Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
What PIIE Researchers Will Be Watching in 2026
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- The Peterson Institute for International Economics issued the following commentary on Jan. 12, 2026:
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What PIIE researchers will be watching in 2026
By Anjali V. Bhatt (PIIE)
We asked our researchers what they'll be keeping their eyes on this year. Here's what they said, lightly edited for length and clarity.
Gregory Auclair: How foreign pledges to invest in the US evolve. The Trump administration has promised more than $5 trillion of foreign investment in the US. I expect some of that will start to materialize in 2026, with a range of impacts on supply chains,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- The Peterson Institute for International Economics issued the following commentary on Jan. 12, 2026:
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What PIIE researchers will be watching in 2026
By Anjali V. Bhatt (PIIE)
We asked our researchers what they'll be keeping their eyes on this year. Here's what they said, lightly edited for length and clarity.
Gregory Auclair: How foreign pledges to invest in the US evolve. The Trump administration has promised more than $5 trillion of foreign investment in the US. I expect some of that will start to materialize in 2026, with a range of impacts on supply chains,the domestic economy, US diplomatic relations, and partner governments.
Chad P. Bown: All of the non-tariff ways that governments and natural events impact critical supply chains like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals in 2026.
Olivier Blanchard: Where Europe rises to the challenge.
Kimberly Clausing: How does US macroeconomic data on growth and inflation evolve? Does the AI boom dominate the headwinds created by the tariffs and deportations? How does the budget picture evolve in the US Congress? As the midterms loom later in 2026, does Congress buckle down and govern more effectively, or does congressional dysfunction force another shutdown early in the year? And what does the future hold for global collective action? Can countries pursue a coalition approach on collective problems (like climate change, security, and the trading system) that transcends the Trumpian turn toward transactionalism?
Joseph E. Gagnon: China's surging trade surplus, including in new sectors like autos and green tech, and what it means for traditional auto and tech exporters like Germany, Japan, and Korea. And a possible pop up in US inflation in January, which will be reported in February. Since COVID-19, inflation has tended to be higher in January (and February and March) than in the rest of the year, a pattern that was gradually disappearing but may come back this year because of tariffs. Anecdotal reports suggest that some companies were reluctant to pass through higher tariffs into consumer prices before the holidays but will feel they cannot hold back any longer.
Cullen S. Hendrix: How will Brazil, Colombia, and other left-of-center governments in Latin America navigate relations with the US? The Trump administration's reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine, along with growing geoeconomic fragmentation, portends less strategic and economic autonomy for Latin American governments that had benefitted from globalization and significant Chinese investment. Also the potential return of El Nino conditions in the second half of 2026, which could weigh on global growth, raise food prices, and heighten political instability in parts of the developing world. And if late 2025 trends persist, the US may experience relatively rapid but largely jobless economic growth leading into what will likely be the most fraught midterm elections in over a century. How will the divergence between headline GDP numbers, the health of equities markets, and the increasingly challenging job landscape--especially for recent grads and older workers--shape these elections?
Tianlei Huang: How will the world react to China's record trade surplus from 2025? Will the US-China trade truce really last a year? China will likely become a high-income country by World Bank standards in 2026. How will that change (or not) global expectations of China's economy and its role in the world as well as how Beijing defines itself?
Gary Clyde Hufbauer: I'm expecting a jump in consumer price index/personal consumption expenditures index inflation towards 3.5+ percent in the first half of 2026 as tariffs work their way into consumer prices. I'm also expecting a "big boy" summit between China's president Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump, which broadly confirms US dominance in the Western Hemisphere (Greenland, Venezuela, Panama, and perhaps more) while giving China a fairly free hand in Central Asia, Burma, Cambodia, and Laos.
Jacob Funk Kirkegaard: Developments in Russia-Ukraine War: Not expecting an end to fighting in 2026, as Russia looks unlikely to reduce maximalist war demands. EU long-term budget negotiations 2028-34 begin and in principle should end by ultimo 2026 (likely to run into 2027): Fundamental reform of budget needed, but disagreements over scope and priorities will make this a fiscal knife fight between the member states. Also, EU migration policy trends, as governments seek to blunt far-right political appeal by making potentially material changes to EU asylum, family reunification, and deportation procedures.
