Human Needs Report

The Human Needs Report is the Coalition on Human Needs' newsletter on national policy issues affecting low-income and vulnerable populations. It is published every other week while Congress is in session.

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Articles from November 11, 2005

• House Leadership Can't Dig Up Votes to Slash Medicaid, Child Support, Food Stamps, SSI, and Foster Care
  Advocates for human needs scored a major victory on Thursday, November 10, when Republicans in the House conceded they did not yet have the votes needed to pass a budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 4241) before departing for a long Veteran's Day weekend.
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• Key Moderate Senator Forces Delay on Bill Cutting Taxes for Wealthy
  While conservatives and moderates in the House were at odds over a budget bill in the House, a similar dynamic unfolded in the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) refused to support a $68.8 billion tax bill that included cuts to the capital gains and dividend tax rates.
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• Funding for At-Risk Youth Cut
  The House of Representatives voted November 9 to approve the conference report funding the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce and other agencies for fiscal 2006 by a vote of 397-19. The Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill (H.R. 2862) includes funding for Juvenile Justice programs at $311.7 million, compared to $346.5 million appropriated for fiscal 2005.
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• Appropriations Bills Moving Towards Completion; Across-the-Board Cuts Threatened
  It appears Congress is on track for finishing all or almost all appropriations bills before a planned November 18 adjournment. An across-the-board cut that hits all domestic discretionary programs remains a possibility.
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