Tuesday's Quick Hits: This Week's Hot Policy Topics

North Carolina:

Tuesday, February 26, 2008



10 a.m. The Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation meets, 643 LOB.

Today’s meeting focused on the Department of Public Instructions Dropout Report. Over 23,000 students dropped out of our public school system last year. This report comes on the heels of DPI’s cohort graduation report. That report revealed a four year cohort graduation rate of 48% for students with disabilities.


12:30 p.m. The House Select Committee on Rising Home Foreclosures meets, 421 LOB.

Home foreclosure rates in North Carolina have increased 14%. North Carolina has some of the strongest laws to prevent predatory lending but foreclosures are still on the rise. During this meeting several organizations addressed the need for housing counseling services.



Wednesday, February, 27, 2008



10 a.m. The Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee meets, 1228 LB.

As you could tell by yesterday’s candidate forum, transportation is going to be a hot topic during the short session. This is one of two committees that are meeting on this important topic. How we utilize resources to address road repairs, bridge repairs, and at the same time build transit options will be a major debate throughout the legislative break.


10 a.m. The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Development Disabilities and Substance Abuse, 643 LOB.

See agenda in separate post.



Thursday, February, 28, 20089 a.m.



The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse meets, 643 LOB.


See agenda in separate post.



Federal:


Appropriations

On Tuesday, the Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), will hold a hearing on the Administration’s FY 2009 budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson will testify.

Also on Tuesday, the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on the Administration’s FY 2009 budget for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings will testify.

On Thursday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt will testify on the Administration’s FY 2009 budget proposal before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Rep. John Dingell (D-MI).

Medicaid

On Tuesday the Senate will vote on final passage of the Indian Health Services reauthorization legislation (S. 1200) today. The bill includes a one year moratorium on the Medicaid case management interim final rule.

On Wednesday, Steve Larson, Director of Public Policy for The Arc of Minnesota, will speak at House and Senate staff briefings on the impact of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services case management interim final rule on persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Medicaid/State Fiscal Conditions

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), will hold a hearing on “Economic and Fiscal Conditions of the States”. Several governors are expected to testify.