Elder Economic Security Initiative™
Greetings Alisha,
In This Issue
House Dems Release Draft of Economic Stimulus Plan
House Votes to Reauthorize SCHIP
Secretary of Labor and Secretary of HHS Confirmations
Senior Food Assistance
Medicare Advantage
Retirement Research Fellowship
KFF Update on Medicaid and Community-Based programs
NCOA Transition Document
83% of Americans Concerned about Retirement
Consumer Agenda for Retirement Security
State Ranking of Medicaid Programs
Recessions' Tool on At-Risk Workers
Automaker Retirees
Medicare Advantage Increased Enrollment
Elder Home Care
Caregivers Compensated
Elder Economic Security Initiative
Blog
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We hope you will find this week's information helpful and please feel free to pass it along.
- WOW Team
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It was a busy week in Washington, as the 111th Congress kicked into high gear in advance of next week’s inaugural festivities.
On Thursday, the House Democratic Leadership released a draft of an economic stimulus plan with a total price tag of $825 billion (and possibly more) over two years. The package on the House Appropriations Committee Web page includes $550 billion for federal spending programs and about $275 billion in tax breaks. The Appropriations Committee will mark up the spending portion of the bill next Wednesday, January 21st and the Ways and Means Committee tentatively is scheduled to mark up its portion of the bill on Thursday, January 22nd. The plan is to have the full House vote on the bill early in the last week of January. Although the Senate version of the bill has not yet been released, it may be made public as early as today. The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled a hearing on the spending portion of the package for next Thursday. No word yet on when Senate Finance will meet to consider the tax portions of the bill.
The House of Representatives voted 289-139 on Wednesday to approve, H.R. 2, which reauthorizes and expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP provides health care coverage for children whose families make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance). Forty Republicans crossed party lines to vote in favor of the bill. Two Democrats, Reps. Bright (AL) and Marshall (GA) voted against the measure. (The roll call vote may be found at http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll016.xml). The $32.3 billion bill reauthorizes SCHIP for four and one-half years and will cover an additional four million children, bringing the total covered to 11 million. The measure also lifts a five year ban for coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women. The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday approved its own SCHIP bill on a vote of 12-7. The bill is similar but not identical to the measure approved in the House. It is expected to be considered on the Senate floor next week, and a conference with the House thereafter.
In The Administration/Transition
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) will vote on Wednesday on the appointments of Hilda Solis to be secretary of Labor, Tom Daschle to be secretary of Health and Human Services, and Arne Duncan to be secretary of Education. The nominations then will go to the Senate floor pretty quickly for final approval.
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Benefits Check-Up: Service to Help Seniors Find Food Assistance
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California Health Advocates: Dual Eligibles & Medicare Advantage Plans: Do New Rules Make Them a Better Fit?
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Center for Retirement Research at Boston College: Dissertation Fellowship Deadline Reminder
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Kaiser Family Foundation: Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service Programs, Data Update
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National Council on Aging: NCOA Shares Priorities with President-Elect Obama
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National Institute on Retirement Security: New Survey Finds 83% of Americans Concerned About Retirement
Pensions Rights Center: Consumer Agenda for Retirement Security -
Public Citizen: Unsettling Scores: A Ranking of State Medicaid Programs (2007)
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Herald Tribune.com: Big Three Retirees on Edge
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South Coast Today (MA): Budget Cuts force Elderly to Wait for Home Care
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Wall Street Journal: Relatives can be Paid to Look After Elderly
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