Families

Rate of Underinsured Triples for Middle and Higher Income Families; Underinsured Go Without Needed Care and Face Medical Debt

New York, NY, June 10, 2008—The number of underinsured adults—those with health insurance all year, but also very high medical expenses relative to their incomes—rose by 60 percent between 2003 and 2007, from 16 million to more than 25 million, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study released today as a Health Affairs Web Exclusive.

Middle and higher income families were hit the hardest by the steep increase: underinsured rates nearly tripled for those with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which is an annual income of $40,000 or higher for a family.    » read more »

Union Members to Rally in More Than 25 Cities This Week to Call on Bush and McCain to Denounce Tax Giveaways for Big Oil, Support Real Path to Energy Independence

June 09, 2008 -- AFL-CIO working families will rally at gas stations in more than 25 cities across the country this week to protest record-high gas prices, which reached a national average of $4 a gallon over the weekend. The first protest will be today in Indianapolis.    » read more »

Community groups react to news that DuPont’s Teflon chemicals likely contaminate area residential wells. Eight of nine DuPont monitoring wells exceeded New Jersey’s “alert level.”

June 9, 2008 -- Deepwater, NJ—A coalition of environmental and labor groups are calling for the testing of private drinking water wells in four towns near DuPont’s Chambers Works facility in Deepwater, N.J. They are concerned about the possible presence of the dangerous Teflon chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluorinated compounds (PFCs).    » read more »

5/11/2008 -- On Mother’s Day, we thank and honor those who have devoted countless hours to taking care of their families. Mothers work constantly to help their children start and lead healthy, enriched lives. They are among our children’s most important teachers, guiding our youth to reach their full potential and realize their dreams.

Hillary Clinton: Photo by Kevin Makice (CC)

Today, this job is harder than ever before because parents are faced with the challenges of caring for their children as well as their aging parents, while meeting the demands of their work responsibilities.    » read more »

New Jersey becomes only third state in the nation to implement program

May 2, 2008 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed an historic family leave insurance bill, propelling New Jersey to become only the third state in the nation to enact a family leave program for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly-adopted children.

New Jersey Governor Corzine signs paid family leave legislation: Photo courtesy NJ Governor's office

The state of California implemented its program in 2004 while the state of Washington passed legislation last year.    » read more »

April 23, 2008 -- John McCain wrote just yesterday to supporters that it's important to understand what struggling families are going through because "[b]y understanding the challenges - and they are enormous - that these Americans face today, I will be a far better president." [McCain campaign email, 4/22/08]

Senator John McCain: Photo by Wigwam Jones (CC)    » read more »

Efforts continue to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

April 22, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Backed by rulings on Friday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today sent a letter to the Bush administration urging a withdrawal of a federal directive that prohibits Washington, and other states, from expanding access to health care coverage for tens of thousands of children.

A protester against George W. Bush's attempts to limit children's health insurance: Photo by socaltimes (CC)    » read more »

Pennsylvania to Lose More than $560 Million in Medicaid Funding over Next Two Years if Administration’s Medicaid Rule Changes Are Allowed to Stand

Washington, D.C. — Medicaid rule changes put in place by the Bush Administration will cost Pennsylvania more than $560 million in federal funds over the next two years. The cut in federal funding will, in fact, act like a giant anti-stimulus package.

George W. Bush protesters: Photo by Robb Wilson (CC)

Those lost Medicaid funds will eliminate an estimated 5,800 jobs and an accompanying $221.4 million in wages, and cost the state an estimated $645.2 million in lost business activity.    » read more »

Protecting Benefits of Americans Who Leave the Armed Forces As “Sole Survivors” After Losing All Their Siblings to War; Honors the Hubbard brothers of California-

April 16, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Representative Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and Representative Jim Costa (D-Calif.) today introduced legislation to ensure that “sole survivors” who leave military service receive full separation benefits.

Human cost of war: Photo by Erik Abderhalden (CC)    » read more »

“Libraries are a Vital Resource During Economic Downturn”

April 15, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. — Gerald W. McEntee, President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, today called for increased funding for the nation’s libraries, noting their importance to communities and workers coping with the downturn in the national economy.

New York Public Library: Photo by Andy Cross (CC)    » read more »

Proposed Regulations Would Make it Harder for Workers to Take Time Off for Medical and Family Emergencies

April 11, 2008 -- The AFL-CIO today called on the Bush Administration to drop its proposed changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act that would make it more difficult for workers to get the time off they need to care for themselves or their loved ones in emergencies.

George W. Bush toilet paper: Sold in a small shop in Sydney, Australia. Photo by david (CC)    » read more »

Reducing the Length of Combat Tours Is a Step in the Right Direction

April 10, 2008 -- NEW YORK - Today, President Bush announced that starting August 1st, combat tours in Iraq would be reduced from 15 to 12 months. In response, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, issued the following statement:    » read more »

Sheriff Jimmy Apodaca arrests 32 parents in countywide sweep

April 10, 2008 -- EL PASO – El Paso County Sheriff Jimmy Apodaca has arrested 32 local parents who violated court orders requiring them to pay child support. The countywide sweep, which is being conducted in conjunction with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Child Support Division, targets parents who are wanted by authorities for failing to pay their court-ordered child support.    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed House Bill 2714 enacting the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The compact is intended to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families caused by frequent moves and deployment of their parents.

A Navy sailor holds his child for the first time: Photo by Jane Campbell, USN

“Changing schools and making new friends can be hard on children whose parents are in the military,” Sebelius said. “This bill will help ease the transition between schools by seamlessly transferring records.”    » read more »

State-by-State Reports Reveal Why Insurance Matters as a Life-and-Death Issue

April 8, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. — In 2002, a groundbreaking national study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated the direct link between a lack of health coverage and deaths from health-related causes.

A hospital baby under UV lighting: Photo by Simon Ladesma (CC)    » read more »