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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

NEW: We found that 13 states could save at least $100,000 to $29 million annually in Medicaid costs without cutting benefits or pharmacy reimbursements. How? By cutting out the middlemen with corporate markups: Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Read it here:

responsivegov.org

Cutting out the Middleman: How States Can Save Medicaid Dollars by Firing Pharmacy Benefit Managers - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

We were honored to have Gideon Cohn-Postar, our Senior Advisor for Election Infrastructure, join the Auburn University Elections Symposium with Caleb Hays to talk about their innovative proposal for broadening the federal funding base for federal elections grants.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Important read from @civicdesign: Their four principles for designing clear, effective government forms: 1⃣ Make it trustworthy. 2⃣ Explain the problem clearly. 3⃣ Be specific about the problem. 4⃣ Tell them how to take action successfully. More here: civicdesign.org/form-letters...

civicdesign.org

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Reposted by Institute for Responsive Government

NYS Senator Kristen Gonzalez @sengonzalezny.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

My Statement on Trump’s Proposed Executive Order to Ban Mail-In Voting

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

President Trump announced plans to issue an executive order to halt mail voting and interfere with voting equipment. Here are the facts: Voting by mail is safe & secure, with overlapping safeguards at every step of the voting process. Read our factsheet:

responsivegov.org

Why Mail Ballots Are Secure: Layered Safeguards - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

ERIC for Medicaid "addresses real inefficiencies without reducing benefits, strengthens the technical backbone of Medicaid, and sets the stage for broader improvements to how government delivers services." Important read by ‪@sorendayton.bsky.social‬ of FAI:

thefai.org

Fixing Duplicate Medicaid Enrollments through Smart Government IT | The Foundation for American Innovation

The Foundation for American Innovation.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Today marks 60 years of CMS – a vital agency offering services to 160M+ Americans. At the same time Medicaid faces damaging cuts, Congress took a promising step by adopting ERIC for Medicaid – a plan to cut duplicate enrollments & save billions of dollars: responsivegov.org/on-cmss-60th...

responsivegov.org

On CMS’s 60th Anniversary, All Eyes Are on Medicaid - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

The Trump administration’s latest effort to undermine trust in our elections & the public servants who administer them? DOJ efforts to prosecute election officials. We're appalled. Read the @nytimes.com LTE from our executive director, Sam Oliker-Friedland: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | Trump, the House and the Epstein Files

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

We echo the Project for Election Infrastructure in welcoming $15M in proposed election infrastructure funding in the FY26 Financial Services & General Govt. bill. But $400M is what's really needed for secure elections. Read PEI's full release here: modernizeourelections.org/project-for-...

modernizeourelections.org

Project for Election Infrastructure Welcomes Initial Investment, Calls for Additional Election Security Funding – Project for Election Infrastructure

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

In NYC's mayoral race, many saw @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's win as validation for RCV. In reality, it was more complicated. “In this case, RCV didn’t mitigate polarization. It arguably masked it.” Read the full op-ed from our ED, Sam Oliker-Friedland in @thehill.com: thehill.com/opinion/camp...

thehill.com

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

A case study in cutting red tape: Virginia Gov. Youngkin announced that the state's Office of Regulatory Management, set up in 2022, has slashed regulatory requirements in the VA Administrative Code by 27%, saving Virginians more than $1.2 billion per year. 🧵

forbes.com

Virginia Shows A Smarter Path To Regulatory Reform

Virginia cut 26.8% of regulatory requirements, saving $1.2B annually—offering a smarter, data-driven alternative to DOGE’s blunt federal cuts at the federal level.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Working through significant challenges, the State Department revamped the online system for a process that’s long been a pain in Americans’ side: renewing or applying for a passport. The result? A quicker, simpler process; 94% positive reviews; & recorded increased trust in government. Read more:

wsj.com

America Has Pulled Off the Impossible. It Made Getting a Passport Simple.

Washington is not exactly known for tech innovation. So how did a team of bureaucrats put their stamp on a new program for renewing passports online?

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

“Every eligible American should have the opportunity to cast their ballot in an accessible and secure way, and that’s exactly what this legislation ensures." - Responsive Gov Action Executive Director Sam Oliker-Friedland Thank you @wyden.senate.gov for reintroducing the Vote At Home Act:

wyden.senate.gov

Wyden Reintroduces Bill to Allow All Americans to Vote at Home | U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon

The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

🚨 Big congrats to our friends at HIP — now Health in Partnership! Same vision and values, new name and look to better reflect their current work. 🙌 Learn more: www.healthinpartnership.org/message-from...

healthinpartnership.org

Message from Co-Directors

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

“Why not transform the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which has sunk into obscurity, into the Election Security Fund?” Adequate, reliable funding makes for stronger elections. This is an innovative funding solution from former Sen. Roy Blunt in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/chec...

