Speaking Out! 7/26/10

President Obama signs unemployment extension into law

Late last week, President Obama signed a temporary extension of unemployment insurance (UI) into law. The move comes after months of protracted discussion and stalemate over the issue.

As passed, the legislation (H.R. 4213) will extend unemployment benefits through November 30 for workers who have exhausted their six months of benefits. It was made retroactive to June 2, when the last extension expired.  The final measure did not include the additional $25 a week that was included in the stimulus bill passed in 2009 (PL 111-5).

Initially, the U.S. House passed a bill in May that in addition to extending UI would have extended expiring tax provisions and other benefits for laid-off workers, such as COBRA health insurance subsidies. Advocates then looked to the Senate to include these provisions in its bill, as well as the six month extension in the enhanced federal match for Medicaid, funds for states by way of the TANF Emergency Fund and a summer jobs program for youth. However, the Senate was unable to clear the larger extenders package beyond UI, so none of these proposals were included in the final measure.

Considered “emergency spending,” the final measure was not offset and its costs are estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to be $33.9 billion over 10 years.

A crucial time for federal-state child programs

The Senate is set to recess August 9, so it’s running out of time to consider bolstering social services through the job extenders bill. The stimulus package passed in the spring of ‘09 temporarily increased federal funding for vital child-serving programs like Medicaid and ensured they didn’t get cut. But with the bump to that rate (known as FMAP) soon expiring, those same programs that families and children need now are expected to face drastic budget cuts.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that nearly $15 billion will be lost from state budgets. At least 21 states have figured that funding into their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year and will now have to make cuts to various programs.

Please, take the time to call or e-mail your senator while there is still a chance to move the FMAP provision to the Senate floor.

The road ahead

Congress will soon recess for the summer and will leave behind a lot of work, notably Fiscal 2011 appropriations and state aid (FMAP, education/school fiscal support). At this juncture, it is unclear if Congress will move additional funds for states, but members are unlikely to act without hearing from you (even if you have called before). For further information and resources, go to the Voices website.

Resources to continue your education

Are you looking for money to continue your education? The Foundation Center in Washington, D.C., recently released a recorded webinar concentrating on getting funding to go to school. The webinar discusses ways to look for funding and application best practices. The webinar can be found at http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/training/webinars/ffsye_webinar.html. Click on the green link on the right titled “view a recording of this webinar.” The webinar should load automatically.