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
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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
The Secretary of Defense, ladies and gentlemen
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The Secretary of Defense, ladies and gentlemen
Trump's Department of Education is going to make health care even less affordable with this. Choking the pipeline for nurse practitioners and RNs further limits the supply of health care providers and will lead to higher prices per service.
www.newsweek.com/nursing-not-...
www.newsweek.com/nursing-not-...
Nursing is no longer counted as a 'professional degree' by Trump admin
The Department of Education has excluded nursing as a "professional degree" program as it implements various changes to student loans.
www.newsweek.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Trump's Department of Education is going to make health care even less affordable with this. Choking the pipeline for nurse practitioners and RNs further limits the supply of health care providers and will lead to higher prices per service.
www.newsweek.com/nursing-not-...
www.newsweek.com/nursing-not-...
If a more free market approach really helps patients/consumers, why do states where citizens spend the most of their expenditures on health care controlled by Republicans?
(figure from my book PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: academic.oup.com/book/60804)
(figure from my book PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: academic.oup.com/book/60804)
November 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
If a more free market approach really helps patients/consumers, why do states where citizens spend the most of their expenditures on health care controlled by Republicans?
(figure from my book PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: academic.oup.com/book/60804)
(figure from my book PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: academic.oup.com/book/60804)
Reposted by Alex Garlick
This is crazy. Also it violates the agreement given that “Vaccines do not cause autism” no longer appears on the page. “Vaccines do not cause autism*” is not the same statement as “Vaccines do not cause autism,” regardless of whether you assess it as a whole statement or character-by-character.
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 AM
This is crazy. Also it violates the agreement given that “Vaccines do not cause autism” no longer appears on the page. “Vaccines do not cause autism*” is not the same statement as “Vaccines do not cause autism,” regardless of whether you assess it as a whole statement or character-by-character.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
If you are thinking about sending money to Amy McGrath or some long shot senate candidate, stop yourself and send it to your state’s legislative candidates. More bang for your buck and more likely to make a difference. A strong state legislative slate will boost the top of the ticket, too. 3/3.
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
If you are thinking about sending money to Amy McGrath or some long shot senate candidate, stop yourself and send it to your state’s legislative candidates. More bang for your buck and more likely to make a difference. A strong state legislative slate will boost the top of the ticket, too. 3/3.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Democrats will focus on the House and Senate, but to me, the state legislatures are equally important. Democrats lost an entire generation of new leaders when they got wiped out in the state legislatures in 2010 and again in 2014. The Democrats need to build the next generation in the state leg. 1/3
Marist finds Democrats up 55/41 on the generic ballot: maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/a-look...
That may be a factor of an enthusiasm gap mixed with a serving of outlier, but also it’s not a shocker in light of the sheer extent of Democrats’ sweeping wins in November.
That may be a factor of an enthusiasm gap mixed with a serving of outlier, but also it’s not a shocker in light of the sheer extent of Democrats’ sweeping wins in November.
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Democrats will focus on the House and Senate, but to me, the state legislatures are equally important. Democrats lost an entire generation of new leaders when they got wiped out in the state legislatures in 2010 and again in 2014. The Democrats need to build the next generation in the state leg. 1/3
Reposted by Alex Garlick
This is most consistent with the recent NJ and VA elections, fwiw
November 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
This is most consistent with the recent NJ and VA elections, fwiw
My expectations that Epstein files release will tangibly change Trump's standing are low (just see what Bill Barr did to the Mueller Report); however, Congress unanimously (-1) bucking Trump on one of his biggest stands is a watershed moment for THESE Congressional Republicans. Smells lame ducky.
November 19, 2025 at 11:47 AM
My expectations that Epstein files release will tangibly change Trump's standing are low (just see what Bill Barr did to the Mueller Report); however, Congress unanimously (-1) bucking Trump on one of his biggest stands is a watershed moment for THESE Congressional Republicans. Smells lame ducky.
Is studying and teaching about US House procedure, ie leadership tools and "negative agenda control", really worth a career? Sometimes I wonder. But then a footnote of congressional procedure can flip the governing party on its head on a scandal that is increasingly defining this White House.
"I suspect this vote will be, probably, unanimous," Mike Johnson says ahead of the House voting to pass a bill to force DOJ to release its Epstein files -- a bill Mike Johnson has been fighting to block for months.
