Functional Government Initiative – Functional Government Initiative

Lack of U.S. energy independence concerns the Functional Government Initiative: ‘For years, Washington’s dysfunction has enraged the American public’

By Glenn Minnis (Albany Standard)

March 16, 2022

With energy costs on the rise across the country, Functional Government Initiative (FGI) members are now expressing concerns that some of President Joe Biden’s energy policies may be doing more harm than good, in terms of gaining control of the situation.

As the war in Ukraine rages on, White House officials recently announced the administration’s plans to ban imports of Russian oil into the country.

“While FGI commends this decision, the American people have legitimate concerns about the impact of energy policy on rising prices, not only on energy but also across the economy,” FGI officials said in the release. “Concerns don’t end there. News about the decision to move away from Russian imports came alongside developments that may simply result in Americans’ depreciating dollar being redirected to another set of hostile foreign governments.”

Lack of U.S. energy independence concerns the Functional Government Initiative: ‘We will continue working to expose the dysfunction of government’

By Andy Nghiem (Eastern Wayne Today)

March 16, 2022

The Functional Government Initiative (FGI) expressed concern over President Joe Biden’s recent energy policies and has addressed the rising costs of energy in the U.S.

Following the decision to ban all U.S. imports of Russian oil, the FGI continues to be concerned about the current energy policies the White House has in place. The organization is confident their investigation will yield vital results and help them better understand the energy priorities of the federal government.

FGI said in late February that they are seeking full transparency from government agencies in the following areas: actions to slow gas price hikes using emergency powers; calls for investigating the meat and energy industries; efforts to hinder domestic fossil fuel production, halt pipeline approvals, and shut down American mines; and considerations behind the decision to re-nominate a Federal Reserve chairman who has presided over 40-year highs in inflation.

Lack of energy independence, impact ‘on our foreign policy’ concerns organization, Nevadans

NW Clark News

March 16, 2022

The FGI is a nonpartisan organization that works to promote integrity and transparency from government agencies and elected officials, while advocating for working Americans’ beliefs and values, the FGI said on their site.

The FGI said in a release on Feb. 25 that it is seeking full transparency from government agencies regarding several topics.

“The areas of inquiry will include the following,” the FGI said in the release. “Actions to slow gas price hikes using emergency powers; Calls for investigating the meat and energy industries; Efforts to hinder domestic fossil fuel production, halt pipeline approvals, and shut down American mines; and Considerations behind the decision to re-nominate a Federal Reserve Chairman who has presided over 40-year highs in inflation.”

Lack of U.S. energy independence concerns the Functional Government Initiative while gas prices rise in NC

Nantahala News

March 15, 2022

In light of the Biden administration’s announcement of an immediate ban on all U.S. imports of Russian oil, the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) is worried about the impact of President Biden’s energy policies on rising energy costs in the U.S.

“Last week we expressed our concerns regarding the reluctance to sanction the Russian energy market and announced that we would be seeking information surrounding that decision,” FGI spokesman Peter McGinnis said in a statement March 9. “However, the current situation creates the fear that we may be moving from funding Russia’s war machine to paying the dictator in Venezuela and the state sponsors of terrorism in Iran. The concerns of the Functional Government Initiative remain. We will continue working to expose the dysfunction of government and investigate the impact of today’s energy policy on our foreign policy and near-record levels of inflation.”

FGI remains concerned about federal energy policy’s impact on Ukraine war, inflation

The federal government has reversed its initial decision but continues to steer away from energy independence.

March 9, 2022

(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced it would be reversing course and would move to stop imports of Russian oil into the United States market. The Functional Government Initiative announced last week it had begun an investigation into the initial decision to exclude the Russian energy sector from U.S. sanctions. In spite of yesterday’s reversal, FGI’s probe is expected to yield vital information, allowing the American people to better understand the federal government’s energy priorities.

While FGI commends this decision, the American people have legitimate concerns about the impact of energy policy on rising prices, not only on energy but also across the economy. Concerns don’t end there. News about the decision to move away from Russian imports came alongside developments that may simply result in Americans’ depreciating dollar being redirected to another set of hostile foreign governments. American officials have reportedly begun talks with the Venezuelan government that may lead to easing of economic sanctions. These sanctions were originally placed on Venezuela in 2019 after numerous human rights abuses committed by the government under Nicolas Maduro, a close Putin ally. Talks also continue with Iran, the world’s prime state sponsor of terrorism, which may ease sanctions on the Iranian oil sector.

