Professional Documents
Culture Documents
century Great Britain that presented a vision of a society free from the
work of the Cato Institute today. The Cato Institute’s core mission is
the very essence of America with policies that destroy liberty, stifle the
protect and advance these values, putting forward timely and practical
2 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
the bankrupt and demeaning Social
Security system and the utterly irre-
sponsible addition of prescription
drug “benefits” to a hopelessly unfund-
ed Medicare program are remarkable
examples of politicians being more
concerned about reelection than doing
what is right for this country.
Something must be done about the
vast incumbent protection system—
from campaign finance laws to cooper-
ative gerrymandering—to shake up
America’s political system.
We were pleased to receive a major
grant from Gordon and Helen Smith
to support an expanded senior fellow
and visiting fellow program at Cato.
We also made two significant addi-
tions to our staff: Andrew Coulson,
director of our Center for Educational
Freedom, and Bob Garber, director of
marketing. Coulson is widely regarded
as one of the leading advocates
of freeing the educational system from
politics and unions, and Garber was
for the past six years in charge of
marketing and public information for
Washington’s Holocaust Memorial
Museum. We welcome them both.
Finally, we are pleased to have
launched Cato Unbound under the
editorship of Brink Lindsey and man-
William A. Niskanen Edward H. Crane
aging editor Will Wilkinson. Cato
Chairman President and CEO
Unbound is “a state-of-the-art virtual
trading floor in the intellectual mar-
ketplace.” It reflects our increasing
commitment to using the Internet in
the public policy arena.
As always, we express our gratitude
to our dedicated colleagues and our
loyal Sponsors who share Cato’s com-
mitment to liberty.
CATO
Contents I N ST I T U T E
2 0 0 5 A N N UA L
R E PORT
4 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
PAG E 36
EXPANDING
LIBERTY’S
MESSAGE
PAG E 38
EVENTS
PAG E 40
PUBLICATIONS
PAG E 42
CATO STAFF
PAG E 44
FELLOWS
AND ADJUNCT
SCHOLARS
PAG E 46
FINANCES
PAG E 47
INSTITUTIONAL
SUPPORT
PAG E 48
CATO CLUB 200
I NSI DE BACK
COVE R
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 5
ADVANCING
FIRST
PRINCIPLES
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 7
A D V A N C I N G F I R S T P R I N C I P L E S
8 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
A D V A N C I N G F I R S T P R I N C I P L E S
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 9
PROTECTING
CONSTITUTIONAL
LIBERTIES
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 11
P R O T E C T I N G C O N S T I T U T I O N A L L I B E R T I E S
12 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
P R O T E C T I N G C O N S T I T U T I O N A L L I B E R T I E S
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 13
REFORMING
THE POLITICAL
PROCESS
“I am not an
advocate for
frequent changes
in laws and constitu-
tions, but laws and
institutions must
go hand in hand
with the progress
of the human mind.
As that becomes
more developed,
more enlightened,
as new discoveries
are made, new
truths discovered
and manners and
opinions change,
with the change
of circumstances,
institutions must
advance also to
keep pace with
the times.”
—THOMAS JEFFERSON
TheUnitedStates
government is based on the rules and limits
set forth in the Constitution. For govern-
taxpayers, most of whom do not support giv-
ing their tax dollars to political candidates.
ment to serve the needs of the people, how- The same people who believe that taxpay-
ever, citizens must be encouraged to take ers should be forced to pay for political cam-
an active role in the political process. paigns to reduce the corrupting influence of
Government must be transparent enough money in politics have taken steps to block
to allow scrutiny by the general public and private groups from expressing their opin-
small enough to allow thorough monitor- ions on political campaigns. At a Hill
ing of its activities. Briefing in May, “Should We Ban 527s?”
Cato Institute scholars have long encour- John Samples and campaign finance lawyers
aged policies that would increase citizen par- Robert Bauer and Cleta Mitchell agreed that
ticipation in the democratic process. In all citizens have the right to spend money to
In the Fall 2005 issue
1984, Cato published “The Federal Election propagate political ideas. of Cato’s Letter, Cato’s
Commission: A Case for Abolition,” which Partisan groups on both sides of the quarterly speech digest,
warned that restrictions on campaign political spectrum fight restrictions on their First Amendment lawyer
Floyd Abrams discussed
financing would limit free speech. Through- own candidates’ freedom of speech while fil- campaign finance regulation
out the 1990s Cato papers advocated term ing lawsuits to prevent their opponents’ sup- and other restrictions on
limits to increase competition in elections, porters from expressing their views. The political speech. Abrams
lamented that few partisans
reduced spending in both federal and state Cato Institute has been one of the few con-
on either the left or right are
budgets, and the abolition of government sistent voices arguing for the principle steadfast in supporting
programs that limit individual freedom. expressed best by Voltaire, who said, “I may freedom of speech. Although
In 2005 scholars from Cato’s Center for disagree with what you say, but I will defend liberals supported the right
of the New York Times to
Representative Government continued to to the death your right to say it.” At a forum
run an ad critical of President
receive media and scholarly attention for for his book Speaking Freely: Trials of the First Nixon in 1972, many today
their consistent defense of smaller, more Amendment, renowned constitutional lawyer support restrictions on
accessible government. Floyd Abrams commended Cato for its campaign spending by
conservative interest
Politicians across the country are prepar- unswerving advocacy of free speech in all its groups. Similarly, he said,
ing for congressional and local elections in forms. Abrams’ speech was republished in conservatives have recently
2006, and the two major parties are working the Fall issue of Cato’s Letter. fought campaign finance
restrictions but often sup-
hard to raise money for the most competi- Former federal election commissioner
port bans on speech they
tive races. In many races, however, candi- Bradley Smith became well accustomed to consider indecent.
