Poverty statistics shape how policymakers and the public understand economic hardship and the role public programs play in helping families meet basic needs. Recent Congressional calls for changes to how poverty is measured would ignore best practices and disguise the hardship that families experience. This blog post argues that misleading statistics could be used to support policies that gut public benefits programs, which would harm millions of people in low- and moderate-income families.
Archive: Danilo Trisi
Food, Health Care, & Tax Cuts: Unfair Trade-offs That Hurt Us All
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid provide support to nearly one-third of people in our country. The reconciliation bill passed by the House in May 2025 takes away $1 trillion in food & health care from families participating in SNAP and Medicaid, while giving roughly the same amount of money in tax cuts to families with incomes above $500,000. This fact sheet examines the unfair trade-offs made in the House-passed reconciliation bill, showing that the bill will exacerbate already extreme levels of income inequality across every state.
The workbook contains all statistics and information underlying the figures, including state-by-state data.
Centering Quality, Centering Equity: Lessons Learned in Increasing Early Childhood Educator Credentials
Thriving communities depend on a strong early childhood education system—one where both young children and members of the workforce are served and supported. Some states are changing credential requirements for ECE teachers, but many early childhood educators face significant barriers to economic security and continuing education—all while supporting children, parents, and their communities with specialized education services. Our new report with The Institute for College Access and Success examines the racial equity implications of policies that increase credential requirements for ECE jobs. Featuring case studies of California and Washington, D.C., the report offers policy ideas for protecting educators and advancing racial and economic equity, including flexibility and support for incumbent workers, wage increases, and low-cost options for obtaining new credentials.