History

Established in 1980

The formal organization of the Roundtable was established in 1980 and was started by a group of individuals who wanted to positively shape the world of public policy. In 1989, The Public Square® radio broadcast, one of the main outreaches of the American Policy Roundtable™, began as a two minute feature program on a single radio station. The Public Square® now airs in 34 states on nearly 200 radio stations across the country.

The Roundtable believes in non-partisan Election information to help voters make informed decisions at the polls.

In 1998 the Roundtable developed a voter information site called Decision 98, followed by USAVoter in the early 2000’s which has now become iVoters.com™ today. Every Election season we provide helpful voter information so that people can vote with confidence.

Throughout the years the Roundtable has taken on ballot initiatives, held educational seminars, started the Article One project, produced Christmas In America on The Public Square®, and so much more.

Each year, the American Policy Roundtable™ works on political issues from the local level to the state level then to the federal level. We maintain a firm commitment, however, to stand independent of all political parties and candidates.

History Timeline

1980

The Ohio Roundtable™ is founded. The original mission statement remains largely unchanged today: The Roundtable is dedicated to reaching all people with the message of liberty.

1982

The first Roundtable voter information publication is distributed to 2500 churches, businesses, and community leaders. Voter information publications reach over 250,000 Ohio households.

1987

Roundtable and Freedom Forum help write and pass legislation strengthening child protection laws.

1988

Roundtable’s first defeat of casino gambling in Ohio.

1989

The Public Square® Radio program is launched on a single station.

1990

Roundtable and Freedom Forum help defeat casino gambling in Ohio. Voters reject casinos by a margin of 62% to 38%.

1991

Roundtable proposes and Governor George V. Voinovich initiates the Ohio Adoption Task Force.

1992

Roundtable and Freedom Forum lead the term limits coalition, which gathers over 650,000 signatures in support of three constitutional amendments to limit politician’s terms. For the first time in history three citizen-initiated amendments succeed on the Ohio ballot and are passed into law. Voters support all three amendments by more than 60% margins.

1993

Roundtable and Freedom Forum join in the battle against Outcome-Based Education. Citizen outcry is overwhelming and results in the deletion of a 252-page OBE amendment from Ohio law.

1994

Roundtable and Freedom Forum mobilize a 14-state coalition opposed to the Clinton Health Security Act.

1995

Roundtable and Freedom Forum launch a citizen initiative for major reform of campaign finance laws in Ohio. More that 150,000 signatures are gathered to place a reform bill before the Ohio General Assembly, which passes a reform measure including key elements from the citizen initiative.

1996

Ohio Roundtable™ moves to Solon, Ohio.

Roundtable voter information publications reach over 400,000 Ohio households.
Support for Hope for Ohio’s Children and the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Plan

1998

Roundtable launches Decision 98 a complete on-line voter information service. In just the final ten days of the election cycle over 100,000 Ohio voters visit Decision 98.

Roundtable launches The School Choice Committee, uniting school choice leaders with grassroots supporters across the state.

1999

Roundtable squares off against the ACLU launching the “Keep the Motto” campaign in full support of the legal defense of the Ohio state motto “With God all things are possible.”

The Public Square® daily news and commentary program is heard on over 25 stations and satellite translators reaching millions across Ohio and much of the Midwest.

2000

Roundtable launches Decision 2000 a dynamically enhanced, interactive voter information service. Over 500 churches and hundreds of business, libraries, and community organizations participate in Decision 2000. Candidate response to the on-line service reaches all-time high, including direct participation by every judicial candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court.

2001 Supreme Court to Hear School Choice

2001

Recognizing the efforts of the School Choice Committee, The White House invites ten members of the Committee to an education roundtable discussion with President George W. Bush.

Roundtable opens offices at the State Capitol in Columbus and moves corporate headquarters to 6000 sq. ft. media production facility in Strongsville, Ohio.

The School Choice Committee helps initiate legislation increasing support for the Cleveland Scholarship Plan and mobilizes grassroots efforts to support school choice program at the United States Supreme Court.

2002

New online voter information service is launched. USAVoter.info serves thousands of voting households, churches, libraries, and civic organizations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Site receives just under 1,000,000 hits in week prior to election.

The United States Supreme Court declares the Ohio School Choice Plan constitutional. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor cites evidence presented by Roundtable in this landmark decision.

2003

The Public Square® radio broadcast is launched throughout the state of Florida.

2005

The Ohio Roundtable™ and Ohio Citizen Action call for the resignation of Governor Bob Taft after he pled “No Contest” to ethic violations. The website MoveOnTaft.org is launched.