dates benefit from public campaign fund- dealing with contradictions during his
ing. In a Cato book called Welfare for time in Washington. At a September Policy
Politicians, editor John Samples, director of Forum, Smith compared electoral politics to
Cato’s Center for Representative Govern- the world of Alice in Wonderland, where words
ment, shows that public financing of elec- mean the opposite of what they seem to
tions does not reduce corruption, nor does mean and people believe impossible things.
it increase political participation among Citizen participation in the political process,
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 15
R E F O R M I N G T H E P O L I T I C A L P R O C E S S
16 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
R E F O R M I N G T H E P O L I T I C A L P R O C E S S
“I want to thank
all of you from
Cato for not only
helping us address
this fiscal crisis
that we are facing
as a nation, but
for your many-year
effort at trying to
preserve the fiscal
sanity and stability
of this nation for
Cato’s vice president for government
affairs Susan Chamberlin and director
generations that
of health and welfare studies Michael follow us.”
Tanner discuss Social Security reform
with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) at an April Hill
Briefing. At a Policy Forum reflecting on
—SEN. JOHN MCCAIN
his tenure as chairman of the Federal (R-AZ), OCTOBER 17, 2005,
Election Commission, Bradley A. Smith CATO HILL BRIEFING
chats with Cato president Ed Crane.
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 17
ROLLING BACK
THE ENTITLEMENT
STATE
reduces employment opportunities for the nationwide market for health insurance
poor. Government redistribution of wealth instead of limiting consumers to plans based
creates perverse incentives for investors try- in their home state. Michael O’Grady of the
ing to protect their assets and creates a Department of Health and Human Services
culture of dependency and entitlement-seek- predicted that the proposal would lower
ing that marginalizes the values of hard insurance premiums and allow patients to
work, individual responsibility, and ethical choose coverage appropriate to their needs.
values. Public schools, which were intended At a Cato Policy Forum in May, “Can
to give all children the skills they need to suc- Health Savings Accounts Cover the Unin-
ceed as adults, are instead wasting taxpayer sured?” panelists suggested that combining
money and preventing families from seeking high-deductible health plans with tax-free
out a better education for their children. HSAs for out-of-pocket expenses could help
Fortunately, Cato continues to propose make coverage more affordable for those
attainable and innovative reforms to Ameri- who are now uninsured. Tanner and Cannon
ca’s bloated social programs. proposed universal availability of HSAs and
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 19
R O L L I N G B A C K T H E E N T I T L E M E N T S T A T E
20 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
R O L L I N G B A C K T H E E N T I T L E M E N T S T A T E
In April, policy analyst Marie and University of Newcastle professor With the generous support of
Gryphon shattered “The Affirmative James Tooley, What America Can Learn donors across the country, the Pro-
Action Myth,” finding that affirma- from School Choice in Other Countries, ject on Social Security Choice creat-
tive action produces no concrete ben- examines longstanding school choice ed radio and television ads centered
efits for minority students because so programs in Sweden, Chile, Australia, on the theme of ownership, inheri-
many come from underperforming Denmark, and other foreign countries tability, and choice that ran on the
public high schools that do not pre- and concludes that the most salient CBS Radio Network, the Rush
pare them for college. objections to voucher programs have Limbaugh and Sean Hannity shows,
The best way to ensure that under- been overcome in those countries. and more than 1,800 local radio and
privileged students succeed in college There is no reason to believe that television stations from Seattle to
is to improve the quality of their ele- school choice in the United States Des Moines to Little Rock. More
mentary and secondary education. At would not be equally successful. than 56 million Americans heard at
a September forum for his new book Following Salisbury’s departure, least one ad reminding them that
Education Myths: What Special-Interest one of the contributors to that book, their retirement savings should be
Groups Want You to Believe about Andrew J. Coulson, was appointed their own and that they should
Our Schools—And Why It Isn't So, the new director of the Center for choose how to invest. Print ads were
Manhattan Institute senior fellow Jay Educational Freedom. Coulson is featured in the New York Times, the
P. Greene found that nearly all of the the author of Market Education: The Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal,
students whose high school educa- Unknown History. and Roll Call.
tion prepares them for college go on Reform of the scandalous Social Congressional Quarterly named
to enroll in higher education. He also Security system joined health care Michael Tanner one of the five most
tackled the fallacy that school choice choice and educational freedom as a influential Social Security experts this
harms public schools by draining major policy initiative of the Cato year. Tanner gave more than 70
resources and talented students. His Institute in 2005. Major media often speeches and testified before Con-
book shows that in school districts cite Cato as the first to call for reform gress four times in 2005. Cato schol-
where vouchers are available, the stu- of the Social Security system. ars wrote for USA Today, the Wall Street
dents who remain in public schools This year, Cato’s Project on Social Journal, and other papers and ap-
do better than students in districts Security Choice focused on remind- peared on NPR’s Morning Edition, the
where no choice exists. ing current workers that they are pay- Newshour with Jim Lehrer, ABC’s World
In October, then-director of Cato’s ing their own money into a retire- News Tonight, and NBC Nightly News to
Center for Educational Freedom ment system that will be unable to discuss Social Security reform.
David Salisbury showed how school support them by the time they retire. As public policy reforms centered
vouchers can increase resources Cato distributed more than 300,000 on individual autonomy and choice
available to public school students copies of It’s Your Money: A Citizen’s gain wider footholds, the culture of
in “Saving Money and Improving Guide to Social Security Reform. The dependency underpinning the entitle-
Education: How School Choice Can booklet explains that in only 12 years, ment state will begin to fade. Ul-
Help States Reduce Education Costs.” Social Security will begin running timately, benefiting from more free-
The paper found that the availability a deficit and that current workers dom and the greater prosperity and
of vouchers in Arizona, Wisconsin, will likely not recoup the money they hope it brings, millions of individuals
Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maine, have paid into the system. This Social will begin to demand further policy
and Vermont has saved taxpayers mil- Security crisis, however, presents an reforms that fully reinstate the values
lions of dollars and improved the opportunity to allow younger work- of America’s founding generation.
quality of public school education. ers a retirement benefit that they can
A May book edited by Salisbury count on because they own it.
