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This week at CBPP, we focused on health, housing, food assistance, the economy, and poverty and inequality: https://bit.ly/3geOIq0
This week at CBPP, we focused on health, housing, food assistance, the economy, and poverty and inequality: https://bit.ly/3geOIq0
Today's #GreatReads from RWJ CEO Richard E. Besser on the coverage gap: Congress must close the Medicaid coverage gap once and for all → https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/557712-congress-must-close-the-medicaid-coverage-gap-once-and-for-all
Today, we can clearly see that states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs are neglecting some of their most vulnerable populations.
Extending health insurance to people in the coverage gap benefits uninsured folks w/ incomes below the poverty line who lack access to affordable coverage: 60% of them are people of color. Policymakers could close the coverage gap by creating a federal fallback.
The 2.2 million uninsured adults with incomes below the poverty line who were caught in the Medicaid “coverage gap” in 2019 are a varied group, but they all live in states that have failed to adopt the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion.
Several outreach pilot programs have shown that targeted text messaging may help increase awareness about WIC & reach more families eligible for enrollment in the program.
Read more here: https://www.cbpp.org/wictexting
Targeted text messaging offers a promising option to states planning strategies to reach more families eligible for WIC, as several recent pilot programs have shown it may help increase awareness about and enrollment in the program.
On our #GreatReads list for the day is this op-ed by Binyamin Appelbaum. We agree: wealthy Americans can save a lot of money by cheating on their federal income taxes, but that’s nothing compared with how much money they’ve been saving by following the rules.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/08/opinion/income-tax-billionaires.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
On our #GreatReads list for the day is this op-ed by Binyamin Appelbaum. We agree: wealthy Americans can save a lot of money by cheating on their federal income taxes, but that’s nothing compared with how much money they’ve been saving by following the rules.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/08/opinion/income-tax-billionaires.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
ICYMI: Last week at CBPP, we focused on poverty and inequality, the economy, state budgets and taxes, federal taxes, Social Security, food assistance, and housing.
This week at CBPP, we focused on poverty and inequality, the economy, state budgets and taxes, federal taxes, Social Security, food assistance, and housing. On poverty and inequality,...
President Biden’s 2022 budget includes a long-overdue boost in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) operating budget to improve customer service, but the 10 percent increase is still less than the agency says it needs to do its job effectively.
When policymakers turn to 2022 appropriations to fund the government, they should give SSA enough funds to meet its daunting workload, which has become even more challenging during the COVID-19 crisis.
President Biden’s 2022 budget includes a long-overdue boost in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) operating budget to improve customer service, but the 10 percent increase is still less...
Rainy day funds and other reserves are some of the most important tools states have to preserve the services that people need always and especially during economic downturns. But today many states do not save enough.
We explain why states need stronger rainy day funds: https://bit.ly/3pjYUAE
States must balance their budgets even when they face recessions and other unexpected shocks to their revenues.
The upcoming recovery legislation marks a historic opportunity to help drive an equitable recovery. The nation’s investment needs in many areas cannot wait.
The nation now needs to make investments in children, workers, and health care that will enable more people to reach their full potential.
Repealing the pass-through deduction would raise significant progressive revenue, reduce abuse, improve tax compliance, and complement president Biden’s corporate tax proposals.
Policymakers should include a repeal in future recovery legislation.
Tax law and policy experts have widely criticized the deduction.
President Biden’s budget proposal is bold and broad in scope, though its policies are not radical or new.
Read CBPP President Sharon Parrott’s statement here: https://bit.ly/3hYYfTt
The proposal provides our first comprehensive view of the Administration’s agenda for building toward a more equitable economy where everyone can thrive.
Enacting a major expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher Program in recovery legislation is the single most important housing policy lawmakers can adopt to help people with low incomes afford housing and reduce homelessness, housing instability, and overcrowding — and would also do much to cut poverty and reduce racial and ethnic disparities.
