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Alex Garlick

@garlicksauce.bsky.social

2.7K followers 700 following 1.3K posts

Author of "Pre-Existing Conditions: How Lobbying Makes American Health Care More Expensive." I research lobbying, legislatures and health policy. www.alexgarlick.com

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · Apr 14

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.

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

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 12h

This book has officially launched! #GarlickBLT

Dr. Teresa Graziano (they/them) @teresagraziano.bsky.social · 12h

The #GarlickBLT (book launch tour) has hit my mailbox!!!

@garlicksauce.bsky.social

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 1d

If you pull out one year of those state-by-state expenditures, you see 1) It's not liberal/blue states where health care is most expensive for residents. 2) There's a positive relationship with the size of the health care lobby driving the trend.

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 1d

My book shows that while the ACA did not "bend the cost curve down" like Obama hoped, it has plateaued a bit. But the bigger issue for Lawler and Republicans is that the states where health care is the biggest crisis for its residents are red states, like WV where 24%! of expend went to healthcare.

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 4d

I can't believe the WSJ printed his concern for waste and fraud with a straight face.

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 4d

Rick Scott joins team "Concepts of a Plan." Where is the secret plan that lowers the cost of care without (1) kicking people off health insurance? (2) Gutting what health insurance covers (pre-existing conditions)?

www.wsj.com/opinion/demo...

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Reposted by Alex Garlick

Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 4d

if only he'd renamed it the DEPARTMENT OF PEACE

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 4d

I guess. I saw the destruction coming, but didn't foresee how it would just move the whole discourse on the site (which is still where most of the local and national media are!) right so effectively.

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 4d

you were right on the consequences of that in real time.

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 5d

Republicans just cannot resist leaking the contents of a conference call while they're on the call. But yeah, this tactic seems like it's losing steam.

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 5d

Keeping the House out has been an interesting tactic. On the one hand, Johnson and leadership struggle to keep their conference's messaging together. But it's taken energy out of shaming Dems for shutting things down, which usually is the best argument of the ruling party.

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 5d

"Concepts of a plan" is back baby!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Thune: "The president would like to overhaul Obamacare and give people health insurance that is higher quality and more affordable."

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 7d

Shutdown edition on this tweet

Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 7d

Lawless Russell Vought thinks he can nullify a law by deleting it from an FAQ

www.govexec.com/pay-benefits...

OMB deletes reference to law guaranteeing backpay to furloughed feds from shutdown guidance

An Office of Management and Budget FAQ document now states that only excepted employees forced to work without pay are guaranteed backpay at the conclusion of a lapse in appropriations.

www.govexec.com

Reposted by Alex Garlick

Josh Chafetz @joshchafetz.bsky.social · 7d

ironically the question has never been more frequently asked

Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 7d

Lawless Russell Vought thinks he can nullify a law by deleting it from an FAQ

www.govexec.com/pay-benefits...

OMB deletes reference to law guaranteeing backpay to furloughed feds from shutdown guidance

An Office of Management and Budget FAQ document now states that only excepted employees forced to work without pay are guaranteed backpay at the conclusion of a lapse in appropriations.

www.govexec.com

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Reposted by Alex Garlick

Meg Linehan @meglinehan.com · 7d

Here we fucking gooooooo

Vermont Green FC @vermontgreenfc.bsky.social · 7d

Vermont’s women’s soccer story continues... 🏔️

Vermont Green FC has announced that the club’s women’s team will compete in USL W League as a founding member of the league’s Northeast Division.

Vermont Green FC to Join USLW as Founding Member of Northeast Division - Vermont Green Football Club

Vermont Green FC has announced that the club’s women’s team will compete in USL W League as a founding member of the league’s Northeast Division. Participation in the 2026 W League season is contingen...

vermontgreenfc.com

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 7d

This is a rich text from Rep. MTG for understanding the health care plank of the "populist economics" wing of MAGA.

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 8d

count me as skeptical that "unwitting insurance subscribers" were keeping those risk pools healthy though.

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 8d

yeah, for all the hubbub we never actually got a look at the individual mandate in action.

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 8d

that was wild shit

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 8d

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Reposted by Alex Garlick

Phil Rocco @philiprocco.bsky.social · 8d

The thing that distinguishes Trump’s approach to federalism from that of his predecessors is that he rejects the ontological premises of federalism itself, primarily the premise that states are sovereigns in any sense of that term. /1

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 11d

I will take a clipboard to the apple orchards tomorrow and get you some point estimates

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Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 13d

To the extent the Democrats shutdown tactics over ACA subsidies makes sense, this is it. It could bring a looming wedge issue in the GOP conference to light.

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks Carlos!

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 13d

I know right, my coauthor Ethan is a beast.

Alex Garlick @garlicksauce.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks Jen!