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 the federal budget, food assistance, health, state budgets and taxes, Social Security, and the economy.

On the federal budget, Robert Greenstein, Richard Kogan, and Emily Horton updated their analysis on how programs for low-income Americans are not driving the nation’s long-term fiscal problem. Greenstein, Kogan, and Roderick Taylor also updated their report showing how program spending outside of Social Security and Medicare is historically low as a percent of the economy and is projected to fall further. Horton explained how arguments for draconian low-income program cuts don’t survive scrutiny. Kogan and Joel Friedman showed that the House Budget Committee’s 2019 budget plan retains tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy while proposing deep program cuts that would affect millions of Americans. Taylor warned that the Senate Appropriations Committee budget for the IRS would weaken the agency’s ability to serve taxpayers and enforce the 2017 tax law. Brendan Duke cited a report from the International Monetary Fund showing the law’s flaws.
On food assistance, Ed Bolen, Lexin Cai, Stacy Dean, Brynne Keith-Jennings, Catlin Nchako, Dorothy Rosenbaum, and Elizabeth Wolkomir updated their report on how the House farm bill would increase food insecurity and hardship. Robert Greenstein stated why Congress should use the bipartisan Senate farm bill as the basis for House-Senate negotiations on a final bill. Wolkomir pointed out that letting SNAP participants buy dietary supplements with their benefits could leave them hungry.
On health, Judith Solomon cited evidence that complex Medicaid waivers will likely harm enrollees. Anna Bailey underscored that more affordable housing and fairer housing practices are needed to meet the Olmstead decision’s promise of serving people with disabilities in the community. Sarah Lueck noted the importance of states maintaining strong essential health benefit standards and risk adjustment programs.
On state budgets and taxes, Michael Leachman pointed out that states’ K-12 funding cuts include cuts in capital spending, needed to build and renovate schools.
On Social Security, Kathleen Romig explained what the Social Security trustees’ report for 2018 shows about the program’s future.
On the economy, we updated our backgrounder on how many weeks of unemployment compensation are available for workers.

Chart of the Week: House Budget Committee Budget Calls for Deep Cuts in Non-Defense Discretionary Spending

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

Thinking about an Association Health Plan? Read the fine print
Kaiser Health News
June 26, 2018

Want health care in Arkansas? Find a job
The Atlantic
June 24, 2018

Don’t forget Trump’s cruelty is routine
Washington Post
June 24, 2018

Don’t miss any of our posts, papers, or charts – follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.