Comprehensive News feed http://www.cbpp.org/topic/ en-us Copyright 2008 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. All rights reserved. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:05 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The ABCs of state budgets, and the problems that many states face today because of the recession are discussed by the Deputy Director of the Center’s State Fiscal Project, Jon Shure. Duration: 4:13 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3079 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3079 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:50:38 -0500 Facing continued major budget problems and the end of most federal Recovery Act assistance halfway through their coming fiscal year, governors are proposing a new round of deep budget cuts that would increase unemployment and threaten the fragile economic recovery. Without further federal aid, the actions states will have to take to close their budget gaps could cost the economy 900,000 jobs.[1] Congress is considering extending some assistance to states as part of forthcoming jobs … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3076 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3076 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:41:59 -0500 Today’s jobs report shows that job losses have slowed to a trickle compared with what they were in the months just before President Obama and Congress enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) last February. But it also highlights the huge jobs deficit that remains the legacy of the longest and most severe recession since the Great Depression. Temporary recovery measures that extend or expand on ARRA remain vital to putting the economy on a path that will close that jobs … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3077 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3077 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:19:54 -0500 In light of the still tenuous nature of the economic recovery, President Obama’s budget request of $266 billion for temporary provisions to support and speed economic recovery is necessary, reasonably sized, and well targeted.[1] Some news outlets, focusing on the budget’s $100 billion for a new “jobs initiative,” have reported that the budget proposes only $100 billion for temporary, economy-boosting measures. But, in addition to the funds for the new jobs initiative, … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3078 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3078 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:34:32 -0500 Because rising health care costs represent the single largest cause of the federal government's long-term budget problems, fundamental health reform must be part of any budget solution.[1] President Obama observed at a recent town hall meeting: “If you are serious about reducing our deficit and debt you cannot accomplish it without reforming our health care system, because that's what's gobbling up more federal dollars than anything else.”[2] It is a signal accomplishment that the Senate and … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3075 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3075 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:00:25 -0500 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3074 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3074 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:33:11 -0500 The President’s budget reflects both the short-term priority of boosting the economy and creating jobs and the longer-term priority of bringing deficits under control while meeting important national needs. There is a strong case for more medium- and long-term deficit reduction than the budget contains. But the budget likely goes as far in this area as today’s toxic political environment will allow, even if the President pushes forcefully for his policies … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3073 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3073 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:48:32 -0500 Overview In anticipation of Congressional reauthorization of the federal child nutrition programs, some have called for increased federal reimbursement rates for school meals to improve their nutritional quality. [1] Under current rules, however, federal payments for free and reduced price meals are not used solely to underwrite the cost of producing those meals. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has consistently shown that in some school food programs, the … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3071 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3071 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:04:53 -0500 The Earned Income Tax Credit and how it helps low-wage workers and their families is discussed by John Wancheck, Coordinator of the Center’s Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach campaign. Duration: 4:36 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3070 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3070 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:58:00 -0500 In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for allowing the Bush-era tax cuts for high-income Americans to expire on schedule at the end of the year. Critics already are attacking this proposal as an unwarranted tax increase that would harm the weak economy and kill large numbers of jobs, especially among small businesses. These criticisms fly in the face of a wealth of fiscal and economic evidence. Allowing tax cuts to expire for married filers with incomes above … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3068 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3068 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:23:10 -0500 On January 30, the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board will post on its website, www.recovery.gov, data on jobs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This data release will capture only a portion of the jobs created and saved by the Act, due to ARRA’s limited reporting requirements. According to the Council of Economic Advisers, ARRA’s reporting system covered only 16 percent of ARRA expenditures through the end of 2009. [1] Most of ARRA’s … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3069 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3069 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:58:29 -0500 States are facing an unprecedented budget crisis, as the recession has caused the greatest declines in state tax revenues on record. Below is some background on the fundamentals of state finances and the depth of the problems states face today. The Budget Calendar States are now in fiscal year 2010. In most states the fiscal year runs from July 1 to the following June 30. The exceptions are New York (whose fiscal year starts April 1), Texas (September 1), and Michigan and Alabama (October 1).