Last week the Center on Budget Policy and Priority released an analysis of federal block grants and their negative consequences. The analysis, Block-Granting Low-Income Programs Leads to Large Funding Declines Over Time, History Shows, examined 13 different block grants including TANF, Child Care, SSBG, Housing as well as some other human service funding sources and
Over the weekend a leaked copy of a draft ACA repeal bill was made public by Politico magazine. The bill draft would implement some of the general descriptions Speaker Paul Ryan outlined in a white paper the week before and like that white paper it leaves questions to be answered on how the bill will
This week the Trump Administration will have to make decision on what to do with the House v. Burwell. House v Burwell is the House of Representative’s efforts to cut off funding to insurers that help reduce the cost of health insurance premiums for some people purchasing health insurance through the ACA. House Republicans had
The Homeland Security Memorandum implementing the President’s Executive Order of January 25, has been interpreted as widening the immigrant targets for removal but, at least for now, this has not extended to DACA students and young people who were brought here at a young age by parents or guardians. DACA is short for Deferred Action
Last Thursday, February 16, Speaker Paul Ryan went before his Republican caucus to unveil the leaderships repeal and replace plan for the Affordable Care Act. That plan outlined in a white paper still left questions in the minds of some members fearing it didn't go far enough in its repeal or maybe went too far
Last week Congress was also talking tax cuts and tax reform. How it ends up could have a big impact on entitlements. It is expected that the second reconciliation—which hasn't been written yet until the next year’s budget resolution is adopted for FY 2018—will be used for a tax cut package. There will likely be
Last week resulted in the release of a range of health care statistics as well as some Administration actions that could greatly impact the ACA. First the numbers. National Health Interview Survey, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on the decline in the percentage of uninsured in the
Congress is moving ahead with an ACA repeal but the timetables are all over the board as far as when and what will be included. It is clear however that the House will be much more aggressive. Reports are that House leaders would like to start to move legislation out of key committees as early
On Friday Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) was approved by the Senate for the Department of Health and Human Services. The vote was 52 to 47, he was quickly sworn in and his two biggest priorities are likely to be a strategy to repeal the ACA and putting together an HHS budget. Congressmen Mick Mulvaney (R-SC)
As reported last week the Trump Administration is considering an executive order that will “respect religious freedom” and could be so broad that it will allow the discrimination in the placement of children in adoptive, foster and kinship placements. It would extend these provisions beyond religious or faith based agencies to “any organization” including for-profit