Jed Kolko: New official US immigration estimates for 2025 and the annual benchmark revision of payroll growth. These will be released early in 2026 and will help resolve some of the uncertainties about the state of the US labor market. Also new research on the impact of AI on the labor market and the real economy. I suspect these will be ultimately inconclusive but will get much attention and spur both helpful future research and confusion. Finally, the US statistical agencies will remain under extreme stress from both chronic and acute issues, including the dramatic loss of staff and expertise. The data "fog" that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell described during the autumn 2025 government shutdown will be slow to lift.
Nicholas R. Lardy: China's macroeconomy with a view to understanding whether private consumption expenditures as a share of GDP will continue to rise slowly and the evolving balance of private versus state investment expenditure.
Zhuowen Li: The evolving role of Chinese big tech in 2026. While US hyperscalers race for consumer dominance in chatbots and other AI applications, Chinese platforms appear to be pivoting their spending toward state-aligned hard tech like advanced chips and computing infrastructure to support national strategic priorities. This could mark a transformation from consumer disruptors into utilities for national industrial policy.
Mary E. Lovely: First, in the context of the 6-year review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), how far will the Trump administration push Mexico and Canada to reduce Chinese value added in their domestic production? It is likely that the US will continue to ask for Canada and Mexico to match US tariffs on China, but will they move further towards a customs-union-like agreement, complete with rules of origin to prevent Chinese content imported through other countries? Secondly, I will be tracking Chinese exports and foreign investment for signals as to how supply chains will evolve considering lower-than-expected US tariffs and third-country concerns about Chinese export surges.
Robert Z. Lawrence: Stagnation in US manufacturing, how the rest of the world struggles to deal with Trump's disruptive leadership, how China's growing trade surpluses lead to protectionist responses, how AI investments sow the seeds of the next financial crisis.
Cecilia Malmstrom: The "peace process" in Ukraine and how it develops. Furthermore, I will closely follow if the EU Mercosur free trade agreement is finally signed and how the trade cooperation between the EU and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) continues after the first exploratory meeting last fall.
Adnan Mazarei: Economic crisis in Iran and political ramifications, economic impact of geopolitical shifts and conflicts in the Middle East, possible debt problems in the US, debt restructurings in low- and middle-income countries.
Marcus Noland: Attention has rightly focused on the Trump administration's unprecedented imposition of tariff protection. But our modeling suggests that restrictions on the supply of foreign-born workers, either through deportation, voluntary exit, and the drying up of both legal and unauthorized channels of inward migration will have a bigger negative impact on the US economy.
Jeffrey J. Schott: USMCA review/revisions and on the possible broadening and deepening of the CPTPP (with a special focus on South Korea and the EU). The World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial will probably not create a crisis but neither will it offer much progress for trade multilateralism. Of course, the BIG trade issue is what happens to US tariff policy once the Supreme Court rules on the Trump administration's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs.
Nicolas Veron: Whether the deregulation and rule-of-law erosion in the US will lead to financial instability. There was a glimpse of that scenario in April 2025 in the week following Trump's tariff announcements on April 2, which he labeled Liberation Day. Similar dynamics may return this year.
Christine Wan: Whether China's exports are becoming more sophisticated. Mary E. Lovely and I will look first at China's total exports, then at critical sectors including electric vehicles and advanced electronics, and consider what these shifts mean for China's economic relations to the world.
Alejandro Werner: Elections in Latin America: Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. Will the Southern cone complete its shift to the right? Also revisions of the USMCA and whether Latin America can bring inflation back to 3 percent; the last leg of the disinflation process is proving more difficult than expected.
David Wilcox: Whether the integrity of US economic statistics remains unquestioned. This will depend on whom the Trump administration nominates as the next commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, whether that person and the other agency heads are allowed to do their jobs without harassment from senior administration officials, and whether the agencies are given adequate funding to proceed with the urgent work they must undertake to modernize economic measurement in the United States. I'll also be watching how institutional safeguards protecting the Federal Reserve hold up. This will include the Supreme Court's ruling on whether the president can fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, whom the president names to replace Jerome Powell after Powell's term as chair expires in May, whether Powell stays on the Fed Board as an ordinary member after he's no longer chair, and whether other members of the board resign before their 14-year terms are up.
