Update, June 20: We’ve updated the graph, below, to correct an error in the display of data.
This week on Off the Charts, we focused on taxes, unemployment insurance, child nutrition, housing, and health reform.
On taxes, Chye-Ching Huang highlighted new calls from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Monetary Fund to strengthen the Earned Income Tax Credit — and boost the minimum wage. She also listed six reasons why a “repatriation tax holiday” for multinational corporations is a bad idea. Michael Mazerov explained why Congress should end, not extend, the moratorium on new state and local taxes on Internet access services.
On unemployment insurance, William Chen pointed to our updated backgrounder on the number of weeks of benefits available in each state.
On child nutrition, Robert Greenstein illustrated new data on the extent of poverty in schools and school districts across the country. Zoë Neuberger criticized efforts in Congress to undercut nutrition reforms.
On housing, Will Fischer described why restricting the value of housing vouchers would harm low-income residents of oil and gas boomtowns. Barbara Sard excerpted her TalkPoverty.org post on the underfunding of key housing assistance programs at a time of rising need.
On health reform, Judy Solomon explained why the law’s boost in Medicaid payment rates for primary care doctors is worth extending.