… http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3067 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3067 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:42:58 -0500 As states begin preparing for the third year of a fiscal crisis brought on by the recession, governors’ new budget proposals contain cuts to core services — like education and health care — and state workforces well beyond those they have already made, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The proposals threaten to increase hardship and unemployment and weaken the economy by reducing overall demand. Nearly half the governors have now … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3066 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3066 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:32:59 -0500 In approving tax increases on the ballot yesterday, Oregon voters wisely chose a balanced approach to addressing the state’s budget crisis. They rejected the claim that revenue increases would harm the economy and, instead, they acknowledged that relying on program cuts alone would hurt families and endanger the state’s long-term economic prospects. The country has been in the worst recession since the 1930s, which has caused the steepest declines in state tax receipts on record. … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3064 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3064 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:36:16 -0500 This proposal marks a useful step toward restoring fiscal responsibility. A well-designed pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rule can contribute significantly to the fiscal discipline needed to address the nation’s serious long-term budget problems, presuming that policymakers abide by it and pay for any new tax cuts or mandatory program increases that they enact. Putting pay-as-you-go in statute can increase the likelihood that lawmakers will follow this principle. Some may be more hesitant … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3065 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3065 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:43:29 -0500 Insurance market reforms are a key element of the comprehensive health reform bills that the House and the Senate have passed. Under the bills, insurers in both the individual and small-group insurance markets would be barred from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, charging higher premiums based on a person’s health status or gender, or placing annual or lifetime caps on covered benefits. In recent days, some policymakers have suggested that Congress should … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3062 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3062 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:54:36 -0500 The TANF Emergency Fund created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has enabled states to create subsidized jobs for TANF recipients and other low-income unemployed individuals and to bolster overall consumer demand by helping states meet the growing need for basic assistance among very poor families with children.[1] But the fund is set to expire on September 30, at a time when unemployment will remain high and increased numbers of people will have exhausted their … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3061 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3061 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:50:25 -0500 Under one scenario for Congress to enact health reform legislation, the House would pass the Senate health bill, and the House and Senate would both pass a budget reconciliation bill that includes changes to the health bill that House and Senate leaders have negotiated. One apparent obstacle to this course of action is continued objection by some House members to the Senate bill’s excise tax on high-cost health plans. In the last few months, the Senate excise tax provision has faced a … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3060 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3060 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:24:45 -0500 For the past several years, there has been serious discussion in New Mexico of adopting an important reform in the state corporate income tax known as mandatory “combined reporting.” Some New Mexico corporations have opposed this change, suggesting that it could result in some companies leaving the state or shunning New Mexico for new investment. However, the vast majority of the largest multistate corporations with facilities and employees in New … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3056 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3056 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:24:45 -0500 While proposals to adopt a key corporate tax reform in New Mexico have drawn criticism from some multistate corporations, almost all of the major corporations doing business in New Mexico already comply with the reform in at least one of the 23 other states that have it, according to a report released today by the Washington, DC-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The tax reform, known as “combined reporting,” shuts down a variety of tax shelters that major multistate … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3057 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3057 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:59:42 -0500 The long-term budget outlook is discussed by the Center’s Director of Federal Fiscal Policy, Jim Horney. Duration: 5:12 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3058 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3058 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:03:04 -0500 In the aftermath of the Massachusetts Senate election, Democratic congressional leaders must soon decide whether to use the reconciliation process to help pass health reform legislation. Reconciliation is a process set forth in the Congressional Budget Act that allows for expedited consideration of legislation affecting mandatory spending programs or taxes. Some critics have charged that using reconciliation to enact a major change in policy, such as health reform, would be unprecedented … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3059 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3059 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:56:26 -0500 A proposal before Congress would sharply expand HUD’s Moving-to-Work (MTW) demonstration. Unless important limitations are added, this expansion would reduce the number of families receiving housing assistance by shifting funds out of the Section 8 housing voucher program. It also would expose more low-income families to risky policies than is necessary to test innovative approaches, and allow local policies to diverge to a degree that could weaken housing … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3055 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3055 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:25:15 -0500 A proposal before Congress would sharply expand HUD's Moving-to-Work (MTW) demonstration. Unless important limitations are added, this expansion would reduce the number of families receiving housing assistance by shifting funds out of the Section 8 housing voucher program. It also would expose more low-income families to risky policies than is necessary to test innovative approaches, and allow local policies to diverge to a degree that could weaken housing assistance … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3055 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3055 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:12:07 -0500 Robert Greenstein testifies on the long-term budget deficit before the House of Representatives Committee on the Budget on January 21, 2010. Duration: 11:12 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3054 