Institute for Responsive Government
@responsivegov.bsky.social
Responsive Gov is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to ensuring state and federal governments work effectively for the very people they serve. We provide data, research, and expertise to elected officials in order to find practical policy solutions.
NEW: We found that 13 states could save at least $100,000 to $29 million annually in Medicaid costs without cutting benefits or pharmacy reimbursements.
How? By cutting out the middlemen with corporate markups: Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
Read it here:
How? By cutting out the middlemen with corporate markups: Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
Read it here:
Cutting out the Middleman: How States Can Save Medicaid Dollars by Firing Pharmacy Benefit Managers - Institute for Responsive Government
responsivegov.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
NEW: We found that 13 states could save at least $100,000 to $29 million annually in Medicaid costs without cutting benefits or pharmacy reimbursements.
How? By cutting out the middlemen with corporate markups: Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
Read it here:
How? By cutting out the middlemen with corporate markups: Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
Read it here:
We were honored to have Gideon Cohn-Postar, our Senior Advisor for Election Infrastructure, join the Auburn University Elections Symposium with Caleb Hays to talk about their innovative proposal for broadening the federal funding base for federal elections grants.
October 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
We were honored to have Gideon Cohn-Postar, our Senior Advisor for Election Infrastructure, join the Auburn University Elections Symposium with Caleb Hays to talk about their innovative proposal for broadening the federal funding base for federal elections grants.
Important read from @civicdesign: Their four principles for designing clear, effective government forms:
1⃣ Make it trustworthy.
2⃣ Explain the problem clearly.
3⃣ Be specific about the problem.
4⃣ Tell them how to take action successfully.
More here: civicdesign.org/form-letters...
1⃣ Make it trustworthy.
2⃣ Explain the problem clearly.
3⃣ Be specific about the problem.
4⃣ Tell them how to take action successfully.
More here: civicdesign.org/form-letters...
civicdesign.org
September 3, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Important read from @civicdesign: Their four principles for designing clear, effective government forms:
1⃣ Make it trustworthy.
2⃣ Explain the problem clearly.
3⃣ Be specific about the problem.
4⃣ Tell them how to take action successfully.
More here: civicdesign.org/form-letters...
1⃣ Make it trustworthy.
2⃣ Explain the problem clearly.
3⃣ Be specific about the problem.
4⃣ Tell them how to take action successfully.
More here: civicdesign.org/form-letters...
Reposted by Institute for Responsive Government
My Statement on Trump’s Proposed Executive Order to Ban Mail-In Voting
August 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
My Statement on Trump’s Proposed Executive Order to Ban Mail-In Voting
President Trump announced plans to issue an executive order to halt mail voting and interfere with voting equipment.
Here are the facts: Voting by mail is safe & secure, with overlapping safeguards at every step of the voting process. Read our factsheet:
Here are the facts: Voting by mail is safe & secure, with overlapping safeguards at every step of the voting process. Read our factsheet:
Why Mail Ballots Are Secure: Layered Safeguards - Institute for Responsive Government
responsivegov.org
August 19, 2025 at 3:38 PM
President Trump announced plans to issue an executive order to halt mail voting and interfere with voting equipment.
Here are the facts: Voting by mail is safe & secure, with overlapping safeguards at every step of the voting process. Read our factsheet:
Here are the facts: Voting by mail is safe & secure, with overlapping safeguards at every step of the voting process. Read our factsheet:
When done right, electronic verification can streamline services, save money, and reduce paperwork. But tech solutions built on shaky data can do real damage.
More on USCIS's proposed overhaul of the SAVE database via @jonshorman.bsky.social @stateline.org:
More on USCIS's proposed overhaul of the SAVE database via @jonshorman.bsky.social @stateline.org:
Trump wants states to feed voter info into powerful citizenship data program • Stateline
The Trump administration is developing a powerful data tool it claims will let states identify noncitizens registered to vote. But Democratic critics and data experts warn it could allow the federal g...
stateline.org
August 18, 2025 at 7:56 PM
When done right, electronic verification can streamline services, save money, and reduce paperwork. But tech solutions built on shaky data can do real damage.
More on USCIS's proposed overhaul of the SAVE database via @jonshorman.bsky.social @stateline.org:
More on USCIS's proposed overhaul of the SAVE database via @jonshorman.bsky.social @stateline.org:
ERIC for Medicaid "addresses real inefficiencies without reducing benefits, strengthens the technical backbone of Medicaid, and sets the stage for broader improvements to how government delivers services."
