From the CBPP: Weekly Update

This week at CBPP, we focused on the federal budget, state budgets and taxes, Social Security, food assistance, federal taxes, housing, health, poverty and inequality, and family income support. On the federal budget, we released a number of pieces on President Trump’s 2019 budget. Robert Greenstein released a statement on the stark vision of America the budget offers. On the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Dorothy Rosenbaum, Stacy Dean, Ed Bolen, Elizabeth Wolkomir, Brynne Keith-Jennings, Lexin Cai, and Catlin Nchako found that President Trump’s budget would cut food assistance for millions and radically restructure the program, and Dean summarized these findings. On health, Peggy Bailey, Matt Broaddus, Shelby Gonzales, Hannah Katch, and Paul Van de Water found that the health proposals included in the President’s budget would reduce health insurance coverage and access to care for millions. On housing, Douglas Rice pointed out that President Trump’s budget slashes aid for families already struggling to pay rent. Sharon Parrott, Aviva Aron-Dine, Rosenbaum, Rice, Ife Floyd, and Kathleen Romig explained how the President’s budget would make cuts to health, housing, and other assistance for low- and moderate-income families deeper than any ever enacted. LaDonna Pavetti warned that the welfare-to-work proposal in the Trump budget would unravel major federal programs. David Reich laid out how President Trump’s budget would cut non-defense programs deeply in 2019 and beyond. Michael Leachman argued that states can’t afford massive new costs that President Trump’s budget would shift to states and localities. We rounded up our continuing coverage of the president’s budget. Jacob Leibenluft pointed out that President Trump’s new infrastructure plan is a mirage and that his budget will actually cut federal support for infrastructure investment. Arloc Sherman explained why policymakers should boost 2018 funding for the 2020 census. On state budgets and taxes, Liz McNichol warned that President Trump’s plan to cut federal infrastructure funding would put badly needed improvements at risk. Leachman submitted testimony to the Kansas legislature’s Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs on why the state should reject a call for a constitutional convention. On Social Security, Kathleen Romig highlighted how the bipartisan agreement to raise the caps on discretionary spending in 2018 and 2019 gives policymakers another chance to fund technology improvements for the program and reduce Social Security’s disability backlog. On food assistance, we updated our backgrounder on SNAP. On federal taxes, Chuck Marr called on congressional appropriators to make adequate funding for the Internal Revenue Service a top priority. On health, Jessica Schubel warned that Kentucky’s Medicaid waiver will increase uncompensated care for hospitals and safety net providers. On poverty and inequality, Chad Stone, Danilo Trisi, Arloc Sherman, and Roderick Taylor updated our guide to statistics on historical trends in income inequality. On family income support, Tazra Mitchell and Pavetti updated their rebuttal of a fundamentally flawed study praising Kansas’ harsh TANF work penalties. Chart of the Week – Trump Budget Proposes Deep and Growing Cuts to Medicaid and ACA Marketplace Subsidies. A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts recently. Here are some highlights: Idaho Blue Cross Jumps Into Controversial Market For Plans That Bypass ACA Rules Kaiser Health News February 14, 2018 ‘We would literally not survive’: How Trump’s plans for the social safety net would affect America’s poorest Washington Post February 14, 2018 Trump’s ‘Harvest Box’ Isn’t Viable in SNAP Overhaul, Officials Say New York Times February 13, 2018 White House Budget Calls For Deep Cuts To HUD NPR February 13, 2018 Trump’s New Infrastructure Plan Is Kind Of Underwhelming Huffington Post February 12, 2018 Don’t miss any of our posts, papers, or charts — follow us on  Twitter,  Facebook, and Instagram.