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2004 Publications
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| 09-23-04 The Northwest Job Gap Study estimates what a living wage is for a number of family structures, estimates the number of job openings that pay a living wage, and estimates the gap between the number of living wage jobs being created in the Northwest and the number of people needing living
wage jobs.
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| 08-19-04 Hunger In South Dakota And What State Leaders Can Do About It - Low-income families in South Dakota are struggling. They are struggling to find jobs that pay a living wage. They are struggling to pay rising utility, housing, and health care costs. And, they are struggling with the basic task of putting food on their tables. This study, the first of its kind, examines the food security of 403 poor and very poor South Dakota
families. The participating households, most of whom are clients of Head Start and Native American, answered 33 questions about their food security and additional questions about their involvement with the Food Stamp Program. The study found that for many of these families food insecurity is not a short-term emergency, but a long-term continuing struggle. |
| 04-21-04 Setting
the Tone for Health Care Cuts - In July 2003, Montana Governor
Judy Martz appointed the state’s Public Health Care Advisory Council,
kicking off a health care redesign process that could affect the health
and well-being of all Montanans. The advisory council is working with
the Montana Department of Health and Human Services on recommendations
to the 2005 Legislature regarding Medicaid, the Children’s Health
Insurance Program, and the Mental Health Services Plan. Setting
the Tone for Health Care Cuts: Governor Martz and Montana’s Public
Health Care Redesign compares the rhetoric to the truth about publicly
funded health care. |
| 04-06-04 Confronting
Barriers: Stories of Oregon Food Stamp Applicants - Many Oregon
residents have lost access to public programs because of recent deep
budget cuts, including major cuts to public health care programs. The
Food Stamp Program is increasingly important as many Oregon families
face difficult times and increased medical costs. In this report,
several food stamp applicants describe their experiences and the
barriers they faced when applying for food stamps. This report also
includes some initial survey results. |
| 03-31-04 Pull the Plug on Idaho Power's
Rate Increase: Idaho's Families Need Rate Relief, Not Rate Hikes -
In October 2003, Idaho Power filed a rate increase application with the
Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Idaho Power’s request, as the
PUC staff determined, is a gross overestimate of its actual needs -
over $70 million more than Idaho Power could justify! Idaho families
are struggling to make ends meet and pay power bills today. Idaho
Power’s rate proposal would leave even more low-income families out in
the cold. |
| 02-18-04 Not
Even Pennywise: Premiums Will Harm Children, Economy - Despite the
enormous benefits Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program
(CHIP) provide to Washington State’s families and economy, the
Legislature is considering charging premiums to many children in these
programs. The proposed premiums will wreck havoc on the lives of
vulnerable children, cost the state more in the long run, and harm
Washington’s economy. This report provides an overview of the important
contributions Medicaid and CHIP make to the economy of and quality of
life in Washington State, and the devastating impacts of premiums. |
| 02-12-04
Keep the
Heat On:
Idaho Utility Regulations Threaten the Health and Safety of Idaho
Families - Economic conditions in Idaho are squeezing low-income
families from every direction. Unemployment continues to rise
and many of Idaho’s families live in poverty. The rates of personal
bankruptcy and lack of health insurance are also increasing.
Skyrocketing energy costs are an unbearable burden when added to these
economic realities. Energy consumers who turn to the state for help
find that the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
budget is woefully inadequate, and that consumer protections for
low-income consumers are not strong enough. |
| 02-05-04
Not Our Job: Employers
Abandon
Health Care Coverage, Leaving Washington Families and the State with
the Bill - As large
businesses cut health benefits or shift costs to employees, more and
more workers must forego coverage. This trend means that employment is
losing its status as the gateway to health care for working families,
who must use publicly funded coverage or go without entirely.
When employers leave their workers — especially low-wage employees —
without coverage, they are maximizing their profits at the expense of
workers and the state. Washington State has the power to level
the playing field for working families. Lawmakers should tell large
companies that making an appropriate health insurance investment is a
condition of doing business in Washington State. |
| 01-29-04
Washington
Lags Behind Other States in Corporate Disclosure and Accountability
- States spend billions of dollars
every year on tax breaks for businesses. A growing number of states
have
legislation in place that requires companies to
disclose certain information on the
tax breaks they have received. Disclosure allows states to evaluate the
costs and
benefits of tax breaks. For example,
states can monitor the jobs
created by tax breaks by looking at job creation
levels, job retention, wage
bands, and benefits. With disclosure legislation in place, Washington
legislators and private
residents will have the
information needed to change those tax breaks that are not working as
intended and support those
that are. |
| 01-29-04
Don't Lien
on Me- Why
the State's Medical Indigency Care Program is Unhealthy for Idahoans
- Health insurance is the most important vehicle for gaining access to
health care services in the United States. It makes a substantial
difference in the amount and type of services people are able to
obtain. The adverse health consequences for people who do not
have health insurance are serious: one study found that the uninsured
are almost six times more likely than the insured to have postponed
health care for a serious condition because they couldn't afford
it. Other studies focusing on health outcomes for uninsured
individuals found that these people are more likely to die in the
hospital, implying that they may postpone care until it is too late. |
| 01-19-04
End
the
Costly R&D Tax Breaks: Invest in Washington's Families - In
1994, Washington state enacted the Business and Occupation (B&O)
tax credit for Research and Development (R&D) and the sales tax
deferral for R&D in order to, among other reasons, stimulate the
economy and to increase Washington's competitiveness in high technology
business. After nine years and extensive review by the Department
of Revenue, it is clear that these tax incentives have not accomplished
what they were set up to do. |
| 01-13-04
Idaho
Lags Behind Region and Nation in Prescription Drug Savings - With
prescription drug prices on the rise across the nation in all types of
healthcare programs, more and more states are pooling the prescription
drug purchases of their state agencies, and are joining together with
other states to negotiate large prescription drug discounts. As this
report details, numerous states are already saving substantial sums
using purchasing pools. But Idaho lags behind the Northwest and the
nation in negotiating prices from prescription drug manufacturers. |
| 01-07-04
Medicaid
Supports
Idaho's County Economics - This report provides an overview of the
important contributions Medicaid makes to the economy of and quality of
life in Idaho. Throughout the state, Medicaid spending directly
purchases goods and services, and supports healthcare industry jobs for
Idaho's counties. And these direct healthcare purchases trigger
further cycles of earning and purchases that ripple throughout the
economy, affecting individuals and businesses not directly associated
with healthcare, and generating jobs, income, and economic activity. |
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