Yes, it is an odd name–The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy–but the organization features some very innovative ideas. DMI describes itself in this way:

The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to challenging the tired orthodoxies of both the right and the left. The goal: progressive public policy for social and economic fairness.

Currently, DMI is focusing on several innovative state programs that could provide very interesting models for Alaska. The first involves a program in Maine called Rx Plus, which allows the state to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to reduce drug costs for a broad range of Maine residents. One hammer is that the state widely publicizes the names of non-participating companies. Documented savings for generic and brand-name prescription drugs range from 25-50 percent. An unusual feature of the DMI analysis of Rx Plus is that the analysis includes a description of how persistent advocacy by a number of citizens organizations pushed through the enabling legislation.

The second innovative state program involves accountability for economic development subsidies. Across the nation billions in public dollars are doled out to private companies with little oversight and few mechanisms for ensuring the promised results. The state of Alaska and many of the communities within the state have seen their share of this type of negligence with public monies. However, the residents of Minnesota are fighting back with the nation’s first subsidy accountability law. Among other elements, the law requires that public hearings must be held before business subsidies worth more than $100,000 are awarded, and Businesses that fail to meet job creation and wage goals must repay the subsidy with interest and face other financial penalties, and be barred from receiving future subsidies in the state.

A third innovative state policy described by DMI involves Oklahoma’s universal preschool program.

A profusion of studies have documented the lifelong positive impacts of quality preschool education: children are more prepared for elementary school and have more developed social skills, are less likely to need special education classes, and down the road are more likely to graduate from high school and be employed, and less likely to need public assistance or go to jail. Public preschool also enables parents to work knowing their young children are in a safe, educational environment and allows employers to retain good employees who might otherwise struggle with childcare dilemmas.

The Oklahoma solution involves free, voluntary enrollment for all four-year-olds statewide. The children are taught by preschool teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree and
be certified in early childhood education, and continuing professional
development is required. Moreover, students receive free vision and hearing screenings. Read about the prolonged struggle of a coalition of teachers, parents, State Department of Education staff, childcare providers and tribal leaders who were finally victorious.

ldw

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