BEYOND THE NUMBERS
In Case You Missed It...
This week at CBPP, we focused on COVID-19, the economy, health, the federal budget, and federal taxes.
- On COVID-19, Elizabeth McNichol, Michael Leachman, and Joshuah Marshall stressed that states need significantly more fiscal relief to slow the emerging deep recession. Chad Stone and Sharon Parrott noted that labor market conditions should determine the duration and size of COVID-19 relief measures. Stone also explained that fiscal stimulus is needed to fight recessions. Judith Solomon, Jennifer Wagner, and Aviva Aron-Dine explained why the Medicaid protections in the Families First Act are critical to protecting health coverage. Zoë Neuberger described how states can help low-income children get enough to eat during the pandemic. LaDonna Pavetti pointed out that with applications soaring, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program needs more funds and new rules. We explained how most states are easing SNAP participation rules and providing added benefits as a result of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
- On the economy, we updated our backgrounder on how many weeks of unemployment compensation are available and our chart book tracking the post-Great Recession economy.
- On health, we updated our backgrounder on Medicaid.
- On the federal budget, we updated our backgrounder on non-defense discretionary programs.
- On federal taxes, we updated our backgrounder on federal payroll taxes.
Chart of the Week — COVID-19 State Budget Shortfalls Could Be Largest on Record
A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this past week. Here are some of the highlights:
Treasury department’s workload surges amid critical staffing shortage
ABC News
April 17, 2020
Coronavirus threatens $500bn hole in US state budgets
Financial Times
April 17, 2020
Michigan set to lose billions in tax revenue as coronavirus hits state budgets nationwide
MLive
April 17, 2020
States and cities are “falling off a cliff” as the economic crisis sets in
Vox
April 16, 2020
A Gloomy Prediction on How Much Poverty Could Rise
New York Times
April 16, 2020
Health Coverage for Unemployed Harder to Come By in Some States
Stateline
April 14, 2020
How Panic Buying Has Put an Incredible Strain on Food Banks Even as the Need for Them Explodes
ProPublica
April 13, 2020
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