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Anjali V. Bhatt, Senior Research Staff
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Original text here: https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime-economics/2026/what-piie-researchers-will-be-watching-2026
[Category: Economics]
Vote Yes, Because Dead People Shouldn't Receive Checks
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- LIBRE Initiative issued the following news release:
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Vote Yes, Because Dead People Shouldn't Receive Checks
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LIBRE Urges House to Vote YES on Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act
Arlington, VA (1/12/26) -The LIBRE Initiative is urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote YES on S. 269, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, commonsense legislation that would help protect taxpayers and strengthen accountability in federal programs.
Earlier this week, LIBRE sent a letter to all Members
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- LIBRE Initiative issued the following news release:
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Vote Yes, Because Dead People Shouldn't Receive Checks
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LIBRE Urges House to Vote YES on Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act
Arlington, VA (1/12/26) -The LIBRE Initiative is urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote YES on S. 269, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, commonsense legislation that would help protect taxpayers and strengthen accountability in federal programs.
Earlier this week, LIBRE sent a letter to all Membersof Congress expressing strong support for the bill, which would make permanent a key data-sharing agreement between the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Do Not Pay system. This coordination helps prevent improper federal payments to individuals who are deceased-payments that cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
Sandra Benitez, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:
"S. 269 is about responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and restoring trust in how government programs are managed. This legislation ensures that federal agencies have the tools they need to prevent waste, reduce fraud, and make sure limited resources are directed to the people who truly need them.
This is a straightforward, bipartisan fix to a well-documented problem. Members of Congress have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and accountability by voting yes."
The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent, reflecting broad bipartisan agreement that the federal government should not be issuing payments to deceased individuals. States across the country have documented significant instances of improper payments, underscoring the need for a permanent federal solution.
LIBRE encourages the House to act swiftly and pass S. 269 to strengthen program integrity and protect hardworking taxpayers.
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Original text here: https://thelibreinitiative.com/press-releases/vote-yes-because-dead-people-shouldnt-receive-checks/
Study Links Burn Pit Smoke Exposure to Increased Lung Particle Burden in Post-9/11 Veterans
DENVER, Colorado, Jan. 13 -- National Jewish Health, a respiratory hospital, issued the following news release:
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Study Links Burn Pit Smoke Exposure to Increased Lung Particle Burden in Post-9/11 Veterans
A new study led by researchers at National Jewish Health provides quantitative evidence linking burn pit smoke exposure during military deployment to increases in harmful carbon-based particles in the lungs of post-9/11 veterans with distal lung disease.
The study, published in Scientific Reports(Opens in a new window), analyzed lung tissue from deployed veterans using a novel quantitative
... Show Full Article
DENVER, Colorado, Jan. 13 -- National Jewish Health, a respiratory hospital, issued the following news release:
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Study Links Burn Pit Smoke Exposure to Increased Lung Particle Burden in Post-9/11 Veterans
A new study led by researchers at National Jewish Health provides quantitative evidence linking burn pit smoke exposure during military deployment to increases in harmful carbon-based particles in the lungs of post-9/11 veterans with distal lung disease.
The study, published in Scientific Reports(Opens in a new window), analyzed lung tissue from deployed veterans using a novel quantitativemicroscopy technique that measures particulate matter directly within lung samples. Researchers found that veterans with deployment-related lung disease had significantly higher levels of anthracotic (carbon-based) pigment in their lungs compared to healthy controls, and that this burden was strongly associated with reported exposure to burn pit smoke.
"Burn pits were widely used during post-9/11 military operations, yet linking specific inhalational exposures to long-term lung disease has been challenging," said Cecile S. Rose, MD, MPH, senior author of the study and a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health. "This study provides objective, tissue-based evidence that burn pit smoke exposure leaves a measurable impact in the lungs that may contribute to disease development."
Researchers examined surgical lung biopsy samples from 24 post-9/11 veterans with deployment-related lung disease, comparing them with samples from smokers with respiratory bronchiolitis and from healthy controls. Using a validated quantitative microscopy for particulate matter (QM-PM) technique, investigators measured two key indicators of exposure: anthracotic pigment fraction, reflecting retained carbon-based particles from combustion sources, and birefringent dust density, indicating retained silica and silicate particles.