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3054 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:46:47 -0500 Mr. Chairman, Congressman Ryan, and members of the Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to appear here today to discuss the long-term budget problem facing the United States. Last week, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a new analysis presenting our latest long-term projections of federal spending, revenues, deficits, and debt under current policies and our conclusions about the changes that need to be made in those policies. [1] It will be no surprise to any of you who … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3053 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3053 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:30:31 -0500 How food insecurity affects families is discussed by Stacy Dean, the Center’s Director of Food Assistance Policy. Duration: 3:49 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3052 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3052 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:34:19 -0500 Today's jobs report shows that, while the economy has apparently turned a corner and sharply rising unemployment and large monthly job losses may be behind us, the labor market remains extraordinarily weak and jobs remain very hard to find. In these circumstances, the case remains strong for Congress to renew the temporary assistance for unemployed workers scheduled to expire at the end of February and provide additional federal fiscal assistance to states in order to … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3044 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3044 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:50:16 -0500 Over the past year, state revenue collections have dropped dramatically, creating large budget gaps for many states. A contributor to this fiscal crisis in many states is a relatively new and rapidly growing corporate tax break — one that in most states never even received a vote in the state legislature but nonetheless is costing states hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The federal government created this tax break, known as the “domestic production deduction,” in … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3050 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3050 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:25:00 -0500 Deficits and debt will rise to unprecedented levels in coming decades without major changes in federal budget policies, so policymakers should set a goal of stabilizing the debt as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) over the next decade, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported today. In its analysis, “The Right Target: Stabilize the Federal Debt,” the Center said that, to reach that goal, policymakers would have to trim projected deficits by more than half— … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3048 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3048 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:36:01 -0500 Summary Deficits and debt will rise to unprecedented levels in coming decades without major changes in federal budget policies, so policymakers should set a goal of stabilizing the debt as a share of gross domestic product over the next decade. This report presents new Center on Budget and Policy Priorities projections of federal spending, revenues, deficits, and debt through 2050. These projections — like previous projections that we have issued and analyses by other institutions such … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3049 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3049 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:57:13 -0500 A recent analysis of the effect of the Recovery Act on poverty is discussed by Arloc Sherman, the Center’s Senior Researcher in the Welfare Reform and Income Support Division. Duration: 4:59 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3047 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3047 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:39:36 -0500 The jobs report for November is discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone. Duration: 4:05 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3025 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3025 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:27:59 -0500 The jobs report for December is discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone. Duration: 3:21 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3046 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3046 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:27:16 -0500 Executive Summary The health reform bills that the House and Senate have passed would make health coverage more affordable for millions of low- and moderate-income households. Both bills would provide premium and cost-sharing subsidies for people to purchase coverage through the new health insurance exchange. They would also expand the Medicaid program to cover the lowest-income uninsured. While the House and Senate bills take the same general approach to making … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3045 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3045 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:19:45 -0500 Today’s jobs report shows that, while the economy has apparently turned a corner and sharply rising unemployment and large monthly job losses may be behind us, the labor market remains extraordinarily weak and jobs remain very hard to find. In these circumstances, the case remains strong for Congress to renew the temporary assistance for unemployed workers scheduled to expire at the end of February and provide additional federal fiscal assistance to states in order … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3044 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3044 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:59:28 -0500 The current status of health reform in Congress is discussed by the Center’s Senior Health Fellow, Judy Solomon. Duration: 3:27 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3043 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3043 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:45:54 -0500 The state budget crisis and what it means for the national economy is discussed by the Deputy Director of the Center’s State Fiscal Project, Jon Shure. Duration: 3:25 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3042 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3042 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:12:16 -0500 The state budget crisis and what it means for the national economy is discussed by the Deputy Director of the Center’s State Fiscal Project, Jon Shure. Duration: 3:25 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3042 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3042 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:54:03 -0500 Two key provisions in the Recovery Act – unemployment insurance and COBRA – and suggestions for Congress are discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone. Duration: 5:04 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3041 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3041 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:15:56 -0500 An examination of how the almost 79 million children under age 19 would fare under the House-passed health reform bill shows that the overwhelming majority likely would either see no change or be better off than under current law, with tens of millions better off. Some have criticized the bill out of the belief that its phaseout of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the end of 2013 would result in many millions of children being worse off than they are today.