#Government Programs

[ivygorgon]

🪖 For your situational awareness:

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[mossymagpie]

The Affordable Connectivity Programs funding is expected to end early this next year. For those who don't know it gives a lot of people free or reduced Internet services.

I receive a 30 dollar credit each month off of my bill, and even then my bill is still $50/month. This is really going to hit hard, especially for people who currently receive free WiFi through the program. It's important people have Internet access in their homes, and it's something a lot of people cannot afford to lose right now. While yes public WiFi is an option not everyone has the ability to get themselves around to places that offer it.

Spectrum has a link where you can send an email asking to extend the program here

You can also contact your state representative too. You can use this link to look up who your representative is.

This program saved me during the pandemic when I lost my job, and even if it loses funding I will be fine for now, but that is not the case for everyone, especially with the rising cost of bills and internet access in general.

[wat3rm370n]

Pennsylvania out on a limb.

Do people even understand that federal funds are still frozen? I ask that question because I keep hearing people refer to lawsuits and reversals on funding freezes, but that has not necessarily happened everywhere for everything. 

The taxpayers of Pennsylvania are currently on the hook for all those funds if the federal govt refuses to pay up because it looks like Governor Josh Shapiro is shielding government contractors from the consequences of Trump's whim edicts and "arbitrary or capricious" funding freezes. 

Case 2:25-cv-00763 Document 1 Filed 02/13/25 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA  COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Specifically, Commonwealth agencies cannot draw from federal accounts, which means that agencies are stuck incurring debts and obligations in ongoing projects that cannot be reimbursed. While agencies have some reserves and discretionary dollars to cover small unexpected debts, the scope of the federal freeze will far exceed those reserves.

The federal government is crapping the bed on promised responsibility to the anthracite coal region. 

Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Shapiro administration taking ‘aggressive wait and see’ approach to federal funding freeze Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger addressed House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday By: Peter Hall - February 18, 2025 Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office has sued five federal agencies, alleging that Pennsylvania is unable to access $1.2 billion in federal grant funding appropriated by Congress and that another $900 million is being held up in an undefined review process.

The Trump administration apparently considered industrial damage cleanups for the safety of residents in the area to be "passion projects" and ideological. 

Bucks County Beacon - Governor Josh Shapiro Sues Trump Administration Over ‘Unconstitutional’ Funding Freeze - The lawsuit alleges Pennsylvania is unable to access over $2 billion of grant funds. by Ian Karbal, Author at Penn-Capital Star | February 14, 2025 Shapiro’s 38-page lawsuit says among the state programs affected by the freeze of already-appropriated funds are abandoned mine land rehabilitation and plugging abandoned oil and gas wells, which, if left undone, can have consequences for both the environment and the health and safety of nearby communities. Other programs help low-income households retrofit their homes to lower utility bills and expand the state’s clean water infrastructure.

I read out a lot of the lawsuit in this pod recording:  Don't accept a disorderly poo circus.Don't Wait For Everybody - Episode 018 Chloe Humbert  Feb 14, 2025

It's especially troubling since the Trump administration is prompting Republicans in Congress to attempt to impeach judges that find in favour of lawsuits against Trump's executive orders. 

AXIOS - Feb 15, 2025 - Politics & Policy Republicans move to impeach judges who blocked Trump Andrew Solender Clyde and Crane would need majorities in the House to impeach the two judges and and two-thirds majorities in the Senate to convict them. There are only 53 Senate Republicans. Judicial impeachments are rare and are usually brought for issues like corruption, perjury or seriously illicit personal conduct. The last successful impeachment of a federal court judge was in 2010 and concerned false financial disclosures.

I would say it's unlikely that Republicans can get enough Democrats to vote to impeach these judges, but I have not seen enough to put my mind at ease on that by any means.

My letter to reps:

It looks to me like Pennsylvania is going out on a limb, putting the taxpayers in a position to be left holding the bag if the Trump Musk government decides to just terminate the Constitution. At a minimum, I don't think this is a viable way to run a civilization. This sure seems like taxation without representation. We already paid these taxes to the federal government and were already promised these funds for programs already planned or in progress. How can anyone depend on anything or trust anyone anymore when contracts are completely unreliable? I've now pulled back on my own spending, and won't be doing home projects that I planned. I suspect lawmakers understand we're making these decisions when I see in the news that my Rep. Rob Bresnahan has recently sold between $15k & $50k in Lowes stocks this month. I've experienced many of the economic rug pulls like the Great Recession, so I know the signs. You need to tell us what you're actually going to do specifically to bring fairness and reliability back?

Please feel free to copy or repurpose the contents of my letter for your own letters to reps.

Watchlist News -  Rep. Robert Bresnahan, Jr. Sells Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) Stock Posted by Mark Dietrich on Feb 15th, 2025

[californiastatelibrary]

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like the government quoting Shakespeare to warn you against STIs. We hope you get a kick out of this 1990 poster from our Gov Docs collection! 

