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

Why Prop 82 Failed in California

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 08:35:00 -0500

Our friends at Douglas Gould and Company, a pr firm for progressive causes, said we could share their case study of why the Prop 82 preschool for all initiative failed at the polls last week in California:

In Nebraska, Trading (Theoretical) Integration for (Potential) Empowerment?

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 14:51:47 -0500

So it's come to this.

Omaha's troubled urban school district is now poised, with the blessing of Nebraska's legislature and governor, to divide itself into three separate districts -- one mostly black, one mostly hispanic, and one mostly white. And the man behind it is the state's one-and-only black lawmaker, State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha.

You Can't Fertilize a Tree from the Top

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:41:01 -0600

Trickle-down theorists argue that cutting taxes for the rich will make everyone else richer. If it were true, the pace of tax cuts since 2001 should have made us all millionaires!

Trickle-downers also argue that holding the line on taxes will make America's economy more competitive and stronger. But here too the theory doesn't meet the real world test. More tax cuts will burden our economy with more debt. Despite spending cuts in vital social services in the budget they just approved, Congress is still going to have to raise the official debt limit, again, to $9 trillion by mid-March.

Improving -- or Gutting -- Food Safety Regs

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 10:56:27 -0600

The House of Representatives has postponed a March 2 vote on the "National Uniformity for Food Act" (H.R.4167) until next week. Food safety advocates say this bill would not set national food safety standards that raise the bar but would eliminate key food safety measures in the states, like those that protect Californians against chemicals causing birth defects. H.R. 4167 would also limit states' ability to enact new food-safety laws in areas where the federal government has not acted, like mercury levels in fish.

Senate Might Act This Week on Heating Assistance

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 10:58:24 -0600

This is a critical week for advocates trying to make sure families get the assistance they need to pay their heating bills. Congressional reporters say Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has decided to resolve a dispute over spending for flood insurance and home heating subsidies by considering the two issues together later this week.

Land of Opportunity -- or Deadend for Illegal Immigrant Students?

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 13:58:08 -0600

Is our land of opportunity turning into a dead end for Hispanic students who graduate high school college-ready but lack a pathway to legalize their citizenship status?

On March 22 Connect for Kids hosted a Talktime Live! online chat on the Dream Act, with experts on education issues faced by immigrants and a student who will speak from experience.

President's Budget Misses the Mark for Keeping America Competitive

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:17:34 -0600

Congressional reporters say many of President Bush's FY2007 budget proposals drew a �decidedly cool reception� from House committees that submitted their annual "views and estimates" to the Budget Committee to help it in drafting the congressional budget resolution for FY2007.

One simple step towards fairness for kids in foster care

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 15:26:51 -0600

When you were in college, how many times did you call home for comfort, advice, a recipe -- and maybe some help paying that long-distance bill you ran up while breaking up with your boy/girlfriend? Or, say you went to work after high school. Did your folks lend you a hand with that first month's security deposit on a new apartment? Bring you a meal and a care package of pots, pans, and laundry detergent?

President�s Latest Budget Plan Sets Stage for Deep Cuts

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 09:27:22 -0600

The President's budget plan would put spending for energy, K-12 and higher education, housing, natural resources and environment, and other domestic priorities on a path of deeper cuts -- an overall 13% cut by 2011, according to official data assembled and analyzed by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Tempest over T-Shirts

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 13:26:37 -0600

Just yesterday I was whining about how Tuesday night's State of the Union speech lacked substance. Turns out the substance, in this case, was the sideshow.

I'm talking, of course, about the T-shirts. Talk about your teachable moments!

Digging a Deeper Hole in the Federal Budget

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 09:26:44 -0600

In a narrow vote February 1, the House gave final approval to a five-year budget bill to cut federal investments in Medicaid, child support enforcement, college aid, and child care. Next up is a $60 billion tax bill with more breaks for the wealthy.

Medicaid Cuts Will Cut Children�s Care

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 09:26:12 -0600

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says the latest Congressional Budget Office analysis says 4.5 million children would face Medicaid co-payment charges for the first time, under the new budget changes up for a vote in Congress this week.