Alex Garlick
@garlicksauce.bsky.social
UVM prof. Author of "Pre-Existing Conditions: How Lobbying Makes American Health Care More Expensive." I research lobbying, legislatures and health policy. www.alexgarlick.com
Pinned
Alex Garlick
@garlicksauce.bsky.social
· Apr 14
How Lobbying Matters | Annual Reviews
For decades, political scientists have struggled to provide empirical evidence that lobbying influences policymaking. A considerable gap arose between widespread public suspicions of lobbying and the ...
www.annualreviews.org
Are lobbyists influential? The public sure thinks so, but applied political science since lobbying registration data emerged (late 90s) struggled to produce evidence that it does. In new review @wmjunk.bsky.social @heathbrown.bsky.social and I chart a wave of research showing that lobbying matters.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
As predicted, they’re going after the entire childhood vaccination schedule (second slide, from WaPo).
November 10, 2025 at 9:29 PM
As predicted, they’re going after the entire childhood vaccination schedule (second slide, from WaPo).
What a cursed institution
Without UC, remaining hurdles in the Senate:
– Up to 30 hours of debate
– Vote on adoption of the motion to proceed (simple majority)
– Wait two days
– Vote on cloture on the substitute amendment (60 votes)
– Up to 30 hours of debate
– Vote on adoption of the...
– Up to 30 hours of debate
– Vote on adoption of the motion to proceed (simple majority)
– Wait two days
– Vote on cloture on the substitute amendment (60 votes)
– Up to 30 hours of debate
– Vote on adoption of the...
November 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
What a cursed institution
2013: GOP shut down govt to DEFUND ACA
2025: Democrats shut down govt to FUND ACA
2013: GOP surrender after 17 days
2025: Democrats surrender after 37 days
2014: GOP +9(!!) in Sen, +13 in Hou
2026: ???
To change policy this was doomed from the start, and will be judged on electoral impact.
2025: Democrats shut down govt to FUND ACA
2013: GOP surrender after 17 days
2025: Democrats surrender after 37 days
2014: GOP +9(!!) in Sen, +13 in Hou
2026: ???
To change policy this was doomed from the start, and will be judged on electoral impact.
November 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
2013: GOP shut down govt to DEFUND ACA
2025: Democrats shut down govt to FUND ACA
2013: GOP surrender after 17 days
2025: Democrats surrender after 37 days
2014: GOP +9(!!) in Sen, +13 in Hou
2026: ???
To change policy this was doomed from the start, and will be judged on electoral impact.
2025: Democrats shut down govt to FUND ACA
2013: GOP surrender after 17 days
2025: Democrats surrender after 37 days
2014: GOP +9(!!) in Sen, +13 in Hou
2026: ???
To change policy this was doomed from the start, and will be judged on electoral impact.
The local story I'd like to read is why was the Senate Shutdown Surrender™️ engineered by an unlikely trio of New England Senator?
November 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The local story I'd like to read is why was the Senate Shutdown Surrender™️ engineered by an unlikely trio of New England Senator?
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Remember that insurance is actually a thing you hope never to use, and then read this critique.
November 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Remember that insurance is actually a thing you hope never to use, and then read this critique.
I've got great news for you if you'd like the shutdown to be extended. This is going to take the Senate DAYS to sort out and then Mike Johnson has to do some actual speakering, likely without Dem. support.
November 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I've got great news for you if you'd like the shutdown to be extended. This is going to take the Senate DAYS to sort out and then Mike Johnson has to do some actual speakering, likely without Dem. support.
The dissension in Democratic ranks today can be traced back to launching the shutdown over the "Subsidies for ACA Individual Exchanges." Policy wise, are the subsidies themselves as important as the consequences the shutdown has now presented (SNAP and airline chaos)? I'd argue no.
November 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The dissension in Democratic ranks today can be traced back to launching the shutdown over the "Subsidies for ACA Individual Exchanges." Policy wise, are the subsidies themselves as important as the consequences the shutdown has now presented (SNAP and airline chaos)? I'd argue no.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
7) If it were me, I wouldn't agree to fund the FSGG approps bill that funds the WH/OMB without policy riders that take away the administration's funding to pursue things like impoundment, etc. Why should Russ Vought have any staff? Saying "no" here is a policy win. If they do it.
November 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
7) If it were me, I wouldn't agree to fund the FSGG approps bill that funds the WH/OMB without policy riders that take away the administration's funding to pursue things like impoundment, etc. Why should Russ Vought have any staff? Saying "no" here is a policy win. If they do it.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
3. Republicans were playing good cop, bad cop, crazy cop.
Good cop: Senate Republicans
Bad cop: House Republicans (Johnson)
Crazy cop: Russ Vought + Trump
Vought's plan was always to use impoundment/rescissions/starving people + firing feds to force Dems to surrender on the power of the purse.
Good cop: Senate Republicans
Bad cop: House Republicans (Johnson)
Crazy cop: Russ Vought + Trump
Vought's plan was always to use impoundment/rescissions/starving people + firing feds to force Dems to surrender on the power of the purse.
November 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
3. Republicans were playing good cop, bad cop, crazy cop.
Good cop: Senate Republicans
Bad cop: House Republicans (Johnson)
Crazy cop: Russ Vought + Trump
Vought's plan was always to use impoundment/rescissions/starving people + firing feds to force Dems to surrender on the power of the purse.
Good cop: Senate Republicans
Bad cop: House Republicans (Johnson)
Crazy cop: Russ Vought + Trump
Vought's plan was always to use impoundment/rescissions/starving people + firing feds to force Dems to surrender on the power of the purse.