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 21
DEFENDING
AMERICA, PROMOTING
WORLD PEACE
“The means of
defense against
foreign danger
historically
have become the
instruments of
tyranny at home.”
—JAMES MADISON
The military
of the United States is the strongest in the
world and has many times throughout his-
tory defended the freedom of the United
justifications for continued intervention in
the region. However, in Sandstorm: Policy
Failure in the Middle East, Cato research fellow
States and that of foreign nations from the Leon Hadar argued that American interven-
threat of tyranny. Cato’s foreign policy tion in the Arab-Israeli conflict has exacer-
scholars have long advocated a balance bated the problem and that plans for peace
between maintaining a strong national must originate among the players in the
defense and avoiding dangerous entangle- conflict. Furthermore, he showed that the
ments in international conflicts where the multibillion-dollar cost of maintaining a
security of the United States is not at risk. U.S. presence negates any benefit of cheaper
In his 2004 book, Exiting Iraq, Cato’s direc- oil from the region. Leon Hadar’s Sandstorm
tor of foreign policy studies Christopher Chris Preble has also been active in the challenges traditional
assumptions about U.S.-
Preble warned that the conflict had become debate over America’s role in the United Middle East relations,
far too costly politically, financially, and in Nations. In September, he addressed a showing how American
terms of life lost. The book recommended crowd of Hill staffers on “United Nations attempts to foster stability
and freedom have back-
a military withdrawal by January 1, 2005. Reform: Beyond the Blame Game,” chal-
fired. U.S. intervention has
Unfortunately, the war has continued, the lenging the idea that the UN can improve its bred resentment, he says,
costs have continued to rise, and the Bush image without addressing fundamental which hinders progress and
administration has declared that the United contradictions in its mission. International peace in the region and
hurts America’s economic
States will not set a deadline for withdrawal law, he said, must sometimes choose
and political interests.
until the new Iraqi government is firmly between respecting the sovereignty of
established. nations and protecting the rights of people
Cato senior fellow Tom Palmer traveled living under repressive regimes, and those
to Iraq twice in 2005 to offer assistance to choices cannot be made without cost.
Iraqis working to advance toleration, the The international community has long
rule of law, free markets, and political plural- feared the proliferation of nuclear weapons
ism in the nascent democracy. Among his to aggressive, undemocratic regimes. In
responsibilities, Palmer heads Cato’s Jack January, Cato held a forum for The Korean
Byrne Project on Middle East Liberty, an Conundrum, a book by vice president for
ambitious effort to make available libertari- defense and foreign policy studies Ted Galen
an ideas and policy recommendations in Carpenter and former senior fellow Doug
Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi, and other Middle Bandow. Carpenter advocated a policy of
Eastern languages. In the summer issue of nonaggression in Korea in exchange for ver-
Cato’s Letter, Palmer wrote of his hope that ifiable guarantees from North Korea that it
Iraq will become a stable market democracy. would not pursue its nuclear program. The
American interests in maintaining peace view that North Korea’s nuclear ambitions
in the Arab world and protecting interna- could be stopped with proper incentives
tional oil supplies have long been billed as from the United States was vindicated in
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 23
D E F E N D I N G A M E R I C A , P R O M O T I N G W O R L D P E A C E
24 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
D E F E N D I N G A M E R I C A , P R O M O T I N G W O R L D P E A C E
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 25
FREEING
THE WORLD
ECONOMY
“Harmony, liberal
intercourse with
all nations, are
recommended by
policy, humanity,
and interest. But
even our commercial
policy should
hold an equal and
impartial hand;
neither seeking nor
granting exclusive
favors or preferences;
consulting the
natural course of
things; diffusing
and diversifying by
gentle means the
streams of com-
merce, but forcing
nothing.”
—GEORGE WASHINGTON’S
—FAREWELL ADDRESS
Free trade
and strong property rights are paramount
in creating a healthy and dynamic economy.
The United States has a long history of such
economic freedoms. If developing countries
prevent labor and resources from being used
more efficiently in other industries.
Agricultural protectionism isn’t just
harmful to producers and consumers; it’s
are to benefit from U.S. prosperity and free- also illegal. The World Trade Organization
dom, they must also adopt free trade as a in 2005 ruled in several cases that the United
first principle—and the United States must States was violating its international trade
not revert to what Alan Greenspan calls agreements by maintaining farm subsidies
“creeping protectionism.” Trade policy and trade barriers against its trading part-
experts at the Cato Institute believe that ners. In a December Trade Policy Analysis,
almost every sector of the American econo- “Boxed In: Conflicts between U.S. Farm Fredrik Segerfeldt
my could benefit from competition and Policies and WTO Obligations,” University explores how millions
of poor households in
trade with the rest of the world. of California professor Daniel Sumner the developing world
Unfortunately, interest groups working found that U.S. farm programs for a variety have gained access to
on behalf of industries that benefit from of commodities may be suppressing market clean, safe water through
privatization of water
domestic protectionism have worked hard prices in violation of the WTO commit- networks in his 2005
to convince the public that free trade threat- ments. Dan Griswold appeared on CNN, book, Water for Sale.
ens American jobs and the American econo- BBC’s World Update, and CNBC to discuss Private companies can
raise the capital neces-
my. Certain sectors of the farm industry the WTO’s decision and its implications for sary to quickly improve
have perhaps been most guilty of propagat- other longstanding U.S. trade restrictions. water infrastructure,
ing such myths. Americans have been told The foreign aid community has for and competition can
ensure that water
that the American family farm is dying, and decades tried one approach after another
services are provided
that farm price supports are necessary to in an effort to promote growth in poor efficiently and affordably.
preserve the quintessential agrarian lifestyle. nations. But aid has not reduced poverty,
Daniel Griswold, director of Cato’s Center nor is it likely to do so in the future, accord-
for Trade Policy Studies; Stephen Slivinski, ing to 40-year veteran development practi-
director of budget studies; and Christopher tioner Thomas Dichter in a September
Preble, director of foreign policy studies, Foreign Policy Briefing. Dichter believes that
exposed the truth about farm subsidies in development assistance to poorly governed
their paper “Ripe for Reform: Six Good developing countries should be ended.