… http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3040 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3040 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:50:24 -0500 Two key provisions in the Recovery Act – unemployment insurance and COBRA – and suggestions for Congress are discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone. Duration: 5:04 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3041 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3041 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:39:04 -0500 A recent proposal to allow people aged 55 to 64 to “buy in” to Medicare would have done relatively little to increase competition in the market for health insurance, and health reformers should not greatly mourn its removal from the legislation that the Senate is considering. In the absence of a robust public health insurance plan, legislators should instead focus on establishing strong market reforms, or “rules of the road,” to assure that … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3039 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3039 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:40:11 -0500 While estate-tax opponents have held up family-owned farms and small businesses as “poster children” for the benefits of repealing the tax, such estates would be worse off, on balance, if Congress allows estate tax repeal and related tax changes to take effect on January 1, as now seems likely. The estate tax is irrelevant to the overwhelming majority of small farms and businesses because only a tiny number of them have assets worth more than $7 million for a couple ($3.5 million … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3038 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3038 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:57:48 -0500 While the recession is expected to drive states’ poverty rates up for 2009, new analysis based on Census data shows that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is keeping large numbers of Americans out of poverty in states across the country. In addition to boosting economic activity and preserving or creating jobs, the recovery act is softening the recession’s impact on poverty by directly lifting family incomes. The Center’s analysis, which covers 36 … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3035 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3035 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:59:27 -0500 Today’s Senate debate over whether to extend the federal estate tax or let it expire for next year is a study in irony. Under current law, the estate tax, which has been reduced very significantly since 2001 and now only affects the biggest 1 of every 500 estates in America, will expire next year and then return to pre-2001 law. The Senate leadership has been trying to extend the tax’s 2009 parameters beyond this year, preventing the scheduled rollercoaster of the tax over the next … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3037 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3037 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:59:36 -0500 Some critics charge that the new policies pursued by President Obama and the 111th Congress generated the huge federal budget deficits that the nation now faces. In fact, the tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the economic downturn together explain virtually the entire deficit over the next ten years (see Figure 1). The deficit for fiscal 2009 was $1.4 trillion and, at an estimated 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), was the largest … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3036 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3036 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:34:45 -0500 The recession’s impact on homelessness and how increased federal rental assistance can help struggling families are discussed by the Center’s Senior Policy Analyst for Housing, Doug Rice. Duration: 4:03 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3033 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3033 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:11:38 -0500 Summary As part of the economic recovery act signed into law in February, Congress approved $1.5 billion in temporary housing assistance for families that are homeless or at risk of losing their homes due to job loss or other financial hardship. These resources, which the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) distributed to local agencies through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), are now being used to help hard-pressed families … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3032 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3032 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:38:31 -0500 The Senate may consider an amendment to its pending health care bill that would replace its excise tax on high-cost health insurance plans – a key proposal to slow the growth in health care costs – with a “cap on excess medical inflation.” Such a policy change would be ill-advised — the proposed medical inflation cap would be poorly targeted, inequitable, and difficult to understand. It also would be unpredictable and virtually impossible to … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3031 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3031 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:27:42 -0500 The House tax extender bill represents a step forward in the important effort to reinstate a pay-as-you-go norm to federal legislation — a norm that played a key role in enabling the White House and Congress to turn large deficits into substantial surpluses in the 1990s The nation is on an unsustainable fiscal path, and policymakers will soon face wrenching decisions on both spending and taxes. Over the immediate term, Congress has properly pursued an expansionary fiscal … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3030 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3030 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:53:05 -0500 The health reform bill currently being debated by the Senate is discussed by Senior Health Fellow, Judy Solomon. Duration: 4:46 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3026 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3026 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:16:37 -0500 Dr. LaDonna Pavetti, Director of the Center’s Welfare Reform and Income Support Division, testifies on the safety net's response to the recession before the Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. Duration: 14:54 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3029 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3029 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:39:29 -0500 Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My testimony will focus on four points: Poverty was high at the start of the recession and it is likely to remain high for an extended period. Some of the most effective measures to boost employment (and reduce