wsj.com

Opinion | Check the Box for Secure Voting

The Presidential Election Campaign Fund is obsolete, but here’s a way to revive the idea behind it.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

From security threats to outdated infrastructure & equipment, election administrators face many challenges that require major resources to address. Federal funding is critical to ensuring secure, accessible elections. It’s long past time for Congress to commit to $400m in elections funding.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

From our latest white paper by former Alaska State Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins: "Goodness knows that this country desperately needs systems-level change given recent political history. I believe proportional representation can be part of the solution."

responsivegov.org

Proportional Representation: An Intervention for More Electoral Competition and Better Governance - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

What could election offices do with adequate federal funding? • Patch critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities; • Replace outdated voting machines; • Upgrade voter registration databases; • Hire qualified staff; And more. Congress should allocate $400m in elections funding.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Election administrators at the state and local levels work tirelessly to run safe, accessible, impartial elections. Congress should equip local election officials with the tools they need to continue to strengthen our democracy by appropriating $400m for election infrastructure.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

165+ election officials have written a letter calling on Congress to step up for our democracy—& election administrators nationwide—by granting $400 million in elections funding. Let's get them the resources they need to keep elections strong & secure.

modernizeourelections.org

Over 150 Local Election Officials Across the Country Call on Congress to Fund Election Security – Project for Election Infrastructure

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Rather than promoting efficiency or accountability, proposed cuts to federal Medicaid funding would undermine state flexibility, strain local economies, and ultimately cost taxpayers more in the long run. Read our latest report:

responsivegov.org

Unbalanced Ledger: Why States Can’t Afford Deep Medicaid Cuts - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

As Congress convenes to discuss potential cuts to Medicaid on Tuesday, our report explores how Medicaid cuts would create insurmountable deficits in state budgets that decimate the program’s ability to work well, even for those who retain coverage:

responsivegov.org

Unbalanced Ledger: Why States Can’t Afford Deep Medicaid Cuts - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Looking for policies that could disrupt partisan gridlock, encourage collaboration, and boost turnout? Responsive Gov fellow and former Alaska State Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins explains how proportional representation offers a path forward. Read it here:

responsivegov.org

Proportional Representation: An Intervention for More Electoral Competition and Better Governance - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

New report: States can’t afford deep Medicaid cuts. We explore how proposed funding cuts would create insurmountable state budget deficits that would decimate the program’s ability to function—even for Medicaid recipients lucky enough to retain coverage.

responsivegov.org

Unbalanced Ledger: Why States Can’t Afford Deep Medicaid Cuts - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Happening now: @reed.senate.gov & @klobuchar.senate.gov discuss the importance of adequately funding our elections on the Senate floor. Secure, efficient, accessible elections require resources – period. Election officials need Congress to appropriate $400 million in election security grants ASAP.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Creating a better process to hire government workers, so that government can work better for the people. This is a win-win for Maryland.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

New on the blog: “Waste, fraud, & abuse” have been cited as reasons to cut Medicaid funding. Here’s how smart, upfront investment – and learning from innovations in the election sector – could help curb waste & boost the efficiency of this vital program.

responsivegov.org

Cross-Sector Innovation: Translating Election Tech into Medicaid Savings - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

We said it before and we’ll say it again: President Trump’s elections executive order is full of unfunded mandates that create more work for election officials and, if enacted, would leave taxpayers footing the bill. More from Patrick Marley and @yvonnewingett.bsky.social:

washingtonpost.com

Trump’s order seeks to force states to buy costly new voting machines

The edict could hurl elections into tumult, though lawsuits challenging the order mean it probably won’t be implemented anytime soon.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

This isn't just a tech glitch—it’s a live window into the chaos that ensues when policymakers don’t plan for implementation. Any policy is bound to face hiccups if policymakers fail to plan for what happens when policy moves off the page & into practice.

newrepublic.com

Um, It Turns Out No One at the Ports Is Collecting Trump’s Tariffs

A technical “glitch” has created the biggest hiccup in Trump’s tariffs rollout.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

The U.S. House just passed the SAVE Act, legislation that erects barriers to registration for millions of eligible American voters across the political spectrum and criminalizes election administrators for minor errors. More on its potential impacts here:

responsivegov.org

The SAVE Act: How a Proof of Citizenship Requirement Would Impact Elections - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

A new report from National Vote at Home Institute found that in the 2024 primary elections, Universal Vote at Home states (states where every active registered voter is automatically delivered a ballot) had nearly double the turnout rate of non-Vote at Home states. More here:

voteathome.org

New Report on Primary Voting Highlights Path to Increase Voter Participation - National Vote at Home Institute

(March 31, 2025) — Today, the National Vote at Home Institute (NVAHI) issued a research paper examining turnout in the 2024 primary election cycle. In addition to documenting the abysmal overall turno...