After adjusting for age, veterans (who were mainly non-smokers) with lung disease had anthracotic pigment levels similar to smokers with respiratory bronchiolitis and more than three times higher than healthy controls. Importantly, these higher pigment levels were significantly associated with reported burn pit smoke exposure, but not with sandstorms or diesel exhaust.
"This approach allows us to move beyond self-reported exposure histories and directly measure what remains in the lung tissue," said Jeremy T. Hua, MD, MPH, lead author of the study. "The strong association between burn pit smoke exposure and anthracotic particle burden is particularly compelling."
Lung diseases, including bronchiolitis and emphysema, affect the small airways and alveoli and are increasingly recognized among previously deployed service members. While prior studies have identified elevated mineral dust in some veterans' lungs, this study highlights the potential role of carbonaceous particles from burn pit smoke in disease pathogenesis.
"These findings help clarify how complex deployment-related exposures may translate into lasting lung injury," Hua said. "They also underscore the importance of continued research, monitoring, and care for veterans experiencing unexplained respiratory symptoms."
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National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation delivering excellence in multispecialty care and world class research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of children and adults with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit njhealth.org or the media resources page.
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Original text here: https://www.nationaljewish.org/about-us/news/press-releases/2026-news/study-links-burn-pit-smoke-exposure-to-increased-lung-particle-burden-in-post-9-11-veterans
[Category: Health Care]
People Over Billionaire Profit - United We Dream Demands Investment in the Lives of Working People
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- United We Dream issued the following news release:
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People Over Billionaire Profit! United We Dream Demands Investment in the Lives of Working People
At a time when millions across the country are struggling to afford basic food, health care, and housing, the unconstitutional military operation in Venezuela puts billionaire interests above those of working families
Contact: press@unitedwedream.org
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Following the administration's unconstitutional military operation and bombing in Venezuela, United We Dream released the following statement calling for an immediate
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- United We Dream issued the following news release:
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People Over Billionaire Profit! United We Dream Demands Investment in the Lives of Working People
At a time when millions across the country are struggling to afford basic food, health care, and housing, the unconstitutional military operation in Venezuela puts billionaire interests above those of working families
Contact: press@unitedwedream.org
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Following the administration's unconstitutional military operation and bombing in Venezuela, United We Dream released the following statement calling for an immediateend to U.S. occupation abroad and, instead, the restoration of health and child care subsidies for the millions of working families in the U.S.:
"What is unfolding in Venezuela is a deliberate, violent, and deeply unconstitutional power grab meant to enrich billionaire oil tycoons in the United States at the expense of millions of working people deeply struggling to survive. In fact, the oppressive regime in Venezuela, remains in place and is ratcheting up its repression of Venezuelans.
"As 2026 arrived, millions across the U.S. watched as their health care subsidies expired, with costs expected to jump by over 100% over the course of the year, driving more families into debt and poverty. Just this week, the administration slashed another $10 billion from child care subsidies and social services for low-income working families. All the while, billions of our taxpayer dollars are wasted to wage wars abroad and horror against immigrants and their US citizen allies here at home. Instead of unconstitutional military action abroad to access foreign resources, our government should be focused on making life affordable for the many working families who can't even afford groceries.
"We have seen this pattern of U.S. occupation before, from Iraq to Afghanistan to Venezuela, and so many of us have experienced its impact of instability, displacement, and human suffering at home and abroad. This moment demands leaders at all levels to put the lives of working people first."
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United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation; made up of a multi-racial and multi-ethnic network of 1.2 million members, over 100 local groups, and a reach of over 5 million per month. UWD's vision is to push for just policies that allow everyone to thrive regardless of immigration status. United We Dream is fighting for a multi-racial democracy that works for everyone by building a movement of young people who organize and advocate for the dignity and justice of immigrants and communities of color. You can find more at www.unitedwedream.org.
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Original text here: https://unitedwedream.org/press/people-over-billionaire-profit-united-we-dream-demands-investment-in-the-lives-of-working-people/
[Category: Political]
Paralyzed Veterans of America Launches Free Online Fitness and Wellness Program for Veterans With Mobility Challenges
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Paralyzed Veterans of America issued the following news on Jan. 12, 2026:
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Paralyzed Veterans of America Launches Free Online Fitness and Wellness Program for Veterans with Mobility Challenges
Paralyzed Veterans of America launched its Online Fitness + Wellness Program last week, a free new virtual adaptive fitness and wellness program powered by Warrior Strong.