Reasons to Reduce U.S. Farm Subsidies and Moeletsi Mbeki of South Africa agrees that a
Trade Barriers.” In fact, they argue, most lack of money is not the cause of African
farm subsidies go to wealthy corporations poverty. In “Underdevelopment in Sub-
and hurt small farms. Farm price supports Saharan Africa: The Role of the Private
and tariffs make food more expensive for Sector and Political Elites,” he observes that
Americans by preventing cheaper foreign Africa’s predatory political elite prevent the
goods from entering the market, and they African private sector from creating wealth.
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 27
F R E E I N G T H E W O R L D E C O N O M Y
28 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
F R E E I N G T H E W O R L D E C O N O M Y
reported their countries’ successes in warned that China-bashing could “Just as Hayek
economic freedom and endorsed the lead to trade wars that would under-
report’s conclusion that economic mine China’s “peaceful rise.” warned, the
freedom promotes peace and prosper- In “U.S.-China Relations in the government's
ity. The International Monetary Fund
relied extensively on the report in its
Wake of CNOOC,” Dorn argued
that preventing the CNOOC energy
initial attack on
annual World Economic Outlook to sup- company’s bid to buy U.S.-based private property
port its findings that institutions such Unocal was pure protectionism and led to intervention
as property rights and rule of law are
the keys to economic growth.
not in the interest of U.S. national
security. Politicizing energy markets
in the economy
Nations achieve economic growth and restricting the free flow of capi- and, concomitantly,
and stability by promoting stable tal will harm both China’s political the destruction of
monetary institutions and encourag-
ing investment in the economy. At the
development and the American econ-
omy. Cato senior fellow Jerry Taylor
political freedom
23rd Annual Cato Institute Monetary testified in July before the House in Zimbabwe.
Conference, “Monetary Institutions Armed Services Committee, defend- If Mr. Mugabe
and Economic Development,” co-
sponsored with The Economist, leading
ing the right of Unocal stockholders
to sell their firm to the highest bidder.
continues along
monetary economists explained why As China moves toward econom- the path marked
institutions matter and suggested ic freedom, the Zimbabwean econo- by other socialist
ways that emerging market economies my has collapsed as a result of
can improve their monetary institu- the government’s widespread viola-
dictators, the
tions to encourage trade. Speakers tions of private property rights. world may yet
included Rodrigo de Rato, managing Christopher Dell, the U.S. ambassa- see Zimbabwe
director of the International Mone- dor to Zimbabwe, was threatened
tary Fund; Roger W. Ferguson Jr., vice with expulsion from the country
descend into an
chairman of the Federal Reserve after giving a speech at the Africa orgy of violence.”
Board; University of California–Los University in Mutare in November
Angeles professor Deepak Lal; Mas- condemning the human rights abus-
—MARIAN TUPY,
sachusetts Institute of Technology es and economic mismanagement of
THE FINANCIAL TIMES,
professor Yasheng Huang; and Cato the Mugabe regime. In that speech JULY 27, 2005
chairman William A. Niskanen. he cited a Cato Institute paper, “How
China has, in recent years, begun the Loss of Property Rights Caused
to embrace the principles of free Zimbabwe’s Collapse,” which blames
trade. Monetary conference partici- the confiscation of private farmland
pants argued that allowing private for Zimbabwe’s current economic
investment and increasing the flexi- and agricultural crisis.
bility of the exchange rate would Poor countries that replace gov-
increase confidence in the Chinese ernment monopolies with market
economy and aid growth. Cato’s vice competition have seen tangible
president for academic affairs James results. The failure of public utility
A. Dorn has argued for ending finan- companies to provide clean, safe
cial repression in China. He has water to more than 1 billion people
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 29
F R E E I N G T H E W O R L D E C O N O M Y
“China’s emergence worldwide has created a water crisis, tion for the poor in some of the
and 22 people die each minute as a poorest slums in the world.
from centuries result. In his June book, Water for Sale, European critics of the United
of isolation and Fredrik Segerfeldt of the Confedera- States often claim that social demo-
30 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
F R E E I N G T H E W O R L D E C O N O M Y
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 31
TAKING ON
BIG-GOVERNMENT
CONSERVATIVES
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 33
T A K I N G O N B I G G O V E R N M E N T C O N S E R V A T I V E S
the pork-laden highway bill came on CNN, FoxNews, and NPR. Cato
before Congress. The bill contained chairman William Niskanen told the
6,371 earmarks for special projects Wall Street Journal that Katrina could be
added to the bill by powerful mem- “a test of the conservative agenda, from
bers of Congress. Rep. Don Young (R- enterprise zones to school vouchers
AK), chairman of the Transportation and the repeal of labor laws, and
Committee, secured more than $900 these ideas deserve careful thought.”
