Congress Set to Return for Holiday Spending and Saving Spree
December 2005
Congress' pre-Thanksgiving attempt to complete legislation for funding federal health, education and social services programs failed in a most unexpected manner on the evening of November 17, 2005. House and Senate will both return in early December for a second attempt to wrap up all their FY 2006 business before Christmas.
More »
National Pandemic Influenza Strategy
November 2005
The November edition was published prior to the President's announcement on November 1, 2005, of the National Pandemic Influenza Strategy and November 2, 2005 release of the HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan.
More »
Katrina and Public Health Funding
November 2005
"I don't know how they sleep at night," said Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) in late October, commenting on House Ways and Means Committee plans to cut federal income support programs for low-income individuals and families to help offset Katrina relief costs.
More »
Katrina and Public Health Funding
September-October 2005
Last time, it was a terrorist attack in New York City. This time, Mother Nature herself is altering the political dynamics in Washington.
More »
Senate Acts on HHS Funding Bill
August 2005
Prior to leaving town for an August recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed action on the Senate version of the funding bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. More »
House Cuts Public Health Spending
July 2005
The House of Representatives completed action on the FY 2006 spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on June 24, 2005. More »
Congress Moves Towards Public Health Spending Decisions
June 2005
Congress agreed on a budget at the end of April that rejected the $35 billion in Medicaid cuts proposed by the Administration, but still requires $10 billion in federal Medicaid cuts in the next five years. More »
Proposed Public Health Cuts Grab Attention on Capitol Hill
May 2005
There has been much talk, but no action since the last Notes from Washington, about the President's proposed budget cuts for public health programs. More »
The President's Budget and Public Health
March 2005
The fiscal tenor of the times is no secret to anyone in public service. It isn't pretty. It hasn't been pretty in many states and localities for several years. President Bush forecast his intentions to present a tight federal budget in this State of the Union address and he came through. More »
2005 Budget Outlook: The Facts Speak for Themselves
January 2005
"We will provide every tool and resource for our military, we'll protect the homeland and we'll meet other priorities of the government. My budget will maintain strict discipline and the spending of tax dollars, and keep our commitment to cutting the deficit in half over five years." — President George W. Bush at White House press conference, December 20, 2004. More »
