In Case You Missed It...

This week at CBPP, we focused on health, the economy, housing, state budgets and taxes, federal taxes, family income support, and poverty and inequality.

• On health, Judith Solomon wrote that federal action is needed to close the Medicaid “coverage gap” for low-income people in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Solomon and Jennifer Wagner showed that continuous eligibility in Medicaid keeps people insured and reduces costs. We updated our fact sheet on coverage for COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and treatment.
• On the economy, Chad Stone wrote that Congress should heed President Biden’s call for fundamental reform of the unemployment insurance system. We updated our backgrounder on how many weeks of unemployment compensation are available and our chart book tracking the post-Great Recession economy.
• On housing, Anna Bailey explained that more rental assistance is needed to build a recovery that works for people with disabilities. We released an infographic showing that it’s time for housing voucher expansion.
• On state budgets and taxes, we released a report detailing priorities for spending the American Rescue Plan’s state and local fiscal recovery funds.
• On federal taxes, John Wancheck argued that the IRS needs authority to regulate tax return preparers.
• On family income support, Ali Safawi stated that although Mississippi raised Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program benefits, more improvements are needed, especially in the South.
• On food assistance, Dottie Rosenbaum, Zoë Neuberger, Brynne Keith-Jennings, and Catlin Nchako updated their report explaining how food assistance in American Rescue Plan Act will reduce hardship, provide economic stimulus.
• On poverty and inequality, we updated our fact sheet tracking the COVID-19 recession’s effects on food, housing, and employment hardships.

Chart of the Week — Status of State Medicaid Expansion in 2021

Chart

A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this past week. Here are some of the highlights:

America's safety net only aids 3 out of 10 unemployed workers without a permanent fix, study finds
Business Insider
May 6, 2021

Opinion: Will Democrats break the GOP’s deficit doom loop?
Washington Post
May 5, 2021

Iowa is making it harder to be a low-income renter
Vox
May 5, 2021

Judge says CDC doesn't have authority to issue an eviction moratorium. It's unclear what happens next
CNN
May 5, 2021

The Big Biden Policy Idea That Nobody (Not Even Joe Biden) Is Discussing
HuffPost
May 2, 2021

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