Southwest Public Policy Institute
 |
 | |
| Formation | June 17, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit think tank |
Chairwoman | Becky Ingoglia |
President | Patrick M. Brenner |
| Budget | Revenue: $174,330 Expenses: $168,458 (FYE December 2023)[1] |
| Website | www |
Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) is a libertarian research organization[2] that examines data-driven policies in education, crime, and economics in the American Southwest.[3]
History
[edit]Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) was founded by Patrick M. Brenner as a regional think tank.[4][5] Among the founding board members was James Hallinan, who died in 2023.[6][7][8]
In July 2022, SPPI requested details about the Vax 2 the Max program, which offered cash prizes to promote vaccinations, using the Inspection of Public Records Act.[9] Due to a lack of response, SPPI later sued the state for potential act violations.[9]
In 2022, SPPI filed a lawsuit against the New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue (NMTRD) for failing to comply with an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request.[10] The request sought access to vehicle registration data held by the Motor Vehicle Division to evaluate the socioeconomic impact of New Mexico's electric vehicle (EV) mandate. SPPI hypothesized that the policy, which requires an increasing percentage of zero- and low-emission vehicles in the state beginning with model year 2027, would disproportionately burden low-income and minority residents, who are less likely to afford EVs. In 2025, a state district court ruled in SPPI’s favor, ordering NMTRD to release the requested data and pay over $30,000 in legal fees and costs.[11]
In 2023, SPPI launched the "Bureau to Protect Financial Consumers" campaign in response to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data breach that exposed personal information of over 250,000 consumers. The campaign aims to aggregate affected consumers' stories to advocate for accountability and enhanced data protection measures at the CFPB.[12]
Positions
[edit]Education
[edit]SPPI advocates for school choice and education reform, emphasizing parental empowerment and accountability in public education. SPPI's research highlights widespread dissatisfaction among parents, particularly in Albuquerque Public Schools, where surveys indicate that over 75% of parents would prefer charter school alternatives if accessible.[13] The institute supports legislation to expand school choice, arguing that competition improves educational outcomes and holds underperforming schools accountable.
Research
[edit]In 2025, SPPI released Black Market Payday, an investigative report examining alleged unlicensed lending practices by former New Mexico State Representative Tara Jaramillo through her company, Positive Outcomes, Inc.[14] The report detailed instances of employee payday advances with repayment deductions taken directly from paychecks and annual percentage rates (APRs) calculated as high as 2,920%. The investigation raised concerns about regulatory oversight and the consequences of price controls.[15] The report called for state-level enforcement and policy reform to address illicit lending in underserved communities.
In 2025, SPPI published Swipe Right, a report analyzing how digital platforms like Credit Karma and NerdWallet expand credit access for consumers with limited credit histories.[16] The report argues that these tools improve transparency and approval rates, contrasting them with less effective government alternatives. SPPI cautions that increased regulation by agencies like the CFPB could reduce consumer choice and financial inclusion.
In 2022 and 2023, SPPI surveyed more than 600 parents from Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) and over 300 from Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) about the past five years of education.[3] Most parents from these two major New Mexico districts expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of public education and preferred higher-quality charter school options, if accessible.[3]
In 2023, SPPI analyzed intragovernmental advocacy in eight American Southwest states.[17] The study revealed consistent taxpayer-funded lobbying practices across states, including Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and California.[17] Public-sector entities notably influenced topics such as school choice, corporate incentives, criminal justice, and environmental regulations.[17]
In June 2023, SPPI released “No Loan For You!” and “No Loan for You, Too!”, analyzing the impact of price controls on short-term loan accessibility.[5][18] The report indicated challenges for the underbanked and unbanked in securing such loans, despite the claims of interest rate cap proponents.[5][18]
Marianne T. Anderson Memorial Fellowship
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Southwest Public Policy Institute". ProPublica.
- ^ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Southwest Public Policy Institute - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Hajny, Brooke (June 26, 2023). "New Mexico parents are dissatisfied with poor schools". Albuquerque Journal.
- ^ Nathan, Fred (July 30, 2023). "Plentiful credit available without predatory lending". Albuquerque Journal.
- ^ a b c "New Report Reinforces the Importance of Short-Term, Small-Dollar Loans". Domestic Policy Caucus. June 12, 2023.
- ^ Chacón, Daniel J. (July 22, 2023). "Political consultant helped campaigns, elected officials". The Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ McKay, Dan (July 22, 2023). "Well-known political spokesman James Hallinan dies". Albuquerque Journal.
- ^ "Oppenheimer Biographer Calls for Compensation to NM Downwinders". Santa Fe Reporter. July 24, 2023.
- ^ a b "COVID-19 in Cibola Trough April | Cibola Citizen".
- ^ Helean, Michaela (September 22, 2022). "Southwest Public Policy Institute sues NM Department of Tax and Rev". Rio Rancho Observer.
- ^ McClelland, Nakayla (2025-05-11). "New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department ordered to pay more than $30,000 in IPRA case". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ Revell, Eric (26 October 2023). "Think tank launches campaign to protect consumers from CFPB after agency data breach". Fox Business. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ Brandt, Tonja (2025-01-19). "OPINION: It's time to disrupt the system and introduce real school reform in NM". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ Chacón, Daniel J. (2025-07-17). "Former lawmaker accused of lending scheme vows to go after accuser". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved 2025-07-19.
- ^ Millard, Taylor (2025-06-25). "Progressive Payday? New Mexico Democrat Probed for High-Interest Loans to Workers". RedState. Retrieved 2025-07-19.
- ^ Caruso, Jay (2025-05-10). "Products such as Credit Karma and NerdWallet benefit consumers, do not harm them: report". Fox Business. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ a b c Muska, D. Dowd (May 31, 2023). "OPINION: Your Taxes, Funding Lobbyists in Denver". Pagosa Daily Post.
- ^ a b "Todd Zywicki on Rate Caps". International Center for Law & Economics.
- ^ a b "Marianne T. Anderson Memorial Fellowship".
- ^ "2L Awarded the Marianne T. Anderson Memorial Fellowship by the Southwest Public Policy Institute — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law" – via louisville.edu.