poverty) in a weak economy have and will continue to be those that provide financial relief to people struggling to make ends meet and to states facing large budget shortfalls. The recovery act passed in … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3028 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3028 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:17:03 -0500 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3027 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3027 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:19:19 -0500 The health reform bill currently being debated by the Senate is discussed by Senior Health Fellow, Judy Solomon. Duration: 4:46 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3026 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3026 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:21:35 -0500 The jobs report for November is discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone. Duration: 4:05 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3025 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3025 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:53:12 -0500 James Horney and Paul Van de Water, former senior CBO officials now at the Center, discuss their new analysis, which finds that recent claims that the House and Senate health bills are not really paid for — because the track record shows that Congress will never allow the bills’ Medicare savings to take effect — are belied by the historical record. MIT health economist Jonathan Gruber assesses measures in the bills to restrain health care costs. Duration: 26:10 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3024 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3024 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:25:54 -0500 Today’s report that the pace of job losses has dramatically abated is the most encouraging in a long time, but serious problems remain for unemployed job-seekers. The number of people who have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more continued to climb in November, and these long-term unemployed now are nearly 40 percent of total unemployment (see chart). Renewing the temporary assistance for unemployed workers scheduled to expire in less than a month and providing … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3023 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3023 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:44:45 -0500 Health reform legislation that has passed the House in one form and is before the Senate in another is facing a series of attacks that, taken together, suggest the legislation would do little to control health care costs and would increase budget deficits. Many of these charges are exaggerated or simply incorrect, based on the Center’s careful analysis of the legislation. In particular, a number of criticisms rest on a mistaken belief that, in recent years, … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3021 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3021 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:12:34 -0500 Despite claims that the pending health reform bills aren’t really paid for because Congress never lets Medicare savings take effect, Congress has allowed the vast majority of Medicare cuts that it enacted in the past two decades to take effect and produce significant savings, a new study shows. The analysis, by James Horney and Paul Van de Water, former senior CBO officials now at the Center, examines the history of every significant Medicare cut that Congress has … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3022 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3022 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:13:14 -0500 In recent years Congress has greatly reduced the federal estate tax, which affects only the nation’s very largest estates, and the House should reject any effort this week to reduce it beyond its current parameters. The country is suffering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, with more than one in ten Americans unemployed and many of them out of work for more than six months. About one in seven homeowners with a mortgage is either behind in payment … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3019 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3019 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:48:28 -0500 A new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report estimates that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) had preserved or created between 600,000 and 1.6 million jobs as of September. This estimate by Congress’ non-partisan economic and budget analysts is more comprehensive than the 640,000 jobs that ARRA recipients reported in late October, CBO explains. ARRA Also Prevented Even Deeper Recession, CBO Finds CBO also concluded that ARRA boosted economic activity … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3020 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3020 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:52:09 -0500 The House of Representatives this week is expected to consider permanently extending the current estate tax, under which only 1 in 500 estates face the tax and those that do pay, on average, an effective rate of less than 20 percent. The House will vote on the Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009 (H.R. 4154), introduced by Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND). A rival bill introduced by Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and several other House … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3017 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3017 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:20:42 -0500 The House of Representatives this week is expected to consider permanently extending the current estate tax, under which only 1 in 500 estates face the tax and those that do pay, on average, an effective rate of less than 20 percent. The House will vote on the Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009 (H.R. 4154), introduced by Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND). A rival bill introduced by Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and several other House … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3017 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3017 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:01:31 -0500 Fox News Cites CBPP on the Number of Jobs Saved or Created by Recovery Act Duration: 0:41 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3015 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3015 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:26:31 -0500 Duration: 4:16 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3016 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3016 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:26:06 -0500 Fox News Cites CBPP on the Number of Jobs Saved or Created by Recovery Act Duration: 0:41 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3015 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3015 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:47:31 -0500 Introduction and Summary Richard Minzner, a corporate lobbyist and former Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue, has recently written a number of memos for state legislators and columns in New Mexico newspapers criticizing a corporate tax reform measure that has been under consideration in the state for several years.