In West Virginia, the public dialogue is replete with ideas and proposals on the manner in which the State should address such ongoing issues as the economy, education, tax reform and health care. Unfortunately, most of these ideas and proposals are rooted in the mindset that an expansion of government can and should provide the only solution to these challenges.

True, government may have a role in many of these areas. Clearly, the government’s functions include protecting the public, providing a fair judicial system and building adequate infrastructure. In other areas, it is important to recognize and define the role of government as we consider a variety of public policy proposals. Moreover, once the extent of that role is determined, government must provide the effective and efficient delivery of public goods.

Historically, West Virginia has taken an ad hoc, cursory approach to public policy. Often, State government enacts untested and unpredictable proposals that lack a strong connection with the time-tested values and principles that have proven their ability to advance commonly-held economic and societal goal

In most states, independent policy organizations committed to individual liberty, the free market and the proper role of government have assumed this responsibility by providing high-quality analysis and evaluation of the assortment of proposals that policymakers advocate. Furthermore, these various foundations, institutes and policy centers have made invaluable contributions to the development and implementation of their own sound, principle-based public policy initiatives.

The Public Policy Foundation of West Virginia has been organized to undertake these responsibilities in West Virginia. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Trustees and is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization.  The Foundation relies solely on voluntary support from individuals, private foundations and businesses, and as such neither accepts government funding nor conducts contract research.