BEYOND THE NUMBERS
In Case You Missed It...
This week at CBPP, we focused on family income support, state budgets and taxes, health, and the economy.
- On family income support, we issued several pieces marking the 23rd anniversary of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. Ife Floyd noted that while many states have boosted TANF benefits, there’s room to do more. Ashley Burnside calculated that 2.5 million more families nationwide would have received TANF’s direct financial assistance in 2017 if TANF had the same reach that it did upon its creation in 1996. Liz Schott showed that states spend only a quarter of TANF funds to help families meet basic needs and explained why Black children have a better chance to thrive when states improve TANF. We also updated our chart book on TANF and posted an infographic showing why TANF cash assistance is vital to families’ ability to meet their basic needs.
On state budgets and taxes, Erica Williams, Eric Figueroa, and Wesley Tharpe explained that an inclusive approach to immigrants who are undocumented can help families and states prosper. Williams highlighted inclusive policies that a number of states have adopted. We also released a brochure summarizing the report. Michael Leachman argued that states should boost capital spending on schools. - On health, we updated our tracker on Administration actions to sabotage the Affordable Care Act.
- On the economy, we updated our backgrounder on how many weeks of unemployment compensation are available, our chart book tracking the post-Great Recession economy, and our guide to statistics on historical trends in income inequality.
Chart of the Week — TANF Could Be Serving 2.5 Million More Families
A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this week. Here are some of the highlights:
Capital-Gains Tax Change Would Drive Only Modest Economic Boost, Economists Say
Wall Street Journal
August 21, 2019
Addicted to Fines
Governing
August 21, 2019
The Administration Rushed on a Sweeping Immigration Policy. We Found Substantive, Sloppy Mistakes.
ProPublica
August 20, 2019
The 10 worst things Trump has done to harm your healthcare
Los Angeles Times
August 20, 2019
Report: New Mexico can strengthen its economy with inclusive policies for immigrants
KRWG
August 22, 2019
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