BEYOND THE NUMBERS
In Case You Missed It...
This week at CBPP, we focused on the federal budget and taxes, housing, state budgets and taxes, health, food assistance, family income support, Social Security, and the economy.
- On the federal budget and taxes, we released a statement from CBPP President Robert Greenstein explaining that Senate Republicans’ COVID relief proposal fails to meet the needs of struggling families and the economy. Arloc Sherman cited new data showing that rising hardship reveals the need for relief now. Kris Cox explained that a proposed “look-back” tax change would help working families and the economy. We updated our backgrounder on deficits, debt, and interest.
- On housing, Peggy Bailey showed why the next economic relief package must include housing supports. Sonya Acosta advocated for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2021 funding bill to include affordable housing and anti-homelessness investments. Bailey and Douglas Rice reported that pandemic relief must include comprehensive housing assistance for people experiencing the most severe hardship.
- On state budgets and taxes, Michael Leachman detailed how Senate Republicans’ relief plan ignores the needs of states and schools. Elizabeth McNichol explained why delaying federal aid will mean damaging state cuts with long-term impacts. We rounded up our writings on the continued need for more state fiscal relief. We also updated our State Budget Watch tracking revenue shortfalls.
- On health, Judith Solomon urged the Trump Administration to withdraw a rule that would deepen the state budget crisis and make Medicaid cuts likelier. Sarah Lueck and Matt Broaddus described how an emergency special enrollment period would improve access to health coverage at a critical time.
- On food assistance, Javier Balmaceda explained that without a boost in the next COVID-19 relief bill, Puerto Rico faces deep food aid cuts. Brynne Keith-Jennings advocated for raising SNAP benefits to help children in the short and long term and highlighted new videos showing that a benefit increase would make a big difference.
- On family income support, Laura Meyer explained why the next relief package should include funds for subsidized jobs. She also detailed how the Senate Republican relief plan’s emergency fund is a good step, but inadequate.
- On Social Security, we updated our backgrounder on Social Security Disability Insurance.
- 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.
Chart of the Week — 1 in 5 Renters Behind on Rent During Pandemic, With Black and Latino Renters Facing Greatest Hardship
A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this past week. Here are some of the highlights:
Republicans Are Open to Possible Food-Stamps Deal With Democrats
Wall Street Journal
July 30, 2020
States Eye Anti-Poverty Tax Credit to Ease Covid Impact
Bloomberg Tax
July 29, 2020
An Extra $600 a Week Kept Many Jobless Workers Afloat. Now What Will They Do?
New York Times
July 29, 2020
Senate GOP won’t extend pandemic food stamps but doubles ‘three-martini lunch’ deduction
Washington Post
July 28, 2020
Senate GOP's COVID-19 response sets up battle over Medicaid
The Hill
July 28, 2020
Did America Set Public Schools Up to Fail?
New York Magazine
July 27, 2020
A stingy new GOP plan for unemployment benefits reflects Trump’s twisted vision
Washington Post
July 27, 2020
Senate Republicans Omit State Aid From Stimulus Proposal Amid Historic Budget Shortfalls
Newsweek
July 27, 2020
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