Some skeptics of expansion argue that housing shortages would prevent new vouchers from being used, but evidence suggests that rental markets could readily absorb many additional vouchers — particularly if they’re part of a balanced investment package that also funds development of new affordable housing.
Enacting a major expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher Program in recovery legislation is the single most important housing policy lawmakers can adopt to help people with low incomes afford housing...
While the President’s American Jobs Plan includes critical resources to renovate existing public housing and develop more affordable housing, it fails to adequately invest in expanding rental assistance to reach those who need it most.
As recovery legislation advances, lawmakers should craft a balanced package that not only builds more housing but also makes sure families with incomes near or below the poverty line can afford a home by significantly expanding Housing Choice Vouchers.
While the President’s American Jobs Plan includes critical resources to renovate existing public housing and develop more affordable housing, it fails to adequately invest in expanding rental assistance to reach those who need it most.
Income assistance and refundable tax credits are linked with improved health outcomes such as healthier birth weights, lower maternal stress, and better childhood nutrition.
Income significantly contributes to opportunities for good health.[1] People with higher incomes can more easily afford to meet the full range of their children’s needs, from nutritious food and...
President Biden’s American Jobs Plan would make the tax code fairer and raise substantial revenue without undermining economic growth.
Our newly updated paper has the details, including analyses from Moody’s Analytics and International Monetary Fund (IMF) researchers with further evidence on the equity and growth benefits of this approach.
President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, which would finance high-return infrastructure investments partly by undoing some of the dramatic 2017 corporate tax cuts, would make the tax code fairer and...
Congress should adopt provisions in the American Families Plan to make expansions to the EITC and CTC permanent, which would reduce child poverty & provide income support for millions of people. It should also go further.
Congress should adopt these proposed changes, which would result in reductions of child poverty and provide income support for millions of people. And it should go two steps further.
This week at CBPP, we focused on food assistance, health, federal taxes, state budgets and taxes, family income support, poverty and inequality, and the economy.
This week at CBPP, we focused on food assistance, health, federal taxes, state budgets and taxes, family income support, poverty and inequality, and the economy. On food assistance, Zoë...
The American Rescue Plan, enacted in March, gives states a time-limited opportunity to receive more than $11 billion in added federal Medicaid funding for home- and community-based services (HCBS). This funding can help seniors and people with disabilities receive services safely in the community rather than in nursing homes and other congregate care settings. But it’s only available for 12 months, and states must submit their spending plans to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by June 12, so they need to act quickly.
The American Rescue Plan, enacted in March, gives states a time-limited opportunity to receive more than $11 billion in added federal Medicaid funding for home- and community-based services (HCBS)....
The American Families Plan would:
- Eliminate stepped-up basis loophole for wealthy households
- Tax dividends/capital gains of high-income households at the same rate as wages
- Eliminate carried interest loophole
- Raise top marginal rate back to 39.6%
More here: https://bit.ly/3tB4Ghz
Income and wealth have become increasingly concentrated in recent decades as the fortunes of those at the very top have surged.
Tax Day, which comes about a month later than usual this year, is an opportunity to take a close look at how tax and spending choices made in state capitals affect people’s lives. Smart tax and spending policies can improve family well-being, foster more vibrant local communities, and help states build more prosperous and equitable economies for all: https://bit.ly/2RqbGAL
People who buy coverage in the health insurance marketplaces, including at HealthCare.gov, will get a bigger tax credit to reduce their premiums in 2021 and 2022 under the American Rescue Plan, and some will see savings on their 2020 tax returns due today, May 17.
People who buy coverage in the health insurance marketplaces, including at HealthCare.gov, will get a bigger tax credit to reduce their premiums in 2021 and 2022 under the American Rescue Plan, and...
The ACA expanded access to affordable coverage for adults under 65, increasing coverage for all age groups, races & ethnicities, education levels, & incomes. Gains were greatest in states that expanded Medicaid, where the uninsured rate dropped by 43%.
