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

• On the federal budget, Chye-Ching Huang and Chuck Marr explained that states’ failed attempts to reopen their economies before bringing COVID-19 under control highlight the urgent need to build on federal fiscal support for households and states.

• On state budgets and taxes, Michael Mazerov summarized his recent paper on why state borrowing can’t substitute for more direct aid to help states cope with the recession. We also updated our report finding that states continue to face large shortfalls due to COVID-19 effects.

• On food assistance, Brynne Keith-Jennings outlined why raising SNAP benefits is needed to reduce the long-term effects of hardship on children. We also updated our fact sheet on how states are using their 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 and our chart book tracking the post-Great Recession economy.

Chart of the Week — Stimulus, Existing Safety Net Offset Compensation Losses Early in Pandemic

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

Continued unemployment boosts will help recovery more than new stimulus checks, economists say
CNBC
July 10, 2020

When It Comes To Reopening Schools, ‘The Devil’s In The Details,’ Educators Say
NPR
July 9, 2020

Reopening schools safely is going to take much more federal leadership
Vox
July 8, 2020

Trump's renewed effort to dismantle Obamacare is particularly cruel during the pandemic
Business Insider
July 7, 2020

One family. $1,200 a month
San Francisco Chronicle
July 7, 2020

Unemployment benefits: Do you have to pay taxes on them?
CBS News
July 7, 2020

Republicans Want to Kill the $600 Weekly Bonus for Unemployed Workers
Vice
July 6, 2020

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