LATEST WORK
Plaintiffs Dismiss Federal Food Stamp Lawsuit Sustaining Progress Up to the Legislature
September 1, 2010
On July 31, 2009, Stacy Howard and Linda Thornberg on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated filed a class action in federal district court against the Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission for failure to comply with federal timeliness standards in processing applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called Food Stamps.
Writing the Texas Budget for 2012 and 2013
August 31, 2010
The Texas Legislature will convene on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, for the 82nd Regular Session. For essential state services to continue in 2012 and 2013, the Legislature must pass a state budget before adjourning. This Policy Page explains the process of writing the 2012-13 budget and how you can participate to ensure a budget aligned with your values—a budget that invests in the critical public services and structures necessary to create opportunity and prosperity.
A Balanced Approach to Meeting the Needs of Texas
August 25, 2010
CPPP Executive Director Scott McCown, Senior Fiscal Analyst Dick Lavine, and Senior Budget Analyst Eva DeLuna Castro show how a balanced approach to balancing the state's budget will meet of the needs of Texas today and tomorrow.
A Tale of Two Deficits: How to Close Texas’ Short- and Long-Term Revenue Shortfalls
August 23, 2010
CPPP Senior Fiscal Analyst Dick Lavine offered this invited testimony on long- and short-term revenue shortfalls to the House Select Committee on Fiscal Stability during their meeting on August 23, 2010.
School Boards and Superintendents Need to Call Upon Governor to Act by September 9 to Gain $830 Million
August 16, 2010
In the Education Jobs Fund, Congress set
aside approximately $10 billion for states for public education for 2010-11. You can read the legislation and administrative
guidance on the U.S. Department of Education’s website under Education
Jobs Fund. This money is extremely
important for
Congress Provides $830 Million for Texas Schools, but Governor Must Act
August 11, 2010
On August 10, Congress set aside approximately $10 billion for states to spend to save public school teachers’ jobs. Saving jobs helps today’s economy and protecting education helps tomorrow’s economy. Texas’ share of the total is about $830 million. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that this will pay for about 14,500 Texas teachers and other personnel. As this paper explains, both technical and legal questions must be answered before Texas can draw down its share. But Texas should be able to access these funds to help our schools and economy.
Federal Financial Reform: Implications for Texas and Consumers
August 10, 2010
How will financial reform affect Texas and consumers? CPPP Senior Policy Analyst Don Baylor recently spelled out the implications of reform at an FDIC Alliance for Economic Inclusion (AEI) meeting.
Texas vs. the U.S.: How do our kids fare?
July 27, 2010
Texas ranks in the bottom third of states—34th nationally—in a state-by-state study of our children’s well-being, according to the 2010 KIDS COUNT Data Book. The study reveals that Texas has the third highest teen birth rate in the nation, and a child poverty rate well above the rest of the U.S.
To view a complete listing of all of our work by date, click here.