The San Diego Institute for Policy Research has launched. Visit SDI’s website and learn more about its February 15 luncheon featuring Dinesh D’Souza (which already has more than 150 RSVPs, impressive numbers for an established organization, let alone one taking flight). Steve Francis, chairman of AMN Healthcare Services Inc., founder and chairman of SDI, brings successful business and political trench experience to the organization. A former Nevada legislator, he was a 2005 San Diego mayoral candidate. During his campaign he advocated reducing the city work force and running government like a business. Placing third in the primary, he continued to move his principles forward. A December 3, 2006 Union-Tribune article reports, Francis significantly supported two local ballot measures: “Proposition B, which requires voter approval of future San Diego city employee pension-benefit increases, and Proposition C, which will allow private companies to compete with city workers to provide municipal services.” Smartly, the article points out, “Both propositions won overwhelming approval of San Diego voters.” Such “overwhelming” support will hopefully translate into more opportunities to advance the ideas that foster better city services (and outright privatization), lower taxes and greater economic prosperity for area residents. The staff has the depth to foment the local We the People revolution; it includes a former San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. executive, an economist formerly with the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce and two, count ‘em, two seasoned Manhattan Institute staffers who made the trek west to be part of the team.