Congressional Democrats are discovering the lessons that Republicans learned by launching shutdowns as the minority, they don't end when the governing party capitulates on policy, eventually the hold outs just give up.
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Congressional Democrats are discovering the lessons that Republicans learned by launching shutdowns as the minority, they don't end when the governing party capitulates on policy, eventually the hold outs just give up.
It took several weeks to draw Trump into the government shutdown fray. I think Dems were hoping he'd be willing to negotiate on the ACA subsidies, but he came in hard against the ACA subs and Republicans are showing a willingness to touch the third rail health insurance stuff from 2018.
November 10, 2025 at 1:24 AM
It took several weeks to draw Trump into the government shutdown fray. I think Dems were hoping he'd be willing to negotiate on the ACA subsidies, but he came in hard against the ACA subs and Republicans are showing a willingness to touch the third rail health insurance stuff from 2018.
I’m old enough to remember when people thought Dems shouldn’t shut the govt down over ACA subsidies because the Repubs would do it anyways. They’ve since dug in deeply on that position. So the shutdown clarified those positions and heightened health care as an issue. It’s an okay time to get out.
November 9, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I’m old enough to remember when people thought Dems shouldn’t shut the govt down over ACA subsidies because the Repubs would do it anyways. They’ve since dug in deeply on that position. So the shutdown clarified those positions and heightened health care as an issue. It’s an okay time to get out.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
If they really wanted to stop enriching insurance companies, they would revisit Medicare Advantage not ACA subsidies
November 9, 2025 at 3:29 AM
If they really wanted to stop enriching insurance companies, they would revisit Medicare Advantage not ACA subsidies
Reposted by Alex Garlick
the thing is as a leftist i could easily come up with a better plan than the aca. republicans can't because the aca is the best conservative healthcare plan that exists
November 9, 2025 at 2:02 AM
the thing is as a leftist i could easily come up with a better plan than the aca. republicans can't because the aca is the best conservative healthcare plan that exists
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Millions of Americans who will no longer be able to afford healthcare need to know the names of those who took it from them. Democrats should rent billboards in South Carolina: THE COST OF YOUR HEALTHCARE DOUBLED BECAUSE OF LINDSEY GRAHAM
November 9, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Millions of Americans who will no longer be able to afford healthcare need to know the names of those who took it from them. Democrats should rent billboards in South Carolina: THE COST OF YOUR HEALTHCARE DOUBLED BECAUSE OF LINDSEY GRAHAM
“Concepts of a plan” forever.
November 9, 2025 at 12:57 AM
“Concepts of a plan” forever.
Encouraging thaw in the Senate, but this would only kick the responsibility for ending the shutdown over to the House.
November 6, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Encouraging thaw in the Senate, but this would only kick the responsibility for ending the shutdown over to the House.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
On the legacy of House Speakers I'm still exceedingly fond of "the man in the green hat," the guy Sam Rayburn semi-openly allowed to sell liquor to Congressmen during Prohibition. Rayburn's "office hours" (ie, drinking sessions) were vital to building the New Deal.
history.house.gov/Historical-H...
history.house.gov/Historical-H...
November 6, 2025 at 6:52 PM
On the legacy of House Speakers I'm still exceedingly fond of "the man in the green hat," the guy Sam Rayburn semi-openly allowed to sell liquor to Congressmen during Prohibition. Rayburn's "office hours" (ie, drinking sessions) were vital to building the New Deal.
history.house.gov/Historical-H...
history.house.gov/Historical-H...
X is lamenting that Republicans are getting blamed, but I wonder why that is?
November 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
X is lamenting that Republicans are getting blamed, but I wonder why that is?
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Democrats have spent the last nine months wringing their hands about how now one cares about climate or energy policy, blah blah blah.
Meanwhile, HIGH ELECTRICITY PRICES were key to Democrats winning in Georgia, New Jersey and Virginia. Maybe, uh, people do care?
www.axios.com/2025/11/05/n...
Meanwhile, HIGH ELECTRICITY PRICES were key to Democrats winning in Georgia, New Jersey and Virginia. Maybe, uh, people do care?
www.axios.com/2025/11/05/n...
How Spanberger, Sherrill will address high electricity costs after winning elections
Electricity prices played a big role in both New Jersey and Virginia.
www.axios.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Democrats have spent the last nine months wringing their hands about how now one cares about climate or energy policy, blah blah blah.
Meanwhile, HIGH ELECTRICITY PRICES were key to Democrats winning in Georgia, New Jersey and Virginia. Maybe, uh, people do care?
www.axios.com/2025/11/05/n...
Meanwhile, HIGH ELECTRICITY PRICES were key to Democrats winning in Georgia, New Jersey and Virginia. Maybe, uh, people do care?
www.axios.com/2025/11/05/n...
Reposted by Alex Garlick
ah yes just the message Thune and Johnson want being spread
Trump to Republican senators: "I thought we'd have a discussion after the press leaves about what last night represented and what we should do about it and also about the shutdown and how that relates to last night. If you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative for Republicans."
November 5, 2025 at 2:48 PM
ah yes just the message Thune and Johnson want being spread
Reposted by Alex Garlick
In a sign that things are even happening in places without headline races, Democrats took over our county legislature for the first time in 50 years.
November 5, 2025 at 11:44 AM
In a sign that things are even happening in places without headline races, Democrats took over our county legislature for the first time in 50 years.
This is looking like 18/18.
November 5, 2025 at 11:42 AM
This is looking like 18/18.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Maybe they should also run some editorials about how X is out of touch and an echo chamber.
Perhaps the NYT should run some articles about how the Republicans need to listen to the concerns of ordinary Democratic voters.
November 5, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Maybe they should also run some editorials about how X is out of touch and an echo chamber.