million in pork projects for Alaska, Cato senior editor Gene Healy
including the much-condemned opposed an expanded role for the
“bridge to nowhere.” Cato executive military in disaster relief. On the
vice president David Boaz appeared NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and ABC’s
on CNN’s Inside Politics to condemn World News Tonight, Healy explained
the bloated bill. that the Posse Comitatus Act is
In an op-ed in the Washington meant to prevent the president from
Times, Chris Edwards pointed out using the military in a policing role
that although Republicans deserved against American citizens. Healy
the blame for producing so much urged the government not to use a
waste, “the two parties are partners in natural disaster as a pretense for
crime in pork spending, corporate destroying a fundamental principle of
subsidies, unneeded Pentagon wea- American law: that turning the mili-
pons systems, misallocated Home- tary on civilians should be a last resort.
land Security funding, and other In September, then-House major-
waste.” At a Cato Hill Briefing in ity leader Tom DeLay claimed that
October, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) the government was running at peak
reminded the audience that Ronald efficiency and that he could find no
Reagan had vetoed a highway bill for fat to cut from the budget. He chal-
proposing 100 pork projects. That bill lenged those who believe in reducing
would be thrifty by today’s standards. the size of government to “bring me
After hurricanes devastated the the offsets, I’ll be glad to do it.” Chris
Gulf Coast last fall, many Americans Edwards answered that call with his
Chris Edwards proposes to Hill staffers were quick to blame the federal gov- book, Downsizing the Federal Government,
that fiscal conservatism would be well ernment for spending too little a comprehensive catalog of govern-
received by the voters. Jim Harper tells
the House Committee on Homeland
money on preparation and failing to ment waste, mismanagement, fraud,
Security that air travel would be safer respond quickly enough in the after- pork, and programs that overstep the
if airlines were held responsible for their math. Cato scholars offered a differ- federal government’s constitutional-
own security. Cato chairman William
ent perspective: federal meddling ly recognized powers. Edwards found
Niskanen testifies before the House
Energy and Commerce Committee on itself had led to bad local policies that more than $300 billion in unneces-
the folly of price controls. exacerbated the disaster, and private sary, inefficient, and unconstitutional
industry was better than government government programs that should be
at responding to the needs of the abolished or delegated to local govern-
victims. Cato scholars testified before ments and private actors. Sen. Tom
Congress; were featured in the Wall Coburn (R-OK) found the book so
Street Journal, National Review, Forbes, compelling that he had his entire staff
and the Washington Times; and appeared read it during Congress’s winter recess.
34 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
T A K I N G O N B I G G O V E R N M E N T C O N S E R V A T I V E S
When the federal government system of resolving large lawsuits. merely wasteful; they are an active
commits to spending it can ill afford, But the act, wrote senior fellow Mark intrusion into areas of life never
it often foists the costs of such pro- Moller, does nothing to secure the meant to be controlled by the federal
grams on the states. As states contin- due process rights of class action government. Every area of life, from
ued their efforts to claw their way out defendants, nor does it prevent coer- local school districts to professional
of the worst budget hole in years, cive settlements. It will draw class baseball to the institution of mar-
Cato’s director of budget studies action cases into federal court, threat- riage, is the federal government’s
Stephen Slivinski and senior fellow ening the dual sovereignty that bailiwick according to the current
Stephen Moore released the seventh makes the court system dynamic and administration. David Boaz was dis-
biennial “Fiscal Policy Report Card responsive to the needs of citizens. turbed by the assertion of members
on America’s Governors.” The report Moller’s Policy Analysis, “Controlling of Congress that they “may at any
card’s grading is based on 15 objec- Unconstitutional Class Actions: A time conduct investigations of any
tive measures of fiscal performance, Blueprint for Future Lawsuit Reform,” matter,” including the matter of
with high grades going to governors appeared in expanded form in the private drug testing for professional
who have cut taxes and spending Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. athletes. He also wrote newspaper
the most. The report shows that states Overreaching federal government columns on the proposed constitu-
can secure their long-term fiscal health exacts a steep price from individuals tional amendment to supersede state
by restraining spending growth and and from businesses that must definitions of marriage, privatizing
keeping taxes low to promote econom- comply with the law. Environmental public broadcasting, and other intru-
ic development. Slivinski commented regulations have been particularly sions of the federal government into
on high-scoring governors Arnold costly, both to the economy and to local issues.
Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Mark the environment they purport to pro- In August 1999 Cato president Ed
Sanford (R-SC) and failing gover- tect. In Saving Our Environment from Crane wrote an op-ed for the New
nors Bob Taft (R-OH) and Edward Washington, Cato adjunct scholar York Times, in which he predicted that
Rendell (D-PA) on radio shows David Schoenbrod argues that if elected president, George W. Bush
across the country. Congress uses the EPA to insulate would follow Bill Clinton’s example
States have also seen drastically itself from the negative effects of of meddling in areas of American life
increased education costs under the environmental regulations. The EPA’s that the federal government was
federal No Child Left Behind Act. In scientific findings are beholden to never meant to control. Bush’s cam-
a study titled “No Child Left Behind: political will, which leads to baffling paign promises, he wrote, “ought to
The Dangers of Centralized Education policies that generate millions of dol- give pause to those limited-govern-
Policy,” Lawrence A. Uzzell wrote that lars in compliance costs but do very ment Republicans who truly want to
one-size-fits-all federal education little to solve major environmental put an end to Bill Clinton’s political
mandates directly contradict the prin- problems. The National Review called legacy.” Unfortunately, Crane was
ciples of Bush’s “ownership society.” Schoenbrod “an informed and vigor- right. Fortunately, he and many oth-
No Child Left Behind quashes state ous advocate for a radical reorienta- ers at the Cato Institute remain com-
and local district educational experi- tion in U.S. environmental policy.” mitted to exposing the pernicious
mentation without providing any rea- Meltdown, a book by Cato senior fel- effects of big government, no matter
son to believe that the federal govern- low Patrick J. Michaels about the bad which party proposes it.
ment can better educate children. science backing up dire warnings of
Congress also supported homo- global warming and the bad policies
geneity in the legal system this year. it has inspired, was released in paper-
The Action Fairness Act was sup- back in October.
