While the nation is watching the Senate take up proposals designed to dismantle health care for children, the elderly and disabled, and low-income families, the House Budget Committee finalized its vision for the country last week. Though details have yet to be released, the plan paints a gloomy future for…...
Five things you probably didn’t know about Food Stamps
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, has been targeted with unprecedented cuts in the 2018 federal budget proposed by President Trump. The cuts would shift 25% of SNAP benefit costs to the states, amounting to an estimated $419 million in Nebraska over 10 years. As…...
Nebraska Legislature faces key pro-kid decisions during Child Abuse Prevention Month
Every April, Voices for Children in Nebraska joins advocates and community members from across the country in promoting child and family well-being through National Child Abuse Prevention Month. We all have a role in ensuring that Nebraska is the best place to be a kid. This year’s theme, “Building Community,…...
The Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act: Investing in the Future
Here in Nebraska, we know that the social and financial costs of the juvenile justice system are not insignificant. Incarceration rates in our state are the 4th highest in the country — and have been increasing while national rates have fallen. Nevertheless, promising steps forward have been made recently in the…...
Federal Child Care Bill Takes an Important Step Forward
Last week, the United States Senate advanced a bill to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the primary source of federal funding for child care assistance. CCDBG funds are important because they help ensure that kids are safe so parents can work. If the bill is passed…...
Earned Income Tax Credit Offers Significant Relief for Children and Families
The Nebraska Legislature is currently considering LB 956, a bill which would provide targeted tax cuts to low-income working families. Voices for Children supports this expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) because it is good for children and families. In 2007, Nebraska expanded the EITC to 10% of…...
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…...
Expanding home visiting programs
Last week, the Legislature spent several hours debating our state budget and discussing how Nebraska plans to invest in our children over the next two years. One important decision was the rejection of an amendment to decrease funding for home visiting programs by $500,000. Visiting high-risk families in their…...
