LDH Archives - Louisiana Budget Project

September 12, 2018

A searing look at the ‘working poor’

Vanessa Solivan, of New Jersey, has three kids and a job she enjoys as a home health care aide. She also is sometimes forced to sleep in the back of her station wagon because the money she earns, along with the paltry government assistance she receives, isn’t enough to keep a roof over her family’s head.

Number of the Day

8.4 - Percentage of Louisianans without health insurance in 2017, down from 10.3 percent the previous year. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey)

August 29, 2018

House Farm Bill would hurt the disabled

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) provides crucial support to many Americans living with disabilities, who often face higher living expenses than the non-disabled population.

Number of the Day

13 - Years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm killed 1,577 Louisiana residents, displaced hundreds of thousands of people and damaged 70 percent of occupied housing in New Orleans (Source: CNN)

August 8, 2018

Impending “public charge” rule sparks fears in immigrant families

Advocates are gearing up for a fight against a proposed rule from President Donald Trump’s administration that would make major changes to a long-standing immigration law.

Number of the Day

7.9 million - Number of U.S. citizen children who could be impacted by the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the “public charge” rule because they live in families with at least one non-citizen. (Source: Center for Law and Social Policy)

August 7, 2018

Paid family leave would transform Louisiana

With the federal government gridlocked, states across the country have adopted paid family leave policies to ensure that workers - particularly ones with low incomes - are able to take time off from work after a child is born or to care for an ailing relative.

Number of the Day

$250,000 - Total fines assessed by the Louisiana Department of Health to the five private insurers that oversee care for most of the state’s Medicaid enrollees. The companies were cited for sloppy record-keeping. (Source: The Associated Press)