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Policy Basics Archive

Policy Basics is a series of brief background reports on issues related to budgets, taxes, and government assistance programs.

Budget — Federal

• Introduction to the Federal Budget Process
• Congress's "Pay-As-You-Go" Budget Rule
• Deficits, Debt, and Interest  | Podcast (5:45)
• Where Do Our Federal Tax Dollars Go?
• Podcast: The Budget Reconciliation Process (4:43)

Climate Change

• Podcast: Climate Change Legislation (4:51)

Food Assistance

• Introduction to the Food Stamp Program | Podcast (3:49)

Health

• Introduction to Medicaid
• Podcast: The Budget Reconciliation Process (4:43)

Housing

• The Housing Voucher Choice Program
• Introduction to Public Housing

Recession and Recovery

• Introduction to Unemployment Insurance

Social Security

• Top Ten Facts on Social Security

State Budget and Tax

• The ABCs of State Budgets | Podcast (4:13)
• Where Do Our State Tax Dollars Go?  | Podcast (5:35)
• Property Tax Caps
• Tax Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR)
• State Earned Income Tax Credits

Tax — Federal

• The Child Tax Credit
• The Estate Tax  | Podcast (5:04)
• The Earned Income Tax Credit | Podcast (4:36)
• Where Do Our Federal Tax Dollars Go?
• The 2001 and 2003 Tax Cuts
• Deficits, Debt, and Interest  | Podcast (5:45)

Welfare Reform/TANF

• Introduction to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)