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

NEW: The latest white paper from Responsive Gov Fellow Jamila Michener makes the case for government agencies to more meaningfully engage with the people they serve – so they can build more efficient and effective programs.

responsivegov.org

Constituent Voice: A Key Tool for More Effective Administration of Government Programs - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

On the blog: From Hawaii to California, Florida to Pennsylvania – a look at how state & local governments can cut red tape and help communities quickly rebuild after natural disasters, getting people back in their homes and businesses.

responsivegov.org

Reducing Red Tape to Rebuild Without Undue Delay After Disaster - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Our team created a resource to help you better understand the key provisions in Trump's sloppy and illegal elections EO; and how it’ll make it harder for many eligible citizens – including members of the military and married women – to participate in our democracy:

responsivegov.org

Key Takeaways from President Trump’s Election Integrity EO - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Today's elections executive order is a stew of unfunded mandates and barriers that will make it more difficult for election officials to administer secure elections and more challenging for eligible U.S. citizens to participate in our democracy. Our statement:

responsivegov.org

Executive Order Full of Unfunded Mandates for Election Officials & Unnecessary Obstacles for Eligible Voters - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Our ED Sam Oliker-Friedland returned to the Gaily Show to talk about our latest Election Policy Progress Reports. Minnesota was 1 of 3 states to receive an A+ this year, including for passing a state Voting Rights Act, ensuring civil rights protections across the state.

youtube.com

2024 Election Policy Progress Reports, plus we’re tracking today’s special elections

YouTube video by The Gaily Show

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

The John Lewis #VRA "is a common-sense measure which helps move us closer to the true promise of our democracy – one in which every eligible voter can participate and cast a ballot without fear of discrimination or unnecessary obstacles.” Our full statement: responsivegov.org/institute-fo...

responsivegov.org

Institute for Responsive Government Action Urges Congress to Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Governor Lombardo: “Beyond its role providing coverage for vulnerable populations, hospitals, clinics, & providers across [Nevada] depend on Medicaid reimbursements to sustain operations, maintain staffing levels & invest in critical services." thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

thenevadaindependent.com

Nevada Republican Gov. Lombardo speaks out against GOP’s possible Medicaid cuts - The Nevada Independent

Lombardo’s missive follows calls from legislative Democrats for answers to the proposed Medicaid cuts. Learn more with The Nevada Independent.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

In coming weeks, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider the SAVE Act, a bill with the potential to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters and penalize election administrators for minor errors. Our team examined its far-reaching impacts: responsivegov.org/research/the...

responsivegov.org

The SAVE Act: How a Proof of Citizenship Requirement Would Impact Elections - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Medicaid is the largest provider of health coverage, serving nearly 80m Americans. Congress is considering up to $2.3 trillion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years – threatening care for millions and reducing quality of care for those who remain on the rolls. responsivegov.org/preserving-f...

responsivegov.org

Preserving Federal Medicaid Funding - Institute for Responsive Government

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

CISA was vital in ensuring the 2020/2024 elections were administered securely, and DHS was a strong support to election officials for strengthening national election security. These cuts will leave state and local election officials without critical support. apnews.com/article/trum...

apnews.com

Dismantling of federal efforts to monitor election interference creates opening for foreign meddling

President Donald Trump's administration has disbanded an FBI task force focused on investigating foreign influence campaigns and placed on leave several election security employees at the U.S.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Shortly after @governorshapiro.bsky.social took office, he prioritized reversing PA’s reputation for administrative red tape. Our fellow, @donmoyn.bsky.social, explains how PA made improvements for businesses & individuals interactions with the government: responsivegov.org/research/pen...

responsivegov.org

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

The CA Legislature finally passed a bill in 2024 to improve its automatic voter registration system. @governor.ca.gov vetoed it, leaving more than 4 million voters unregistered. This contributed to CA's C+ grade on our election scorecards. @sacramentobee.bsky.social www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

sacbee.com

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto left 4 million California voters unregistered, new report says

California earned a mediocre C+ for its voter registration policy, according to the report.

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Institute for Responsive Government @responsivegov.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

NEW: Responsive Gov has released our latest Election Policy Progress Reports, evaluating a historic year of state voting reforms in 2024. MI, MN, and CO received A+ grades, while NC earned the only F grade of all 50 states. responsivegov.org/election-pol...

responsivegov.org

Election Policy Progress Reports - Institute for Responsive Government

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Reposted by Institute for Responsive Government

The Gaily Show @thegailyshow.org · 11/01/2025

This week we talked about automatic voter registration with Sam Oliker-Friedland (why we need it to protect and promote democracy in these times) and Fernando Lopez about Creating Change - the largest LGBTQ conference in the world! m.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqX...

m.youtube.com

The Gaily Show - January 8, 2025

YouTube video by The Gaily Show

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