In Montana, retired Republican state legislator Cary Smith, who worked w/ #FGA, said…, "They offer a buffet of options. Their agenda is making government accountable; it's in the name."
He said besides drafting #legislation, FGA provides talking points & data to help policymakers support their arguments.
"They would go in & would say, 'This is what #Medicaid *fraud* is costing us,'" Smith said. "That would be the number you'd want to use in your bill."
In the states, #FGA has become known as a #conservative "thought leader," said Brian Colby, VP of #PublicPolicy for Missouri Budget Project, a #progressive nonprofit that provides analysis of #state #policy issues.
"Conservatives used to try to chop away at the #federal #budget," Colby said. "These guys are doing it at the state level."
In its 14 yrs, FGA has created a playbook to shape state policy discussions about #PublicBenefits behind the scenes.
#RFKJr's agenda now echoes some of #FGA's key messages, & he has said states can expect approval of their waivers. Meanwhile, congressional leaders are eyeing nationwide #Medicaid cuts & #work requirements, which FGA considers among its major issues. The foundation also has a connection working inside the administration: Its former #policy director, Sam Adolphsen, was tapped to advise #Trump on #domestic matters.
#law #plutocracy #PublicAssistance #SNAP #healthcare #HealthyIfYoureWealthy #USpol
Part of #FGA's strategy is to pass #legislation #state by state, with the idea that the crush of new #laws will increase pressure on the #FederalGovernment. For example, states can't limit what #food is purchased through #SNAP without federal approval through a waiver process. And in the past, some of FGA's efforts have stalled because states never got that approval.
#law #plutocracy #PublicAssistance #Medicaid #healthcare #health #HealthyIfYoureWealthy #Trump #RFKJr #USpol
The same year, the #FGA helped pass #SNAP restrictions affecting eligibility in #Iowa. Since those restrictions have taken effect, the #FoodBank of Iowa has seen a record number of people show up at its pantries amid rising #grocery #prices & a scaling back of #COVID pandemic-era federal #support, said Annette Hacker, a VP at the nonprofit.
#law #plutocracy #PublicAssistance #Medicaid #healthcare #health #HealthyIfYoureWealthy #Trump #RFKJr #USpol
In recent years, the nonprofit #FGA helped draft a 2017 #Mississippi #law, the Jackson Free Press found, which intensified eligibility checks for #public #aid that made it more difficult for some applicants to qualify. It successfully pushed a 2023 effort in #Idaho to impose #work requirements for #food #benefits that #healthcare advocates said led some recipients to lose access.
#plutocracy #Trump #RFKJr #health #PublicAssistance #SNAP #Medicaid #HealthyIfYoureWealthy #USpol
#FGA has worked for more than a decade to reshape the nation's #PublicAssistance programs. That includes #SNAP, formerly known as #FoodStamps, which federal data shows helps an average of 42M people afford food each month. It also advocates for ways to cut #Medicaid, the federal-state program that connects 71M people to subsidized #healthcare, including efforts in Idaho & Montana this year.
#law #plutocracy #Trump #RFKJr #health #HealthyIfYoureWealthy #USpol
Meet the Florida group chipping away at #public #benefits one state at a time
The organization largely behind social restriction #legislation is the Foundation for Government Accountability [#FGA], a #conservative policy think tank in #Florida, & its affiliated lobbying arm, which has used the name Opportunity Solutions Project [#OSP].
#law #plutocracy #USpol #PublicAssistance #SNAP #Medicaid #healthcare #Trump #RFKJr
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/05/06/nx-s1-5387527/fga-foundation-for-government-accountability-states-snap-work-requirements
State by State Pending and recently passed #AntiProtestLaws: #Minnesota
SF 1501: Heightened penalties for protesters who block #traffic
Would heighten penalties for protesters who intentionally “interfere with” or “disrupt” traffic that is entering, exiting, or on a freeway or a roadway on airport property. Under the bill, intentional traffic disruption on freeways or airport roadways would be a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine. The relevant provisions are identical to HF 329 / SF 728.
Full text of bill: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1501&ssn=0&y=2025
Status: pending
Introduced 17 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): #Traffic =Interference
SF 1363: New penalties for pipeline protesters and supporters, and protesters who block traffic
Would create new civil and criminal liability for funders and supporters of protesters who peacefully demonstrate on pipeline or other utility property. Any person or entity that "recruits, trains, aids, advises, hires, counsels, or conspires with" a person who trespasses onto a “critical public service facility, utility, or pipeline” would be civilly liable for any damages committed by the trespasser under the bill. They would also be guilty of a gross misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $3,000, if they fail to make a reasonable effort to prevent the violation. Additionally, the bill would make the person who trespasses onto the critical public service facility, utility, or pipeline strictly liable for civil damages. Similar provisions were introduced as SF 1493 in the 2023-2024 session. The bill would also make it a gross misdemeanor to obstruct traffic on a freeway or on a public road within airport property, with intent of obstructing or otherwise interfering with traffic. As written, the offense could cover protesters who even momentarily delayed cars on a freeway while demonstrating on the side of the freeway or on an overpass. Similar provisions were introduced as SF 1285/HF 1967 in the 2021-2022 session.
Full text of bill: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1363&ssn=0&y=2025
Status: pending
Introduced 13 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): Civil Liability, #ProtestSupporters or Funders, Infrastructure, Traffic Interference, Trespass
HF 329 / SF 728: Heightened penalties for protesters who block traffic
Would heighten penalties for protesters who intentionally “interfere with” or “disrupt” traffic that is entering, exiting, or on a freeway or a roadway on airport property. Under the bill, intentional traffic disruption on freeways or airport roadways would be a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine. A nearly identical bill was proposed as HF 1967 / SF 1285, introduced in 2021.
