
Groups oppose deep cuts to IRS, an end to Direct File
David Elliot,
June 17, 2024
Ahead of last week’s House Appropriations Committee consideration of the FY25 2025 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) bill, nearly 100 groups wrote leading House appropriators in opposition to a proposal that could cut funding for the IRS by billions of dollars and end the popular Direct File project, which allows some taxpayers to file quickly, easily, and for free.
Labor leaders and advocates warn of the negative impact of privatizing SNAP’s workforce
David Elliot,
June 12, 2024
Labor leaders and other advocates are sounding the alarm on two provisions in the House farm bill that would allow states to privatize the employees who administer SNAP benefits – a move that they say would threaten the integrity of the nutrition assistance program as well as endanger workers.
Drug overdose dilemmas: Fewer fatalities — but more total overdoses and racial disparities
Don Mathis,
June 10, 2024
In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of fatal drug overdoses in 2023 showed a 3 percent decrease from 2022, from 111,029 to 107,543. That 3,486 fewer people died from overdoses is good news. But how good? Is this single statistic a sign of widespread success in our national efforts to reverse and reduce our drug epidemic? A recent New York Times article asked "Has fentanyl peaked?" Has it? Are there fewer fatal overdoses because people with substance use disorder are using less?
The Census counts everyone. So why shouldn’t everyone be counted?
CHN Staff,
June 10, 2024
Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau seeks to count every person living in the United States. The census counts adults and children; voters, people not registered to vote, and people who cannot vote; people of all races, genders, and religions; rich people and poor people; and people living in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories, and on American Indian reservations. And it counts everyone residing in the United States (which excludes people visiting from other countries for tourism or business trips), whether or not they are U.S. citizens.
Advocates hail Biden Administration decision to expand and make IRS Direct File permanent
David Elliot,
May 31, 2024
The IRS announced this week that it will both make permanent and expand Direct File, which this year for the first time enabled 140,000 filers in 12 pilot states to file their taxes quickly, easily, and, most important, for free. The announcement stated that all 50 states plus Washington D.C. will be invited to participate in the program.