Important read by @sorendayton.bsky.social of FAI:
Important read by @sorendayton.bsky.social of FAI:
Fixing Duplicate Medicaid Enrollments through Smart Government IT | The Foundation for American Innovation
The Foundation for American Innovation.
www.thefai.org
August 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
ERIC for Medicaid "addresses real inefficiencies without reducing benefits, strengthens the technical backbone of Medicaid, and sets the stage for broader improvements to how government delivers services."
Important read by @sorendayton.bsky.social of FAI:
Important read by @sorendayton.bsky.social of FAI:
Today marks 60 years of CMS – a vital agency offering services to 160M+ Americans.
At the same time Medicaid faces damaging cuts, Congress took a promising step by adopting ERIC for Medicaid – a plan to cut duplicate enrollments & save billions of dollars: responsivegov.org/on-cmss-60th...
At the same time Medicaid faces damaging cuts, Congress took a promising step by adopting ERIC for Medicaid – a plan to cut duplicate enrollments & save billions of dollars: responsivegov.org/on-cmss-60th...
On CMS’s 60th Anniversary, All Eyes Are on Medicaid - Institute for Responsive Government
responsivegov.org
July 30, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Today marks 60 years of CMS – a vital agency offering services to 160M+ Americans.
At the same time Medicaid faces damaging cuts, Congress took a promising step by adopting ERIC for Medicaid – a plan to cut duplicate enrollments & save billions of dollars: responsivegov.org/on-cmss-60th...
At the same time Medicaid faces damaging cuts, Congress took a promising step by adopting ERIC for Medicaid – a plan to cut duplicate enrollments & save billions of dollars: responsivegov.org/on-cmss-60th...
The Trump administration’s latest effort to undermine trust in our elections & the public servants who administer them?
DOJ efforts to prosecute election officials.
We're appalled. Read the @nytimes.com LTE from our executive director, Sam Oliker-Friedland: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
DOJ efforts to prosecute election officials.
We're appalled. Read the @nytimes.com LTE from our executive director, Sam Oliker-Friedland: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
Opinion | Trump, the House and the Epstein Files
www.nytimes.com
July 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The Trump administration’s latest effort to undermine trust in our elections & the public servants who administer them?
DOJ efforts to prosecute election officials.
We're appalled. Read the @nytimes.com LTE from our executive director, Sam Oliker-Friedland: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
DOJ efforts to prosecute election officials.
We're appalled. Read the @nytimes.com LTE from our executive director, Sam Oliker-Friedland: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
We echo the Project for Election Infrastructure in welcoming $15M in proposed election infrastructure funding in the FY26 Financial Services & General Govt. bill.
But $400M is what's really needed for secure elections.
Read PEI's full release here: modernizeourelections.org/project-for-...
But $400M is what's really needed for secure elections.
Read PEI's full release here: modernizeourelections.org/project-for-...
Project for Election Infrastructure Welcomes Initial Investment, Calls for Additional Election Security Funding – Project for Election Infrastructure
modernizeourelections.org
July 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
We echo the Project for Election Infrastructure in welcoming $15M in proposed election infrastructure funding in the FY26 Financial Services & General Govt. bill.
But $400M is what's really needed for secure elections.
Read PEI's full release here: modernizeourelections.org/project-for-...
But $400M is what's really needed for secure elections.
Read PEI's full release here: modernizeourelections.org/project-for-...
In NYC's mayoral race, many saw @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's win as validation for RCV.
In reality, it was more complicated. “In this case, RCV didn’t mitigate polarization. It arguably masked it.”
Read the full op-ed from our ED, Sam Oliker-Friedland in @thehill.com: thehill.com/opinion/camp...
In reality, it was more complicated. “In this case, RCV didn’t mitigate polarization. It arguably masked it.”
Read the full op-ed from our ED, Sam Oliker-Friedland in @thehill.com: thehill.com/opinion/camp...
thehill.com
July 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
In NYC's mayoral race, many saw @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's win as validation for RCV.
In reality, it was more complicated. “In this case, RCV didn’t mitigate polarization. It arguably masked it.”
Read the full op-ed from our ED, Sam Oliker-Friedland in @thehill.com: thehill.com/opinion/camp...
In reality, it was more complicated. “In this case, RCV didn’t mitigate polarization. It arguably masked it.”
Read the full op-ed from our ED, Sam Oliker-Friedland in @thehill.com: thehill.com/opinion/camp...
The Department of Justice is seeking voter data on millions of Americans.