[1] Minzner’s writings contain a number of false, misleading, or factually-unsupported statements. This analysis sets the … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3012 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3012 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:22:14 -0500 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3016 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3016 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:59:17 -0500 Fox News Cites CBPP on the Number of Jobs Saved or Created by Recovery Act Duration: 0:41 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3015 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3015 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:20:43 -0500 The Center’s brand new State Policy Fellowship Program is discussed by State Fiscal Project program associate, Tianca Crocker. Duration: 4:12 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3010 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3010 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:22:27 -0500 Many observers have misread a November 19 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examining the government’s claim that the part of this year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) consisting of grants, contracts, and loans has created or saved roughly 640,000 jobs to date.[1] Some observers have interpreted the GAO report as concluding that ARRA as a whole has created or preserved fewer than 640,000 jobs. Others seem to assume the report suggests … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3011 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3011 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:03:58 -0500 The Obama Administration’s October 30 release of data on jobs created and saved by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which the Administration and Congress enacted early this year, captured only a portion of the jobs created and saved due to ARRA’s limited reporting requirements. According to the Government Accountability Office, ARRA’s reporting system covered only 27 percent of ARRA expenditures through September 30. [1] … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2970 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2970 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:38:38 -0400 Robert Greenstein's Presentation on Recession, Recovery, and Hunger at Bread for the World Press Conference. Duration: 9:25 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3009 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3009 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:01:53 -0500 The basics of the food stamp program is discussed by the Center’s Director of Food Assistance Policy, Stacy Dean. Duration: 5:08 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3008 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3008 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:58:47 -0500 The economy is in a very deep hole and faces a long climb back to full employment. Policymakers can make that climb easier by extending or bolstering key provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) enacted at the start of the year — particularly those related to unemployment insurance and state fiscal relief, whose scheduled expiration would otherwise exert a job-killing drag on the economy. Unfortunately, it is all too easy for policymakers … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3007 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3007 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:35:59 -0500 The “employer responsibility” provisions of the health reform bill that Senate leaders unveiled yesterday reflect notable progress in lessening the disincentives that the Senate Finance Committee health bill would have created for employers to hire workers from low- or moderate-income families. Significant disincentives to hire or retain such workers remain, however, for a substantial number of employers, a matter that will require serious attention when … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3003 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3003 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:50:36 -0500 Executive Summary The health reform bill that Senate leaders unveiled on November 18 makes health coverage more affordable for millions of households of modest means, as compared to the bill that the Senate Finance Committee approved last month. The amounts that many families and individuals would pay for coverage would be less than under the Finance Committee proposal. For people between 134 percent and 154 percent of the poverty line, however — people with … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3004 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3004 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:52:31 -0500 The health reform bill that Senate leaders unveiled yesterday meets two rigorous fiscal tests: it reduces deficits over the next decade and beyond, and it puts long-term downward pressure on health care costs. The bill would reduce deficits by an estimated $130 billion over the 2010-2019 period and by about one-quarter of one percent of GDP in the decade thereafter, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This amounts to about $55 billion in 2020 and several … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3005 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3005 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:56:47 -0500 The new Senate health bill marks a major step toward comprehensive, fiscally responsible health reform. It would extend health insurance coverage to 31 million Americans who lack it, reduce the budget deficit, and put long-term downward pressure on health care costs. The bill would reduce deficits by an estimated $130 billion over the 2010-2019 period and by about one-quarter of one percent of GDP in the decade thereafter, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3006 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3006 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:57:46 -0500 The House health reform bill and the next steps for Congress in moving forward with reform are discussed by Senior Fellow, Judy Solomon. Duration: 4:46 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2998 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2998 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:08:11 -0500 Summary The Internet retailer Amazon.com has offered two primary justifications for opposing efforts of a growing number of states to require the company and other online retailers to charge sales tax. Amazon officials have argued that collecting sales taxes would be administratively burdensome. They have also claimed that the company obtains no meaningful benefits from states in which it maintains no facilities and therefore should not have to collect taxes for those … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2990 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2990 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:35:11 -0500 Fox Business Network Interviews Chuck Marr on the Cost of Health Reform http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2997 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2997 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:03:35 -0500 Video Clip: Bob Greenstein Discusses Controlling Costs