Tom Giovanetti is president of the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI), a conservative, free-market public policy research organization based in Dallas, Texas.
In addition to his administrative duties, Tom writes for IPI and for leading publications on a variety of policy topics including taxes and economic growth, self-government and the Founders' design, civil liberties and constitutional protections, judicial supremacy, intellectual property, Social Security personal accounts, technology and Internet policy, and out-of-control government spending. In addition to being regularly published in major outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, FoxNews.com and The Dallas Morning News, Tom has a regular column in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Tom frequently appears in the media and is a fill-in host for the Mark Davis Show in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
Tom's passion is encouraging conservative voters and organizations to remain skeptical of Big Government, maintain faith in markets, and defend individual liberty as the best means of achieving human flourishing. His most recent work has focused on free-market solutions to the student debt issue, preserving freedom of speech online, and persuading state legislatures to override local and municipal policies that restrict economic liberty.
Mr. Giovanetti has represented IPI at many national and international organizations, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) the World Health Organization (WHO) and represented IPI during trade agreement negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Mr. Giovanetti is a popular speaker and writer, and also testifies before state and federal legislative committees on a variety of topics.
Follow Tom on Twitter at @tgiovanetti
Vote Fraud Exists. Just Ask Dead Voters (Audio: Podcast)
IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explains that vote fraud exists and that it matters. It may not be widespread, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. And Dr. Matthews relates these facts to efforts in the states and at the federal level to change election law. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.
IPI Policy Basics: Where Do Our Rights Come From? (Audio: Podcast)
IPI President Tom Giovanetti explains that our rights come neither from government, from the Bill of Rights, or from the Constitution, and thus are not limited to those enumerated in the Bill of Rights. Further, if your rights come from government or a document, government can take your rights away by changing the document. With IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews.
Is Joe Biden the Republican's Secret Weapon for a Midterm Victory? (Audio: Podcast)
IPI Resident Scholar describes several Biden administration disasters that are eroding confidence in his administration and likely will contribute to Republican gains in the 2022 midterm elections.
IPI Policy Basics: The Proper Use of Eminent Domain (Audio: Podcast)
Eminent domain, or the taking of property for a public use, is a perfectly constitutional, if sometimes controversial, function of government and government-approved private actors. So long as the constitutional requirements are met—that it be for a public use and the owner receive just compensation, eminent domain is legitimate. But what is a public use? And what is just compensation? And was the Kelo decision right or wrong? IPI President Tom Giovanetti leads a discussion about eminent domain with the assistance of Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews
Vaccine Mandates: Who Can? Who Can't? (Audio: Podcast)
IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews leads a discussion about whether private employers can require vaccination for their employees, what exceptions might be possible, whether private businesses can require vaccinations or masks of their customers, and other related issues. It’s a great chance to think through the differences between government and the private sector, and to think about how different levels of government relate to each other, says IPI President Tom Giovanetti.
Local Control vs. the State
Tom Giovanetti and Mark Davis (660AM the Answer) discuss the new reality of co-existing with Covid-19 and how this impacts the continuing struggle between state and local control.
IPI Policy Basics: What Is Dynamic Scoring? (Audio: Podcast)
Trying to not get TOO deep into the weeds, IPI President Tom Giovanetti and Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explain why treating the economy as dynamic rather than static, and treating consumers and businesses as rational rather than stupid, is the right way to try to estimate the results of policy changes on the budget and the overall economy.
Which Administration Is the 'Party of Lawlessness' Now? (Audio: Podcast)
A day or so after the most breathtaking improper exercise of unconstitutional executive power in memory, IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews and IPI President Tom Giovanetti discuss the Biden administration’s renewal of the CDC’s moratorium on evictions (yes you read that right), and discuss the implications and problems of such a move.
IPI Policy Basics: What is a Price? (Audio: Podcast)
There’s a lot more going on behind the price of a pint of strawberries than just an arbitrary number. Prices convey information—an enormous amount of information. And if we understand the importance of price in signaling, rationing, and incentivizing production, then it’s obvious why government price controls and “price gouging” laws are a terrible idea.
The Texas Special Session That Wasn't (Audio: Podcast)
IPI’s Director of Development Addie Crimmins, with several years of experience in and around the Texas Legislature, talks us through the strange tale of the special session of the Texas Legislature that has been paralyzed by Democrat elected officials “leavin’ on a jet plane” and spending the special session in DC. With the occasional contribution by IPI President Tom Giovanetti.
IPI Policy Basics: Put Not Your Trust in Polling (Audio: Podcast)
In a recent polling industry autopsy of the 2020 election, pollsters themselves acknowledge that they don’t know why their numbers were skewed by about 4% in favor of Joe Biden and Democrats. "It’s time to stop paying attention to pollsters," says IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews. And IPI President Tom Giovanetti thinks that’s a great idea, since polling has a pernicious effect on our political system.
Biden's Economic Optimism Hits the Wall (Audio: Podcast)
With jobless claims increasing rather than declining, and with the infrastructure and budget resolution bills seemingly bogged down, President Biden’s economic agenda has hit rough sledding. And if the administration succeeds in getting their agenda through, will that help grow the economy or slow the recovery? And what can we learn from previous administrations in similar situations? IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews and President Tom Giovanetti discuss these and other relevant topics.
IPI Policy Basics: Why is Zero Sum Economic Thinking Wrong? (Audio: Podcast)
What is zero-sum thinking, and is it appropriate for economic policy? Is the pie static, or can we have more pie? And was Donald Trump the ultimate zero-sum politician? By IPI President Tom Giovanetti with Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews.
The Debt Ceiling Showdown Is Back (Audio: Podcast)
"It’s ba-aack!” After an almost two year suspension, our old friend the debt ceiling showdown is back again as a deadline facing Congress. IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews guides us through the recent history of the issue and explains how the debt ceiling can be used as leverage by the part out-of-power, if they are so inclined. Will they raise the debt ceiling? Will they once again find a way to suspend the vote and cop out? Or will they eliminate Congress’ control over the debt limit all together? The inquiring mind of IPI President Tom Giovanetti wants to know.
IPI Policy Basics: Local Control Is NOT a Governing Principle (Audio: Podcast)
Almost everyone, conservatives and liberals alike, thinks local control is a governing principle, and that state legislatures have no business intruding on local issues. But this is a misunderstanding of the structure of our constitutional system and results in cities enacting all sorts of policies that erode economic liberty, property rights, and individual liberty.
Total Records: 433
