Slay and Associates St. Louis Public Relations (PR) and Marketing Communications » Show-Me Institute

Show Me My Money!

koneil — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:05:22 +0000

The Show-Me Institute has published a timely study by Richard Dreyfuss (no, not from JAWS) discussing the pitfalls of Missouri’s current public pension plan, and suggestions about how to move forward with more security and stability, especially in terms of medical benefits.

This study comes comes on the heels of allegations of lavish spending by pension fund officials, the counter-argument that pension funds are well-managed, and a decision by the Social Security Administration that could be even more detrimental to teachers’ retirement funds.

According to the Saint Louis Business Journal coverage of Dreyfuss’ study, “Most of Missouri’s largest pensions lost tens of millions to billions of dollars in the 2008 fiscal year;” a deeply troubling fact. Public employees (such as teachers) are currently paying into a system that could be defunct by the time they retire. The aggregated benefits of Pensions are clear, but just as clear is the fact that the current trend is not sustainable and that reforms are needed.

Dreyfuss’ study focuses on reform through a more defined benefit plan for more stable, predicable benchmarks and projections.

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Show-Me Institute Brings ‘Beyond Freakonomics’ Presentation to SLU

Urban School Improvement is Topic of First Public Leture Sponsored by SLU and Sho-Me Institute

koneil — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:46:12 +0000

A presentation titled “Can We Improve Urban Schools?” will be the inaugural topic in a series of public lectures on economic policy sponsored by Saint Louis University’s John Cook School of Business and the Show-Me Institute.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be presented at 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 19 by Stanford University professor Eric Hanushek, Ph.D. at the Anheuser-Busch Auditorium in John & Lucy Cook Hall at Lindell Blvd. and Spring Ave. on the campus of Saint Louis University. A reception will be held prior to the presentation at 3:30 p.m., and valet parking will be provided. To register, go to http://jcsb.slu.edu/breakfastseries/.

Hanushek’s address will focus on approaches that can improve performance by urban school districts. Future lectures will examine such topics as education policy, tax policy, economic development and other policy initiatives. The series will bring top scholars to St. Louis to discuss the progress and challenges in today’s public policy arena. For more information, call 314-726-5655 or visit www.showmeinstitute.org.

Hanushek is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research as well as the Paul & Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. He is an expert on educational policy, specializing in the economics and finance of schools. His research spans a number of the most important areas of education policy, including the impacts of high stakes accountability and of class-size reduction and the importance of teacher quality. He has written several books as well as numerous articles in professional journals.

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The Show-Me Institute (SMI) is Missouri’s only free market-focused think tank, a publicly supported, 501(c)3 charitable organization. SMI is a research and educational institute dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Missouri by advancing sensible, well-researched solutions to state and local policy issues.

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Show-Me Institute Brings ‘Beyond Freakonomics’ Presentation to SLU

koneil — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:03:06 +0000

Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? What makes a perfect parent? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? These are questions that Steven D. Levitt asks in his controversial, critically acclaimed book FREAKONOMICS: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, topics he will address on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at Saint Louis University.

Levitt’s speech is part of the Economic Policy series presented by the Show-Me Institute in conjunction with Saint Louis University and its John Cook School of Business. He is the third lecturer in the SMI/SLU Economic Policy series that began earlier this year.

Levitt’s book takes seemingly qualitative questions and applies economic theory to explain societal trends and concerns. His conversational writing and anecdotes have been instrumental in making economics accessible for the common reader.

Beyond FREAKONOMICS: Further Economic Musing is the title of his presentation, which is free and open to the public. A reception will begin at 5:30 PM, followed by the lecture at 6:30 PM at the John Cook School of Business Anheuser-Busch Auditorium, located at 3674 Lindell Blvd. at Spring Ave. Valet parking will be provided.

Steven Levitt co-authored FREAKONOMICS with Stephen Dubner in 2006, immediately topping best-seller lists and gaining worldwide recognition for its unconventional perspective on everyday life. The book has received numerous awards and is now being made into a TV show and documentary film. The organic reactions to this movement can be found in the popular FREAKONOMICS blog, which has been called “the most readable economics blog in the universe,” and is hosted exclusively on the New York Times website.

Seating is limited, so please register in advance at: www.regonline.com/freakonomics. John Cook School of Business and the Show-Me Institute are excited to initiate a series of public lectures on public policy issues. Lectures examine such topics as education policy, tax policy, economic development and other policy initiatives. The series brings the world’s top scholars to St. Louis to enlighten audiences about progress and challenges that arise in today’s public policy arena. For more information, call 314-726-5655 or visit www.showmeinstitute.org.

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Urban School Improvement is Topic of First Public Leture Sponsored by SLU and Sho-Me Institute

Cynthia Brinkley and Robert Heller Join Show-Me Institute

koneil — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:59:32 +0000

The Show-Me Institute, a public policy research organization based in the St. Louis area, announces the appointment of Cynthia J. Brinkley and the Honorable Robert Heller to its Board of Directors.

“The Show-Me Institute is very excited to have both members on the board. Cindy brings strong business experience, civic leadership and a commitment to raise public awareness regarding the work the Institute is doing. Bob in turn has years of examining disputes, determining truth, and brings a critical perspective as the Show-Me Institute seeks to serve the public. If only he could play a decent game of golf!” said Rex Sinquefield, Heller’s first cousin and president of Show-Me Institute.

In 2003 the St. Louis Business Journal named Brinkley one of the Most Influential Business Women in St. Louis. Brinkley, a native of Milan, Missouri, has served as the president of SBC Arkansas where she was named Arkansas’ Business Leader of the Year in 2002. She is currently the president of AT&T Missouri.

“I am pleased to join an organization devoted to researching policies that advance Missouri’s economy,” states Brinkley.

Heller, who has served nearly thirty years as a democratic associate circuit judge, has participated in the design and implementation of a statewide court automation project. He was president of the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges and after finishing his seventh consecutive term as Shannon County Circuit Judge. Heller retired earlier this year.

“I am delighted to serve as a director of the Show Me Institute. I am excited about working with the distinguished members of the board in finding pro-growth, free market solutions for Missouri. After twenty-eight years on the bench I look forward to this new challenge and hope I can bring some judicial insight to the efforts of the Show Me Institute,” states Heller.

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Show-Me Institute Brings ‘Beyond Freakonomics’ Presentation to SLU