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States seek private financial help to fix social problems
Associated Press ^ | Feb 20, 2016 6:42 PM EST | Susan Haigh

Posted on 02/21/2016 8:25:55 AM PST by Olog-hai

A growing number of states and local governments are turning to an unconventional method of financing possible fixes to big social problems, motivated by tight budgets and little incentive to take a chance on initiatives without a guarantee of results.

On Tuesday, officials in Connecticut, South Carolina and Colorado announced new public/private arrangements to fund so-called "pay for success" projects that aim to help families struggling with drug addiction, improve health outcomes for poor mothers and their children and reduce chronic homelessness.

The concept, often referred to as "social impact bonds," involves a government entity teaming up with a private intermediary that develops the project, identifies effective programs already being used and raises the capital from philanthropic-minded investors. If the initiative produces specific results over multiple years, then the state or local government pays back the investment with a small rate of return. But if the project doesn't meet those results, the taxpayers typically are not on the hook financially. ...

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Government; US: Colorado; US: Connecticut; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: liberalagenda; ppp; publicprivate; socialimpactbonds
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More public-private partnerships. More than one pundit has described this phenomenon as neo-fascism.
1 posted on 02/21/2016 8:25:55 AM PST by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

Indeed California would die if it didn’t receive government funding.


2 posted on 02/21/2016 8:31:55 AM PST by Vaduz (women and children to be impacted the most.)
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To: Olog-hai

How about cutting them off from welfare, food stamps and section 8 housing, and Medicaid till they get their act together?


3 posted on 02/21/2016 8:32:45 AM PST by rbg81 (Truth is stranger than fiction)
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To: Olog-hai

If the Government wants the private sector to fix social problems, then let go. Let churches and charities pick up the reins and get off their backs.


4 posted on 02/21/2016 8:32:49 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: Olog-hai

Governments only make “social problems” worse.


5 posted on 02/21/2016 8:33:23 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Olog-hai

A new Tax to make things worst ?


6 posted on 02/21/2016 8:34:29 AM PST by butlerweave
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To: BenLurkin
Governments only make “social problems” worse.

A Constitutional Amendment making federal mandates on states unconstitutional would solve lots of problems.

7 posted on 02/21/2016 8:40:11 AM PST by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives - ban gun free zones)
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To: Olog-hai

Any private entity that gets in bed with these idiots deserves to get burned.


8 posted on 02/21/2016 8:40:25 AM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: Olog-hai

When governments delve too deep into “social” problems, it becomes “socialISM”.

I think the clause, “provide for the general welfare” really was intended for the government to scrap its regulations that stifle jobs, trade, and health. Not handouts to able-bodied citizens.

Their constant meddling and pandering for votes has brought to where we are...dying on the vine for over picked fruit trees.


9 posted on 02/21/2016 8:41:34 AM PST by FrankR (You're only enslaved to the extent of the charity that you receive!)
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To: unixfox

They’re not going to get burned. They will be politician cronies who will get to milk the taxpayes for all they’re worth.


10 posted on 02/21/2016 8:44:29 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: FrankR

Isn’t the phrase “promote the general welfare?” Not “provide the general welfare?”


11 posted on 02/21/2016 8:45:54 AM PST by N. Theknow (Kennedys-Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat-But they know what's best for you.)
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To: rbg81
You're operating under the premise that governments want these problems to go away. If they did, they would completely get out of the public assistance racket and let charity groups and fellow Americans help the poor.

They don't, because they have to sustain the bureaucrats on the public payroll and retain the votes of the very people they're trying to "help."

12 posted on 02/21/2016 8:49:25 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Yuge 2016)
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To: Olog-hai

This is not new. We have been paying people not to do crime through welfare and trying to buy positive behavior since the LBJ.

WE JUST HAVEN’T DONE IT RIGHT YET....................(sarcasm)


13 posted on 02/21/2016 9:07:11 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Olog-hai

“improve health outcomes for poor mothers and their children”

More subsidies for illegals. These bureaucrats NEVER get enough.


14 posted on 02/21/2016 9:18:56 AM PST by dljordan (WhoVoltaire: "To find out who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.")
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
You're operating under the premise that governments want these problems to go away. If they did, they would completely get out of the public assistance racket and let charity groups and fellow Americans help the poor.

The bulk of government spending is already in social programs (see the website in my tag line). We are at a point where legitimate government functions are being scaled back in order to maintain social spending.

Without the social spending, there would be no deficit, and the debt could be paid down.

15 posted on 02/21/2016 9:20:24 AM PST by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
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To: N. Theknow

My bad...you’re right. Still, the point applies.


16 posted on 02/21/2016 9:51:12 AM PST by FrankR (You're only enslaved to the extent of the charity that you receive!)
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To: Olog-hai
Maybe if those states lowered their taxes, it would free up funds for those companies to use on behalf of these causes. Or better yet, the companies could expand their businesses, which would in turn employ more people who could then earn their own way.

An idea like this private/public partnership is testament to the ultimate ineffectiveness of government "solutions."

17 posted on 02/21/2016 9:53:45 AM PST by IronJack
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To: Olog-hai

Sounds like a shakedown. Wanna expand your business? Wanna renew a license? Need a permit?


18 posted on 02/21/2016 9:58:10 AM PST by Organic Panic
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To: Olog-hai
More public-private partnerships.

Any time I see that phase I instinctively grab my wallet.

Its just another way to to pass tax money to corporations.

19 posted on 02/21/2016 10:20:29 AM PST by usurper (Liberals GET OFF MY LAWN)
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To: Olog-hai

Actually, a public-private partnership might actually work. The only caveat is, of course, that the public side’s role is limited to staying out of the way and shutting F up.


20 posted on 02/21/2016 10:29:09 AM PST by lafroste
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