posed to provide a fairer federal Big government programs are not
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 35
EXPANDING
LIBERTY'S
MESSAGE
“Those who
expect to reap
the blessings
of freedom,
must, like men,
undergo the
fatigues of
supporting it. ”
—THOMAS PAINE
36
,
Catos work
over the past 29 years has made it one of the reach is widening: coverage by foreign
most persistent voices in the public policy broadcast and print media, particularly in
debate, consistently and effectively arguing Latin America, increased significantly.
for liberty, limited government, free markets, Equally important are the administrative
and peace. and support staff who publish, disseminate,
The Cato Institute has nearly 100 employ- and promote the superb work done by
ees who are dedicated to advancing the vision Cato’s scholars. Their efforts help promote
of a truly free society in Washington, in our the studies, books, newsletters, e-publica-
Cameras from several foreign
state capitals, and around the globe. Cato’s tions, conferences, seminars, and Hill brief- and domestic television sta-
peaceful warriors for liberty base their efforts ings that disseminate the ideas of liberty in tions capture a Cato Policy
on exhaustive research and truthful analysis, the United States and around the world. Forum on the future of North
Korea’s nuclear program. Cato
so that as many individuals as possible will The Cato Institute’s work would not be events have been filmed by
be informed and thereby empowered to ad- possible without the generous support of Voice of America, Bloomberg
vance the culture of individual autonomy some 15,000 individual Cato Sponsors, TV, and CBS News and are
broadcast on CSPAN and
and responsibility. as well as a number of foundations and
other television networks.
Expanding this circle of friends of liberty companies. Many have contributed to Cato
widely is a key focus of Cato’s efforts. for years, some for decades. They share At left: Cato policy scholars
are frequent guests on
Institute policy experts once again stood out Cato’s vision and underwrite it willingly national and international
in that endeavor in 2005. and enthusiastically. television and radio networks.
During 2005, Cato’s policy specialists With so many self-identified allies—intel- Shown here are Cato experts
on The NewsHour with Jim
were among the most frequent guests ligent, productive Americans and prestigious
Lehrer, NBC Nightly News,
on CNN, FoxNews, PBS, CNBC, MSNBC, organizations from coast to coast—we are PBS Journal Editorial Report,
NPR, and other major television and radio more convinced than ever that America’s CNN Inside Politics, CNBC
networks. Excelling as communicators as true greatness flows from its people, not Closing Bell, CNN Headline
News, C-SPAN Washington
well as scholars, Cato’s experts appeared from Washington, D.C.
Journal, and other programs.
1,053 times on major television and radio Each of us at the Cato Institute commits
programs over the course of the year. They to each Sponsor to redouble our efforts to
contributed 341 op-eds to major newspa- restore the first principles of our founding
pers and magazines and were cited or quot- fathers, the surest ramparts against tyranny
ed an additional 2,343 times. And Cato’s ever designed by human beings.
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 37
Cato events
CITY
SEMINARS
Chris Edwards gave a timely talk
about pork barrel spending, and in
In 2005, Cato held five seminars November he discussed his new book
around the country in cities from Downsizing the Federal Government.
New York to San Francisco. Cato’s
City Seminars give sponsors and BOOK AND
others interested in liberty the oppor- POLICY FORUMS
tunity to hear from some of the The Cato Book Forum and Cato
nation’s leading commentators on Policy Forum series bring together
politics, culture, and society. In Chi- Cato’s own scholars and other lead-
cago, syndicated columnist Robert ing experts to discuss new books and
Novak gave an astute analysis of the debate important policy issues. In
Bush administration’s Social Security 2005, Cato held 27 Book Forums and
reform strategy as well as the politics 23 Policy Forums.
surrounding other issues on Capitol Speakers at 2005 forums included
Hill. In New York, Home Depot Edward Prescott, winner of the
founder Ken Langone delivered an 2004 Nobel Prize in economics;
impassioned critique of New York author and free-market activist Alvaro
State’s attorney general Eliot Spitzer. Vargas Llosa; First Amendment
Journalist and television commenta- lawyer Floyd Abrams; syndicated
tor Tucker Carlson took on the big- columnist Robert Novak; Bolivian
government GOP. Nearly 1,000 peo- ambassador Jaime Aparicio Otero;
ple attended City Seminars in 2005. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), John
McCain (R-AZ), Jim DeMint (R-
HILL SC), and John Sununu (R-NH); and
BRIEFINGS Reps. John Shadegg (R-AZ), Jim
The Cato Institute held 36 Capitol Cooper (D-TN), Jeff Flake (R-AZ),
Hill Briefings in 2005, giving con- Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), and Ron
gressional staffers fresh intellectual Paul (R-TX).
ammunition on a variety of policy
issues. Mike Tanner presented a C AT O
four-day Social Security University CONFERENCES
series in February. In March Dan Cato holds several major conferences
Griswold spoke about the then- each year. At “Social Security: The
pending Central American Free Opportunity for Real Reform” in
Trade Agreement—CAFTA—before a February, six members of Congress
standing room-only crowd. In April and other speakers discussed propos-
Stephen Slivinski and Sen. Tom als to reform the program. Cato’s
Coburn (R-OK) discussed the GOP’s 23rd Annual Monetary Conference,
spending explosion. In September cosponsored with The Economist,
38 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
featured Rodrigo Rato, managing
director of the International Mone-
tary Fund, along with Roger W.
Ferguson Jr., vice chairman of the
Federal Reserve Board. On Constitu-
tion Day, Nadine Strossen, profes-
sor at New York Law School and
ACLU president, gave the annual B.
Kenneth Simon Lecture in Constitu-
tional Thought, “Religion and the
Constitution: A Libertarian Perspec-
tive.” Other conferences in 2005
included “Does Private Education
Work for the Poor?” and “Drug Cops
and Doctors: Is the DEA Hampering
the Treatment of Chronic Pain?”
