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GCO Praises Federal Leaders for Empowering States to Strengthen Pathways to Work through the Stronger Workforce for America Act
The Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 includes an invaluable option for state flexibility, the Make America Skilled Again…
Affordability Tops the List of State Priorities for 2026
Eric Cochling in the DC Journal Originally published February 3, 2026 A full agenda is underway in the 35 states…
Crime Is Down, and It Should End ‘Root Cause’ Excuse-Making for Good
Josh Crawford in The Hill Originally published January 20, 2026 With 2025 behind us, violent crime — especially murder —…
Understanding welfare work requirements: new eligibility rules for SNAP and Medicaid
Big changes are in process for some recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) benefits…
Georgia Candidates for Governor Should Make Welfare Reform a Top Priority
Buzz Brockway in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Originally published November 25, 2025 In their pitch to voters, the 2026 candidates for…
The Safety Net ‘System’ That Isn’t
Eric Cochling in Governing Originally published November 20, 2025 Starting in 2027, work requirements kick in for certain beneficiaries on…
New Report: Corrections Spending Rises in Georgia Even as Prison Population Declines
A new report by Joshua Crawford, Public Safety Fellow at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, shows that the decreasing number…
Decarceration’s Disconnect: Corrections spending rises in Georgia even as prison population declines
Prison reform debates often focus on reducing prison populations to save taxpayers money. But is that actually possible? In a…
National Poverty Rate Fails to Capture the Problem of Poverty Concentration in Georgia and Beyond
PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA—The official poverty rate fell 0.4% to 10.6% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest report…
Are we witnessing a Baltimore Miracle in the fight against crime?
Baltimore has struggled with crime, especially drugs and violent crime, in both reality and in the imaginations of the American…
Welfare stands in the way of the American dream
Meaningful relationships and a strong sense of community are as much a part of the American dream as any economic…
A better way to get welfare recipients back into the labor force
If the One Big Beautiful Bill becomes law, states will quickly discover that their administrative systems are ill-equipped to move…
It’s time to eliminate marriage penalties in the U.S. tax code
An important step to eliminate marriage penalties is to take those programs away from the IRS and give them to…
A Path from Welfare to Self-Sufficiency
Safety net systems should be integrated with workforce support programs. Mostly they aren’t. More states should implement the kind of…