Arizona House revives KidsCare; fate in Senate unclear, By Mary Jo Pitzl, May 6, 2016, Arizona Republic: “Chastened and angry over their failure to reinstate KidsCare, Republican lawmakers in the Arizona House got Democrats to join them Thursday in a successful bid to revive the children’s health-insurance program. But the program’s fate in the state Senate, where President Andy Biggs has been a staunch opponent, is unclear. The Senate went home for the day while the House debate continued. Skeptics questioned whether the maneuvers were a face-saving bid by Republicans who don’t want to face constituents angry over the Legislature’s decision earlier this week to reject KidsCare, retaining Arizona’s status as the only state without such a program…”
Day: May 6, 2016
Welfare Reform – Kansas
Kansas lawmakers approve ‘step therapy’ and welfare reform bill, By Melissa Hellmann (AP), May 2, 2016, Topeka Capital-Journal: “Kansas legislators approved a health and public welfare bill Monday that would reduce prescription drug costs within the state’s Medicaid program and make changes to eligibility for public assistance. Senators voted 27-13 in favor of the measure early Monday after the House approved it in a 79-43 vote. The measure will now go to Gov. Sam Brownback, who has touted welfare reform in the past…”
Homelessness in Los Angeles, CA
L.A. sees another sharp rise in homelessness and outdoor tents, By Gale Holland and Peter Jamison, May 4, 2016, Los Angeles Times: “Homelessness increased in the last year in the city and county of Los Angeles, leaving nearly 47,000 people in the streets and shelters despite an intensive federal push that slashed the ranks of homeless veterans by nearly a third, according to figures released Wednesday by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Nearly two-thirds of the homeless people tallied countywide, or 28,000, were in the city of Los Angeles, representing an 11% jump in January from a year earlier, a report from the agency stated. The county’s homeless population grew 5.7%. Homelessness has increased steadily since 2013, as local officials struggle to identify funding for billion-dollar plans they approved this year to solve one of the region’s most intractable problems…”