW WITH RIGHT WING HEROES ERICK ERICKSON AND DANA LOESCH,"] August 2012.
In years past, Lorri Pickens has served as the secretary/treasurer of LBI.
IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/208/036/2007-208036372-048cd938-9.pdf Lucy Burns IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
Pickens currently works as the Director of State Operations for David Koch's AFP and previously served as outreach coordinator for SAM.
LinkedIn, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/5/57/Lorri_Pickens_LinkedIn.jpg Lorri Pickens,] LinkedIn profile, accessed August 2012.
While LBI states that it is dedicated to transparency, it does not list any Board members nor any information about its funding on its website. The staff profiles that are listed on the website do not mention the Koch connections.
==LBI and the [[Sunshine Review]]==
LBI and SAM have both provided funding to the Sunshine Review, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization "dedicated to state and local government transparency."
Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.
In 2010, it received over $560,000 from SAM.
IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/205/792/2010-205792227-07ed1352-9.pdf Sam Adams Alliance IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
LBI works in collaboration with the Sunshine Review on the WikiFOIA project and the Sunshine Review's logo is listed prominently on the homepage of LBI.
Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.
The organization was founded in July 2008 as a project of SAM, but separated from SAM in 2010. According to LBI's 990 forms, the institute has given the Sunshine Review $231,458 from 2008-2010. According to the group's most recently available 990 form, Graves is a chair of Sunshine Review.
IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/271/501/2010-271501919-07983c63-9.pdf Sunshine Review IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
The Sunshine Review is listed as a partner organization of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation for its associate program.
Charles Koch Institute, [http://www.charleskochinstitute.org/associate-program/partner-organizations Partner Organization,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.
LBI has been listed in the past as a Koch partner organization.
Daily Kos, [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/20/1008835/-Another-ALEC-trick-at-Federal-Level-EXPOSED Another ALEC trick at Federal Level EXPOSED,] August 2011.
The Sunshine Review is an ALEC Private Sector Member. Michael Barnhart, the president of the organization, represents the Sunshine Review on ALEC's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force. At the ALEC 2010 meeting in San Diego, Barnhart discussed proposed model legislation: "The Transparency and Government Accountability Act."
Common Cause, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/tfp35-daymailing%20San%20Diego.pdf Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Documents,] ALEC documents obtained by Common Cause, July 2010.
It was adopted by the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force in August 2010, and approved by the ALEC Board of Directors in September 2010.
Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/4a/8F8-The_Transparency_and_Government_Accountability_Act_Exposed.pdf The Transparency and Government Accountability Act,] ALEC Exposed, accessed November 2012.
Similar versions of this bill have been introduced in states such as Virginia, New Mexico, Iowa, and Utah. The bill requires the development of a detailed website listing all revenue and expenditures of the state down to the level of each check. It also includes voting record information, open records information, information on lobbying and state contracts, and ethics information. While the idea seems unobjectionable, the detailed budgeting information has been criticized as a duplicative effort to showcase and make hay of perceived "wasteful spending."
Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/11/11791/lucy-burns-institute-publishers-ballotpedia-judgepedia-and-wikifoia-and-her-right "The Lucy Burns Institute (Publishers of Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and WikiFOIA) and Her Right-Wing Bedfellows,"] November 26, 2012.
The Sunshine Review also gives states a "Transparency Report Card" grading them at the level of state, county, city, and school district. The organization has evaluated over 6,000 government websites.
Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/core/ Core,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.
The Sunshine Review has worked closely with the National Taxpayers Union,
Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.
another ALEC member dedicated to eliminating taxes and shrinking the size of government. NTU President Duane Parde is former Executive Director of ALEC.
Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Taxpayers_Union National Taxpayers Union,] Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.
The group has been involved in pushing this type of transparency legislation in states across the country, even before it was adopted by ALEC.
National Taxpayers Union, [http://www.ntu.org/in-your-state/iowa/iowa-spending-transparency.html "An Open Letter to Iowa Legislators: Taxpayers Support Taxpayer Transparency Act/Taxation Disclosure Act (SF 102),"] March 2009.
The website for the Sunshine Review, which also sponsors WikiFoia, reads: "Sunshine Review is funded largely by grants and a number of private donations. Our organization believes there is a difference between government transparency and personal privacy and for this reason we do not disclose our donors."
Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Press_Room#ixzz2CQdiR7H0 Press Room,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.
==LBI and the [[State Policy Network]]==
LBI is a member of the State Policy Network (SPN), which connects and funds conservative state-based think tanks and receives partial funding from The Claude R. Lambe Foundation. SPN is an ALEC member and "Chairman" level sponsor of its 2011 Annual Meeting, and many of its affiliated think tanks are ALEC members as well.
Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network State Policy Network,] Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.
LBI offers free wiki training seminars to SPN members
State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/docLib/20090402_SPNews0902FINALweb.pdf Do You Measure Up?] organizational newsletter, March/April 2009.
and LBI's President Leslie Graves and LBI have been featured at SPN events.
State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/events/pageID.83/default.asp 2007 State Policy Network 15th Annual Meeting Agenda], October 2007.
==LBI and the [[Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity]]==
LBI also collaborates with the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a national journalism organization launched by SAM. The Franklin Center has a presence in over 40 states with state-house news bureaus and journalists hosted by other outlets and think tanks. It provides its coverage free as a wire-like service and boasts that it "already provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwide." As previously reported by CMD, despite their non-partisan description, many of these websites have received criticism for their right-wing bias.
Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971 "Franklin Center: Right-Wing Funds State News Source,"] October 2011.
Ballotpedia has hosted a series of webinars on elections with the Franklin Center.
Ballotpedia, [http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Today:_post-election_analysis_webinar_(presentations_available) "Today: post-election analysis webinar (presentations available)"], November 2011.
Ballotnews, [http://ballotnews.org/2012/06/14/today-2012-state-executive-election-webinar-featuring-scott-rasmussen/ Today: 2012 state executive election webinar featuring Scott Rasmussen,] June 2012.
According to the Franklin Center's 2009 990 report, it gave $43,000 to LBI that year.
IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/264/066/2009-264066298-068fdb77-9.pdf Franklin Center IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
==Contact Details==
Lucy Burns Institute
301 S. Bedford St., Suite 6
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 255-0688
Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/contact-us Contact], organizational website, accessed November 2012.
Website: http://lburnsinstitute.org
==Articles and Resources==
===Related SourceWatch Articles===
* [[Lucy Burns Institute]]
* [[Sam Adams Alliance]]
* [[National Taxpayers Union]]
* [[American Legislative Exchange Council]]
* [[WikiFOIA]]
* [[Ballotpedia]]
===External Resources===
===References===
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Politics (US)]] [[category:Conservatives]] [[category:Right wing]] [[Category:Tea Party Movement]]