House passes state aid bill; Obama signs into law

2010-08-10T15:30:50Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved, and President Barack Obama promptly signed into law, an election-year bill providing $26 billion to struggling states by closing tax loopholes for multinational companies and cutting food aid to the poor.

Nariman Behravesh: Job Growth to Match Population Growth First Half of 2011

2010-11-02T12:12:10Z

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Senate approves $26 billion for state aid

2010-08-05T12:45:12Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved a jobs bill that would send states $26.1 billion to help them cope with historic budget shortfalls and give Democratic lawmakers a victory to tout on the campaign trail ahead of the November elections.

By a 61-to-39 vote, the Senate passed a bill that would send the states $16.1 billion for Medicaid, the healthcare ...

Senate weighs $26 billion for states in loophole plan

2010-08-03T16:15:22Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Monday will decide whether to send billions of dollars to states to help cover steep healthcare costs, a plan paid for by closing tax loopholes enjoyed by big multinational companies.

Chances looked slim late on Monday for passage of the plan, which would provide states with $16.1 billion through June for Medicaid and also give them ...

Governors face another year of fiscal pain

2010-07-10T13:00:14Z

BOSTON (Reuters) - State governors meeting in Boston this weekend had plenty on their minds, from the Gulf oil spill to Arizona's border security controversy. But the economy -- and another year of fiscal distress -- topped the bill.

After two years of deep cuts, states still face large deficits going into their 2011 fiscal year...

Health Care Reform Winners

2010-11-02T12:23:32Z

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States Can Easily Balance Their Budgets

2010-11-02T12:23:31Z

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House, Senate prepare to debate final NC budget

2010-06-29T10:45:39Z

NC lawmakers ready to vote for $19B spending plan designed to protect classroom jobs

More teachers and university faculty would stay on the job this fall but some might face furloughs, and thousands of Medicaid patients may no longer get help at home with cooking and bathing in the North Carolina government budget heading for the first of two final votes Tue...

Highlights of Senate tax and spending bill

2010-06-24T10:45:57Z

Highlights of Senate tax and spending bill being filibustered by Senate GOP

Highlights of tax and spending legislation likely to be killed by a GOP filibuster on Thursday:

TAXES

_Extends for one year about $32 billion in tax breaks that expired in January, including a property tax deduction for people who don't itemize, lucrative credits that help businesses finance research and ...

House votes for $30B small business lending fund

2010-06-17T15:15:19Z

House passes bill to increase lending by small banks as Senate defeats GOP jobless aid bill

A $30 billion government fund would be available to community banks to increase lending to small businesses under a bill passed by the House Thursday as congressional Democrats tried to revive their election-year jobs agenda.

Next Kan. budget depends on extra federal funds

2010-06-17T14:45:21Z

Impasse in DC threatens to punch $130M hole in Kan. budget; inaction becomes political issue

A congressional impasse over a new economic stimulus package threatens to punch a $130 million hole in Kansas' budget, only weeks after state legislators raised taxes to keep it balanced.

The impasse also bubbled as a political issue Thursday. Kansas' Sam Brownback h...

Fight over states' Medicaid help heats up

2010-06-09T14:00:47Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A measure introduced on Tuesday in the U.S. Senate to help states pay for healthcare is already having a rocky time, and governors from across the country are rallying to try to get it passed.

Under the $863 billion U.S. economic stimulus plan passed last year, the federal government'...

Report: Losing COBRA Subsidies Will Bite

2010-10-27T08:05:14Z

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Analysis: Election fears, deficit stymie Democrats

2010-06-06T06:15:43Z

Analysis: Democrats flinching on agenda, basic tasks because of election fears, deficit

Congressional Democrats returning this week to the Washington they control will confront an embarrassing pile of unfinished budget business after spending the winter and spring blowing deadline after deadline.

With many Democratic lawmake...

10 Reasons Why the Recovery Continues to Be Tepid

2010-10-27T08:53:54Z

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Mo. suggests insurance tax to freeze tuition

2010-06-26T03:36:43Z

Mo. lawmakers uphold deal to freeze college tuition, plan to pay for it requires insurance tax

Managed-care health insurers could face a tax increase as part of a plan to preserve an agreement that freezes tuition at public colleges and universities.

The tax plan could net about $20 million for the state, which legislators used as a justification this week for lessening a proposed funding cut to higher education institutions.

