Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - Kids & Politics

How Kids Fare in the Federal Budget: the Lowlights

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:15:00 -0600

President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal includes $2.8 billion in cuts to programs that impact children—a 3 percent drop from last year's federal budget. First Focus, a bipartisan children's advocacy organization, takes a reader-friendly look at the numbers and what they say about our nation's priorities.

The Buzz on the Budget

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:36:04 -0500

The president's annual federal budget submission is as much about sending messages as setting spending goals. So what's the buzz this year—and where in the nation's priorities are kids, families, and communities? Jan Richter takes a look at the 2008 budget proposal.

Young Writers Finding a Powerful Voice

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:34:45 -0500

Youth Communication, the non-profit founded by Keith Hefner in New York City to give young people a voice on the things that matter to them, is now 25 years old—a notable milestone in the notoriously under-funded world of youth media. Lisa R. Rhodes, a former Youth Communication writer herself, looks at how Hefner's organization has grown and thrived, transforming young lives along the way.

Congress' Spending Priorities out of Whack, Says Poll

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:05:31 -0500

Voters feel Congress is out of touch when it comes to funding education—that's according to a new national poll from the National School Boards Association (NSBA). Of 1,200 respondents, 74 percent said Congress does not do a good job of setting priorities for the federal budget and spending—and needs to change these priorities.

An Expert Prediction: Parents Face Long Odds in Supreme Court Case on Special Education

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:16:45 -0500

Pete Wright, an attorney with decades of experience in special education law—and his own memories of standing up before the U.S. Supreme Court to argue a case—attended oral arguments last week in the most recent special education case to reach the highest court. Wright shared his impressions with Connect for Kids Editor Susan Phillips.

Guide to the 2007 Budget: What's at Stake for Human Needs

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:48:39 -0500

In March 2006, the Coalition on Human Needs released a helpful guide to the 2007 budget plans—a much easier read than the hundreds of pages of the actual budgets!

Solid Footing for State Finances: Fiscal Year 2005 Tax Revenue Summary

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:47:43 -0500

What does a state's revenue have to do with kids? Everything. From funds for classrooms and after-school programs to public health coverage and housing assistance, state revenues matter. This Rockefeller Institute of Government policy brief has some useful information for anyone concerned about families and community programs. According to the report, 2005 marked the second year of revenue growth for states—their general fund tax revenue grew 10.7 percent from fiscal year 2004 to fiscal year 2005. Still, federal budget cuts will continue to challenge state resources.

Congressional Scorecard on Children's Issues

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:37:09 -0500

Did our elected officials live up to their campaign promises in 2005? Check out the latest Congressional Scorecard from the Children's Defense Fund to see how your members of Congress voted on key legislation affecting children and families.

Medicaid and the 2006 Federal Budget Bill

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:34:14 -0500

The 2006 federal budget, passed in February 2006, includes net cuts to Medicaid of $4.8 billion over the next five years and $26.1 billion over the next ten years. This six-page Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured brief looks at what areas of Medicaid will be cut and how families and states may be affected—including the introduction of co-payments and cost-sharing for low-wage families.

A Younger Take on the State of the Union

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:04:27 -0600

We've all heard the pundits and politicians give their reviews of President Bush's State of the Union Speech delivered on January 31. Children's Press Line editor Emily Olfson, 17, offers a different take. She watched the speech and then talked about it with students from the United Nations International School in New York City.

Federal Spending Bill for '06 Passes

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:51:54 -0500

On February 1, 2006, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the budget bill by a vote of 216 to 214. (All Democrats, one Independent and 13 Republicans voted against it.) The bill cuts $38.8 billion from the federal budget, slashing federal funds for programs like college aid, child support, Medicaid, and child welfare. What with the cuts mean for programs serving families in your state? For an easy-to-understand overview, we recommend the Coalition on Human Needs' state fact sheets.

Welfare Reauthorization 2006

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:51:10 -0500

On February 1, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the budget bill by a vote of 216 to 214. It included provisions reauthorizing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for five more years, with stiffer work rules for families: states must engage 50 percent of single-parent families and 90 percent of two-parent families in approved work activities, or face penalties. As a result, the Congressional Budget Office projects that states may lose a collective $23 million in funds over five years. In addition, child care funds fall far short of what's needed to meet these new work mandates. The Center for Law and Social Policy has several analyses of the new rules.

Economic Recovery Hard for Some to See

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:50:39 -0500

As he prepares to deliver his State of the Union address on January 31, President Bush is talking about recent good news on job creation and economic growth. Meanwhile, Congress is preparing to vote on a new budget and new tax cuts. But in this column, Connect for Kids Advocacy Director Jan Richter says many ordinary families aren't benefiting from this recovery.

2005 Still Lingers on Hill

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:50:04 -0500

The ball dropped. The champagne flowed. But at least on Capitol Hill, 2005 is stubbornly hanging around. Republican leaders were unable to get the House and Senate to pass identical versions of the 2005 budget reconciliation bill, so the legislation faces a final vote. Meanwhile, Congress is contemplating more tax changes. Jan Richter assesses the situation and what it means for children and families.

President Bush on Education: Assessing the Record

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:49:22 -0500

Back when President George W. Bush was running for re-election in 2004, we asked the president to outline his stand on key issues, including education. At the start of year two of President Bush's second term, Connect for Kids' Sunny Xiang and Jan Richter took a look back at what candidate Bush had to say, and at where things stand today.