Farm Bill Would Cut Food Assistance for 170,000 Texans

by: Emily Cadik

Wed Jun 19, 2013 at 04:00 PM CDT

Locally, these cuts would mean 27,000 Texans lose assistance in Harris County, 18,000 in Dallas County, 14,000 in Bexar County, 10,000 in Tarrant county and 5,000 in Travis County.

The Texans who receive SNAP benefits are disproportionately people of color. Over 80 percent of them either are working or have worked in the past twelve months, but their median household income is only around $16,000. One-fourth of them include someone over 60 years old, and almost two-thirds of them include children.

Hunger in Texas is already a serious problem, and is poised to become significantly worse if these cuts are implemented. A study from Feeding America estimates that 4.8 million Texans (including 2 million children) live in households that struggle at times to afford enough food, and collectively face a 'meal gap' of almost 785 million meals. These cuts would increase Texas's meal gap to over 1 billion meals.

There already isn't enough food assistance to go around, and even for people who do receive assistance, it's often not enough.

Yesterday we covered the Congressional SNAP challenge, in which two dozen Democrat members of Congress, including Texas Representatives Beto O'Rourke (TX-16, El Paso) and Marc Veasey (TX-33, Dallas-Fort Worth), tried living on the $4.50 per day that SNAP recipients receive. In an interview with Burnt Orange Report editor Katherine Haenschen, Rep. Veasey said:

"I felt really sluggish all day. My stomach felt cranky all day, and that food doesn't digest in the body as well. It was tough, and that was just for one day. I was constantly reminded that there are people in America who live on this and less every day. This is their life, their kids' life. Kids go to school trying to learn and make good scores on their tests, do the best they can do, and this is how little they get to eat every day."

Bringing down the deficit is going to require difficult compromises. But taking meals away from children, seniors and the working poor should not even be on the table.  

Immigrants Have Contributed Billions More to Medicare Than They Have Taken

by: Emily Cadik

Thu Jun 06, 2013 at 02:00 PM CDT

From the Austin American-Statesman:

"[A new] study, led by researchers at Harvard Medical School, measured immigrants' contributions to the part of Medicare that pays for hospital care, a trust fund that accounts for nearly half of the federal program's revenue. It found that immigrants generated surpluses totaling $115 billion from 2002 to 2009. In comparison, the American-born population incurred a deficit of $28 billion over the same period.

The findings shed light on what demographers have long known: Immigrants are crucial in balancing the age structure of American society, providing an infusion of young, working-age adults who support the country's aging population and help cover the costs of Medicare and Social Security. And with the largest generation in the United States, the baby boomers, now starting to retire, the financial help from immigrants has never been more needed, experts said."

Anti-immigrant rhetoric accuses immigrants of exploiting the advantages of an economy to which they don't contribute.  Ted Cruz, for instance, who has vowed to vote against any immigration bill that includes a path to citizenship, said in an interview, "I think integral to remaining a nation that doesn't just welcome but celebrates legal immigrants is ensuring that those who come here are coming because they want to work towards the American dream and provide for their families and not be dependent on means-tested welfare."

It must come as a surprise to Ted Cruz that immigrants are actually helping American citizens access the 'welfare' on which he claims immigrants are dependent - and that allowing immigrants to more fully participate in our economy might actually be key to addressing our looming Medicare and Social Security crises.  

Women are Breadwinners in Two-Thirds of Families, But Without the Policies to Match

by: Emily Cadik

Tue Jun 04, 2013 at 04:00 PM CDT

In 1967, only about one-fourth of American families had mothers are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, and they were mostly co-breadwinners (11.6 percent co-breadwinners and 15.9 percent breadwinners). Now there are close to twice as many sole breadwinners as co-breadwinners (41 percent and 22.5 percent, respectively). That means not only are four times as many mothers contributing to household income, but there are also four times as many who are the only contributors.

And yet, women make up the bulk of low-wage earners: over sixty percent of minimum wage workers are women. Less than one-third of women without college degrees get any form of paid maternity leave. And women are far less likely than men to have access to any form of paid leave at all (maternity or otherwise) or workplace flexibility.

A new report from the Center for American Progress lists twelve policies that promote economic security for women and their families and actually reflect their increased role in the workplace. They include:

• Paid family and medical leave insurance
• Rehiring teachers and public-sector workers laid off in the recession and the sequester
• Ensure that women who want to join unions can do so
• Paid sick days for all workers
• Provide universal childcare and pre-kindergarten
• Fully implement the Affordable Care Act and expand Medicaid in the states
• Increase workplace flexibility and predictable scheduling
• Raise the minimum wage
• Improve and enforce antidiscrimination laws
• Ensure access to family planning services
• Strengthen Social Security and retirement plans

A lot of these would benefit men too - because they're not just about helping women, but about being fair. It's time for policy to catch up with reality.  

Immigration Reform Could Produce 3 Million New Home Buyers

by: Emily Cadik

Thu May 30, 2013 at 01:30 PM CDT

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals recently estimated that legalization of undocumented immigrants could result in up to 3 million new home buyers, generating up to $500 billion in new real estate transactions.

Of the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S., they estimate that 6 million will pursue legalization or citizenship. Half of these would pursue homeownership based on average salary and home prices, as well as historic patterns of home buying among naturalized immigrants.

Hispanics, who make up 80 percent of the undocumented immigrant population in the U.S., are the fastest-growing group of first-time homebuyers, with over 1 million purchasing homes from 2010 to 2012.  

Read about the impact in Texas after the jump.