November 18, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Is studying and teaching about US House procedure, ie leadership tools and "negative agenda control", really worth a career? Sometimes I wonder. But then a footnote of congressional procedure can flip the governing party on its head on a scandal that is increasingly defining this White House.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Note Alex's bio
This is gonna be "High Deductible Health Care Plans for All" if this money is delivered as HSAs which require a HDHP to access.
November 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Note Alex's bio
Reposted by Alex Garlick
"Health Care Week"
This is gonna be "High Deductible Health Care Plans for All" if this money is delivered as HSAs which require a HDHP to access.
November 18, 2025 at 6:28 PM
"Health Care Week"
This is gonna be "High Deductible Health Care Plans for All" if this money is delivered as HSAs which require a HDHP to access.
November 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
This is gonna be "High Deductible Health Care Plans for All" if this money is delivered as HSAs which require a HDHP to access.
This is essentially the starting point for my book. Where I come in is showing how diverse attempts at cost containment across the states all fail at similar choke points in the states. Chapter 1 is free for a week if you'd like to read more. academic.oup.com/book/60804/c...
November 17, 2025 at 10:03 PM
This is essentially the starting point for my book. Where I come in is showing how diverse attempts at cost containment across the states all fail at similar choke points in the states. Chapter 1 is free for a week if you'd like to read more. academic.oup.com/book/60804/c...
Reposted by Alex Garlick
If only there were a way to increase the number of students attending these Newton elementary schools and save them from closure/consolidation. But seems impossible because I've heard from many Newton NIMBYs that the city is full... #mapoli
www.newtonbeacon.org/ward-underwo...
www.newtonbeacon.org/ward-underwo...
Ward/Underwood public hearing shows community connection to neighborhood schools - Newton Beacon
The Ward and Underwood elementary schools are each more than 100 years old and in need of repairs. And they’re both dealing with low enrollment, impacting the amount of programming and extracurricular...
www.newtonbeacon.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
If only there were a way to increase the number of students attending these Newton elementary schools and save them from closure/consolidation. But seems impossible because I've heard from many Newton NIMBYs that the city is full... #mapoli
www.newtonbeacon.org/ward-underwo...
www.newtonbeacon.org/ward-underwo...
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Wow who knew a show about the Garfield presidency would be so short and end so sadly
November 14, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Wow who knew a show about the Garfield presidency would be so short and end so sadly
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Democrats tried "prices aren't higher" in 2024 and it didn't work. People have been laser focused on costs for *years.*
November 13, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Democrats tried "prices aren't higher" in 2024 and it didn't work. People have been laser focused on costs for *years.*
Public policy folks: What should we call policies in the (?) space? Chuck Cameron's policy tool kit names policies that pencil out and actually work (but aren't popular) WALLFLOWERS. Policies that work and are politically okay, but costs outweigh the benefits for society STINKERS.
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Public policy folks: What should we call policies in the (?) space? Chuck Cameron's policy tool kit names policies that pencil out and actually work (but aren't popular) WALLFLOWERS. Policies that work and are politically okay, but costs outweigh the benefits for society STINKERS.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
Yeah whoever jacked up tariffs on coffee from Brazil earlier this year must be a real bonehead
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Yeah whoever jacked up tariffs on coffee from Brazil earlier this year must be a real bonehead
This is why I don't think charting Trump's approval rating was the way to gauge if Democrats should have extended the shutdown, for better or worse, the Trump show goes on.
"House Democrats on Wednesday released emails in which Jeffrey Epstein wrote that President Trump had “spent hours at my house” with one of Epstein’s victims, among other messages that suggested that the convicted sex offender believed Mr. Trump knew more about his abuse than he has acknowledged."
Epstein Alleged in Emails That Trump Knew of His Conduct
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This is why I don't think charting Trump's approval rating was the way to gauge if Democrats should have extended the shutdown, for better or worse, the Trump show goes on.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
They're really having fun with it on tiktok.
November 3, 2025 at 6:57 AM
They're really having fun with it on tiktok.
Reposted by Alex Garlick
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
It's very academia coded to have a meeting scheduled when you're about to be fired, or in academia speak "denied tenure."
November 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
It's very academia coded to have a meeting scheduled when you're about to be fired, or in academia speak "denied tenure."
This is why I teach Skowronek's "The Politics Presidents Make." It gets at this motivation presidents have to "be great" and then helps explain whether they achieve that (rarely) or not.
November 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
This is why I teach Skowronek's "The Politics Presidents Make." It gets at this motivation presidents have to "be great" and then helps explain whether they achieve that (rarely) or not.
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