People First: Improving Government Services to the Citizen

Hear from former Congressman John Faso on the state of play with SNAP.

In our latest episode, our host Former Representative John Faso is joined by Congressman Brad Finstad from Minnesota, the Chairman of the Nutrition Subcommittee, to discuss the FY24 Farm Bill.

Welcome back to People First, a podcast dedicated to discussions on how government programs can be revamped so that they better serve the American people. Join us as we explore recent Farm Bill developments and answer the question: how can we fix our broken bureaucracy to help SNAP recipients get the help they need?

In this episode, our host, Former Representative John Faso, is joined by his friend and former colleague, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, who sits on the House Agriculture Committee.

In this episode, our Chairman Stan Soloway is joined by Chris Harkins, Director of the State Budget Office for Michigan. Together, they navigate the challenges and adaptations required in the wake of the pandemic and changing expectations for state workers.

In our latest episode, our host Former Representative John Faso is joined by Congressman GT Thompson from Pennsylvania, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee who provides an update on the Farm Bill and how things are progressing and some of the issues that we’re facing.

In this episode, CAMI Chairman Stan Soloway and Former Representative John Faso were joined by Russell Sykes, a former consultant to Maximus Inc. and the Center for Accountability, Modernization and Innovation (CAMI), to dive in even deeper into government benefits systems and how they relate to the Public Health Emergency.

Mr. Sykes was the Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), where he supervised 12 senior direct reports and a staff of nearly 300. While there Sykes was responsible for the statewide oversight of the SNAP, TANF, Welfare to Work, SSI State Supplement, EBT, LIHEAP outside contracting with vendors, and multiple other programs and benefit systems.

In this episode, CAMI Chairman Stan Soloway and Former Representative John Faso were joined by Matt Salo, Executive Director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, to dive in even deeper on a pressing issue - America's Benefits Cliff.

After years of overseeing Medicaid, Matt brings a valuable perspective on America’s benefits cliff problem within the healthcare system, especially in the wake of a public health emergency.

In this episode, CAMI Chairman Stan Soloway and former Representative John Faso continue the conversation about America's benefits cliff with husband-and-wife duo Steve Goldsmith and Kate Coleman.

Steve and Kate are both long-time experts in the field of government management, innovation, and public service delivery. They shared insight into the glaring lack of an equitable, skills-based workforce training how that pushes Americans out of work and off the benefits cliff.

For those just tuning in, this series aims to provide perspective on the benefits cliff and how different levels of the government and the private sector are working to resolve this issue as we continue to grapple with the pandemic.

In this episode, CAMI Chairman Stan Soloway and former Representative John Faso sat down with Dr. Nick Hart - president of the Data Foundation and former director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Evidence Project. Throughout his career, Dr. Hart has championed efforts to use government-collected information to evaluate and improve government.

To learn more about The Center for Accountability, Modernization, and Innovation (CAMI), visit https://TheCenterforAMI.org

To stay up to date on the latest CAMI news, follow on Twitter: @TheCenterforAMI

For decades, our public assistance programs have focused on helping low-income Americans find employment, slowly phasing out benefits as they get back on their feet. But today, some people lose benefits too soon and end up in a situation where they are worse off economically for taking a job or getting a raise.

In this episode, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services Clarence Carter joins CAMI Chairman Stan Soloway and former Representative John Faso. Commissioner Clarence Carter has spent his career administering assistance programs that help strengthen the safety net. Now, he is implementing a series of pilot projects in Tennessee that will rely on the community to give those in need a leg up as they transition out of assistance programs.

To learn more about The Center for Accountability, Modernization, and Innovation (CAMI), visit https://TheCenterforAMI.org

To stay up to date on the latest CAMI news, follow on Twitter: @TheCenterforAMI