As the conservative movement renews and reconstitutes itself for the challenges ahead, it’s important not to overlook the wealth of information, analysis, and insight contained in our think tanks. Right-of-center policy institutes, representing all the constituent elements of the movement (libertarian, traditionalist, and hawkish), employ many hundreds of knowledgeable policy experts and talented communications and outreach professionals. Periodically, I’ll summarize some key research and resources coming out of the tanks, both from Washington and from the dozens of institutes located around the country.

Today, I want to urge you to read up on some domestic issues the new Obama administration has on its priority list:

• Creating Bailout Nation. The Cato Institute’s Lawrence White explains the origins of the financial mess. Short answer: it’s about the money. It’s always about the money. Does the stock-market meltdown invalidate the case for Social Security accounts? Andrew Biggs of the American Enterprise Institute runs the numbers and says no. His AEI colleague, Kevin Hassett, makes the case against the auto bailout.

• Expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Dennis Smith of the Heritage Foundation urges skepticism as advocates begin throwing fuzzy numbers around about cost and caseload.

• Dealing with catastrophes. With the wildfires still burning and meteorologists hard at work on their storm forecasts for 2009, the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Eli Lehrer explains the ins and outs of the system that’s supposed to backstop property insurers. It’s in trouble, but Obama’s reform plan would make things worse.

• Changing federal-state relations. Many states and localities are begging for bailouts and new federal subsidies for infrastructure, education, and other programs. The Pacific Research Institute’s latest Economic Freedom Index demonstrates, however, that the real impediment to economic prosperity in the states isn’t too little government but too much.