In Montana, retired Republican state legislator Cary Smith, who worked w/ #FGA, said…, "They offer a buffet of options. Their agenda is making government accountable; it's in the name."

He said besides drafting #legislation, FGA provides talking points & data to help policymakers support their arguments.

"They would go in & would say, 'This is what #Medicaid *fraud* is costing us,'" Smith said. "That would be the number you'd want to use in your bill."

In the states, #FGA has become known as a #conservative "thought leader," said Brian Colby, VP of #PublicPolicy for Missouri Budget Project, a #progressive nonprofit that provides analysis of #state #policy issues.

"Conservatives used to try to chop away at the #federal #budget," Colby said. "These guys are doing it at the state level."

In its 14 yrs, FGA has created a playbook to shape state policy discussions about #PublicBenefits behind the scenes.

#RFKJr's agenda now echoes some of #FGA's key messages, & he has said states can expect approval of their waivers. Meanwhile, congressional leaders are eyeing nationwide #Medicaid cuts & #work requirements, which FGA considers among its major issues. The foundation also has a connection working inside the administration: Its former #policy director, Sam Adolphsen, was tapped to advise #Trump on #domestic matters.

Part of #FGA's strategy is to pass #legislation #state by state, with the idea that the crush of new #laws will increase pressure on the #FederalGovernment. For example, states can't limit what #food is purchased through #SNAP without federal approval through a waiver process. And in the past, some of FGA's efforts have stalled because states never got that approval.

The same year, the #FGA helped pass #SNAP restrictions affecting eligibility in #Iowa. Since those restrictions have taken effect, the #FoodBank of Iowa has seen a record number of people show up at its pantries amid rising #grocery #prices & a scaling back of #COVID pandemic-era federal #support, said Annette Hacker, a VP at the nonprofit.

In recent years, the nonprofit #FGA helped draft a 2017 #Mississippi #law, the Jackson Free Press found, which intensified eligibility checks for #public #aid that made it more difficult for some applicants to qualify. It successfully pushed a 2023 effort in #Idaho to impose #work requirements for #food #benefits that #healthcare advocates said led some recipients to lose access.

The main foundation started out as a staff of 3 w/about $60k in the bank. As of 2023, it had a budget of >$15M & a team of roughly 64, acc/to the latest available tax documents, & that's not counting the lobbying arm.

The #FGA got early funding from a grant from the State Policy Network, which has long backed right-leaning think tanks with ties to #conservative activists including brothers Charles & David #Koch.

Now, #FGA sees more room for change under the #Trump admin & the #RFKJr-led *#health* dept, calling 2025 a "window of opportunity for major reform," according to its latest annual report.

https://thefga.org/about-us/annual-reports/

Tarren Bragdon, a fmr Maine legislator, founded FGA in 2011 to promote policies to "free millions from government dependency & open the doors for them to chase their own American Dream," he said in a [BS] statement on FGA's website.

#FGA's proposals often seek to limit who taps into that #aid & the help they receive. Those backing the group's mission say the goal is to save tax dollars & help people lift themselves out of poverty. Critics argue that FGA's proposals are a backdoor way to cut off aid to people who need it & that making #healthy #food & #healthcare more affordable is a better fix.

#FGA has worked for more than a decade to reshape the nation's #PublicAssistance programs. That includes #SNAP, formerly known as #FoodStamps, which federal data shows helps an average of 42M people afford food each month. It also advocates for ways to cut #Medicaid, the federal-state program that connects 71M people to subsidized #healthcare, including efforts in Idaho & Montana this year.

@TonyStark I’m a #Texas voter. #FGA