In Case You Missed It...

This week at CBPP, we focused on the federal budget and taxes, state budgets and taxes, health care, the economy, and the safety net.

• On the federal budget and taxes, Paul Van de Water noted that a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report confirms that repealing health reform would increase the deficit.  He also testified before the Joint Economic Committee to explain why “fair-value accounting” would distort the budget by making credit programs appear more expensive than they really are.  David Reich explained that the 2016 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill from a House subcommittee would cut billions from education and health programs.  Richard Kogan previewed CBO’s new long-term budget outlook and pointed out that despite CBO’s assertion, the federal budget situation has improved significantly in recent years.  Jared Bernstein testified before the House Budget Committee about optimal fiscal policy.  We excerpted a new report that shows that 14 million millennial workers benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit.  For Father’s Day, Bryann DaSilva highlighted our fact sheet that explains that working-family tax credits help 13 million fathers.  Brandon DeBot explained that a House Appropriations Committee bill would make the biggest cut yet to the IRS and that a small increase in funding for taxpayer services wouldn’t offset past cuts.  
• On state budget and taxes, Michael Mazerov updated his analysis of a bill that would undermine state taxes on corporate profits.  Michael Leachman commended Connecticut’s new revenue measures that are aimed at closing the state’s budget shortfall while protecting funding for key programs.  Erica Williams listed three reasons why Kansas’ sales tax increase to help pay for its massive income tax cuts is a bad idea.
• On health care, Paul Van de Water argued against repealing health reform’s Independent Payment Advisory Board and excise tax on medical devices.  Edwin Park showed how the House Republicans’ health plan is unworkable and he updated a paper explaining that the Republican Study Committee’s health plan would likely result in many more uninsured and fewer consumer protections.  Sarah Lueck explained how ending health care subsidies for new marketplace enrollees would threaten the marketplaces’ viability.  Matt Broaddus kicked off our blog series celebrating Medicaid’s 50th anniversary and we updated our Medicaid backgrounder.
• On the economy, Ben Spielberg highlighted a new paper for our Full Employment Project that argues that the Federal Reserve should set a wage-growth target to inform its decisions about interest rates. 
• On the safety net, Ife Floyd described the findings of a new paper that explains how the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is a safety net for few poor families.  Stacy Dean excerpted her post on Real Clear Policy about how SNAP (formerly food stamps) and WIC support children’s school performance.

CBPP's Chart of the Week: Kansas Has Raised Taxes at the Bottom, Cut Them at the Top

Share Chart on Facebook Share Chart on Twitter

Chart

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

Unraveling Health Care
US News and World Report
June 19, 2015

From Wisconsin to California, the decline of public higher ed continues
Los Angeles Times
June 16, 2015

Don't miss any of our posts, papers, or charts -- follow us on Twitter and Instagram.