Gov. Cuomo's tax-hike package -- according to him -- is an "extraordinary benefit to the state ... that the state desperately, desperately needs to help turn around this economy." E.J.'s been covering all the reasons why and turn around "this eco Read More
E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center on a segment of NY1's "Inside City Hall" last night. E.J. began by informing moderator Errol Lewis that Governor Cuomo's with the Legislature involves a significant tax increase, not a tax cut. Read More
When welfare reform was enacted in 1996, creating the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, a less-noticed provision was the greatly increased focus on collecting child support for custodial parents (almost always mothers) and their children. Read More
The Food Stamp Program has changed its name to SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- an appropriate moniker, since in current economic conditions, states are making it a snap to qualify. Read More
In a battle going back 15 years, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has pledged to reduce Medicaid reimbursements to New York for the state's developmentally disabled centers by as much as 80 percent. Daily rates per patient at the facilities had jumped from just over $1,700 in 1999 to over $5,100 by 2011. Read More
The Obama administration's offer to waive work requirements for recipients of Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) is being opposed by leading congressional Republicans, who have introduced legislation to overturn the action. While state governments generally welcome added flexibility in administering federal programs, there is a risk the new federal policy will be used in some states to undermine the work-first principle at the heart of the successful 1996 welfare reform. Read More
On July 12th, the Obama Administration announced that it would unilaterally allow states to experiment through waivers with different ways of defining the “work” required of welfare recipients under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. This could be a first step to permanently watering down the “work participation” requirements that were a centerpiece of the 1996 welfare reform law and to backing away from the primary theme of TANF: personal responsibility. Read More
Governor Andrew Cuomo is urging youth to sign up for available jobs, basically hanging out a "help wanted" sign for the state's NY Youth Works and Summer Youth Programs. Read More