“… it’s really, really significant in terms of the volume of materials that are required to be retained.” - Neal Ubriani, Responsive Gov Research Director
More via @jonshorman.bsky.social:
“… it’s really, really significant in terms of the volume of materials that are required to be retained.” - Neal Ubriani, Responsive Gov Research Director
More via @jonshorman.bsky.social:
Trump’s DOJ wants states to turn over voter lists, election info • Stateline
The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking the voter registration lists of several states – representing data on millions of Americans – and other election information ahead of the 2026 midterms, raisi...
stateline.org
July 17, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The Department of Justice is seeking voter data on millions of Americans.
“… it’s really, really significant in terms of the volume of materials that are required to be retained.” - Neal Ubriani, Responsive Gov Research Director
More via @jonshorman.bsky.social:
“… it’s really, really significant in terms of the volume of materials that are required to be retained.” - Neal Ubriani, Responsive Gov Research Director
More via @jonshorman.bsky.social:
Exciting news: In Virginia, Gov. Youngkin has signed an executive order launching an AI regulatory reduction pilot to help the state identify opportunities to cut red tape and keep regulatory guidance streamlined. VA follows the lead of places like Ohio and San Francisco.
Governor Glenn Youngkin Issues Executive Order 51 Launching First-in-the-Nation Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) Empowered Statewide Regulatory Review
Governor Glenn Youngkin today issued an executive order launching a first-of-its-kind agentic artificial intelligence (AI) regulatory reduction pilot to ensure that the Commonwealth captures the benef...
www.governor.virginia.gov
July 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Exciting news: In Virginia, Gov. Youngkin has signed an executive order launching an AI regulatory reduction pilot to help the state identify opportunities to cut red tape and keep regulatory guidance streamlined. VA follows the lead of places like Ohio and San Francisco.
A case study in cutting red tape: Virginia Gov. Youngkin announced that the state's Office of Regulatory Management, set up in 2022, has slashed regulatory requirements in the VA Administrative Code by 27%, saving Virginians more than $1.2 billion per year. 🧵
Virginia Shows A Smarter Path To Regulatory Reform
Virginia cut 26.8% of regulatory requirements, saving $1.2B annually—offering a smarter, data-driven alternative to DOGE’s blunt federal cuts at the federal level.
www.forbes.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A case study in cutting red tape: Virginia Gov. Youngkin announced that the state's Office of Regulatory Management, set up in 2022, has slashed regulatory requirements in the VA Administrative Code by 27%, saving Virginians more than $1.2 billion per year. 🧵
Working through significant challenges, the State Department revamped the online system for a process that’s long been a pain in Americans’ side: renewing or applying for a passport.
The result? A quicker, simpler process; 94% positive reviews; & recorded increased trust in government. Read more:
The result? A quicker, simpler process; 94% positive reviews; & recorded increased trust in government. Read more:
America Has Pulled Off the Impossible. It Made Getting a Passport Simple.
Washington is not exactly known for tech innovation. So how did a team of bureaucrats put their stamp on a new program for renewing passports online?
www.wsj.com
July 7, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Working through significant challenges, the State Department revamped the online system for a process that’s long been a pain in Americans’ side: renewing or applying for a passport.
The result? A quicker, simpler process; 94% positive reviews; & recorded increased trust in government. Read more:
The result? A quicker, simpler process; 94% positive reviews; & recorded increased trust in government. Read more:
“Every eligible American should have the opportunity to cast their ballot in an accessible and secure way, and that’s exactly what this legislation ensures." - Responsive Gov Action Executive Director Sam Oliker-Friedland
Thank you @wyden.senate.gov for reintroducing the Vote At Home Act:
Thank you @wyden.senate.gov for reintroducing the Vote At Home Act:
Wyden Reintroduces Bill to Allow All Americans to Vote at Home | U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon
The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon
www.wyden.senate.gov
May 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
“Every eligible American should have the opportunity to cast their ballot in an accessible and secure way, and that’s exactly what this legislation ensures." - Responsive Gov Action Executive Director Sam Oliker-Friedland
Thank you @wyden.senate.gov for reintroducing the Vote At Home Act:
Thank you @wyden.senate.gov for reintroducing the Vote At Home Act:
🚨 Big congrats to our friends at HIP — now Health in Partnership! Same vision and values, new name and look to better reflect their current work. 🙌 Learn more: www.healthinpartnership.org/message-from...
Message from Co-Directors
www.healthinpartnership.org
May 20, 2025 at 6:27 PM
🚨 Big congrats to our friends at HIP — now Health in Partnership! Same vision and values, new name and look to better reflect their current work. 🙌 Learn more: www.healthinpartnership.org/message-from...
“Why not transform the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which has sunk into obscurity, into the Election Security Fund?”
Adequate, reliable funding makes for stronger elections. This is an innovative funding solution from former Sen. Roy Blunt in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/chec...
