Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Save the Sound Sets Legislative Agenda for Second Session of 119th Congress
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Jan. 9 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release:
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Save the Sound sets legislative agenda for second session of 119th Congress
Reauthorization and funding of Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act, National Estuary Program remain top priorities
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As the second session of the 119th U.S. Congress gavels to a start, Save the Sound is focused on legislation that reauthorizes the Long Island Sound Partnership and National Estuary Program and robust funding for both programs in Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027.
The Long Island Sound Partnership, formerly
... Show Full Article
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Jan. 9 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release:
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Save the Sound sets legislative agenda for second session of 119th Congress
Reauthorization and funding of Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act, National Estuary Program remain top priorities
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As the second session of the 119th U.S. Congress gavels to a start, Save the Sound is focused on legislation that reauthorizes the Long Island Sound Partnership and National Estuary Program and robust funding for both programs in Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027.
The Long Island Sound Partnership, formerlythe Long Island Sound Study, is a collaborative effort involving the federal government and state and local governments, researchers, user groups, and other concerned organizations and individuals working together to protect and improve the health of the Sound.
The National Estuary Program was established in 1987 under the Clean Water Act to address threats facing estuaries across the country. It is an EPA place-based program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. Long Island Sound is one of the 28 designated NEPs, and the Partnership is tasked with developing and implementing a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) to guide its efforts to protect and restore the Long Island Sound.
Both federal programs are essential to the continued restoration and protection of Long Island Sound and support efforts to implement the recently adopted CCMP.
In the House, the American Water Stewardship Act (H.R. 6422) reauthorizes both programs through FY2031 and was voted favorably out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on December 18, 2025.
In the Senate, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act of 2025 (S. 781) reauthorizes the Long Island Sound Partnership, and ESTUARIES Act of 2025 (S. 2063) reauthorizes the National Estuary Program.
"These programs support and empower the many collaborative efforts devoted to the continued restoration and stewardship of Long Island Sound. And this critical federal funding enables groups to monitor and protect water quality, reduce nitrogen pollution stemming from stormwater runoff and sewage treatment plants, restore vital coastal habitat, strengthen resilience in the face of rising seas and extreme weather fueled by climate change, and ensure that this estuary of national significance continues to be an economic engine for the region," said Denise Stranko, executive vice president of programs at Save the Sound. "We will continue to stress the urgency of quick, decisive action to reauthorize these programs. We thank Rep. LaLota for co-sponsoring H.R. 6422, Rep. Courtney for co-sponsoring a prior bill reauthorizing the Partnership, and Minority Leader Schumer and Senators Gillibrand, Blumenthal, and Murphy, who are the sponsors on S. 781. We look forward to the bipartisan, bicameral support of our champions in Congress who recognize how essential these programs are for a healthy Long Island Sound, and to final passage of these bills in the 119th Congress."
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Original text here: https://www.savethesound.org/2026/01/06/press-release-save-the-sound-sets-legislative-agenda-for-second-session-of-119th-congress/?_thumbnail_id=32847
[Category: Environment]
Savage Gulf State Park Expanded by 670 Ecologically Significant Acres
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 9 -- The Nature Conservancy posted the following news:
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Savage Gulf State Park Expanded by 670 Ecologically Significant Acres
In the fall of 2024, TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, and The Conservation Fund successfully acquired 670 acres of ecologically significant, forested land adjacent to Savage Gulf State Park in Grundy County. This collaborative conservation achievement has now taken its final step: the land has been officially transferred to the State of Tennessee, where it will be permanently managed as part of Savage Gulf
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 9 -- The Nature Conservancy posted the following news:
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Savage Gulf State Park Expanded by 670 Ecologically Significant Acres
In the fall of 2024, TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, and The Conservation Fund successfully acquired 670 acres of ecologically significant, forested land adjacent to Savage Gulf State Park in Grundy County. This collaborative conservation achievement has now taken its final step: the land has been officially transferred to the State of Tennessee, where it will be permanently managed as part of Savage GulfState Park.
We are deeply grateful to the following partners and supporters whose visionary funding made this project possible: the Open Space Institute, the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, the Lyndhurst Foundation, Mary Lynn Dobson, Carolyn & Jack Long, and the Friends of South Cumberland State Parks.
