Tag

State Budgets

All articles tagged with #state budgets

politics17 days ago•11 min saved

Governors shrug off gas tax holidays as prices rise in energy shock

Amid rising pump prices driven by the Iran war and a tighter global energy market, governors from both parties are largely avoiding gas tax holidays, noting that past attempts in 2022 provided little relief and that state budgets are stretched. Economists say suspending gas taxes would likely deliver minimal savings and could strain transportation funding, making federal action the more plausible lever, even as political calculations differ by state.

via Politico|

#energy-policy #gas-tax-holiday #gasoline-prices

business1 month ago•455 min saved

Wealth tax debates sharpen as states face budget gaps

Faced with budget gaps, fourteen states consider raising taxes on the rich to fund schools and hospitals; Massachusetts cites the Fair Share Amendment as a successful example, while California’s Billionaire Tax Act proposes a one-time 5% wealth levy on net worth above $1 billion to raise roughly $100B. Critics warn such taxes could trigger capital flight and harm revenue, even as other states cut taxes or adopt flat-rate schemes, highlighting a broad but uneven national split on how to balance budgets.

via CNN|

#business #deficits #education-funding

health2 months ago•7 min saved

Rural Health Transformation Funds Kick Off as States Prepare Budgets

CMS unveiled the first $10 billion of a five-year, $50 billion Rural Health Transformation program, distributing state grants from about $147 million to $281 million and adding a discretionary “technical score” portion that sparked questions about political influence. States must file revised budgets by Jan. 30 and wait for CMS approval before drawing funds; eight months remain to begin spending and demonstrate progress ahead of 2027 funding decisions. The money is intended to expand rural health access through telehealth, electronic health records upgrades, and workforce initiatives, while states also propose policy actions such as SNAP waivers, nutrition-related programs, fitness tests, and potential certificate-of-need reforms. Critics caution some funds could bypass rural hospitals, but CMS says the program is designed to be flexible to local needs and states are setting up offices and advisory groups to manage disbursement and oversight.

via KFF Health News|

#federal-funding #health #medicaid

politics2 months ago•10 min saved

Trump weaponizes fraud claims to cut blue-state funding

Trump escalates a political tactic by portraying blue states as rife with fraud, using this narrative to justify withholding federal funds (such as child-care money) and launching fraud-enforcement actions, prompting lawsuits from California, New York and others while Democrats push back and eye long-term budget implications.

via Politico|

#blue-states #fraud #funding-cuts

healthcare3 months ago•2 min saved

States and Communities Face Impact as ACA Subsidies End

As federal Obamacare subsidies expire, some states like New Mexico are covering the costs, while others like Georgia refuse, leading to potential coverage gaps and increased premiums, especially impacting rural hospitals and uninsured populations. States are debating whether to fill the gap themselves, with some viewing it as a matter of life or death.

via Politico|

#healthcare #insurance-premiums #medicaid

politics9 months ago•7 min saved

Blue states consider laws amid Trump's tax law changes and political shifts

Blue-state leaders are considering special legislative sessions to address significant financial shortfalls caused by President Trump's new law, which cuts Medicaid and food aid benefits, shifting costs to states and risking coverage for millions, especially in rural areas and states that expanded Medicaid.

via NBC News|

#federal-law #food-assistance #medicaid-cuts

politics9 months ago•7 min saved

Partisan Clash Over Trump’s New Tax and Spending Legislation

States are preparing for significant financial and administrative challenges following President Trump's signing of a new domestic policy law, which shifts federal responsibilities for health care, food aid, and other programs onto them, potentially leading to budget shortfalls, program cuts, and increased administrative burdens.

via The New York Times|

#federal-budget-cuts #food-assistance #medicaid

politics9 months ago•1 min saved

Senate Republicans debate Medicaid cuts amid industry concerns and rural impacts

Senate Republicans are considering adding a provision to President Trump's tax bill that would significantly cut federal Medicaid funding for new beneficiaries in states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA, potentially impacting hospitals and state budgets, though the proposal faces obstacles and is no longer under active consideration according to some senators.

via STAT|

#healthcare-funding #medicaid #politics

politics10 months ago•6 min saved

Minnesota lawmakers face tough decisions on healthcare and budgets amid federal cuts

Democratic governors in California, Illinois, and Minnesota are moving to cut or freeze state-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants due to budget shortfalls and broader immigration debates, risking backlash from progressives and immigrant advocates amid national political tensions.

via NBC News|

#democratic-governors #healthcare #immigration-policy

politics2 years ago•3 min saved

Oregon Governor Initiates Talks to End Republican-Led Senate Boycott.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has started talks with state lawmakers to end a three-week-long boycott led by Republican senators that has delayed progress on over 100 bills, including Democratic measures on sex reassignment and abortion. The boycott began on May 3 and is reportedly the longest in Oregon history. Both the Senate and House must approve state budgets for the next two years before the legislative session ends on June 25. The governor has not ruled out ordering the Oregon State Police to bring the boycotters to the Senate floor to reach a quorum in the 30-member chamber.

via Fox News|

#legislative-session #oregon #politics

healthcare3 years ago•4 min saved

Medicaid Review Threatens Dental Coverage for Millions, USPSTF Process Explained

More than 14 million adults across the United States who receive Medicaid are at risk of losing dental health coverage now that the Covid public health emergency is over, according to data exclusively obtained by NBC News. The emergency declaration did not allow states to remove enrollees from the program during the pandemic, which caused programs to expand precipitously over the past three years. About 14.2 million people, or 28% of adults currently enrolled in Medicaid, will also lose their dental health coverage, according to the data compiled by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a think tank dedicated to oral health in the country.

via NBC News|

#dental-care #healthcare #healthcare-coverage