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Written by Gerald L. Rudolph
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Tuesday, 30 October 2007 |
On October 10, the House approved H.R. 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 by a vote of 264-148. The bill increases the supply of rental housing that low income people can afford by establishing dedicated sources of funding for the production, preservation and rehabilitation of 1.5 million affordable homes in 10 years.
Read more from the National Low Income Housing Coalition:
http://www.nlihc.org/detail/article.cfm?article_id=4628&id=61.
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Written by Gerald L. Rudolph
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Tuesday, 30 October 2007 |
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released updated projections showing that the total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could reach $1.2 trillion to $1.7 trillion, depending on the number of troops deployed over the next decade. The amount could soar to nearly $2.4 trillion if costs related to interest on the national debt are included.
Read the CBO Report:
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/86xx/doc8690/10-24-CostOfWar_Testimony.pdf.
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Written by Gerald L. Rudolph
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Tuesday, 30 October 2007 |
The Senate passed the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations
bill (H.R. 3043) on October 23 by a veto-proof margin of 75-19. Informal
negotiations with House leaders were ongoing throughout the Senate
debate, so a final version should be ready to send to the President
shortly. The House passed its version by an almost veto-proof margin of
276 to 140 in July. The President has promised to veto the bill.
Read FCNL's analysis of current appropriations bills:
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=2916&issue_id=18.
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Children's Health Insurance |
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Written by Gerald L. Rudolph
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Tuesday, 30 October 2007 |
On October 18, Congress failed to override the president's veto of the
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization
legislation (H.R. 976), however, the House passed a new bipartisan
version (H.R. 3963) on October 25 by a vote of 265-142. The latest
version is likely headed for passage in the Senate this week, however,
the President continues to threaten a veto.
Read more about the new legislation from the Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities: http://www.cbpp.org/10-25-07health.htm.
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Written by Gerald L. Rudolph
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Tuesday, 30 October 2007 |
On October 25, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved a five-year farm bill; the farm bill includes reauthorization for food stamps and other nutrition programs. The Food Stamp Program is the nation's largest nutrition program.
Read more from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
http://www.cbpp.org/4-26-07fa-fact.htm.
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Women in Black meets in front of the state house at Gervais and Main at
5:00 pm every Wednesday until the US is out of Iraq. Please come.
Post Office Box 7933