Monthly Archives: October 2011
- CHN: Disappointing Reports of Deficit Plans from Super Committee Democrats and Republicans
After weeks of behind-closed-doors discussions among the dozen members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, last week reports began to emerge about a proposal unveiled by a majority of the panel’s Democrats and another plan put forward by its Republicans. Neither plan has been made public and reports are that both were discussed Read More »
Posted in Budget and Appropriations, Economy Comments Off - CHN: FY 2012 Minibus Spending Bill Moves Toward Passage
Hoping to avoid a showdown over federal spending, the Senate is taking the lead in moving Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations bills by packaging the twelve FY 2012 appropriations bills that fund discretionary programs into smaller ‘minibus’ bills. These bills are expected to be less contentious and move more quickly than an omnibus bill or individual Read More »
Posted in Budget and Appropriations Comments Off - CHN: Republicans – and a Few Democrats – Block the President’s Jobs Package
On October 11, the Senate took a vote to end debate and move forward on the President’s full $447 billion jobs package, the American Jobs Act (S. 1660), modified, with his approval, by substituting a 5.6 percent tax on income above $1 million to pay for it. Cutting off debate requires 60 votes, which means Read More »
Posted in Labor and Employment, Unemployment Insurance Comments Off - CHN: Congress Passes Short-Term FY2012 Spending Bill
The House and Senate deadlock over Fiscal Year 2012 spending was broken when the Senate relented by dropping its demand for higher funding for disaster relief. The Senate dropped $1 billion in disaster aid for FY 2011 when Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials said it had sufficient funds for FY 2011, averting a standoff Read More »
- CHN: Senator Rand Paul Blocks Aid to Poor Elderly and Disabled Refugees
One person can make a difference. In the U.S. Senate, Senator Paul (R-KY) used that power to block the extension of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to refugees who have not been able to pass a citizenship test within 7 years, as required by law. The deadline has been extended twice because the impoverished 5,600 refugees Read More »
Posted in Income Support Comments Off - CHN: First Vote on American Jobs Act Scheduled in Senate for Tuesday, October 11
The unemployment rate in September remained stuck at 9.1 percent. Nearly 26 million people are either out of work or working fewer hours than they need. Those out of work six months or more make up close to half the ranks of the unemployed (44.6 percent). For some, levels of joblessness are far worse: nearly Read More »
Posted in Labor and Employment, Unemployment Insurance Comments Off - CHN: Congress Continues Funding for Child Welfare Services
In a now rare demonstration of bipartisanship, Congress enacted the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (S.1542/H.R. 2883) in time to continue funding uninterrupted for various child welfare services. The final vote in the House was 395-25, on September 21. President Obama signed the bill into law (PL 112-34) on September 30, the Read More »
Posted in Social Services Comments Off - CHN: TANF Extended for 3 Months; Supplemental Grants Not Reinstated
H.R. 2943, the Short-Term TANF Extension Act passed the House on September 21, 2011. Introduced by Rep. Geoff Davis (R – KY), Chair of the Human Resources Subcommittee of House Ways and Means, it extended funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant through December 31, 2011. Notably, the act did not reinstate Read More »
Posted in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Comments Off
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