House Committee (Including Several Texas Reps) Votes to Cut SNAP Benefits for 2 Million Families

by: Emily Cadik

Wed May 22, 2013 at 09:00 AM CDT

This month, the House Agriculture Committee approved a farm bill that would cut $20 billion from SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps). If enacted, the cuts would result in 2 million families losing their assistance, and over 200,000 children losing eligibility for the free school lunch program.

These cuts come at a time when the Recovery Act's temporary increase in SNAP benefits is already set to expire in November.

The Senate Agriculture Committee also approved cuts to SNAP in its version of the farm bill, but by only $4.1 billion. Fortunately, neither of these are close to where Paul Ryan wants the cuts - his latest budget reduced SNAP by $135 billion.

Read more after the jump.

37 Votes Later, Republican Opposition to the Affordable Care Act is Wearing Thin

by: Emily Cadik

Sun May 19, 2013 at 10:00 AM CDT

Last week, Republicans in the House of Representatives made their 37th attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Despite the fact that 12 percent of Americans think the Affordable Care Act has been repealed and 23 percent don't know, the measure was entirely symbolic to show that Republicans are fighting the law's implementation every step of the way. It's also symbolic of the Republican strategy to reject anything supported by Democrats without offering a better solution.

Underscoring this point, in remarks on the House floor,Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) said, "Together, we could provide more cost-effective care and do something more about spiraling healthcare costs.  But really, the only true Republican alternative to Obamacare is Nothingcare."

The same goes for Governor Perry's resistance to expanding Medicaid in Texas. Perry and his allies continue to reject the federal dollars that would allow us to insure potentially 2 million more Texans, but have not offered a proposal that would make anywhere near as much of a dent in Texas' highest uninsured rate in the nation.

Read more after the jump.

Affordable Care Act Brings $10 Million to Texas Health Centers

by: Emily Cadik

Fri May 17, 2013 at 10:30 AM CDT

The U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made in important step in implementing the Affordable Care Act by providing $9.8 million to Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs) in Texas to help them offer in-person enrollment assistance to uninsured Texans. Nationwide, $150 million is being distributed to FQHCs.

The funding will allow FQHCs to hire and train staff, hold community outreach events, educate consumers about their coverage options and eligibility, and assist them in enrolling in the health insurance options available and affordable to them.

According to Stacey Pogue from the Center for Public Policy Priorities, "Three of four people who will be eligible for coverage through the new Marketplace say they want in-person assistance to help to learn about and enroll in coverage." This funding for FQHCs will go a long way towards making that happen.

There are close to 70 FQHCs in Texas, representing more than 300 sites in all regions and close to half of Texas counties. About one million Texans make use of FQHCs each year, and about half of them are uninsured. Of particular importance to Texas is the fact that FQHCs do not deny care based on immigration status. They're an indispensable resource, and a great way to reach and work with uninsured Texans.

Read more after the jump.

Report Shows Investing in Kids Pays Off

by: Emily Cadik

Mon May 13, 2013 at 10:30 AM CDT

Over the past twenty years, investments in per-child spending have tracked with child well-being. Not only did students perform better in school during periods of higher investment, but there were positive trends in the areas of health, safety and other behaviors as well.  
The CPPP concluded that, "when Texas kids do better, the U.S. does better" - from 2000 to 2010, half of all of the growth of the youth population in the U.S. took place in Texas., and one out of every eleven kids in the country lives in Texas. If we don't invest now, we'll pay the price later. As the report points out, Texas is ranked as one of the best states to do business, but "one of the worst states to be a kid." Read more after the jump.

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Passes Texas House, Heads to Senate

by: Emily Cadik

Wed May 08, 2013 at 03:00 PM CDT

Texas may soon take some important strides in gender equality.

In late April, the Texas House passed a bill to tweak state laws to conform to the national version of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (the first bill that President Obama signed into law in 2009). It's now heading to the Senate, where a companion measure has already made its way out of committee, thanks to State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth).

In 2012, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the federal version of the Ledbetter Act doesn't offer protection in state cases. This bill, introduced in the House by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), would extend the Ledbetter Act's protections to state cases, meaning women have more time to sue for wage discrimination and to seek restitution in state courts. Without it, women essentially have to become aware of discrimination and take action within six months of their first paycheck.

The law passed the House by a margin of 79-50, which means there are 50 members of the Texas House - all Republicans - who do not believe women should have more than 180 days from their first discriminatory paycheck to file suit against an employer.

Despite this disappointing opposition, if the bill becomes a law, Texas will be the first state in the nation to tweak its state laws to support the federal act.

The bill will also be an important step in addressing Texas's vast gender wage gap. According to the National Women's Law Center, women in Texas earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Read about how the wage gap affects different groups of women after the jump.

Medicaid: Come for the Health Care, Stay for the Quality of Life

by: Emily Cadik

Mon May 06, 2013 at 09:00 AM CDT

Last week, the second batch of results from the experiment was released, showing that those with Medicaid were consuming more health care - especially preventative care. According to the Washington Post, "Here's what we can say with certainty: Medicaid works as health insurance."

But it's not just the increase in care that set the new Medicaid patients apart from those without health insurance. Other benefits included:

• A 30 percent decrease in depression rates,
• A decrease in the percent of participants who faced out-of-pocket medical expenses totaling more than 30 percent of their annual income from 5.5 percent to 1 percent, and
• A 50 percent decrease in the likelihood of experiencing financial strain, like delaying payments on other bills or taking out loans to cover medical expenses.

Read about the conservative response after the jump.