In Case You Missed It . . .

This week at CBPP, we focused on state budgets and taxes, the federal budget and taxes, food assistance, housing, family income support, and the economy.

• On state budgets and taxes, Michael Mitchell, Michael Leachman, and Kathleen Masterson reported on widespread state funding cuts and tuition increases for higher education.  Mitchell extracted the key findings from the report and mapped state-by-state funding trends.  Also, Elizabeth McNichol marked Infrastructure Week by noting that state infrastructure investments pay off now and later.  Erica Williams explained that Oklahoma’s cut in its Earned Income Tax Credit is the wrong way to help close its large budget shortfall.
• On the federal budget and taxes, Isaac Shapiro and Richard Kogan calculated that the vast majority of the cuts in a House Republican package of entitlement cuts would come from programs for people with low or modest incomes.  David Reich explained how a House bill would sidestep agreed-upon limits on defense spending.  Chuck Marr listed key takeaways from a Washington Center for Equitable Growth report on corporate tax reform.  He also highlighted a major tax loophole that policymakers should close, known as “like-kind exchange.”
• On food assistance, Robert Greenstein explained that that a House child nutrition bill would weaken programs for low-income children.  Zoë Neuberger showed that the bill would reduce access to school meals in high-poverty areas, convert the school meals program into a block grant in some states, and hurt efforts to cut costs and fight fraud in state WIC programs.
• On housing, Peggy Bailey lauded new federal guidance aimed at helping ex-offenders obtain needed housing and health coverage.
• On family income support, Ife Floyd noted that Kansas legislation shortening the time limit for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families will hurt those who most need help.
• On the economy, we highlighted Jared Bernstein’s Washington Post piece on the Administration’s new overtime rule.

Chart of the Week: State Map: Funding Down, Tuition Up

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

Millions more workers will be eligible for overtime pay under new federal rule
The Washington Post
May 18, 2016

House GOP Is Determined To Make It Harder For Poor Kids To Get Free School Lunches
The Huffington Post
May 18, 2016

As oil boom goes bust, Oklahoma protects drillers and squeezes schools
Reuters
May 17, 2016

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