"This project is a powerful example of what we can achieve through conservation partnerships. It builds on the legacy of our very first land protection effort in Tennessee, within what is now Savage Gulf State Park, and continues our commitment to safeguarding ecologically rich landscapes and expanding one of the Southeast's most scenic public lands," said Laurel Creech, Tennessee State Director for The Nature Conservancy.
The newly protected 670 acres rest within the Middle Cumberland Plateau Conservation Opportunity Area, a region identified in the Tennessee State Wildlife Action Plan as having exceptional habitat value.
The property also contains more than one mile of streams, which flow directly into the Collins State Scenic River. The portion of the river within Savage Gulf State Park is designated a Class II Pastoral River Area, a legal status given to free-flowing, unpolluted waterways where agricultural and recreational uses harmoniously coexist with public enjoyment and ecological protection.
"We are pleased to work with TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and The Conservation Fund on a successful project which is focused on important sensitive lands and waters in Tennessee. The protection of these lands adjacent to the Savage Gulf State Park will benefit Tennesseans for decades while promoting biodiversity, recreation, and watershed protection," lauded Wayne Anthony, Timberland Investment Resources' Senior Investment Forester.
"Savage Gulf is yet another feather in the cap of Tennessee's world-class state park system," Zachary Lesch-Huie, Tennessee state director for The Conservation Fund, added. "This new park safeguards wildlife habitat and an unparalleled river ecosystem for the benefit of folks across the Volunteer state, and I'm proud of the role The Conservation Fund played in bringing it to life.
Numerous rare species have been documented on or near the property, including the wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum) and the eastern slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus).
Additionally, the endangered white fringeless orchid (Platanthera integrilabia) and yellow crested orchid (Platanthera cristata) have been documented on the tract. Notably, Savage Gulf State Park is home to one of the largest remaining populations of white fringeless orchid. By securing this property, we are ensuring that these species--and many others-- can continue to thrive in the wild, uninterrupted by development or fragmentation.
Friends of South Cumberland State Parks is also proud to have been a collaborator in this "Tangible expression of our mission, 'To protect, improve, and expand the state parks of the South Cumberland Plateau, and to educate and inspire others to join in this work," added Ned Murray, Executive Director of Friends of South Cumberland State Parks. "We are grateful to TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, and The Conservation Fund for their leadership."
Located in Grundy and Sequatchie counties, Savage Gulf became a Tennessee State Park in September 2022 after separating from South Cumberland State Park to allow for more concise management. This world-class park features some of Tennessee's most scenic wilderness areas, including the nearly 19,000-acre Savage Gulf State Natural Area alongside the Great Stone Door area.
"The Open Space Institute is proud to help expand Savage Gulf State Park by 670 acres, ensuring that this ecologically rich landscape remains protected for generations to come," said Joel Houser, OSI's Director of Capital Grants. "This project reflects OSI's commitment to climate resilience and connectivity--two critical factors for safeguarding wildlife and water resources in the face of a changing climate."
By incorporating this property into Tennessee's world-class park system, "We are investing in long-term ecological health and creating opportunities for people to experience and enjoy these remarkable lands," Houser continued.
This expansion of Savage Gulf State Park reaffirms the power of partnership in conserving Tennessee's natural legacy. With this addition, more habitat is protected, more watersheds are secured, and more opportunities for outdoor recreation are made possible. Together, we continue to build a resilient, connected landscape--one that will enrich the lives of Tennesseans today and far into the future.
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TennGreen Land Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit and the oldest accredited statewide land conservancy in Tennessee. TennGreen's mission is to conserve land where people and nature can thrive. Through sound science and partnerships, TennGreen identifies and conserves land across Tennessee for wildlife corridors, critical habitat, and public benefit. TennGreen protects, cares for, and connects people with Tennessee's natural world by providing meaningful outdoor experiences, establishing conservation easements, supporting restoration efforts, and acquiring (or assisting in the acquisition of) privately held land.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters, and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably, and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners.
The Conservation Fund protects the land that sustains us all. We are in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for climate protection, vibrant communities, and sustainable economies. We apply effective strategies, efficient financing approaches, and enduring government, community and private partnerships to protect millions of acres of America's natural land, cultural sites, recreation areas, and working forests and farms.