An agreement between

Looking Hard For Health Care Reform Winners

2010-10-25T12:55:23Z

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Senate passes jobless aid, business tax breaks

2010-03-10T16:16:06Z

Senate extends jobless aid, business tax breaks; measure now goes to House talks

The Senate voted Wednesday to extend key pieces of last year's economic stimulus measure, including help for the jobless and money to help financially strapped states pay for health care for the poor.

The 62-36 vote came over protests from conservatives who say the bill adds too much to the $12.5 trillion national debt. Six Republicans joined all but one Democrat, Senate rejects Obama proposal for $250 Social Security bonus payments

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposal by President Barack Obama to give people on Social Security a $250 bonus check.

Republicans and Democratic deficit hawks combined to reject the idea by a 50-47 vote. The plan, offered in the Senate by Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., would ha...

U.S. would reap billions from $1 cigarette tax hike

2010-04-16T07:09:05Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Adding a $1 per pack tax to cigarettes could raise more than $9 billion a year for states, health advocates said on Wednesday, and a poll released with the study shows Americans would support such a tax.

The poll, conducted by International Communications Research, found 60 percent of voters would support th...

Democrats look to new budget rules to tame deficit

2010-06-25T18:46:49Z

Democrats say new budget rules would help slow deficit, but GOP sees tax increases afoot

Democrats are trying to toughen budget rules to make it more difficult to run up the deficit with new tax cuts or federal benefit programs, a move Republicans say is a recipe for tax increases.

The proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev....

New Mexico governor proposes $200M tax increase

2010-06-25T19:04:17Z

New Mexico governor's budget includes $200M tax increase, 3 percent spending cuts next year

Gov. Bill Richardson on Tuesday proposed a $200 million tax increase — which he called temporary — to shore up state finances and balance next year's budget.

The tax proposal was part of $300 million in additio...

How to Get $20 Billion for Using Electronic Medical Records

2010-10-24T15:31:05Z

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Mich. House starts tax votes; more likely to come

2010-04-16T09:57:16Z

Mich. House members take votes on tax, revenue increases; more likely in days ahead

Democratic lawmakers have begun what could be an uphill fight to raise some taxes and find more revenue for a college scholarship program, health care, and local governments in Michigan.

The Democratic-led House passed bills Tuesday, mostly along party lines, that would increase fees on doctors and stop an inflationary increase in the personal income tax exemption from taking...

Recession's end marks start of states' budget woes

2010-09-15T14:42:15Z

Rebound in taxes will take years, forcing states to make deeper cuts to jobs and services

The recession is probably over, which means states' financial troubles have only begun.

History suggests it could take six or more years for sales and income taxes — which make up roughly two-thirds of states' revenue — to return to pre-recession levels. That augurs deeper cuts to state jobs and services in order to maintain funding for core programs...

Survey shows growing pressure on Medicaid programs

2010-04-16T10:03:59Z

Survey of state governments highlights growing pressure on Medicaid programs

Medicaid programs could face a revenue crunch that hurts programs and provider reimbursement in fiscal 2011 after federal stimulus money dries up, said a survey released Wednesday.

The state-administered programs saw bigger-than-expected jumps in enrollment and spending during fiscal 2009, but money from the Medicaid and state employee salaries and benefits.

In a survey conducted by the National Governors Association and the Federal health officials say state will continue to be eligible for extra Medicaid money

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger got some good news Wednesday to help him deal with the state's financial woes as well as a stinging election defeat from the night before. Health officials told him that the state will continue to be eligible for an extra $8 billi...

Economic Crisis Tests Welfare Reform

2010-10-21T09:57:30Z

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NDOT reboots after stimulus plans leaked

2010-06-26T01:56:40Z

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Department of Transportation’s board of directors will hold a special meeting March 12 to discuss economic stimulus projects, according to Gov. Jim Gibbons’ spokesman.

The meeting follows disclosure of an internal list o...

State, local governments to get $10 billion for public housing, lead paint removal

2010-10-26T12:06:50Z

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Obama pledges to slash deficit _ after increase

2010-04-16T14:08:23Z

Urging strict future restraint even as current spending soars, President Barack Obama pledged on Monday to dramatically slash the skyrocketing annual budget deficit as he started to dole out the record $787 billion economic stimulus package he signed last week.

