In Case You Missed It...

This week on Off the Charts, we talked about the debt-limit deal, taxes, health reform, welfare reform, and housing.

• On the debt-limit deal, Nick Johnson explained that the large cuts in federal spending it entails will hurt states and localities.  Paul Van de Water outlined two important facts that the new congressional deficit-reduction committee must remember when it considers cutting Medicare.
• On taxes, Michael Mazerov explained why a bill before Congress to restrict state and local taxing authority is unnecessary and counterproductive.  Chuck Marr showed that raising taxes on the nation’s wealthiest households would make a significant contribution to deficit reduction.
• On health reform, January Angeles detailed proposed regulations that will improve access to health care coverage.  However, Judy Solomon explained why one piece of the new regulations may leave many people uninsured if left unchanged.
• On welfare reform, LaDonna Pavetti presented some charts on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program ahead of its 15^th anniversary Monday.
• On housing, Barbara Sard explained that the voucher program is helping, not hurting, neighborhoods hit hard by the foreclosure crisis.

In other news, we showed how the potential across-the-board spending cuts in the debt-limit deal would occur and spelled out six ways that states and school districts can make it easier for foster children to obtain free school meals. We also rebutted the arguments for a bill to regulate state and local taxation of digital goods and services and explained why the bill would likely do more harm than good.  Finally, we updated our backgrounder on unemployment insurance.