Designed specifically for veterans living with spinal cord injuries and diseases such as multiple sclerosis MS and ALS and their caregivers, this dynamic program offers up to nine weekly classes designed
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Paralyzed Veterans of America issued the following news on Jan. 12, 2026:
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Paralyzed Veterans of America Launches Free Online Fitness and Wellness Program for Veterans with Mobility Challenges
Paralyzed Veterans of America launched its Online Fitness + Wellness Program last week, a free new virtual adaptive fitness and wellness program powered by Warrior Strong.
Designed specifically for veterans living with spinal cord injuries and diseases such as multiple sclerosis MS and ALS and their caregivers, this dynamic program offers up to nine weekly classes designedto improve strength, endurance, and hand-eye coordination. Beyond physical fitness, participants gain access to meditation and breathwork sessions that foster stress management and mental health relief. By combining adaptive exercise with holistic wellness practices, the PVA Online Fitness + Wellness Program delivers a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation that enhances resilience and quality of life for disabled veterans across the country.
"By removing accessibility barriers to fitness and wellness and meeting veterans where they are in their fitness and wellness journey, we are not only helping to improve mental and physical fitness, but we are also cultivating a community of mutual support and connection," said Fabio Villarroel, PVA Senior Director of Sports and Recreation. "Warrior Strong's expertise in adaptive fitness and their deep understanding of the veteran community make them the ideal organization to help bring this exciting new program to life."
In addition to the online offerings, veterans are invited to drop in at the Warrior Strong facility in Scranton, Pennsylvania or Morris County, New Jersey, to join classes in person.
"At Warrior Strong, we are dedicated to helping veterans reconnect with their physical, mental, and emotional strength," said Tom Vice, CEO and Founder of Warrior Strong. "Working with PVA allows us to expand that mission even further, by ensuring that every veteran, no matter their mobility level, has access to the tools and community they need to thrive."
Veterans and their caregivers are invited to view the full class schedule and register to begin their fitness and wellness journey today. To learn more, visit: pva.org/sports-recreation/online-programs.
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About Paralyzed Veterans of America
Paralyzed Veterans of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or diseases. The organization ensures veterans receive the benefits earned through service to our nation; monitors their care in VA spinal cord injury units; and funds research and education in the search for a cure and improved care for individuals with paralysis.
As a life-long partner and advocate for veterans and all people with disabilities, PVA also develops training and career services, works to ensure accessibility in public buildings and spaces, and provides health and rehabilitation opportunities through sports and recreation. With more than 70 offices and 33 chapters, Paralyzed Veterans of America serves veterans, their families, and their caregivers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Learn more at PVA.org.
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Original text here: https://pva.org/news-and-media-center/recent-news/paralyzed-veterans-of-america-launches-free-online-fitness-and-wellness-program-for-veterans-with-mobility-challenges/
[Category: Political]
ICYMI: Maria Lazar Reiterates Anti-Abortion Agenda, Talks Support for Banning Abortion in Wisconsin
MONONA, Wisconsin, Jan. 13 -- A Better Wisconsin Together, a state-based research and communications hub for progressives, posted the following news release on Jan. 12, 2026:
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ICYMI: Maria Lazar Reiterates Anti-Abortion Agenda, Talks Support for Banning Abortion in Wisconsin
Lazar confirmed her opposition to abortion rights and discussed the possibility of a new abortion ban in Wisconsin
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MADISON, Wis. - Right-wing judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar has once again been caught spewing an anti-abortion agenda. At a recent event, Lazar confirmed her opposition to abortion
... Show Full Article
MONONA, Wisconsin, Jan. 13 -- A Better Wisconsin Together, a state-based research and communications hub for progressives, posted the following news release on Jan. 12, 2026:
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ICYMI: Maria Lazar Reiterates Anti-Abortion Agenda, Talks Support for Banning Abortion in Wisconsin
Lazar confirmed her opposition to abortion rights and discussed the possibility of a new abortion ban in Wisconsin
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MADISON, Wis. - Right-wing judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar has once again been caught spewing an anti-abortion agenda. At a recent event, Lazar confirmed her opposition to abortionrights and discussed the possibility of a new abortion ban in Wisconsin, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites want safe and legal abortion access in the Badger State.