The Open Space Institute is a national leader in land conservation and efforts to make parks and other protected land more welcoming for all. Since 1974, OSI has partnered in the protection of more than 2.5 million at-risk and environmentally sensitive acres in the eastern U.S. OSI's land protection promotes clean air and water, improves access to recreation, provides wildlife habitat, strengthens communities, and combats the devastating impacts of extreme weather.
Funder credit:
The Open Space Institute's Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund (ALPF) is made possible with a lead grant from the Doris Duke Foundation and with significant support from the Lyndhurst Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Riverview Foundation, Tucker Foundation, Lookout Foundation, Footprint Foundation, Anonymous Foundation (2), as well as other foundations and individuals.
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The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/expanding-savage-gulf-state-park/
[Category: Environment]
Libertarian Debate: Contrasting Libertarian Views on Medical Aid in Dying Legislation
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The CATO Institute issued the following news release:
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Libertarian Debate: Contrasting Libertarian Views on Medical Aid in Dying Legislation
In a recent op-ed, Cato Institute scholar Dr. Jeffrey Singer wrote about his perspective on New York's pending legalization of Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) through a conventional libertarian argument. However, Cato Institute legal scholar Matthew Cavedon offers a different libertarian viewpoint, writing in part:
"As libertarian thinker Murray Rothbard wrote, no one can 'rid himself of his own will, which may change in future years,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The CATO Institute issued the following news release:
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Libertarian Debate: Contrasting Libertarian Views on Medical Aid in Dying Legislation
In a recent op-ed, Cato Institute scholar Dr. Jeffrey Singer wrote about his perspective on New York's pending legalization of Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) through a conventional libertarian argument. However, Cato Institute legal scholar Matthew Cavedon offers a different libertarian viewpoint, writing in part:
"As libertarian thinker Murray Rothbard wrote, no one can 'rid himself of his own will, which may change in future years,and repudiate the current arrangement.'
"For me, that's the crux of the matter: libertarianism accepts certain guardrails on people's present liberty in order to preserve their future liberty, and it's entirely consistent with that principle to oppose the legalization of MAiD."
To speak with Cavedon further about the legalization of MAiD, contact Christopher Tarvardian.
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Original text here: https://www.cato.org/news-releases/libertarian-debate-contrasting-libertarian-views-medical-aid-dying-legislation#
[Category: Sociological]
Consumer Reports Statement on New York Attorney General Inquiry Into Instacart's Algorithmic Pricing Experiments
YONKERS, New York, Jan. 9 (TNSrep) -- Consumer Reports posted the following news release:
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Consumer Reports statement on New York Attorney General inquiry into Instacart's algorithmic pricing experiments
Following a joint report (https://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/instacart-ai-pricing-experiment-inflating-grocery-bills-a1142182490/) by Consumer Reports, Groundwork Collaborative, and More Perfect Union revealing that Instacart conducted AI-driven pricing experiments on unsuspecting shoppers, the New York Attorney General sent a letter today to the company
... Show Full Article
YONKERS, New York, Jan. 9 (TNSrep) -- Consumer Reports posted the following news release:
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Consumer Reports statement on New York Attorney General inquiry into Instacart's algorithmic pricing experiments
Following a joint report (https://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/instacart-ai-pricing-experiment-inflating-grocery-bills-a1142182490/) by Consumer Reports, Groundwork Collaborative, and More Perfect Union revealing that Instacart conducted AI-driven pricing experiments on unsuspecting shoppers, the New York Attorney General sent a letter today to the companydemanding more information about its price-setting tactics. New York's recent Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act requires companies to clearly and conspicuously state when they are using consumers' personal data to affect prices.
The joint report found that many U.S. shoppers who ordered grocery pickup and delivery through Instacart were unknowingly enrolled in AI-enabled experiments that could charge up to 23% more for the same item ordered from the same store at the same time. The average price variations observed in the study could cost a household of four about $1,200 per year. While Instacart announced in a company blog post on December 22 that it was ending its customer experiments on "item prices," the New York Attorney General is seeking more detailed information from the company.
"We welcome the New York Attorney General's investigation into Instacart's hidden AI pricing tactics," said Justin Brookman, director of marketplace policy at Consumer Reports. "This move is an important step in holding the company accountable and sends a clear warning to others. We urge regulators and policymakers across the country to take a closer look at how these AI experiments impact consumers."
