A thinking-it-over tank takes shape

While we gobbled po'boys, Mayor Ron Corbett told me how he plans to enrich Iowa's political debate.

We were in a booth last week at Daisy's Garage, a grill and bar on First Avenue SE, as he described the creation of 'Engage Iowa.” Corbett, its president and, so far, lone employee, envisions it as a 'conservative think tank” that will do research and offer strategies on policy issues. He plans to keep his mayoral post while thinking.

Corbett talks. I chew and scribble. He describes a rightward-marching counter to the leftward-leaning Iowa Policy Project, which has become a go-to source on progressive issues. But while the mayor engages Iowa, others surely will engage in speculation about his 2018 gubernatorial prospects. Perhaps it should be called a thinking-it-over tank.

'I can't stop the speculation on what people say I may or may not do. I'm not a candidate for any office,” Corbett said, insisting that he's been thinking about the need for a conservative research outfit in Iowa since his days as House Speaker. 'I've never been one to sit on my hands.”

Engage Iowa gives Corbett a chance to travel around Iowa and talk about issues as a thinker but not a candidate. He said the think tank will produce environmental policy positions this fall, with education ideas in the spring and economic policy next summer. Corbett said his group will steer clear of social issues.

Starting with the environment is an interesting choice, with the potential to show Engage Iowa isn't merely spouting conventional conservative wisdom. But we can't really judge a tank until we see its thinking. Given the current thoughtless state of our politics, I'm loathe to reject any endeavor that encourages some deeper research over knee-jerk nonsense. After watching a string of dismal substance-free state and local campaigns, another voice calling for an actual debate on important policy is welcome. Trouble is, we won't know who is paying the freight. Corbett isn't legally required to disclose Engage Iowa's donors, who already have pledged $1.5 million over the next three years. He plans to name the think tank's advisory board, filled mostly with donors, but not a complete list of givers.

Again, it's all perfectly legal. Some have questioned whether his behind-the-scenes fundraising could create conflicts of interest within his mayoral duties. Corbett insists he will declare any conflicts that come up and recuse himself from those situations.

Another problem is how a lack of disclosure could detract from the tank's credibility. We won't know, for example, if research on the merits of a corporate income tax cut is paid for by corporate interests. Blurring those ties has become the political norm, but I think honesty is a better policy.

So we have yet to see whether Engage Iowa will be a vehicle for interesting, innovative policy. But it's all but certain to be a vehicle for making Corbett part of the evolving 2018 conversation. The Republican field could be large if Gov. Terry Branstad decides six terms is enough. Facing multiple potential rivals who have been on statewide ballots, Corbett's smart to get out early, get known beyond Cedar Rapids and give Iowans something to chew on.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com