"If we confront this crisis without also confronting the deficits that helped cause it, we risk sinking into another crisis down the road," the president warned, promis...

Stimulus funding for Medicaid on the way, White House says

2010-10-26T12:06:46Z

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States should start seeing stimulus funds for Medicaid by Wednesday, White House says

2010-10-26T12:06:44Z

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Obama announces $15B to states for Medicaid plans

2010-06-25T23:58:43Z

Obama administration releasing $15B to states Wednesday to assist strapped Medicaid programs

President Barack Obama said Monday he would begin distributing $15 billion to the states within two days to help them with Medicaid payments to the poor.

The money will begin reaching the states Wednesday from the newly passed $787 billion economic stimulus program...

Medicaid, health IT to see billions from stimulus package signed by Obama

2010-11-02T12:42:18Z

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Swelling ranks of US jobless yearn for health insurance

2010-04-16T17:06:53Z

For many among the growing ranks of unemployed workers in the United States, the scariest part of losing their job is losing their health insurance.

Even before the current economic crisis, 45 million Americans were uninsured. That number is expected to rise to 54 million by 2019 if changes aren't made to the system, according to the director of the non-partisan And, Sen. Reid advises, states such as Nevada shouldn’t use the funding to avoid responsible budget decisions

CARSON CITY — A few weeks ago it looked like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would be welcomed here as the savior of Nevada’s budget, riding on a horse made of freshly printed...

How government stimulus plan will affect you

2010-08-25T13:29:04Z

Government's economic stimulus plan likely to affect all Americans with tax cuts, spending

An examination of how the economic stimulus plan will affect Americans.

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Taxes:

The recovery package has tax breaks for families that send a child to college, purchase a new car, buy a first home or make the ones they own more energy efficient.

Millions of workers can expect to see about $13 extra in their weekly paychecks, starting around June,...

MAXIMUS, Inc. Q1 2009 Earnings Call Transcript

2010-10-21T09:21:36Z

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How the States Are (Barely) Coping

2010-10-21T09:21:32Z

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How the Stimulus Does, Doesn’t Expand Health Insurance

2010-10-23T20:42:35Z

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How the economic stimulus plan could affect you

2010-08-25T13:28:36Z

Government's economic stimulus plan likely to affect all Americans with tax cuts, spending

An examination of how the economic stimulus plan will affect Americans.

___

Taxes:

The recovery package has tax breaks for families that send a child to college, purchase a new car, buy a first home or make the ones they own more energy efficient.

Millions of workers can expect to see about $13 extra in their weekly paychecks, starting around June, fr...

(more…)

2010-10-23T20:42:33Z

...

The Stimulus Package: What's in It for You

2010-10-24T09:29:40Z

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Food stamps, tax breaks for poor in stimulus bill

2010-10-13T14:01:43Z

Poorest Americans should get more food stamps, unemployment help, tax credits in stimulus bill

More than 37 million Americans live in poverty, and the vast majority of them are in line for extra help under the giant stimulus package coming out of Congress. Millions more could be kept from slipping into poverty by the economic lifeline.

People who get food stamps — 30 million and growing — will get more. People drawing unemployment chec...

Meltdown 101: Highlights of economic stimulus plan

2010-04-16T14:36:12Z

Meltdown 101: Key points of the economic stimulus package that's being finalized in Congress

Now that there's a tentative agreement on the economic stimulus plan that President Barack Obama and other supporters hope will provide a considerable jolt to the economy, how long will it take to get infrastructure and other projects moving? And do economists think the plan is big enough to create millions of jobs?

WHO GETS WHAT: Stimulus to pad pockets of jobless

2010-06-12T12:54:42Z

WHO GETS WHAT: Stimulus would offer $25 more a week, provide benefits longer to the unemployed

More jobless workers would get fatter unemployment checks longer in the massive economic recovery package moving forward in Congress.

Helping the nation's jobless has not been a controversial part of the stimulus package. Both the House and Senate versions offer an extra $25 a week in jobless benefits to millions of workers through the end of the year. The current ...

Health Care is Paramount in US Stimulus Package

2010-10-05T13:07:44Z

By now, it is doubtful that there is anyone left in America who is unaware that President Barack Obama is in the process of putting through a new stimulus package to boost the economy. Unclear to most, however, is how this new package will impact the economy and how it will affect the average American.