Full text of bill: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF329&y=2025&ssn=0&b=house
Status: pending
Introduced 13 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): Traffic Interference
HF 367 / SF 180: New civil liability for street protesters
Would allow third parties or the government to sue protesters if they interfere with traffic on certain public roads. Under the bill, someone who intentionally “interferes with” or “obstructs” passage on any “public highway” would be civilly liable for damages and attorneys fees. Any injured person, private entity, or state or local government could bring such a lawsuit, though the bill provides that the government cannot bring both a civil suit and criminal charges for the same conduct. “Highways” in Minnesota include many two-lane roads with stop signs and stoplights. As such, protesters whose demonstration paused or delayed traffic on certain roads could face costly litigation by, for instance, a company that claimed it was “damaged” by the delay.
Full text of bill:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF367&y=2025&ssn=0
Status: pending
Introduced 13 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): Traffic Interference
SF 708: BARRING PUBLIC BENEFITS FOR PROTEST-RELATED OFFENSES
Would broadly disqualify a person convicted of an offense during a protest from receiving #PublicAssistance. Any "offense related to the person's illegal conduct at a protest, demonstration, rally, civil unrest, or march" would disqualify the person from a range of benefits, including #FoodAssistance, education #loans and grants, and #unemployment assistance. Under the bill, a person convicted of even a misdemeanor that is deemed somehow "related" to their participation in a peaceful protest could face permanent disqualification from such benefits. The same bill was introduced as SF 935 in 2023.
Full text of bill: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0708&ssn=0&y=2025
Status: pending
Introduced 27 Jan 2025.
Issue(s): Limit on Public Benefits
SF 702 / HF 2808: New civil immunity for drivers who hit protesters
Would shield from civil lawsuits drivers who hit street protesters in certain situations. The bill provides that anyone who unlawfully obstructs a roadway cannot sue a driver for any injury, loss, death or damage they suffered if the driver was seeking to “retreat or escape” from the roadway obstruction and believed they were in immediate danger of injury. An identical bill was introduced as SF 5500 in 2024.
Full text of bill: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0702&ssn=0&y=2025
Status: pending
Introduced 27 Jan 2025.
Issue(s): Driver Immunity
#FirstAmendment #CriminalizingDissent
#Authoritarianism #Fascism #Clampdown #CriminalizingProtest
#CharacteristicsOfFascism #USPol #AntiProtestLaws #PipelineProtests #HeatherHeyer #UniteTheRight #DrivingDownProtestors
ICYMI: Asake’s Alleged Father Seeks Public Assistance After Suffering Stroke https://www.rainsmediaradio.com/2025/03/asakes-alleged-father-seeks-public.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon Follow, Like & Share #Asake #Afrobeats #NigerianMusic #PublicAssistance #StrokeRecovery
Asake’s Alleged Father Seeks Public Assistance After Suffering Stroke https://www.rainsmediaradio.com/2025/03/asakes-alleged-father-seeks-public.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon Follow, Like & Share #Asake #Afrobeats #PublicAssistance #StrokeAwareness #HelpNeeded
1/🧵 I've been invited to partner with a local county to put on a presentation on how private non-profits can best prepare for disasters in terms of mutual aid and access federal aid for recovery.
There's such a need for education for all organizations these days, this stuff is too complicated unless you can afford consultants.
Which creates #equity issues that many governments have difficulties in addressing.
I want to send some data into the ether that may interest people who wonder how US governments recover from the increasing occurrences of #disasters.
Sask. RCMP release photo of suspect in multiple break and enters
RCMP are investigating a string of break and enters in rural Saskatchewan they say may be related and are asking for the public's help identifying a suspect.
#crime #investigation #publicassistance #Saskatchewan #News #Canada
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/rcmp-investigating-multiple-break-and-enters-1.7418157?cmp=rss
RCMP in N.B. seeking suspects who escaped following firearm incident
RCMP in Campbellton, N.B., is asking for help from the public with its investigation into a firearm-related incident in Saint-Maure, N.B.
#crime #investigation #publicassistance #NB #Campbellton #SaintMaure
https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/rcmp-in-n-b-seeking-suspects-who-escaped-following-firearm-incident-1.7136471
Manitoba RCMP release details of suspect vehicle in Portage la Prairie double murder
Manitoba RCMP are describing the vehicle they believe was at the scene of a double homicide earlier this month, in hopes the public can help them track down a pair of suspects.
#crime #investigation #publicassistance #PortagelaPrairie #Manitoba #crimeinManitoba #DoubleHomicide #Manitobahomicide
https://globalnews.ca/news/10905564/double-homicide-suspect-vehicle-portage-manitoba/
@kuow_bot Sounds like #WA is pursuing an #IndividualAssistance in addition to #PublicAssistance from #FEMA for this event. Those will be difficult thresholds to exceed.
@disco3000 @notwhatwethink I see a lot of comments saying #StopBuyingTheirProducts. Just to be clear, those are the words from people with a #MiddleClass mindset and who don't live in #FoodDeserts and on #PublicAssistance #YourPrivilegeIsShowing
Victim severely injured during assault with bladed weapon: Regina police
Regina police are turning to the public to help identify a male suspect who is wanted in relation following a recent 'severe injury' incident.
#globalnews #Crime #AssaultwithWeapon #Investigation #PublicAssistance
https://globalnews.ca/news/10598208/regina-police-search-supsect-weapon-assault/
Victim severely injured during assault with bladed weapon: Regina police
Regina police are turning to the public to help identify a male suspect who is wanted in relation following a recent 'severe injury' incident.
#globalnews #Crime #AssaultwithWeapon #Investigation #PublicAssistance
https://globalnews.ca/news/10598208/regina-police-search-supsect-weapon-assault/