Under the ACA, older adults’ uninsured rate has dropped by a third, indicators of their health and wellness have improved, and they’re now protected from coverage exclusions and cost increases due to pre-existing conditions.
This Tax Day, as many state legislatures end regular sessions and prepare to invest the American Rescue Plan’s fiscal recovery funds, lawmakers should note recent advances across the country in making state tax systems fairer.
Lawmakers should note recent advances across the country in making state tax systems fairer.
The pandemic and resulting economic downturn have caused widespread hardship and hit state budgets hard. And while the American Rescue Plan provides significant help, states need to proactively respond to short- and long-term pressures by raising the resources needed to limit economic hardship for those most affected by the pandemic and advance equity-oriented, antiracist policies and public investments.
The health and economic crisis due to COVID-19 calls for states to raise revenues and invest in communities, not set harmful, arbitrary limits on doing so, as some state lawmakers have proposed. The...
President Biden’s recovery proposals — including the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan — constitute a ground-breaking agenda to move us toward an equitable economy and address problems that have plagued our nation for decades.
More from CBPP President Sharon Parrott on President Biden’s recovery proposals.
The proposals constitute a ground-breaking agenda to move us toward an equitable economy and address problems that have plagued our nation for decades.
Great Read from CBPP's Victoria Jackson & The Education Trust: The COVID-19 stimulus money won’t last forever, & now is the perfect time for schools to act.
Here are three paths they could follow now.
There are three important first steps for states to start helping schools prepare now, write two policy experts.
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Comment Policy: We hope you'll find the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ official page to be a useful source of news updates and information. While we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on the page, please note that all comments are subject to removal. We reserve the right to remove comments that: •are injurious, defamatory, profane, off-topic or inappropriate; •contain personal attacks or racist, sexist, homophobic, or other slurs; •solicit and/or advertise for personal blogs and websites or to sell products or services; •may infringe the copyright or intellectual property rights of others or other applicable laws or regulations; or •are otherwise inconsistent with the goals of this page. Repeated violations of this comment policy may cause the author to be blocked from the CBPP page. Disclaimer: Posted comments and images do not necessarily represent the views of the CBPP. External, non-CBPP links on this page do not constitute official endorsement of CBPP. Keep commenting, and thanks for joining the conversation about important policy issues.
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Join us for a Facebook Live with New America where we will discuss the campaign for stimulus payment outreach and what you can do to help eligible individuals receive their funds.
Millions of families are currently struggling to put food on the table, and that has long-lasting consequences for the months and years down the road. Watch this segment on Wolf Blitzer's The Situation Room on why policymakers need to boost SNAP now.
SNAP is responding to rising need as America's most effective anti-hunger program. A temporary 15% increase in SNAP benefits will help families put food on the table through the COVID-19 crisis, as it also helps the economy recover.
SNAP matters now more than ever because the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic will likely continue for months or even years. A temporary 15% increase in SNAP benefits will help families as hardship continues to rise.
Rising food need & higher food prices are making it even tougher for many to make ends meet. Congress can act to boost SNAP benefits now & help families as food prices & income losses continue to rise.
A 15% increase in SNAP benefits will do a lot to address food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis, even as it provides direct stimulus to help the economy recover. Congress can act to boost SNAP benefits now & help families as hardship continues to rise.
Rising food need and higher food prices are making it even tougher for many to make ends meet. Congress can act to boost SNAP benefits now and help families as food prices and income losses continue to rise.
A 15% increase in SNAP benefits will do a lot to address food insecurity during the COVID- 19 crisis, even as it provides direct stimulus to help the economy recover. Congress can act to boost SNAP benefits now & help families as hardship continues to rise.
While churches and food banks are doing heroic work to address the need created by the COVID-19, they are not equipped to address a problem of this scope & scale. Only SNAP – America’s most effective anti-hunger program – can meet this moment. Here’s why SNAP matters now more than ever.
“SNAP just plain works. The SNAP program is the single largest federal nutrition assistance program. It feeds millions of people.” During this public health & economic crisis, hear why SNAP matters – now more than ever.
