State of Working Massachusetts – Labor Day 2012
Even though the economy has stopped shrinking and begun to grow, that growth is too slow to fully restore the losses experienced by workers and families in recent years.
Even though the economy has stopped shrinking and begun to grow, that growth is too slow to fully restore the losses experienced by workers and families in recent years.
Even though the economy has stopped shrinking and begun to grow, that growth is too slow to fully restore the losses experienced by workers and families in recent years.
Raising the state minimum wage results in higher pay rates for low-wage workers, but how does it affect jobs and the economy? Our analysis of job growth in Massachusetts over almost two decades provides evidence that increases in the minimum wage do not impede job growth.
This budget brief describes the proposals affecting MassHealth (Medicaid) and other health care programs which were included in a June supplement to the FY 2012 budget. It is part of a series of fact sheets that will be published by the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute (MMPI) and produced by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center in partnership with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.
This budget brief describes the proposals affecting MassHealth (Medicaid) and other health care programs which were included in the FY 2013 budget. It is part of a series of fact sheets that will be published by the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute (MMPI) and produced by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center in partnership with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.
Ultimately the goal of state economic policy is to raise the living standards of the people of the state. This generally requires jobs that pay good wages and provide decent benefits. The crucial questions of economic policy are about how to create an environment in which businesses that create such jobs can prosper. What levels of education and what skills do such employers need their employees to have? What type of transportation infrastructure do these businesses need for their employees to get to work and for their distribution networks to operate efficiently? What help do these businesses need gaining access to capital? Are there types of technical assistance that can help them to operate more effectively, and how important are special tax breaks that the state might offer? What is the appropriate role of government in each of these areas?
Last week, the House and Senate approved a budget for FY 2013. Our Budget Monitor shows how it would affect each major area of state government.
This budget brief describes the proposals affecting MassHealth (Medicaid) and other health care programs which were included in the Senate final budget for FY 2013. It is part of a series of fact sheets that will be published by the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute (MMPI) and produced by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center in partnership with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.
This Budget Monitor describes the chief differences between the Senate and House proposals. It also analyzes the many amendments that the full Senate adopted during debate.
In order to balance the budget, the Senate Ways and Means Committee proposes roughly $615 million in cuts and savings along with $552 million of temporary revenue.