It will be interesting to see this story evolve.
The National Center for Policy Analysis, Dallas’ most prominent conservative think tank, erupted Thursday in personnel and management squabbles.
President and CEO John Goodman, who has led the center since its creation in 1983, was fired in a unanimous vote of the board of directors, according to a statement issued by the center.
Goodman and emeritus board member Pete du Pont, [former Republican governor of Delaware and presidential candidate,] meanwhile, issued a release announcing their “departure” from the organization.
Goodman said in a phone interview that other board members have also quit, and that both sides are turning to their lawyers and the prospect of a messy court dispute.
Goodman, 67, is best-known for promoting tax-protected health savings accounts as a way for consumers to pay a larger share of their medical expenses under high-deductible insurance plans.
http://www.dallasnews.com/...
But exactly what does unanimity mean? Ramesh Ponnuru confirms there is some confusion about that.
I called NCPA half an hour or so ago, and was told that its board had unanimously voted to dismiss Goodman because of “serious” misconduct.
Goodman called me back. “I’m afraid the NCPA is engaged in serious misconduct. But we are engaged in a legal struggle at the moment"....“There was a fight on the board, we had board members threatening to sue each other, board members threatening to sue me, it’s been a whirlwind. These things happen.”
After talking to his lawyer, Goodman called back again to say, first, that the organization is now being run by a board that does not know how think tanks work and, second, that the underlying dispute involves illegal activities by NCPA “which I don’t want to get into right now.”
http://www.nationalreview.com/...
Official statements:
Press release from Goodman and du Pont, dated 6/12
DALLAS, June 12, 2014 PRNewswire -- Nationally renowned health care policy expert John Goodman and former Delaware Governor Pete du Pont today announced their departure from the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA).
Goodman founded the organization 31 years ago and du Pont joined the board 20 years ago. Together they built the organization and helped achieve some remarkable policy accomplishments:
Because off the NCPA's idea of Heath Savings Accounts, more than 30 million people are managing some of their own health care dollars.
Because of the NCPA's concept of the Roth IRA, more than $250 Billion in assets will never be taxed again.
Because of another NCPA initiative, 78 million baby boomers will be able to reach the retirement age and keep on working without losing Social Security benefits.
Because of an NCPA/Brookings Institution effort millions of workers are being automatically enrolled in 401(k) plans.
"Together, Governor du Pont and I established the National Center for Policy Analysis and built it into one of the nation's leading think tanks. We are proud of the many policy achievements that we accomplished over the years and of our efforts to promote private free market alternatives to government regulation and control," said Goodman. "I want to thank the outstanding NCPA staff for their hard work and dedication and wish them the best of luck in the future. I look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead."
"It has been an honor to work with John and build NCPA into a nationally recognized public policy leader. John is one of the foremost experts in health care policy in America, and I look forward to working with him again," said Governor du Pont. "While it is unfortunate that our time at NCPA ended in a disagreement with the organization's board, we look forward to the future and what it holds."
http://www.prnewswire.com/...
Posted b NCPA
NCPA Severs Ties to John C. Goodman
June 13, 2014
NCPA: The National Center for Policy Analysis has terminated the employment of President and CEO John Goodman, effective immediately.
A statement issued by the organization said that the board’s vote to dismiss Goodman was unanimous. “Because this is a personnel issue, the details are and will remain confidential.”
The NCPA board of directors is actively reviewing highly qualified CEO candidates. In the interim Board Chair Jerry Mills, acting in concert with the Board, is taking on the leadership role.
According to the statement, “Our staff, commitment, capabilities and resources remain stronger than ever. We are proud of our ongoing projects and initiatives advocating private sector solutions to public policy problems and those will continue. You will be hearing more from our respected experts in Dallas and around the country in the coming months as we build on more than three decades of accomplishments.”
Please direct any questions to Catherine Daniell.
http://www.ncpa.org/...
Fired Dallas think tank head John Goodman was dismissed after an investigation for sexual misconduct and “breach of fiduciary duty,” the conservative National Center for Policy Analysis announced Friday.
“We hoped to handle this in a professional manner, but Mr. Goodman’s actions require that we clarify the situation,” the center said in an unsigned statement.
Goodman called the accusation “not true,” but said he would not elaborate.
“I don’t want to go there,” he said. “It just gets too ugly.”
http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/...