Following the publication of the joint investigation, U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego announced the introduction of the "One Fair Price Act," which would prevent companies from using consumers' personal data to set individualized prices. Separately, in Pennsylvania, a state senator cited the report in announcing plans to introduce similar legislation that would prohibit "surveillance pricing," the use of personal data or demographic information, shopping history, and buyer behavior to set prices.
Additionally, at least 12 members of Congress followed suit with formal letters to Instacart and the FTC, which regulates U.S. grocery stores. The ranking member of the House Committee on Agriculture, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig sent a letter to Instacart, reiterating the report findings and requesting answers from the company regarding its pricing practices by mid-January. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a separate letter to the FTC, requesting that the agency investigate the company. A group of four House members known as the "Monopoly Busters Caucus" sent yet another letter to the FTC.
Seven senior senators have called on the FTC to investigate Instacart's pricing strategies. This comes as Reuters reports that the commission is officially probing the company's use of AI-driven pricing tools.
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Original text here: https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/consumer-reports-statement-on-new-york-attorney-general-inquiry-into-instacarts-algorithmic-pricing-experiments/
[Category: Business]
Brady Responds to ICE Officer's Shooting of Minneapolis Resident
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on Jan. 7, 2026:
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Brady Responds to ICE Officer's Shooting of Minneapolis Resident
U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot in the head in view of multiple bystanders, including many with camera phones
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Today, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, one of the 2000 recently sent to the area by President Trump without request by Minneapolis or Minnesota authorities, shot and killed 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good. This is at least the fifth death since the Trump
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on Jan. 7, 2026:
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Brady Responds to ICE Officer's Shooting of Minneapolis Resident
U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot in the head in view of multiple bystanders, including many with camera phones
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Today, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, one of the 2000 recently sent to the area by President Trump without request by Minneapolis or Minnesota authorities, shot and killed 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good. This is at least the fifth death since the Trumpadministration launched its aggressive deportation crackdown.
Brady has repeatedly stipulated that police violence is gun violence. The presence of a firearm is proven to heighten tensions and exacerbate confrontations. This is particularly relevant within police interactions, in which there is already an inherently unequal power dynamic between officers and civilians.
President of Brady Kris Brown said:
"The killing of a US citizen today in Minneapolis is horrifying and deeply devastating, and my thoughts are with Renee's family and her community. Anyone who values freedom should be sickened to see a US citizen summarily shot by her own government on the streets of an American city. And in a country governed by the rule of law as the United States claims to be, citizens and noncitizens alike, have the right to due process and freedom from wanton, arbitrary, and lethal violence. We can and must do more to end police and law enforcement violence that too often leads to tragedies like today and provide accountability when agents act unlawfully."
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Brady has one powerful mission -- to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It's in our hands.
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Original text here: https://www.bradyunited.org/press/brady-responds-to-ice-officers-shooting-of-minneapolis-resident
[Category: Political]
Americans for Tax Reform: RSC Budget Builds on Historic Reforms to Protect Taxpayers and Empower Working Families
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary:
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RSC Budget Builds on Historic Reforms to Protect Taxpayers and Empower Working Families
By Rachel Loren
This week, Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Budget and Spending Task Force Chair Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) released the RSC FY2026 Budget, entitled "Restoring America's Golden Age."
The Budget provides a comprehensive roadmap to grow the economy, restore fiscal responsibility, and protect working families from higher taxes, government overreach, and wasteful spending.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary:
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RSC Budget Builds on Historic Reforms to Protect Taxpayers and Empower Working Families
By Rachel Loren
This week, Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Budget and Spending Task Force Chair Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) released the RSC FY2026 Budget, entitled "Restoring America's Golden Age."
The Budget provides a comprehensive roadmap to grow the economy, restore fiscal responsibility, and protect working families from higher taxes, government overreach, and wasteful spending.The RSC Budget builds on the historic legislative progress achieved in the past year.
The Budget demonstrates that free market policies and limited government deliver real results.
The Working Families Tax Cut Act
A central focus of the RSC Budget is its detailed overview of the progress achieved through the Working Families Tax Cut Act, also known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The Budget highlights how this legislation sealed pro-growth tax reforms that prevented the largest tax increase in history. Doing so, more money was put back into the pockets of working families.
Key successes include the permanent extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) income tax cuts, increasing the standard deduction, expanding the Child Tax Credit, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, and making full and immediate expensing permanent. These reforms provide certainty for families and businesses, boost wages, and strengthen competitiveness, without raising taxes or creating new federal spending programs.