C AT O
UNIVERSITY
Several hundred people attended the
three Cato University seminars held
in 2005. The spring seminar featured
Rep. Edward Royce (R-CA), Duke
University’s Michael Munger, and
several Cato scholars on “Applied Cato’s media relations department works
Economics: User-Friendly Tools to
Understand Politics, Business Enter-
to promote the Institute’s ideas and schol-
prise, and Life.” In June, Anne ars in the news media. Cato scholars in
Applebaum, author of the Pulitzer
Prize-winning Gulag: A History, and 2005 contributed 341 op-eds to major
economics professors Jeffrey Rogers
Hummel and Stephen Davies spoke
newspapers and magazines. They were
about “The History and Philosophy quoted in more than 2,300 articles in
of Liberty and Power.” The October
seminar, “The Art of Persuasion: leading print media outlets. Cato schol-
Skills for Everyone,” featured Nick
Gillespie of Reason magazine and ars’ opinions are read by millions around
economist Alex Tabarrok advising the world and are cited frequently by
attendees on convincing others of the
value of liberty. prominent pundits and policymakers.
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 39
Cato publications
C AT O ’ S L E T T E R
Read highlights from recent events
P O L I C Y A N A LY S I S
Cato published 44 policy studies
C AT O J O U R N A L
Published three times a year, Cato
in Cato’s free quarterly speech digest. in 2005, including: Journal covers a wide range of topics,
John Goodman of the National Center ■ “The Grand Old Spending Party: with a focus on economic policy,
for Policy Analysis, First Amendment How Republicans Became Big economic freedom, and development.
lawyer Floyd Abrams, and Cato’s Dan Spenders” Recent issues featured articles on
Griswold and Tom Palmer were ■ “Health Care in a Free Society: “Institutions and Development,”
featured in 2005. Rebutting the Myths of National “International Monetary Reform and
Health Insurance” Capital Freedom,” “Creating a Com-
R E G U L AT I O N ■ “Time to Stop Fooling Ourselves petitive Education Industry,” and
Regulation is Cato’s quarterly review
about Foreign Aid: A Practitioner’s View” “Remembering Peter Bauer.”
of business and government. Featured ■ “Ripe for Reform: Six Good Reasons Contributors in 2005 included Milton
articles included: SPRING: David
to Reduce U.S. Farm Subsidies and Friedman, Ben Bernanke, Thomas
Hyman and Charles Silver analyze the
Trade Barriers” Sowell, Kristin J. Forbes, Amartya Sen,
relationship between medical errors ■ “Saving Money and Improving James Buchanan, Deepak Lal, Israel
and tort reform. SUMMER: James C.
Edu-cation: How School Choice Can M. Kirzner, Anna J. Schwartz, John
Spindler argues that market forces are
Help States Reduce Education Costs” O’Sullivan, and Kenneth Rogoff.
more effective than Sarbanes-Oxley
at preventing accounting scandals. POLICY REPORT C AT O A U D I O
FALL: Lloyd R. Cohen endorses compen- Cato's bimonthly newsletter brings Cato’s monthly audio magazine
sation for organ donors.’ WINTER: The readers the latest news from Cato's in 2005 featured remarks by The
federal government can curb eminent extensive research programs. Economist’s Robert Guest; Judge
domain abuse by changing the terms Andrew Napolitano; First Amend-
of grants for local projects, writes ment lawyer Floyd Abrams, South
William A. Fischel. African entrepreneur Moeletsi Mbeki;
ACLU president Nadine Strossen;
and David Boaz, Ed Crane, and other
speakers from recent Cato events.
40
BOOKS PUBLISHED
IN 2005:
After Enron
by William A. Niskanen
O N L I N E P U B L I CAT I O N S
C A T O I N S T I T U T E • W W W . C A T O . O R G 43
Fellows and Adjunct Scholars
FELLOWS P. J. O’Rourke Tyler Cowen David A. Hyman
F. A. Hayek (1899-1992) Mencken Research Fellow George Mason University University of Illinois
Distinguished Senior Fellow College of Law
Jim Powell W. Michael Cox
James M. Buchanan R.C. Hoiles Senior Fellow Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas David Isenberg
Distinguished Senior Fellow Washington, D.C.
Ronald D. Rotunda Clyde Wayne Crews Jr.
