- Vermont health plan advances, By Janet Adamy, May 25, 2011, Wall Street Journal: “Vermont is moving one step closer to a goal of its Democratic governor: a state-run health plan that would insure most of its 625,000 residents. The bill Gov. Peter Shumlin plans to sign on Thursday would create a panel whose goal would be to figure out how to pay for a new system intended to reduce the rate of overall health-cost increases. The challenge is to figure out how to finance such a system and convince the federal government to allow the experiment to proceed as soon as 2017. It’s far from clear Vermont can make it all work…”
- Hickenlooper vetoes bill raising premiums for some in Colorado health program, By Lynn Bartels, June 1, 2011, Denver Post: “Gov. John Hickenlooper issued his first veto Tuesday, nixing a measure that would have required certain parents whose children are enrolled in a state health care plan to pay higher premiums. Hickenlooper said Senate Bill 213 would have increased premium costs a ‘dramatic’ 1,000 percent, possibly pushing as many as 2,500 kids out of a program intended to help those struggling financially. Various groups, including the Colorado Children’s Campaign and Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, hailed the veto, as did several Democratic lawmakers. But Republicans said the Democratic governor missed his chance at entitlement reform…”
Daily Archives: June 1, 2011
Summer Youth Programs
‘Perfect storm’ ahead for summer youth programs, By Mary Ann Zehr, May 30, 2011, San Antonio Express-News: “With widespread cutbacks around the country in public funding for both summer school and summer-jobs programs, youths in some cities, such as Los Angeles and Washington, may have plenty of time on their hands in the coming months. Many jobs programs for young people are facing a funding cliff now that federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has run out. School districts face their own funding cliff with the phasing out of stimulus funds channeled to them through Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act. In addition, the slashing of state budgets has affected both jobs programs and districts’ summer school offerings…”
Supplemental Security Income Program – Massachusetts
SSI program is flawed, chief says, By Patricia Wen, May 24, 2011, Boston Globe: “The commissioner of the Social Security Administration for the first time publicly acknowledged yesterday that there are major flaws with the $10 billion children’s disability program his agency oversees and said he was aggressively seeking congressional approval to conduct an independent scientific study of the program’s weaknesses. In an extensive interview at the Globe, Michael Astrue said that such a study, which would cost about $10 million, could provide a dispassionate, scientific basis for changing aspects of the children’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which can be overhauled only by congressional decree…”
Drug Testing and Assistance Programs – Florida
Scott signs welfare drug testing bill, By Michael C. Bender, May 31, 2011, Miami Herald: “Floridians must submit urine, blood or hair samples for drug testing before receiving cash benefits from the state under a bill Gov. Rick Scott signed into law Tuesday. ‘The goal of this is to make sure we don’t waste taxpayers’ money,’ Scott said. ‘And hopefully more people will focus on not using illegal drugs.’ The new law fulfills a campaign pledge from Scott, but has raised legal questions. The ACLU of Florida has signaled it might sue over the law…”
Minimum Wage and Economic Security – Michigan
New study: You can’t live on minimum wage, By L.L. Brasier, May 30, 2011, Detroit Free Press: “Cameo Thomas of Jackson works two jobs as a nursing home aide to support her 4-year-old twin sons. One job pays $9.50 an hour, the other $13.05. Sometimes she works 60 hours a week to make ends meet — hard physical labor, most of it on her feet. ‘Sometimes I get off work and think, ‘Man, I’m going to need a new pair of shoes,” the 23-year-old said. Working harder and longer may not be enough to support a family in Michigan, particularly for employees in low-paying jobs such as retail sales, clerical work and home health care, according to a new study released today…”