SNAP matters to millions of people & children who rely on the program to put food on the table. Hear from SNAP participants on the support SNAP provides for them and their families, and what a boost in the SNAP benefit would mean during the downturn.
SNAP is a proven form of stimulus that boosts the economy as it reduces food insecurity. CBPP’s Stacy Dean and Jared Bernstein explain here.
Not only is SNAP America’s best hunger-fighting tool, but it’s also a powerful stimulus in downturns. CBPP’s Bob Greenstein and Jared Bernstein explain here.
It can be hard to visualize the job loss devastation in light of COVID-19. We will have more analysis soon, but in the meantime, we highly recommend you watch & share this video.
Peggy Bailey, Alicia Mazzara and Anna Bailey discuss the Trump Administration’s proposed rule that would significantly weaken some of the provisions in the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule.
In the decade after TANF was created (1995-2005), child poverty fell, but what happened in families with the lowest incomes? We answer that in our new pape and video: http://bit.ly/2Te4bty
This week at CBPP, we focused on the federal budget and taxes, food assistance, health, Social Security, and the economy: https://www.cbpp.org/blog/in-case-you-missed-it-466
Hot off the presses - we've got a new paper from Chye-Ching Huang and Roderick Taylor on how the federal tax code can better advance racial equity. (They also explain how the 2017 tax law took a step backwards.) Watch below and read more here: https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/how-the-federal-tax-code-can-better-advance-racial-equity
Thomas Ptacek is a service provider who experienced homelessness. He credits SNAP for returning normalcy into his life and allowing him to work full-time. Hear his story.
Brian Strouse, a Marine vet who was injured in Iraq shares his experience losing his SNAP benefits as a result of SNAP’s 20 hour rule. Hear his story.
Liz Duncan, a former SNAP participant who experienced homelessness as a teenager, shares her experience of running up against SNAP’s 20 hour rule. Hear her story.
Tim Keefe is a Navy veteran who lost his job after an injury. Due to SNAP's 20 hour rule, he lost his SNAP benefits and was unable to eat. Hear his story.
“I have gotten to the point of not having food in my house.” – Vidnalys Villegas, a mother of 2, who saw an increase in food assistance benefits after Hurricane Maria. Now her family struggles to afford groceries after those benefits were reduced. Hear her story.
After Hurricane Maria, Keishla Santiago Santana saw an increase in NAP benefits that helped feed her 2 children. Now that additional aid is gone, she has to buy less and save for the end of the month when food is low. Hear her story.
“We could eat more than just a small canned sausage, more than a soda cracker.” - Salvador Gómez on the increase in additional food assistance in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria & what it means for his family now that it’s gone.
Suzette de Jesús was able to afford groceries for a whole month with the additional food assistance she received after Hurricane Maria. Now that the additional aid has ended, her salary isn’t enough to cover groceries. Hear her story.
Workers in Pittsburgh describe why the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid are essential to help them make ends meet while they are working inherently unstable low-wage jobs: http://bit.ly/2D9zVeX
Stephanie Fello is a prepared foods clerk in a grocery store. Her job has very low-pay, unpredictable hours, and a lack of paid sick days. She also has a four-month old baby. SNAP makes all the difference for families like hers.
Peace Corps at Oregon State University
Corvallis 97331Sharona Robinson, DCPS Community Action Team
1200 1st St NEEmpowering Males of Color DC Public Schools
1200 1st St NEDepartment of Energy & Environment
1200 1st St NEDC Public Schools - Urban Education Leaders I
1200 1st St NENoMa Business Improvement District
1200 First St NEDOEE Green Zone Environmental Program
District Department of Energy & Environment 1200 First St NEU.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
131 M St NEDC Department of Human Services
64 New York Ave NE
The Anacostia Coordinating Council-ACC
2401 Shannon Pl SE
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
1310 L St NW, Washington, DC
National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN)
1200 G Street, NW Suite 800
National Fair Housing Alliance
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 650