Foundation for Government Accountability

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Foundation for Government Accountability
Founder(s)Tarren Bragdon
Established2011
FocusHealth care and welfare policy reform
PresidentTarren Bragdon
BudgetRevenue: $9,424,541
Expenses: $7,890,155
(FYE December 2018)[1]
Address15275 Collier Blvd.
Naples, FL 34119
Location
Naples, Florida[2]
,
United States
Coordinates26°16′19″N 81°41′27″W / 26.2719°N 81.6909°W / 26.2719; -81.6909Coordinates: 26°16′19″N 81°41′27″W / 26.2719°N 81.6909°W / 26.2719; -81.6909
Websitethefga.org

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is an American public policy think tank based in Naples, Florida. The nonprofit organization primarily focuses on welfare and health care reform at both the state and federal levels. FGA conducts policy research and its experts recommend free-market policies intended to promote work, reduce dependency, and increase opportunity. The organization was founded in 2011 by Tarren Bragdon, who now serves as FGA's CEO and president. The group's "emphasis on policy messaging and marketing...has differentiated the group from traditional think tanks."[3]

History[]

FGA was founded in 2011 by Tarren Bragdon, a former Maine legislator and past CEO of the Maine Heritage Policy Center. According to the organization, FGA was founded with a focus on policy reform in Florida, but adapted to a multi-state focus to implement reforms that reduce government dependency nationwide.

FGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FGA states that it is primarily funded by individuals, with the remaining funding coming from foundations and businesses. In 2011, the organization's income was $212,000 and in 2012 its funding grew to $731,000. By 2018, the organization's revenue was $9,424,541.[4]

FGA has a staff of 26. In 2017, the group had $7 million in revenue.[3]

Policy issues[]

Welfare reform[]

By studying and tracking the impact of different reforms, the FGA aims to describe what welfare policies have a demonstrable effect on the incomes and independence of people on welfare. The FGA conducted what describes itself as the first and most comprehensive study[5] of the impact of work requirements on able-bodied adults on food stamps in Kansas[6] and Maine.[7] The study concluded that incomes more than doubled within a year for those who transitioned out of the program, in contrast to other studies that found far more modest or even negative gains after comparable programs imposed time limits or means-testing.[8]

FGA supports work requirements tied to food stamps. The organization advocated for welfare changes in several different states before beginning to advocate for changes at a federal level in 2017. FGA supports legislation that would require able-bodied individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 to work or attend training programs for 20 hours each week in order to receive benefits.[3]

Medicaid expansion[]

Blocking Medicaid expansion has been a longtime project of the FGA, as it sees Medicaid spending under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, as unsustainable, threatening both state budgets and the services provided to traditional Medicaid patients.[9] One study[10] developed a measure of "right-wing network strength" based on activity by organizations including the FGA, and found via linear regression that this measure was a statistically significant factor in whether or not a state expanded the program.

Stop the Scam[]

Stop the Scam is a FGA campaign encouraging states to partner with third-party vendors to verify correct filing for public programs like Medicare and Medicaid.[11]

Right to Shop[]

Right to Shop is an FGA proposal for a mechanism[12] incentivizing patients to shop for health care services based on price and perceived value. It is based on existing programs, including a Massachusetts price transparency component[13] and New Hampshire's Smart Shopper program.[14][15]

References[]

  1. ^ "Quickview data". GuideStar.
  2. ^ Wemple, Erik (January 28, 2014). "MSNBC's Rachel Maddow recommits to her slam on Koch brothers". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Dewey, Caitlin (May 18, 2018). "They're the think tank pushing for welfare work requirements. Republicans say they're experts. Economists call it 'junk science.'". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  4. ^ "FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INC - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  5. ^ "Report: The Power of Work – How Kansas' Welfare Reform is Lifting Americans Out of Poverty". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  6. ^ "Gov. Sam Brownback: Commonsense welfare reform is working in Kansas". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  7. ^ "Kansas Reduced Poverty by Requiring Work for Food Stamps". The Daily Signal. 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  8. ^ Robert A Moffitt. "From Welfare to Work: What the Evidence Shows". Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  9. ^ "Stop Medicaid Expansion". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  10. ^ Hertel-Fernandez, Alexander (April 2016). "Business Associations, Conservative Networks, and the Ongoing Republican War over Medicaid Expansion" (PDF). Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. 41 (2): 239–86. doi:10.1215/03616878-3476141. PMID 26732316. Retrieved 2016-08-01 – via Duke Journals.
  11. ^ "Stop Fraud". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  12. ^ "Real Health Care Reform: Right to Shop". Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  13. ^ "Price Tags On Health Care? Only In Massachusetts". 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  14. ^ "Vitals SmartShopper Program, State of New Hampshire Human Resources". das.nh.gov. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  15. ^ "Episode 655: Pay Patients, Save Money". Retrieved 2016-08-01.

External links[]

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