in Senate Health Reform Bill on PBS’ Nightly Business Report Duration: 2:22 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2969 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2969 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:55:37 -0400 NBC affiliate WVTM in Birmingham, Alabama Cites CBPP on State Income Tax Threshold Duration: 0:30 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2982 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2982 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:55:21 -0500 CNBC interviews Jim Horney on the Economy and the Federal Budget Deficit Duration: 6:02 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2995 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2995 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:55:07 -0500 Increasing the Medicare payroll tax on high-wage earners would represent a sound and well-targeted way of paying for health reform. It would also improve the solvency of Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (HI) trust fund and thereby strengthen this critical program, which provides health coverage for 46 million seniors and persons with disabilities. Hospital Insurance benefits in Medicare are funded primarily by payroll taxes on wages and self-employment income. Workers and … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2996 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2996 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:32:47 -0500 The risk that, without more federal aid, states efforts to address their budget problems could cost the economy 900,000 jobs is discussed by Bob Greenstein, Mark Zandi, chief economist of economy.com, and Senior Advisor Iris Lav. Duration: 21:42 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2994 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2994 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:55:39 -0500 CNBC interviews Jim Horney on the Economy and the Federal Budget Deficit Duration: 6:02 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2995 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2995 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:36:31 -0500 The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the nation’s most effective anti-poverty program for working families, lifting 6.5 million people — including 3.3 million children — above the poverty line each year.[1] The 24 state-level EITCs modeled after the federal program complement it in combating poverty by reducing taxes for low-income people and providing incentives for work. It is important for policymakers considering a state-level … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2992 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2992 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:08:35 -0500 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2991 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2991 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:43:47 -0500 The Child Tax Credit, designed to help offset the cost of raising children, is worth up to $1,000 per child. Taxpayers eligible for the credit subtract it from the total amount of federal income taxes they would otherwise owe. For example, if a couple with two children would owe $5,000 in taxes without the credit, they would owe $3,000 in taxes with it, because the credit would reduce their tax bill by $1,000 for each of their children. Refundability The child credit is … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2989 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2989 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:54:59 -0500 Summary States face a serious fiscal problem that could force them to institute additional deep budget cuts and tax increases, weakening the fragile economic recovery and harming vulnerable children, seniors, and people with disabilities, among others. The federal assistance that states received for their Medicaid programs under this year’s economic recovery legislation is scheduled to end with a “cliff” on December 31, 2010, and the assistance … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2988 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2988 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:51:05 -0500 An Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) modeled on the federal program of the same name is now offered in 23 states and the District of Columbia as a way to reduce taxes and supplement wages for low- and moderate-income working families. A large body of evidence has shown that the state and federal EITCs serve a number of important public policy goals. States that enact EITCs can reduce child poverty, cut taxes for low-income families, and increase the incentive to work.… http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2987 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2987 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:56:40 -0500 The jobs report for October is discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone. Duration: 2:35 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2986 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2986 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:21:05 -0500 A 5.4 percent surcharge on couples with incomes over $1 million, a key financing feature of the House health reform bill, is sound and well targeted. It would affect just a fraction of 1 percent of taxpayers, a group whose incomes have soared and tax burdens have fallen in recent years, and would have only a modest impact on small businesses. Reforming the health care system to provide universal health coverage and slow the growth of health care costs is an urgent national … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2984 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2984 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:09:15 -0500 Summary The health reform bill that House Democratic leaders introduced on October 29 (H.R. 3962) would provide affordable, comprehensive health insurance coverage to 36 million Americans who otherwise would be uninsured, according to the Congressional Budget Office. [1] This is 7 million more otherwise-uninsured people than CBO estimates would gain coverage under the Senate Finance Committee bill. These 36 million Americans include millions of children and parents; for many … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2983 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2983 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:29:54 -0500 Today’s jobs report shows that although the economy turned up in the third quarter, the labor market did not. The unemployment rate crossed into double digits in October, and payrolls shrank for the 22nd straight month. The economy is in a very deep hole and faces a long climb back to full employment. Policymakers can make that climb easier by extending or bolstering key provisions of the economic recovery legislation that the Administration and Congress enacted … http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2985 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2985 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:21:02 -0500 NBC affiliate WVTM in Birmingham, Alabama Cites CBPP on State Income Tax Threshold Duration: 0:30 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2982 http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2982 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:28:23 -0500