Adequate, reliable funding makes for stronger elections. This is an innovative funding solution from former Sen. Roy Blunt in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/chec...
Opinion | Check the Box for Secure Voting
The Presidential Election Campaign Fund is obsolete, but here’s a way to revive the idea behind it.
www.wsj.com
May 15, 2025 at 9:47 PM
“Why not transform the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which has sunk into obscurity, into the Election Security Fund?”
Adequate, reliable funding makes for stronger elections. This is an innovative funding solution from former Sen. Roy Blunt in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/chec...
Adequate, reliable funding makes for stronger elections. This is an innovative funding solution from former Sen. Roy Blunt in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/chec...
From security threats to outdated infrastructure & equipment, election administrators face many challenges that require major resources to address.
Federal funding is critical to ensuring secure, accessible elections. It’s long past time for Congress to commit to $400m in elections funding.
Federal funding is critical to ensuring secure, accessible elections. It’s long past time for Congress to commit to $400m in elections funding.
May 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
From security threats to outdated infrastructure & equipment, election administrators face many challenges that require major resources to address.
Federal funding is critical to ensuring secure, accessible elections. It’s long past time for Congress to commit to $400m in elections funding.
Federal funding is critical to ensuring secure, accessible elections. It’s long past time for Congress to commit to $400m in elections funding.
From our latest white paper by former Alaska State Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins: "Goodness knows that this country desperately needs systems-level change given recent political history. I believe proportional representation can be part of the solution."
Proportional Representation: An Intervention for More Electoral Competition and Better Governance - Institute for Responsive Government
responsivegov.org
May 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
From our latest white paper by former Alaska State Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins: "Goodness knows that this country desperately needs systems-level change given recent political history. I believe proportional representation can be part of the solution."
What could election offices do with adequate federal funding?
• Patch critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities;
• Replace outdated voting machines;
• Upgrade voter registration databases;
• Hire qualified staff;
And more.
Congress should allocate $400m in elections funding.
• Patch critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities;
• Replace outdated voting machines;
• Upgrade voter registration databases;
• Hire qualified staff;
And more.
Congress should allocate $400m in elections funding.
May 14, 2025 at 3:42 PM
What could election offices do with adequate federal funding?
• Patch critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities;
• Replace outdated voting machines;
• Upgrade voter registration databases;
• Hire qualified staff;
And more.
Congress should allocate $400m in elections funding.
• Patch critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities;
• Replace outdated voting machines;
• Upgrade voter registration databases;
• Hire qualified staff;
And more.
Congress should allocate $400m in elections funding.
Election administrators at the state and local levels work tirelessly to run safe, accessible, impartial elections. Congress should equip local election officials with the tools they need to continue to strengthen our democracy by appropriating $400m for election infrastructure.
May 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Election administrators at the state and local levels work tirelessly to run safe, accessible, impartial elections. Congress should equip local election officials with the tools they need to continue to strengthen our democracy by appropriating $400m for election infrastructure.
165+ election officials have written a letter calling on Congress to step up for our democracy—& election administrators nationwide—by granting $400 million in elections funding. Let's get them the resources they need to keep elections strong & secure.
Over 150 Local Election Officials Across the Country Call on Congress to Fund Election Security – Project for Election Infrastructure
modernizeourelections.org
May 13, 2025 at 5:47 PM
165+ election officials have written a letter calling on Congress to step up for our democracy—& election administrators nationwide—by granting $400 million in elections funding. Let's get them the resources they need to keep elections strong & secure.
Rather than promoting efficiency or accountability, proposed cuts to federal Medicaid funding would undermine state flexibility, strain local economies, and ultimately cost taxpayers more in the long run.
Read our latest report:
Read our latest report:
Unbalanced Ledger: Why States Can’t Afford Deep Medicaid Cuts - Institute for Responsive Government
responsivegov.org
May 13, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Rather than promoting efficiency or accountability, proposed cuts to federal Medicaid funding would undermine state flexibility, strain local economies, and ultimately cost taxpayers more in the long run.
Read our latest report:
Read our latest report:
As Congress convenes to discuss potential cuts to Medicaid on Tuesday, our report explores how Medicaid cuts would create insurmountable deficits in state budgets that decimate the program’s ability to work well, even for those who retain coverage:
Unbalanced Ledger: Why States Can’t Afford Deep Medicaid Cuts - Institute for Responsive Government
responsivegov.org
May 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM
As Congress convenes to discuss potential cuts to Medicaid on Tuesday, our report explores how Medicaid cuts would create insurmountable deficits in state budgets that decimate the program’s ability to work well, even for those who retain coverage: