In Case You Missed It... | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

off the charts

POLICY INSIGHT
BEYOND THE NUMBERS

This week at CBPP, we focused on federal taxes, housing, state budgets and taxes, health care, food assistance, and the economy.

On federal taxes, Chuck Marr, Chye-Ching Huang, Cecile Murray, and Arloc Sherman showed that strengthening the Earned Income Tax Credit for childless workers would reduce poverty and encourage work. We finished our Countdown to Tax Day series, with Chuck Marr explaining the drawbacks of tax expenditures, emphasizing that the corporate tax code favors foreign over domestic profits, and pointing out that Americans take pride in paying their taxes. We wrapped up the series by revisiting our top ten federal tax charts.
On housing, Barbara Sard and Deborah Thorpe outlined the benefits of consolidating the administration of federal rental assistance, which would improve efficiency. But Will Fischer cautioned that a House bill to streamline program administration is the wrong approach, and would reduce accountability and risk harming low-income families. We released a chart book illustrating families’ struggles to afford housing in the face of extensive cuts in federal rental assistance. Douglas Rice examined recent changes in federal funding and showed that funding will soon hit a 40-year low unless policymakers act. He also highlighted the growing gap between renters’ wages and rents.

On state budgets and taxes, Erica Williams outlined a fiscal policy agenda to strengthen state economies. Michael Mazerov discussed why states should emulate a European Commission proposal to require large corporations to publicly report their income tax payments.

On health care, Hannah Katch underscored the importance of enforcing new regulations to ensure adequate behavioral health services for Medicaid beneficiaries. Judith Solomon and Jesse Cross-Call explained why it’s too soon to allow other states to replicate Indiana’s Medicaid waiver. Shelby Gonzales detailed how states can use existing data to enroll uninsured SNAP (food stamp) recipients in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

On food assistance, Dottie Rosenbaum noted the decline in SNAP spending in the first half of this fiscal year, which undercuts House Republicans’ justification for massive SNAP cuts.

On the economy, Ife Floyd highlighted a new report showing how subsidized jobs programs help lift up workers in or at risk of poverty.

A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts recently. Here are some highlights:

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