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 Policy Update, September 5, 2014
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Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).
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 Federal hearings and Hoosier influence Our members of Congress have been active in hearings about issues relevant to families. The hearings are available online, some with opportunity to attend or submit written comments. A few examples are below.
- Change the rule - Naming a 30-hour week as "fulltime" has resulted in many companies and schools reducing hours of workers to under 30 hours in order to avoid paying for insurance and/or penalties. Companies and schools argue that they cannot afford to offer insurance to all their employees. Affected employees are often the lowest paid among company and school staff, and thus disproportionately affects low-wage workers.
- Keep the rule - Fulltime needed definition. Providing health insurance for regular employees is a responsibility and is good for public health--especially for school, fast food and healthcare workers whose own health affects the health of others. Many of these same schools and employees offer health insurance to their higher paid employees. If these schools and companies do not pay for health insurance for certain workers, taxpayers will end up footing the bill for their subsidies or uncompensated care.
Social Impact Bonds - The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on social impact bonds on Tuesday, Sept. 9 in Washington, D.C. Social impact bonds are tools to seek private investments in a social program where government will reimburse the investor only if predicted social outcomes and public sector savings are achieved. They are also known as Pay for Success Bonds or Social Benefit Bonds. Rep. Todd Young is a bill sponsor. Overly simplified arguments are below.
- Support - Government should only invest in programs that demonstrate success. Social impact bonds provide opportunities for stronger evaluation of service models. Government should only invest where private sector is willing to invest and bear the risk.
- Oppose - Social programs that aim to change human behavior are affected by too many variables for a wide-scale, effective pay for success program. The demand to make a profit creates incentives to manipulate data and/or to include only the easiest-to-serve rather than the most-in-need. Fewer people may be served by programs, leaving charities to make up the difference.
- Needs more study - There have been mixed results with the social impact bonds that have been tried to date. More study is needed to determine the types of services and scale where social impact bonds may be used effectively.
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Legislative Study Committees
If you missed a committee meeting, the new format on the General Assembly's website allows you to watch the recording of the committee meeting. Visit the specific interim committee's web page.
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 Check up on healthcare and tax implications  2014 marks the first year that the "individual mandate" for health insurance is in effect. Individuals who have incomes above poverty and who do not have health insurance may be subject to a penalty on their taxes when they file in 2015. The penalty is the greater of 1% of income or $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, for a family maximum of $285. Learn more about the tax implications for individuals, employers and organizations from the IRS or see the short video at right.
Changes in situation may qualify an individual for a Special Enrollment Period to be able to enroll in the Marketplace yet this year. Individuals who already have insurance through the Marketplace should remember to report any changes in situation, including:
- an increase or decrease in income;
- marriage or divorce;
- the birth or adoption of a child;
- starting a job with health insurance;
- gaining or losing eligibility for other health care coverage; and
- changing a residence.
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 Income fell, wealth did not increase and debt fell  Every three years, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors collects information about family income, net worth, credit use and other financial information. The new report shows that there was divergent income growth, limited growth in family wealth and reduction in overall debt holdings for families. The survey looks at the differences between median and mean income, assets and debt.
What this means is that the top earners gained while the middle-income and low-income earners lost income and wealth. All families lost income and assets during the recession, but only the top have recovered. Most families have not recovered from the recession, and fewer families own assets of homes and stocks. Watch the short video.
Why are changes in income and wealth distribution of such concern? A healthy economy requires growth in income and assets for most residents--for stability in housing and robust commerce. Governments need more taxpayers to support the infrastructure and services that taxpayers expect. Charities that rely on donors (and volunteers) benefit from increasing and predictable income and a level of confidence in the economy.
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 HIP 2.0 open for public comment
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IaUW Public Policy
IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on programs and policies that help:
- children prepare for and succeed in school;
- individuals achieve and sustain financial stability;
- individuals access quality healthcare; and
- communities thrive, including a strong 2-1-1 network and charitable sector.
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Frequently Requested Links / Documents
iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.
IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.
Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.
IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.
NEW - Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region. IN211.org - S earch for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.
NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.
Indiana General Assembly
- Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.
Library of Congress
- Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.
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