Jose Piñera Senior Fellow in Competitive Enterprise Institute Kay H. Jones
Distinguished Senior Fellow Constitutional Studies Zephyr Consulting
Jarett B. Decker
Co-chairman, Project on Social William Ruger Wolf, Black, Schorr Jerry L. Jordan
Security Choice Research Fellow in Foreign and Solis-Cohen Federal Reserve Bank
Earl C. Ravenal Policy Studies of Cleveland, Retired
Veronique de Rugy
Distinguished Senior Fellow David Schoenbrod American Enterprise Daniel B. Klein
in Foreign Policy Studies Senior Fellow Institute George Mason University
Randy E. Barnett Teller Kevin Dowd Deepak K. Lal
Senior Fellow Mencken Research Fellow Nottingham University University of California,
Jonathan G. Clarke Business School Los Angeles
Cathy Young
Research Fellow in Foreign Research Associate Alan Ebenstein Dwight R. Lee
Policy Studies Santa Barbara, California University of Georgia
ADJUNCT SCHOLARS
Lawrence Gasman Bert Ely Stan Liebowitz
Senior Fellow in Foreign Terry L. Anderson
Ely and Company, Inc. University of Texas, Dallas
Policy Studies Property and Environment
Research Center Catherine England Jonathan R. Macey
Leon T. Hadar Marymount University Cornell University
Research Fellow in Foreign Dominick T. Armentano
Policy Studies University of Hartford Richard A. Epstein Tibor Machan
University of Chicago Law School Chapman University
Ronald Hamowy Ronald A. Bailey
Fellow in Social Thought Reason Marilyn R. Flowers Thomas M. Magstadt
Ball State University University of Missouri,
Steve H. Hanke Charles W. Baird
Kansas City
Senior Fellow California State University Enrique Ghersi
at Hayward Universidad de Lima Henry G. Manne
John Hasnas University of Chicago Law School
Senior Fellow Carlos Ball Richard L. Gordon
Agencia Interamericana Pennsylvania State University Robert M. S. McDonald
Penn Jillette de Prensa Económica U. S. Military Academy
Mencken Research Fellow Michael Gough
Tom W. Bell Bethesda, Maryland Richard B. McKenzie
Stanley Kober Chapman University University of California at Irvine
Research Fellow in Foreign Policy School of Law James D. Gwartney
Florida State University David I. Meiselman
David Kopel Lorenzo Bernaldo Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Associate Policy Analyst de Quirós Scott E. Harrington
Madrid, Spain University of South Carolina Robert J. Michaels
Christopher Layne California State University,
Visiting Fellow in Foreign Donald J. Boudreaux Thomas Hazlett Fullerton
Policy Studies George Mason University George Mason University
School of Law Cassandra Chrones Moore
Patrick J. Michaels Robert L. Bradley Jr. Competitive Enterprise Institute
Senior Fellow in Institute for Energy Research Robert Higgs
Environmental Studies Seattle, Washington Thomas Gale Moore
Reuven Brenner Hoover Institution
Gerald P. O’Driscoll Jr. McGill University Edward L. Hudgins
Senior Fellow Objectivist Center Michael New
Robert Corn-Revere University of Alabama
Hogan and Hartson
44 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Randal O'Toole
Thoreau Institute
Sam Peltzman
University of Chicago
David G. Post
Temple University Law School
Alvin Rabushka
Hoover Institution
Richard W. Rahn
Novecon Management
Roberto Salinas-León
Economist Corporate Network
Pedro Schwartz
Universidad de Autónoma
de Madrid
George A. Selgin
University of Georgia
Bernard H. Siegan
University of San Diego
Law School
Vernon L. Smith
George Mason University
Richard L. Stroup
Montana State University
Thomas Szasz
Upstate Medical University,
State University of New York
Richard H. Timberlake
University of Georgia
Charlotte Twight
Boise State University
Lawrence H. White
University of Missouri, St. Louis
Walter E. Williams
George Mason University
Leland B. Yeager
Auburn University
Benjamin Zycher
Rand Corporation
Finances
IN 2005, total revenue for the Cato Institute reached its highest level ever, exceed-
ing $22.4 million, a $7.5 million increase over the previous year. Contributions
increased 57% over 2004. Individuals accounted for 83% of all revenues.
Expenses were $17.2 million. The record revenue level resulted in a $5.2 million
surplus. This surplus allowed Cato to replenish reserves and place it on solid financial
footing going forward.
Cato, having no significant endowment, relies on annual support to fund its
programs. Our financial position remained strong with total assets of $21.1 million
offset by liabilities of $454,000.
I N C O M E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$22,462,000 N E T A S S E T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$21,117,000
11% FOUNDATIONS
17% MANAGEMENT
2% CORPORATE & GENERAL EXPENSES
46 C A T O I N S T I T U T E • 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Institutional Support
C O R P O R AT E S P O N S O R S Chester Foundation
Agusta Westland Inc. B & E Collins Foundation
Altria Group, Inc. Cortopassi Institute
Amerisure Companies Daniels Fund
Assurant Health William H. Donner Foundation
Bond Market Association Earhart Foundation
Comcast Corporation Ford Foundation
Consumer Electronics Association Milton & Rose Friedman
eBay Inc. Foundation
ExxonMobil Corporation Gillette Company Foundation
Fair Trade Center Gleason Foundation
FedEx Corporation Pierre F. & Enid Goodrich
Freedom Communications, Inc. Foundation
General Motors Corporation Robert & Marie Hansen
Honda North America Inc. Family Foundation
Judson & Associates William Randolph Hearst
Korea International Trade Association Foundation
Mazda North America Operations Grover Hermann Foundation
Microsoft Corporation Holman Foundation Inc.
Mitsubishi Motors America Inc. John E. & Sue M. Jackson
National Association of Software & Charitable Trust
Service Companies JEHT Foundation
Novecon Corporation Jeld-Wen Foundation
Procter & Gamble Company JM Foundation
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company John William Pope
The Economist Newspaper Limited Foundation
SBC Communications Inc. Joyce Foundation
Time Warner Inc. Kern Family Foundation
Toyota Motor Corporation F. M. Kirby Foundation
UST Inc. David Koch Foundation
Verisign Inc. Vernon K. Krieble
Verizon Communications Foundation
Visa USA, Inc. Claude Lambe Charitable
Volkswagen of America, Inc. Foundation
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. New-Land Foundation
Norton Family Living Trust
F O U N D AT I O N S P O N S O R S *
Opportunity Foundation
Anonymous (2)
Roe Foundation
Achelis & Bodman Foundations
Sarah Scaife Foundation
Fred & Robyn Amis Foundation
Searle Freedom Trust
Jack R. & Rose-Marie Anderson
Smart Family Foundation
Foundation
Gordon V. and Helen C. Smith
Armstrong Foundation
Foundation
Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation
Ruth & Vernon Taylor
Brown Foundation
Foundation
Carnegie Corporation of New York
John Templeton Foundation
Carthage Foundation
Zell Family Foundation
Castle Rock Foundation
Caterpillar Foundation *Contributed $5,000 or more.
Board of Directors
K. Tucker Andersen David H. Padden
Cumberland Associates President, Padden & Company
William Niskanen
Chairman, Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
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