The myth that cutting taxes can stimulate a state’s economy is discussed by Senior Advisor, Iris Lav. Duration: 4:02

A legislative tool called “reconciliation” and its role in health reform are discussed by a Senior Fellow at the Center, Paul Van de Water.

Duration: 4:08

Nicholas Johnson weighs in on tax hikes in response to the recession on Fox Business News.

Robert Greenstein and Paul Van de Water discuss the radical priorities in Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal in a media call on March 10, 2010.

Duration: 21:34

The latest information showing that the Recovery Act is creating jobs and boosting the economy is discussed by Senior Policy Analyst Michael Leachman. Duration: 3:12

The jobs report for February is discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone.

Duration: 2:48

Senior Policy Analyst, Zoë Neuberger, discusses the Hunger Free Schools Act before the House of Representative Subcommittee on Agriculture, at a hearing titled “Child Nutrition” on Thursday, March 4, 2010.

Duration: 6:06

Legislation that can reduce child hunger in the country is discussed by Senior Policy Analyst for Food Assistance, Zoë Neuberger.

Duration: 4:33

Governors’ proposed budgets for next year and what they mean for the economy are discussed by the Deputy Director of the Center’s State Fiscal Project, Jon Shure.

Duration: 3:44

The jobs report for January is discussed by Chief Economist, Chad Stone.

Duration: 3:32

The ABCs of state budgets, and the problems that many states face today because of the recession are discussed by the Deputy Director of the Center’s State Fiscal Project, Jon Shure.

Duration: 4:13

KEY FINDINGS

• Under current rules, school districts may use federal reimbursements for free and reduced price meals to support many aspects of the school food program. Districts appear to be using these reimbursements, in part, to subsidize meals for middle- and upper-income children.
• The meal prices that districts charge for students who don’t qualify for free or reduced price meals are too low (even when combined with the federal subsidy) to cover the cost of those meals. Nor do the prices charged for “competitive” foods sold outside of the school meals program cover the costs of those foods. Apparently, districts are using federal reimbursements for free and reduced price meals to help fill the resulting funding gaps.
• Congress can begin to address this problem when it reauthorizes the child nutrition programs by putting school districts on a path to charging prices for paid meals that don’t leave a revenue gap. Such a change would significantly increase revenues to school food programs; the added revenues could be used to improve overall meal quality.
• Similarly, Congress could prevent the federal government from subsidizing competitive foods by requiring schools to set prices that cover the cost of providing such foods.

The Earned Income Tax Credit and how it helps low-wage workers and their families is discussed by John Wancheck, Coordinator of the Center’s Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach campaign.

Duration: 4:36