Universal Savings Accounts and Long-Term Financial Security
The Budget promotes policies that help Americans save and build upon their wealth rather than grow dependent on government programs, The Budget endorses the creation of Universal Savings Accounts, which would allow families to save and invest their already-taxed income without facing additional taxation. These accounts enable Americans to plan for emergencies, education, homeownership, and retirement while reinforcing financial independence and individual responsibility
Repealing the Death Tax
The RSC Budget fully repeals the death tax. The punitive tax forces grieving families, farmers, and business owners to sell assets simply to satisfy the gluttonous IRS. Fully repealing the death tax will protect generational business, preserve family farms, and ends a tax that raises little revenue and destroys opportunity.
Codifying President Trump's Energy Agenda
Affordable and reliable energy is essential to economic growth and household affordability. Several bills highlighted in the Budget would codify President Trump's historic actions to unleash the American energy sector. The reforms would expand domestic production, streamline permitting, and restore coal, gas, mineral, and oil leasing. The Budget also calls for the rollback of Biden-era mandates that drove up prices and weakened grid reliability.
The RSC is embracing an energy strategy that lowers costs, strengthens national security, and ends corporate welfare disguised as climate policy.
Expanding HSAs and Promoting Medical Innovation
The Budget supports expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) which allow families to save more of their own money tax-free for medical expenses. HSAs increase consumer choice, reduce reliance on government-run healthcare, and promote price transparency.
In addition, the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act promotes medical innovation by modernizing regulatory pathways and ensures patients have access to cutting-edge treatments without unnecessary delays due to bureaucracy.
Protecting Retirement Savings and Ending Politically Driven Debanking
Growing threats to Americans' financial freedom is addressed by supporting reforms that rein in federal regulatory abuse.
For example, Rep. Rick Allen's (Ga.) Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires fiduciaries of employer-sponsored retirement plans to base investment decisions on financial returns only rather than environmental, social, or political considerations. This reform protects workers' retirement savings from being diverted to advance ideological agendas unrelated to maximizing returns.
Additionally, Rep. Andy Barr's (Ky.) Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act confronts the rise of politically motivated debanking. Under the Biden Administration, financial institutions had been increasingly pressured by regulators to deny services to business and individuals based on vague "reputational risk" standards. The FIRM Act would prohibit regulators from using subjective criteria, restoring fairness and guarantees that access to financial services cannot be weaponized by bureaucrats.
Fighting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
Federal programs require aggressive oversight to protect American taxpayers. The RSC includes targeted reforms in the Budget to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security. Measures include strengthening eligibility verification, oversight, and certifying that benefits go only to those who qualify for the programs.
In light of recent high-profile fraud cases, including massive Minnesota fraud schemes, these reforms are especially urgent. Low oversight can cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Safeguarding vulnerable populations begins with shielding taxpayer dollars.
Empowers Parents Through School Choice
Education decisions belong with parents, not the federal government or unions. The Budget promotes school choice policies that allow education funding to follow students rather than remain entrapped in a failing system. Expanding access to charter schools, educational savings accounts, and other choice-based systems families are empowered to select the learning environment best suited to their child's needs.
The RSC Budget prioritizes reforms that maximize value for both families and taxpayers. In promoting school choice, opportunity expands, educational outcomes improve, and respects the right of parents to direct their children's education.
Protecting Worker Freedom and Right-to-Work
The Budget takes a strong stand in defense of worker freedom by protecting right to work. No American should be forced to join or financially support a labor union as a condition of their employment. Workers should have the freedom to choose whether to support a union without coercion or penalty.
Right-to-Work laws are proven to support job growth, higher take-home pay, and increased economic opportunity. States with right-to-work legislation consistently attract more businesses and create more jobs, while forced-unionism states often see employers and employees alike pushed elsewhere. The Budget reinforces economic freedom and strengthens the labor market by defending right-to-work.
A Budget that Respects Taxpayers
The RSC FY2026 Budget proves that fiscal responsibility and economic growth are not mutually exclusive. The Budget locks in historic tax cuts, expands opportunities for saving and investment, repeals punitive taxes, unleashes American energy production, protects retirement savings, cracks down on waste and fraud, and defends worker and parental choice. The RSC presents a serious alternative to wasteful spending and regulatory nightmares.
