This week at CBPP, we focused on state budgets and taxes, health, food assistance, and the economy.

• On state budgets and taxes, Nicholas Johnson warned that today’s recession could hurt kids’ schooling even more than the Great Recession. Michael Leachman explained how states and localities should spend the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund. We also updated our fact sheet detailing how much money each state would receive through the Heroes Act’s Coronavirus State Fiscal Relief Fund.

• On health, Jennifer Wagner and Judith Solomon explained what the Medicaid coverage protections in the Families First Act require and how to implement them. Paul N. Van de Water detailed why health insurers don’t need federal “risk corridors.”

• On food assistance, Ed Bolen detailed how SNAP boosts retailers and local economies. We updated our fact sheet explaining how states are using new flexibility in SNAP to respond to COVID-19 challenges.

• On the economy, we updated our backgrounder on how many weeks of unemployment compensation are available.

Chart of the Week — Over 80% of SNAP Benefits Are Used at Larger Stores

A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this past week. Here are some of the highlights:

The coronavirus is crushing working people. It's time for Congress to act.
Boston Globe
May 29, 2020

Where Fears of Deportation Made the Pandemic Worse
The Atlantic
May 29, 2020

Public schools face a fall with a lot more costs and a lot less funding
Washington Post
May 28, 2020

The Pandemic Is Driving America's Schools Toward A Financial Meltdown
NPR
May 26, 2020

Single Mothers Hit Hard by Job Losses
Stateline
May 26, 2020

Public employees brace for layoffs
Axios
May 24, 2020

Thousands lost medical coverage as pandemic approached
PBS News Hour
May 23, 2020

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