Link to file: purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo42651

[sunshine-and-sprinkles]

Crazy the number of people defending this by saying ‘but the FRAUD!’ yeah okay let’s take a look at that then… let’s see how Social Security holds up

But that’s right. Because the fear that ‘some people’ may take advantage of a system is reason enough not to put in place what is desperately needed to help other people survive

[erebusvincent]

The massive scale of fraud in government programs, draining billions and possibly trillions from taxpayers each year, calls for immediate action. Foreign actors exploiting stolen identities and launching cyberattacks on disaster relief funds reveal glaring weaknesses in the system. Bolstering cybersecurity, tightening identity checks, and improving oversight of relief programs are vital to protect public money and rebuild confidence. Without quick changes, fraud will continue to siphon off resources and hurt vulnerable Americans.

Alternatively, tackling government fraud demands a collective effort. The $1 trillion lost in COVID-19 relief funds, alongside persistent schemes by foreign hackers and crime groups, highlights the need for stronger protections. Investing in cutting-edge technology, working with global partners to fight cybercrime, and raising awareness about identity theft can help secure taxpayer funds. Taking decisive steps now is crucial to stop further financial losses and support those affected by these crimes.

[ittybittyave]

Got used oil filters collecting dust in the garage? Trade ’em in at Nevada County’s Oil Filter Exchange on June 21st! Bring up to two filters, score up to $30 in credit, and maybe even snag a free oil change kit. Good for your car, your wallet, and the planet. 🙌🌎 More details below! #NevadaCounty #EcoFriendlyLiving #CarCare #OilFilterExchange #Sustainable #nevadacity #grassvalley #governmentprograms #DIYCarCare

[ivygorgon]

🏚️ We're living in a dystopian oligarchy.

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[magicturtle]

Not to mention that not using a program you are enrolled in can sometimes result in reductions for you, or losing access altogether.

I think it's important to remember, as a rule of thumb, if you take advantage of a social service, it actually makes it easier for other people who need that service to access it. Most of the time, when these services get cut, it's because politicians will look at usage and say "see, no one is really using this thing, we can afford to trim the budget for food stamps by at least half". Whereas if you decide to step up and use these programs, even if you feel like you "don't really need it", at bare minimum it's another data point advocates can use to say "hey, look, people are using this thing, this is an important service we are providing, do not cut our funding".

[bangavumi]

Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Difference? Understanding the Key Differences Between Medicare and Medicaid and How They Impact Healthcare Coverage When it comes to healthcare coverage in the United States, two major government programs provide essential benefits to different groups of people: Medicare and Medicaid. While both programs aim to offer financial assistance for medical expenses,…

[biteitwhenitssoft]

Hi! Funding for the ACP ended in April 2024!

Yeah! This April is the LAST MONTH all of us relying on this program will be receiving any credit from it! The ACP was some kind of ONE TIME GRANT of money that has run out! "The ACP is managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and provides low-income households with $30 a month to purchase internet services and equipment. Since its creation, the ACP has provided over 23 million families, including over 366,000 in Massachusetts, with financial assistance for broadband access. However, due to the popularity of the program, ACP funding is estimated to expire in the coming year."

What can you do about this? Same as every damn problem in the United States! You just gotta email a representative! That's really all you can do!

I will say, cynicism aside, I emailed many of my own states officials and I did receive an email back from one of them, Senator Markey, claiming he and his colleagues ARE trying to do something about it. It's obviously going to take for fucking ever to get anything implemented, but at least they're actually aware of the issue and trying to fix it. "That is why on October 19, 2023, I joined my colleagues in urging congressional leadership to extend funding for the ACP and create a long-term solution for this critical program. In addition, in October 2023, I joined my colleagues in introducing the Promoting Access to Broadband Act (S.3024), which would establish a grant program for states to inform qualifying individuals of their eligibility for the FCC’s ACP and Lifeline programs." If you live in a different state, emailing your goverment officials may be even more important to getting these things passed.

I know every post on here is like "call your rep! call your rep!" but I actually emailed and got a response, so! Try it out! You can try these links to use pre-written emails.

Good luck.

Turns out with the Affordable Connectivity Program, ISPs CAN NOT shut off your internet.

Seriously. If you’re living in the US, and you’re at or below poverty line, sign up for the affordable connectivity program. it gives you like $30+ a month off your current internet bill and it makes it so they can’t disconnect you if you don’t pay them.

[sohaibsmart]

A take a look at how a few of Trump's picks to guide well being companies may assist perform Kennedy's overhaul

The group that President-elect Donald Trump has chosen to guide federal well being companies in his second administration features a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All may play pivotal roles in fulfilling a political agenda that might change how the federal government goes about safeguarding Individuals’ well being — from well being care and medicines to meals…

[auntbibby]

heres a video tour of the new basement suite i moved into, and an explanation of the annoying capitalist reason why i had to move...

hope u like it!

[knacknews]

Read This To Learn All About Home Mortgages

TIP! Now is the time to try refinancing your home even if you are upside down on the mortgage. The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) has been revamped to let homeowners refinance their home regardless of how underwater they are. To find the right home mortgage, you must understand what goes into a mortgage. How much knowledge do you have about home mortgages and its terms? The information…

[amira-g1234]

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