Americans for Tax Reform applauds the Republican Study Committee for advancing a Budget that rewards hard work, protects American taxpayers, and reins in a federal government that has grown far beyond its role.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/rsc-budget-builds-on-historic-reforms-to-protect-taxpayers-and-empower-working-families/
[Category: Political]
A Better Wisconsin Together: Maria Lazar Continues Courting Right-Wing Extremists in Bid for Seat on Wisconsin Supreme Court
MONONA, Wisconsin, Jan. 9 -- A Better Wisconsin Together, a state-based research and communications hub for progressives, posted the following news release on Jan. 8, 2026:
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Maria Lazar Continues Courting Right-Wing Extremists in Bid for Seat on Wisconsin Supreme Court
Maria Lazar is doubling down on her alliance with election deniers and her extreme right-wing agenda
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MADISON, Wis. - Mere days after the fifth anniversary of MAGA Republicans' deadly January 6 attack, right-wing judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar is doubling down on her alliance with election deniers
... Show Full Article
MONONA, Wisconsin, Jan. 9 -- A Better Wisconsin Together, a state-based research and communications hub for progressives, posted the following news release on Jan. 8, 2026:
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Maria Lazar Continues Courting Right-Wing Extremists in Bid for Seat on Wisconsin Supreme Court
Maria Lazar is doubling down on her alliance with election deniers and her extreme right-wing agenda
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MADISON, Wis. - Mere days after the fifth anniversary of MAGA Republicans' deadly January 6 attack, right-wing judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar is doubling down on her alliance with election deniersand her extreme right-wing agenda, as she's set to appear tonight at an event hosted by the radical group Northeast Wisconsin (N.E.W.) Patriots.
Among their many out-of-touch and extreme right-wing beliefs, the N.E.W. Patriots group continues to deny the results of the 2020 Presidential election in Wisconsin. At past events, the group has featured the disgraced Michael Gableman, who endorsed Lazar in 2022 and recently agreed to surrender his law license after wasting more than $1 million taxpayer dollars leading Robin Vos' fruitless "investigation" into the 2020 election. The group has also led efforts attacking the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites.
The N.E.W. Patriots group also advertises itself as part of a larger coalition of right-wing groups in Wisconsin dedicated to increasing their political influence and imposing their views on state residents.
"Maria Lazar is actively and repeatedly courting the most extreme right-wing interests in Wisconsin," said Lucy Ripp, communications director at A Better Wisconsin Together. "Her actions show she'd be a proud pawn advancing MAGA and the extreme right-wing's unpopular agenda on the court, at the expense of our rights and freedoms."
Ripp noted that Lazar's most recent attempt to court the extreme right is part of a pattern of behavior, like late last year when Lazar was caught cozying up to infamous election denier Michael Flynn.
Ripp noted that there is much more. For example, on the campaign trail in 2022, Lazar featured the support not just of disgraced former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman but also former Trump campaign attorney Jim Troupis, who is facing felony charges related to his involvement in the fraudulent elector scheme and who attempted to throw out the presidential election votes of 220,000 voters in Dane and Milwaukee counties, and Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Bob Spindell, who was one of Wisconsin Republicans' fraudulent electors and who praised ads by the Republican Party meant to suppress BIPOC voters in Milwaukee.
Her 2022 electoral effort also got financial support from right-wing Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein, who funneled millions of dollars to groups directly connected to January 6, 2021 events in support of Donald Trump. Uihlein bankrolls the extremist right-wing group Fair Courts America (FCA), which dumped $250,000 into Lazar's court of appeals race.
Subsequently on the bench, Lazar authored a decision that would have given election conspiracists access to personal voter information. After reviewing Lazar's decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that Lazar had failed to follow proper court procedure in her decision, calling out Lazar's "patent violation" of precedent.
Ripp concluded by noting Lazar hasn't confined her extremism to courting January 6 conspirators and election deniers. She has been endorsed by a radical right-wing anti-abortion group that called for banning abortion in nearly all cases and another group said they supported Lazar for her no exceptions anti-abortion position. She also publicly expressed her support for leaders of an extremist group that has worked to ban books and prevent schools from teaching about the civil rights movement and slavery.
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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/maria-lazar-continues-courting-right-wing-extremists-in-bid-for-seat-on-wisconsin-supreme-court/
[Category: Economics]
