Budgets

Budget Helps Control the Skyrocketing Cost of Health Care, Cuts Waste & Fraud from Medicare and Protects Public Health

May 7, 2009 -- Citing the rapidly escalating cost of health care in this country and the enormous pressures that health care costs are putting on our economic future, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today highlighted key reforms in President Obama’s 2010 HHS budget.

“This budget sends a clear message that we can’t afford to wait any longer if we want to get health care costs under control and improve our fiscal outlook,” said Secretary Sebelius. “Investing in health reform today will help bring down costs tomorrow and ensure all Americans have access to the quality care they need and deserve.”    » read more »

05/07/2009 -- WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today, through a national online discussion with stakeholder groups, the general public and the news media, will outline the president's fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget for the U.S. Department of Labor, which begins to restore worker protection programs and revitalize employment opportunities for the American workforce.

"The president's budget launches new and innovative ways to promote economic recovery and the competitiveness of our nation's workers," said Secretary Solis. "At the same time, the budget reflects our effort to invest in what works and cut or reduce programs that do not. The budget is transparent, and we are accountable to the American public."    » read more »

President’s Request Supports Department’s Traditional Missions While Strengthening National Security Efforts

May 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that the President’s FY 2010 budget proposal totals $26.7 billion for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase support for the Department’s traditional missions while strengthening national security efforts. The request represents a 3.8 percent increase in budget authority and an increase of 3,977 positions over the FY 2009 enacted appropriation.    » read more »

May 7, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Education's FY 2010 $46.7 billion budget proposal will advance President Obama's agenda to reform the nation's schools while making fiscally responsible decisions to cut ineffective programs and unnecessary personnel, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in releasing the budget today.

"This budget makes tough decisions, investing in the programs that will deliver results in student learning while ending ones that aren't working," Duncan said. "It will give educators the resources they need to turn around the schools in the most trouble, and it will build a foundation for success in school for our youngest citizens."    » read more »

Challenge to Congress is pass appropriations before Oct. 1

Washington, D.C., May 7, 2009– The nation’s largest organization of combat veterans is very pleased with the administration’s fiscal year 2010 budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“This is a very good budget,” said Glen M. Gardner Jr., the national commander of the 2.2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries.    » read more »

May 8, 2009 -- Oakland, CA-- In a major victory for California's 250,000 In-Home Supportive Service (IHSS) workers and the 440,000 seniors and people with disabilities who rely on IHSS for daily care, the Obama Administration has ruled that proposed cuts to the IHSS program violate the terms of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The ruling came after the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and its California affiliates, SEIU UHW and SEIU Locals 521 and 6434, requested an opinion from Health and Human Services on whether California's proposed cuts violate the maintenance of effort clause of the ARRA.    » read more »

May 7, 2009 -- Washington D.C. --- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today detailed President Barack Obama’s $26.4 billion Fiscal Year 2010 budget request for the Department of Energy, highlighting the Administration’s commitment to transformational discoveries, breakthrough science, and innovative technologies in the nation’s effort to secure reliable, clean, safe and secure energy, create new jobs and fight climate change.

While the budget makes important investments in energy independence and job creation, it also cuts back on programs that don’t work as well or are no longer needed.    » read more »

Praises measures to create jobs, strengthen schools, ensure public safety, preserve natural resources and protect property owners

May 8, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today praised the Florida Legislature for investing in Florida’s future, including economic security and education, during the 2009 legislative session. In spite of reduced state revenues, the Legislature continued to ensure other priorties such as public safety, natural resources, and care for Florida’s most vulnerable children, disabled and elderly. In addition, the Florida Legislature approved measures that will reduce the tax burden on property owners.    » read more »

May 07, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced more deep cuts in the state budget, as the state is facing a budget shortfall in the midst of the national economic crisis. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau next week will release figures that could show a deficit reaching $1.5 billion.    » read more »

BOSTON—Thursday, May 7, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will file legislation today to close an estimated $953 million shortfall for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2009, using a combination of federal stimulus aid, stabilization funds, and other solutions. The legislation comes on the heels of an historic $1 billion drop in April tax revenues compared to last April revenues, and after previous measures to close an over $3 billion gap for FY 2009.

The legislation maintains Governor Deval Patrick’s commitment to education funding and preserving other key programs essential to the Commonwealth’s economic recovery. The bill filed today also includes supplemental appropriations to fund accounts experiencing deficiencies due to the economic downturn.    » read more »

May 6, 2009 -- SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hi, everybody. Thanks for joining us. As Ken said, we are about to roll out the budget document, and we just wanted to give you some sense of some highlights that we think are important going into it. As you know, the President has talked in some detail about the new foundation that he wants to lay for broad and sustained economic growth, and a budget that will make the investments we need, overdue investments in reforms; in education so every child can compete in the global economy; in health care reform so that we can control costs and offer affordable coverage to Americans; and investing in renewable sources of energy so that we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and become the world leader in this new clean-energy economy.    » read more »

May 5, 2009 -- In the 21st century, disease flows freely across borders and oceans, and, in recent days, the 2009 H1N1 virus has reminded us of the urgent need for action. We cannot wall ourselves off from the world and hope for the best, nor ignore the public health challenges beyond our borders. An outbreak in Indonesia can reach Indiana within days, and public health crises abroad can cause widespread suffering, conflict, and economic contraction.    » read more »

FY 2010 spending plan provides millions for proven programs: ARI, AMSTI, ACCESS Distance Learning and First Class Pre-K

May 04, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley today signed a $6.2 billion education budget that provides funding to sustain Alabama’s nationally renowned learning initiatives and avoid layoffs for teachers or school support personnel. The budget received final passage in the Alabama Senate on April 30.

To view a video of the budget signing, plus comments from Governor Riley, visit http://governor.alabama.gov.    » read more »

Budget Agreement Closes $20.1 Billion Budget Gap, Largest in State History; Reduces Multi-year Budget Deficit by More Than 70 Percent

April 28, 2009 -- The New York State Division of the Budget today released the State’s official 2009-10 Enacted Budget Financial Plan, which includes updated information on the gap-closing plan, federal stimulus recovery funding, State revenues, State spending, out-year deficits, the State workforce, and other financial indicators.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- TRENTON - Meeting the educational needs of all of New Jersey’s children in an equitable and fair manner has been the primary impetus behind the State’s School Funding Reform Act, New Jersey Governor Corzine said earlier today.

“We really needed to replace a flawed, decades old, ad-hoc state aid system with something that could deliver a balanced and nonpartisan formula and address the needs of all students, regardless of where they live,” said the Governor. “What was developed after intensive work by the Department of Education, administration officials, legislators and stakeholders is a system that puts the needs of all children on equal footing toward future success.    » read more »