Last week, the Democratic leadership from the U.S. House passed a scaled back jobs bill (H.R. 4213) due to concerns from lawmakers regarding the cost of the package and affect on the federal deficit.

Remember, H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010, includes a temporary extension of an increased federal match to help fund the state's Medicaid program. This provision was removed by the House to reduce costs.

It is important that Congress include the measure as many states have assumed the temporary extension of increased federal match for Medicaid in their proposed budgets, including Michigan, which faces a $1.7 billion shortfall in its fiscal year 2011 budget.

Without the temporary extension, Michigan will have to make even deeper cuts to Medicaid and other health and basic services.

The Senate is expected to take up the bill upon its return from the Memorial Day recess. Contact U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow NOW to support the inclusion of a temporary extension to the increased federal match for Medicaid.

Click here to read more in our May 4 Action Alert.

Click here to read more about H.R. 42.13.

On May 27, 2010, the House passed its version of the fiscal year 2011 Department of Community Health (DCH) budget. The Senate passed its version on March 24, 2010. On June 1, 2010, the Senate acted to send the bill to a joint House/Senate conference committee.

The House budget is about 12 percent lower than the current year budget compared to the Senate's and the Governor's recommendations which are 17 percent and 12.5 percent lower, respectively.

The House DCH budget makes significant strides toward restoration of devastating program cuts in the current year budget by including placeholders for the 0 to 3 Secondary Prevention and Nurse Family Partnership programs.

The House also acted on two of Michigan's Children's budget priorities: 1) Inclusion of language requiring the DCH to automatically enroll children who are eligible for free breakfast, lunch and milk under the National School Lunch Act in MIChild; and, 2) Protection of funding for the Child Care Enhancement Program (CCEP).

Read more details about the House's, Senate's, and Governor's fiscal year 2011 DCH budget recommendations in our latest Budget Basics.

On June 26, 2010, AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy project will engage the American public in an unprecedented national discussion about the federal budget.

Thousands of Americans reflecting the demographic, geographic and political diversity of our nation will come together for a National Town Meeting connected via satellite video, webcast, and interactive technologies to weigh-in on the difficult choices involved with putting our federal budget on a sustainable path.

These discussions will occur in about 20 cities across the country, including Detroit.

Date: June 26, 2010
Time: 11:30am - 6pm
Location: McGregor Conference Center, Wayne State University, 495 W. Ferry Mall, Detroit, MI 48202

Click here to register for the Detroit event.

Click here for more information about the AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy project.

Click here to read more about making children a priority in the federal budget in our Budget & Tax Policy - Federal Budget section.

On May 29, 2010, the Lansing State Journal ran a story, "Funding in limbo for program that helps at-risk preschoolers" highlighting the proven, effective Child Care Enhancement Program (CCEP) (formerly known as the Child Care Expulsion Program), which is slated for elimination in the Governor's and Senate's fiscal year 2011 budget recommendations. The House's budget protects funding for the program.

Click here to read the story.

Click here for more information about the CCEP.