Southwest Public Policy Institute

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]

Southwest Public Policy Institute

Formation	June 17, 2022; 3 years ago (2022-06-17)
Type	Nonprofit think tank
Chairwoman	Becky Ingoglia
President	Patrick M. Brenner
Budget	Revenue: $174,330 Expenses: $168,458 (FYE December 2023)[1]
Website	www.southwestpolicy.com

History

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

Education

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

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

• Jack Radomski^[19]
• Brandt Kringlie^[19]
• Wake Gardner^[20]