Independence Institute
Founded in 1985, Independence Institute is a non-partisan, free-market think tank in Colorado. But we have never been content with just research.
A central role of an effective think tank is to produce quality research and analysis. For over 35 years we have provided research resulting in changes in law and policy. We are more than a think tank. We are an “action tank.” We put our ideas into action through groundbreaking litigation, activist training, work on ballot initiatives, new media and investigative reporting. We don’t just fight on
05/31/2026
As Colorado expands firearm licensing requirements, critics warn the state may be creating a system that is difficult to navigate, costly to enforce, and confusing for lawful owners.
The debate over where the line gets drawn is just beginning.
Read the full piece from Complete Colorado:
Critics blast scope of Colorado's semi-auto gun licensing list - Complete Colorado The Colorado Department of Revenue released 152 pages worth of fi****ms regulated under Senate Bill 003.
05/30/2026
Teacher strikes don’t just disrupt classrooms. They disrupt students, families, and entire communities.
A new piece in Complete Colorado examines the Sheridan teacher strike and asks an uncomfortable question: who was really being prioritized?
Read more:
Disregard for students showcased in Sheridan teacher strike - Complete Colorado The proficiency of K-12 students in reading, writing, math, and basic academics is at disgracefully low levels.
05/29/2026
Colorado was promised relief from congestion. Instead, Front Range Rail may deliver massive taxpayer costs for just a handful of daily trips.
In this new Denver Gazette piece, Independence Institute Senior Fellow and transportation expert Randal O'Toole breaks down why the proposed rail project could become another expensive transit boondoggle — with subsidies potentially reaching $40–$60 per rider.
Read more and share your thoughts in the comments: https://www.denvergazette.com/2026/05/24/perspective-front-range-railroaded/
Perspective: Front Range railroaded The proposed Colorado Front Range Rail will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars yet produce no real benefits. According to the service plan negotiated with BNSF, the state expects to spend $333 million to start it plus $25 million to $35 million a year operating trains between Denver an...
Are we losing liberty in America? Brad Lips says yes — but compared to much of the world, the U.S. is still the exception.
In Devil’s Advocate Ep. 182, Jon Caldara and Atlas Network CEO Brad Lips discuss why freedom must constantly be defended.
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/rlREYgRCRKk
Colorado lawmakers tried to weaken protections for natural gas access this session. Did they succeed?
PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke break down what happened, why it matters, and what natural gas means for affordability and reliability in Colorado.
Watch: https://youtu.be/RTAAKW3hxyE
Follow Independence Institute for more common-sense energy policy analysis.
05/24/2026
Why are homeschool enrichment programs suddenly at the center of a funding fight in Colorado?
This piece explores the growing debate over education dollars, part-time enrollment funding, and whether families should have more flexibility in how their children learn.
It’s about more than homeschooling — it’s about who education funding is really meant to serve.
Read here:
Fight over homeschool enrichment highlights tax-financing issues - Complete Colorado Controversies surrounding tax-funded enrichment programs for homeschoolers have been swirling since 2023.
05/23/2026
Gov. Polis helped stop two bills rolling back business tax breaks.
Good.
But as Nash Herman writes in Complete Colorado, the larger question is why Colorado lawmakers keep looking for new ways to make the state less competitive.
Read:
Gov. Polis helps axe bills rolling back business tax breaks - Complete Colorado Gov. Polis played an important role in killing two of the most anti-business bills introduced this session.
Faith, mental health, and Colorado’s economic outlook — not exactly light small talk, but worth the conversation.
On this episode of Mandy & Deb, Mandy Connell and Deborah Flora cover a wide range of topics, including the role of faith, the state of mental health, and a recent report on Colorado’s economy with DJ Summers, Director of Communications and Research Operations at the Common Sense Institute.
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/TxYTbdI6gFU
Colorado’s legislative session may be over, but the consequences are just beginning.
In this 2026 Legislative Update, Jake Fogleman breaks down the biggest policy battles of the session — from taxes and energy mandates to affordability and government growth — and what they could mean for Colorado families, businesses, and taxpayers.
If you’ve been trying to make sense of what happened under the dome this year, this is a conversation worth watching.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/Fan350Z2WyZ
What happens when citizens stop understanding how their own government works?
In Episode 181 of Devil’s Advocate, Jon Caldara talks with political scientist Lindsey Cormack about America’s civic knowledge crisis — from students struggling with basic concepts like federalism, primaries, and the three branches of government, to bigger questions about self-governance, voter participation, and civic responsibility.
The conversation also digs into ranked choice voting, approval voting, local government, the “American experiment,” and why raising informed citizens may no longer be something schools can handle alone.
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/hvQxFgI75H0
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727 E 16th Avenue
Denver, CO
80203
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| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |