This week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider a bill that would make significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps. Here’s 5 things we hope that our Representatives will remember as they consider the future of SNAP: 1.) About 1…...
A Balanced Approach to Tax Reform
This week, the Tax Modernization Committee held a working session and started to dig in to the challenge of taking a comprehensive look at our state’s tax code and making recommendations on ways to improve it. The committee heard from speakers about income, corporate, and property taxes and how Nebraska…...
SNAP Hangs in the Balance as Congress Readies for Vacation
Each year both the House and the Senate generally take what’s known as the “August recess” — a chance to spend some time on vacation or back in their home state or district. Unfortunately, this year Congress will be leaving Washington with an important piece of unfinished business. The Supplemental…...
Getting a Head Start on School
Last month, Voices for Children and First Focus co-authored an editorial published in the Omaha World Herald on the need for federal investments in pre-Kindergarten programs. The Editorial has sparked some responses related to the Head Start Program and the program’s perceived “failure.” In light of this, it seemed like…...
LB 507: Adopt the Step Up to Quality Child Care Act (QRIS)
As introduced: LB 507 adopts the Step Up to Quality Act, putting in place a quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) with a scale of steps from one to five. The system is available to all child care and early childhood education programs voluntarily, but participation is required for programs…...
LB 625: Change income eligibility provisions relating to federal child care assistance
As introduced: LB 625 changes provisions relating to child care subsidies and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide child care assistance to families with incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty level. Introducing Senator(s): Conrad (priority); Nordquist Committee: Health and Human Services Committee Hearing Date:…...