A Better Wisconsin Together Communications Director Lucy Ripp said while Lazar's latest public comments on abortion are vile, out of touch, and disappointing, they're not surprising.
"From her many on-the-record anti-abortion comments, to endorsements from Wisconsin's most radical and extreme anti-abortion groups, this is sadly nothing new from Maria Lazar," Ripp said.
In a media interview from October 2025, Lazar said she believes the overturning of Roe v. Wade - which left Wisconsinites without safe or legal abortion care for months - was, "very wise."
In that same interview, Lazar went on to imply how she may have ruled on a case preventing the use of an 1849 law as a near total abortion ban in Wisconsin, saying of a one-vote majority decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, "I don't know that I would have been in the majority on that case ..."
In fact, Lazar's anti-abortion extremism is so strong that it earned her endorsements from two of Wisconsin's most radical anti-abortion groups, Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Right to Life.
Pro-Life Wisconsin's agenda includes banning all abortions in Wisconsin with no exceptions. They also support amending the Wisconsin constitution to, as experts have said, ban IVF and most common forms of birth control, a stance that Wisconsinites have time and time again said they disagree with.
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A Better Wisconsin Together is a state-based research and communications hub for progressives and is an affiliate of ProgressNow.
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Original text here: https://abetterwisconsin.org/icymi-maria-lazar-reiterates-anti-abortion-agenda-talks-support-for-banning-abortion-in-wisconsin/
[Category: Economics]
ATR Urges Lawmakers to Oppose Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following news on Jan. 12, 2026:
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ATR Urges Lawmakers to Oppose Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act
By Isabelle Marchese
Today, ATR President Grover Norquist sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to oppose H.R.4282, the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act. This bill would eliminate automated phone prescription verification, which guarantees that bad actors cannot refuse to verify prescriptions.
The removal of this protection would hurt the contact lens market, which has become
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following news on Jan. 12, 2026:
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ATR Urges Lawmakers to Oppose Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act
By Isabelle Marchese
Today, ATR President Grover Norquist sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to oppose H.R.4282, the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act. This bill would eliminate automated phone prescription verification, which guarantees that bad actors cannot refuse to verify prescriptions.
The removal of this protection would hurt the contact lens market, which has becomemore accessible, convenient, and affordable due to steps taken to ensure consumer freedom.
To read the letter, click here (https://atr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1-12-26-ATR-Contact-Lens-Rule-Letter.pdf) or see below.
January 12th, 2026
Dear Members of Congress:
I write in opposition to H.R. 4282, the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act. This bill would eliminate automated phone prescription verification, which guarantees that bad actors cannot refuse to verify prescriptions, thus preventing their patients from buying lenses from other retailers.
This kind of verification is one of the most effective ways to preserve competition. Reeling back this protection would hurt a market that has become more accessible, convenient, and affordable due to steps taken to ensure consumer freedom.
In 2003, President George W. Bush signed the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA) into law. The legislation required that optometrists provide patients with a copy of their prescription.
The FTC's Contact Lens Rule, built on the FCLCA, ensures that consumers have the freedom to purchase contact lenses from wherever they want, whether that is from their optometrists or from a third party. Specifically, the rule required optometrists to obtain signed acknowledgement from patients that they have received a copy of their prescription. It also continued to allow automated phone prescription verification, a feature of the FCLCA, which is one of the most effective ways to preserve competition and consumer freedom.
Rather than forcing a third-party retailer to wait indefinitely for a prescriber to verify the prescription, this requires the retailer to wait a full business day (eight hours) before fulfilling a consumer's order.
H.R. 4282 seeks to end this effective, efficient prescription verification option. This will open the door to bad actors who, before the FCLCA, would refuse to verify prescriptions in the hopes of preventing their patients from buying lenses from other retailers.
Contact lenses have become more accessible, convenient, and affordable because of these steps taken to ensure consumers have a multitude of choices - 45 million Americans now use contact lenses. To reel back the protections which transformed the contact lens marketplace for the better would be a mistake. All members of Congress should reject this legislation.
Onward,
Grover G. Norquist
President, Americans for Tax Reform
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Original text here: https://atr.org/atr-urges-lawmakers-to-oppose-contact-lens-prescription-verification-modernization-act/
[Category: Political]