Energy prices have broad and deep effects on virtually every sector of the economy. As fuel prices continue to rise and widespread inflation continues to afflict American families, FGI will continue investigating how energy policy affects our influence abroad and Americans’ pocketbooks at home.

Peter McGinnis, spokesman for FGI, issued the following statement:

“Last week we expressed our concerns regarding the reluctance to sanction the Russian energy market and announced that we would be seeking information surrounding that decision. However, the current situation creates the fear that we may be moving from funding Russia’s war machine to paying the dictator in Venezuela and the state sponsors of terrorism in Iran. The concerns of the Functional Government Initiative remain. We will continue working to expose the dysfunction of government and investigate the impact of today’s energy policy on our foreign policy and near-record levels of inflation.”

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Nonprofit Watchdog: Government Policies “Supercharging” Inflation

By David Beasley (Arizona Business Daily)

March 8, 2022

Experts have explored for several months the potential contributors to the high U.S. inflation numbers, but there has yet to be a sound consensus on the primary reason, the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) said in a recent news release.

Leading contenders include federal spending on pandemic relief bills, high oil prices, and now high tensions in Europe, the news release said. FGI has begun their search by digging into government policies.

FGI, a non-profit watchdog group, is seeking full transparency from government agencies in the following areas: “actions to slow gas price hikes using emergency powers; calls for investigating the meat and energy industries; efforts to hinder domestic fossil fuel production, halt pipeline approvals and shut down American mines; and considerations behind the decision to re-nominate a Federal Reserve chairman who has presided over 40-year highs in inflation,” the group said in the release.

As Historical Inflation Rates Remain in Georgia, Nonpartisan Organization Demands Answers

By Glenn Minnis (Georgia Business Daily)

March 7, 2022

Functional Government Initiative (FGI) members are pushing to get to the bottom of the country’s rapidly rising inflation rates.

“For years, Washington’s dysfunction has enraged the American public,” FGI spokesman Peter McGinnis said in a press release. “The Functional Government Initiative exists to explore what is driving that dysfunction and shine a light on the key decisions causing it… The public almost certainly understands that the pandemic has played a part in driving inflation, but if it turns out government policies are supercharging that spike in their cost of living, then they deserve to know.”

The FGI said in February that they are seeking full transparency from government agencies in areas such as gas price hikes, investigating the meat and energy industries, and shutting down American mines, according to the release.

With Historic Inflation Rates in North Carolina, Nonpartisan Organization Demands Answers

By Laurie A. Luebbert

March 7, 2022

Amid historic inflation levels in the U.S., Americans are growing curious as to the root cause. In response, the Functional Government Initiative (FGI), a nonpartisan organization that demands government transparency, announced information requests they’re sending to government agencies.

Through this process, FGI hopes to uncover the policies that are contributing to the harmful effects inflation has imposed on so many American lives.

“For years, Washington’s dysfunction has enraged the American public,” Peter McGinnnis, spokesman for FGI, said in a recent news release on the organization’s website. “The Functional Government Initiative exists to explore what is driving that dysfunction and shine a light on the key decisions causing it.”

Rising Inflation in Nevada Has Watchdog Agency Looking for Causes

By Sam Jackson (Nevada Business Daily)

March 7, 2022

As inflation continues to rise to levels not seen in Nevada in decades, experts are examining the causes and looking for reasons behind it.

The Functional Government Initiative (FGI), a nonpartisan organization that seeks transparency in government, has asked several government agencies for information so that the root causes of the high inflation rates can be shared with the public, the organization said in a recent news release on its website. Among the oft-cited causes are the COVID-19 pandemic and the approximately $5 trillion in federal government relief spending as a result. Supply chain issues are another factor, but no consensus has been reached as to why inflation has risen so much.

“A strong economy and a healthy America are goals all Americans share,” McGinnis said in the release. “As we get records back on these key decisions impacting inflation, we will soon find out whether actions of the federal government are aiding or impeding those goals.”

Functional Government Initiative Seeks Answers as Inflation Hits Historic Levels in Michigan

By David Hutton

March 7, 2022

As inflation hits historic levels in the U.S. and Americans begin to search for answers, the Functional Government Initiative (FGI), a nonpartisan organization that demands government transparency, announced information requests they’re sending to government agencies.

With these requests, FGI is hoping it can bring to light policies that are driving inflation and its impact on Americans. Peter McGinnis, a spokesman for the organization, noted that the dysfunction in Washington, D.C., continues to draw the ire of the public.

“The Functional Government Initiative exists to explore what is driving that dysfunction and shine a light on the key decisions causing it,” he said in a recent news release on the FGI website. “Right now, inflation is front and center in this discussion.”