There is an estimated $100 billion dollars in the new stimulus package which is earmarked specifically for health care. President Obama has long promised to fix the nation's brok...

States Wrestle Over Medicaid Funds in Stimulus Package

2010-10-23T20:42:25Z

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House stimulus bill boosts health IT, Medicaid

2010-11-02T12:42:18Z

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Comparison of economic stimulus plans

2010-08-25T13:28:37Z

Comparison of House and Senate economic stimulus plans

A comparison of the $827 billion economic recovery plan drafted by Senate Democrats and moderate Republicans with an $820 billion version passed by the House. Additional debt costs would add about $350 billion or more over 10 years. Many provisions expire in two years.

Spending

AID TO POOR AND UNEMPLOYED:

_Senate — $47 billion to provide extended unemployment benefits through Dec. 3...

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Lobbyists work stimulus to end

2010-06-16T10:30:33Z

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Lobbyists protect their turf on stimulus bill as endgame draws near

Whether protecting school aid or seeking tax breaks for imported shoes, lobbyists are amping up their efforts to shape Congress' giant stimulus bill when it counts: as the measure nears its endgame.

President Barack Obama and Democratic Senate leaders were under pressure Friday to trim the final bill's size, leaving ...

WHO GETS WHAT: Billions for health care insurance

2010-04-16T15:03:32Z

Health care steps in stimulus plan should mean cheaper, expanded insurance for the unemployed

It will get vastly cheaper for most people to keep health insurance after losing a job if the government's stimulus plan becomes law. Some nickel and dime cuts in health coverage for the poor will be reversed, too. Geek jobs in medicine will grow.

The billions to be poured into health care from the economic stimulus package will do little if anything about the chron...

Feds may make health insurance easier after layoff

2010-04-16T15:03:36Z

Health care steps in stimulus plan should mean cheaper, expanded insurance for the unemployed

The billions to be poured into health care from the economic stimulus package will do little if anything about the chron...

Shelter, Food and the Stimulus

2010-11-02T16:21:46Z

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Democrats' $825 billion stimulus would boost Medicaid spending

2010-11-02T12:42:14Z

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Economic Stimulus Package: Too Much Pork, Too Little Stimulus

2010-10-21T09:18:59Z

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Highlights of economic stimulus plan

2010-04-16T17:20:51Z

Highlights of economic stimulus plan

Highlights of the $819 billion economic recovery plan passed by the House. Additional debt costs would add $347 billion over 10 years. Many provisions expire in two years.

SPENDING

Aid to the poor and unemployed — $43 billion to provide extended unemployment benefits through Dec. 31, increase them by $25 a week and provide job training; $20 billion to increase food stamp benefits by 13 percent; $4 billion to prov...

Stimulus plan includes billions for new construction and jobs

2010-06-26T02:51:29Z

WASHINGTON - The ambitious $825 billion economic stimulus plan the House will vote on Wednesday blends new spending on everything from construction projects to unemployment aid with tax cuts for both individuals and businesses.

Democrats who control Congress contend the bill will create or save up to 4 million jobs, provide immediate tax breaks for 95 percent of workers and jumpstart the economy.

Highlights of Senate economic stimulus plan

2010-04-16T17:23:40Z

Highlights of Senate economic stimulus plan

Highlights of the economic recovery plan drafted by Senate Democrats and President-elect Barack Obama's economic team. Most provisions expire in two years.

CASH PAYMENTS

Seniors, disabled and veterans — $300 payments to Social Security beneficiaries, and $300 payment under the Supplemental Security income program for elderly and disabled people living...

House Dems push tax breaks through committee

2010-06-26T02:55:00Z

Obama's economic recovery plan advances in House, floor vote likely next week

Amid grim new evidence of economic weakness, legislation at the heart of President Barack Obama's recovery plan advanced in Congress Thursday over the persistent opposition of Republicans seeking deeper tax cuts.

"We are very pleased with the progress," said Speaker Nancy Pel...

House Democrats propose $825 billion stimulus bill

2010-06-26T01:11:18Z

Obama allies reveal $825 billion stimulus bill, with an even higher price tag possible

House Democrats unveiled an $825 billion economic recovery bill Thursday, unprecedented in its scale and reach, that would provide an enormous infusion of public spending in hopes of kick-starting the sagging economy.

The legislation — two-thirds spending and one-third tax cuts — ...

