R Street welcomes new Heritage President Jim DeMint
WASHINGTON (Dec. 6, 2012) –- R Street Institute President Eli Lehrer today praised the Heritage Foundation for choosing U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., to serve as the foundation’s next president.
“As a proud Heritage alum myself, I couldn’t imagine a better leader for Heritage than Jim DeMint,” Lehrer said. “In the Senate, he has combined a strong activist bent with a smart, wonky interest in the details of public policy. He’s a strong, principled conservative who fits Heritage very well.”
DeMint announced today that he will leave the Senate at the beginning of January to take on his new role, succeeding long-time Heritage President Ed Feulner. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will name a temporary successor to DeMint’s Senate seat.
“Frankly, Sen. DeMint led the conservative cause on so many important issues, this does leave a real vacuum in the Senate. Other members will fill it, in time, but I am sorry to see him go,” Lehrer said.
Lehrer worked as a fellow at the Heritage Foundation from 1999 to 2001 and remained an adjunct fellow thereafter.
R Street is a non-profit public policy research organization that supports free markets; limited, effective government; and responsible environmental stewardship. It has headquarters in Washington, D.C. and branch offices in Tallahassee, Fla.; Austin,Texas; and Columbus, Ohio. Its website is www.redesign.rstreet.org.
