This blog is a place for journalists to discuss their experiences covering poverty. It works in tandem with onpoverty.org, a site run by Washington and Lee University's American Poverty Journalism Center.
Archives
3/2/08 - 3/9/08 3/9/08 - 3/16/08 3/23/08 - 3/30/08 3/30/08 - 4/6/08 4/27/08 - 5/4/08 6/15/08 - 6/22/08 7/20/08 - 7/27/08 8/17/08 - 8/24/08 9/21/08 - 9/28/08 10/5/08 - 10/12/08 10/12/08 - 10/19/08 10/19/08 - 10/26/08 10/26/08 - 11/2/08 11/2/08 - 11/9/08 11/9/08 - 11/16/08 11/16/08 - 11/23/08 11/30/08 - 12/7/08 1/11/09 - 1/18/09 1/18/09 - 1/25/09 1/25/09 - 2/1/09 2/1/09 - 2/8/09 2/8/09 - 2/15/09 2/22/09 - 3/1/09 3/1/09 - 3/8/09 3/8/09 - 3/15/09 3/15/09 - 3/22/09 3/22/09 - 3/29/09 3/29/09 - 4/5/09 5/3/09 - 5/10/09 9/20/09 - 9/27/09 9/27/09 - 10/4/09 10/4/09 - 10/11/09 10/18/09 - 10/25/09 10/25/09 - 11/1/09 11/15/09 - 11/22/09 Current Posts
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
Medicaid drug-price cuts blocked in Washington
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed budget would pay less for brand-name pharmaceuticals in an effort to steer pharmacies toward cheaper generic drugs, which could help the state save $109 million. Pharmacies argue the state is ignoring the harm such cuts would cause if started today, and a federal judge has temporarily blocked the plan. Walgreen Co., the state’s largest medication retailer, says 44 of its pharmacies would withdraw from the program and quit filling Medicaid prescriptions if the price cuts took hold.
Original story
Labels: brand-name pharmaceuticals, budget, Chris Gregoire, generic drugs, Medicaid, Walgreen Co., Washington
Maine eyes measures to reduce welfare outlays
Two proposed bills would seek to reduce welfare spending by imposing a 90-day residency requirement, providing a tax credit for employers who hire welfare recipients, and imposing a 60-month lifetime limit on food stamps for adults. Supporters argue that people come to Maine and receive benefits too easily. Opponents note that residency requirements for welfare benefits have been ruled unconstitutional in other states.
Original story
Labels: food stamps, residency requirement, tax credit, welfare
While vacancy rates soar, lack of affordable housing spurs upsurge in squatting
Rising unemployment is forcing people out of their houses and into illegal squats. Squatting—or unlawfully occupying property that belongs to someone else—is a reflection of both a market failure and the absence of an effective government response to enable poor people to find housing. Between 2007 and 2008, the number of families showing up at homeless shelters in New York City increased by 40 percent, while housing vacancy rates are at all-time highs. According to the Census Bureau, 19 million homes were vacant in the last quarter of 2008.
Original story
Labels: housing, squatting, unemployment
On Poverty.Org is organized by students at
washington and lee university in Lexington, VA.
Supervisor: Prof. Ed Wasserman.
WEBMASTER: Kat Greene. Site Editors: Kat Greene, Melissa Caron.
Marketing DIrectors: Abby SteinBock, Betsy Chaplin.
Technology Supervisors: James Dick, Ilgiz Soubanov