MEDICAID CUTS

2010-12-13T12:32:10Z

Chart shows breakdown of percentage of Medicaid costs associated with each enrollment group; and the decade long trend between enrollment and Medicaid spending.

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Medicaid Cuts Fallout

2010-12-13T12:32:10Z

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2010, file photo, 13-year-old Carlos Olivas paces in front of the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix to help raise money for his friend Francisco Felix who was denied a liver transplant because Sarrell Dental Center office in a depressed neighborhood in Bessemer, Ala. Sarrell Dental, a non-profit corporation that treats young people on Medicaid, is at odds with the Robert Hansen sells copies of the street paper "Real Change," outside a grocery store in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood. Hansen and most other poor adults without young children don't qualify for Medicaid. The proposals in Congress would expand Medicaid coverage to people like Hansen. In the leading Senate proposa...

Hospice Cares For Terminally Ill During Final Days

2010-03-31T07:12:56Z

LAKEWOOD, CO - OCTOBER 07: Volunteers assist terminally ill patient Jackie Beattie, 83, back to her room after she released a dove on October 7, 2009 while at the Hospice of Saint John in Denver, Colorado. The dove releases are part of an animal t...

News on Medicaid

Deficit panel grapples with corporate taxes

Public prefers cutting defense spending: Reuters/Ipsos poll

Unemployment Extension Political Views

Congress OKs more Medicaid funds for states

House passes state aid bill; Obama signs into law

Nariman Behravesh: Job Growth to Match Population Growth First Half of 2011

Senate approves $26 billion for state aid

Senate weighs $26 billion for states in loophole plan

Governors face another year of fiscal pain

Health Care Reform Winners

States Can Easily Balance Their Budgets

House, Senate prepare to debate final NC budget

Highlights of Senate tax and spending bill

House votes for $30B small business lending fund

Next Kan. budget depends on extra federal funds

Fight over states' Medicaid help heats up

Report: Losing COBRA Subsidies Will Bite

Analysis: Election fears, deficit stymie Democrats

10 Reasons Why the Recovery Continues to Be Tepid

Mo. suggests insurance tax to freeze tuition

Looking Hard For Health Care Reform Winners

Senate passes jobless aid, business tax breaks

U.S. would reap billions from $1 cigarette tax hike

Democrats look to new budget rules to tame deficit

New Mexico governor proposes $200M tax increase

How to Get $20 Billion for Using Electronic Medical Records

Mich. House starts tax votes; more likely to come

Recession's end marks start of states' budget woes

Survey shows growing pressure on Medicaid programs

Economic Crisis Tests Welfare Reform

NDOT reboots after stimulus plans leaked

State, local governments to get $10 billion for public housing, lead paint removal

Obama pledges to slash deficit _ after increase

Stimulus funding for Medicaid on the way, White House says

States should start seeing stimulus funds for Medicaid by Wednesday, White House says

Obama announces $15B to states for Medicaid plans

Medicaid, health IT to see billions from stimulus package signed by Obama

Swelling ranks of US jobless yearn for health insurance

How government stimulus plan will affect you

MAXIMUS, Inc. Q1 2009 Earnings Call Transcript

How the States Are (Barely) Coping

How the Stimulus Does, Doesn’t Expand Health Insurance

How the economic stimulus plan could affect you

(more…)

The Stimulus Package: What's in It for You

Food stamps, tax breaks for poor in stimulus bill

Meltdown 101: Highlights of economic stimulus plan

WHO GETS WHAT: Stimulus to pad pockets of jobless

Health Care is Paramount in US Stimulus Package

States Wrestle Over Medicaid Funds in Stimulus Package

House stimulus bill boosts health IT, Medicaid

Comparison of economic stimulus plans

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Lobbyists work stimulus to end

WHO GETS WHAT: Billions for health care insurance

Feds may make health insurance easier after layoff

Shelter, Food and the Stimulus

Democrats' $825 billion stimulus would boost Medicaid spending

Economic Stimulus Package: Too Much Pork, Too Little Stimulus

Highlights of economic stimulus plan

Stimulus plan includes billions for new construction and jobs

Highlights of Senate economic stimulus plan

House Dems push tax breaks through committee

House Democrats propose $825 billion stimulus bill

MEDICAID CUTS

Medicaid Cuts Fallout

Hospice Cares For Terminally Ill During Final Days