Yearly Archives: 2010
- CHN: House Passes a Jobs Bill; But Final Enactment Awaits the New Year
With 10 percent unemployment, there were hopes Congress could take quick action to invest in job creation before the end of 2009. Contentiousness in the Senate over health care and pretty much everything else made it impossible for the Senate to take up jobs legislation so quickly, but the House enacted the Jobs for Main Read More »
Posted in Economy Comments Off - CHN: Senate Attempt at Full-Year Appropriations Collapses
Child Care, Head Start, Disabilities, and Housing Programs Likely to Suffer There was an outside chance that Congress would be able to agree on a full-year appropriations bill during the waning days of its session. For parents needing help with child care or placing their children in Head Start, the outcome was very important. These Read More »
Posted in Budget and Appropriations, Disabilities, Early Childhood Education, Education and Youth Policy, Health, Housing and Homelessness, Social Security, Social Services Comments Off - CHN: DREAM Denied for Immigrant Youth
On a rare Saturday Senate session on December 18, supporters of the DREAM Act filled the Senate gallery to see if the Senate would make it possible for young immigrants who have grown up in this country to secure legal status if they attend college or serve in the military. Ten days prior, the House Read More »
Posted in Education and Youth Policy, Immigration Comments Off - CHN: The Wealthiest Hold 98% of Americans Hostage to Gain Billions in the Tax Deal
Unemployment Insurance is Extended, but the Cost is High Feeling pressure to stave off an increase in taxes for all taxpayers starting on January 1st, the Administration brokered a deal with recalcitrant Republicans to give them their top priority – tax breaks for the wealthiest. Entering the negotiations, there was broad agreement among Democrats, Republicans Read More »
Posted in Labor and Employment, Tax Policy, Unemployment Insurance Comments Off - CHN: Child Nutrition Programs Reauthorized
The long-stalled Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, S. 3307, which reauthorizes child nutrition programs, was enacted on December 13. It provides $4.5 billion over 10 years for better child nutrition through more afterschool and summer meals, higher reimbursements to school lunch providers, improved administration of WIC and meals programs, including easier enrollment of children, and more Read More »
Posted in Child Nutrition, Food and Nutrition Comments Off - CHN: Congress Returns to Lame-Duck Session Facing Full Plate of Unfinished Business
Congress spent the first week of the lame-duck session electing leadership and planning for their post-Thanksgiving return. A hefty agenda awaits them prior to adjournment which will likely be close to Christmas. Issues that are pending include: the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and the improvements to the refundable tax credits passed in the American Read More »
Posted in Budget and Appropriations, Child Nutrition, Disabilities, Health, Immigration, Income Support, Tax Policy Comments Off - CHN: Senate Passes 1-Year Extension of TANF
But No Action on TANF Emergency Fund or Child Support Funding The Senate acted to continue the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) for the next year with very modest changes, putting off a thoroughgoing review of the program for poor families with children. Advocates were disappointed that the Senate did not reinstate the Read More »
Posted in Income Support, Poverty and Income Comments Off - CHN: Senate Republicans Say “No” to Women
On November 17, the Senate narrowly failed to overcome a procedural vote allowing debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 3772) that would grant women legal protections against pay discrimination. The 58-41 vote fell short of the 60 needed when all Republican Senators and Ben Nelson (D-NE) voted in opposition. The bill passed the House Read More »
Posted in Labor and Employment Comments Off - CHN: Will Congress Continue Jobless Benefits to Help the Unemployed, Their Families and the Economy?
Unless Congress acts when it returns from the Thanksgiving holiday, millions of hardworking Americans who have exhausted their 26 weeks of state benefits—including 2 million in December alone—will lose their federal unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Currently there are five applicants for every job opening in our economy. If Congress allows UI benefits for the long-term Read More »
Posted in Economy, Labor and Employment, Unemployment Insurance Comments Off - CHN: Pressure Intensifies on Washington to Create More Jobs
Economists have been predicting double digit unemployment rates for some time. When the unwelcome milestone of 10.2 percent was reported for October, it was a sobering moment for political leaders. It made the urgency of extending unemployment benefits all the more obvious (see UI article this issue), and Congress finally took that step. But pressure Read More »
Posted in Economy, Labor and Employment Comments Off
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