More than 240 small towns across the U.S. rejected federal pandemic money in order to avoid the inevitable strings attached.

Reason TV did a short video report on this development featuring interviews with a grassroots activist in Texas, a local official and me.

“Obviously we could have used the money, but at what cost?” Brady-based activist and lobbyist Sheila Hemphill said.

I likened federal money to bribery.

“The only way that you can avoid the consequences of being bribed is to not take the bribe.”

Mike Maharrey