President Donald Trump is proposing a $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of Congress. The idea would put thousands of dollars into Americans’ hands, but early polling shows that voters are not embracing it. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 63 percent of Americans disapprove of the proposal, compared with 17 percent who approve. Opposition extends beyond Democrats. Reuters reported that 40 percent of Republicans disapprove, while the more d

Some states have found a lucrative way to make federal taxpayers pick up more of their Medicaid costs: tax health care providers, use the tax revenue to claim additional federal Medicaid matching funds, and then direct higher Medicaid payments back toward the providers being taxed. It amounts to a kickback-style financing arrangement. The providers supply money that helps the state qualify for more federal Medicaid dollars, while Medicaid payments can send money back to the s

American businesses have spent more than a year contending with higher costs from tariffs, and the financial pressure is becoming harder to contain. Many companies initially absorbed at least part of those costs rather than passing them directly to customers. As profit margins tighten and fuel, freight and other operating expenses rise, businesses have less room to continue shielding consumers from higher prices. At the same time, tariffs are becoming more unpopular. A Septem

For many lower-income Americans, the biggest obstacle to building retirement savings is getting started. A new federal program taking effect in 2027 is designed to make that first contribution more valuable by matching a portion of what eligible workers save. The Saver’s Match will provide eligible lower- and moderate-income workers with a federal contribution to their retirement accounts when they make qualifying contributions of their own. The policy creates a straightforwa

Washington has taken steps to encourage domestic investment, expand manufacturing, and prepare more Americans for skilled careers. California’s high costs are threatening to undermine that progress in one of the country’s most important manufacturing states. The Working Families Tax Cuts improved the federal tax treatment of business investment, domestic research and development, and new production facilities. The law also expanded the use of 529 education savings plans for w

The Working Families Tax Cuts are providing tax relief to millions of American workers and families while making several important tax provisions permanent for small businesses. Earlier this year, CFE launched a full campaign examining the law, including the individual tax cuts showing up on tax returns and the provisions intended to encourage business investment and job creation. Through its Working Families Tax Cuts campaign, CFE has highlighted how the law affects workers,

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is moving to make electronic delivery the default for many financial disclosures, replacing rules that still favor paper documents despite the widespread use of online banking and investment services. CFE supports the SEC's proposed Regulation E-Delivery. The change would modernize outdated delivery requirements, reduce printing and mailing costs, and give investors faster access to financial information. Investors who prefer paper

Tax-exempt hospitals receive billions of dollars in tax benefits each year to support their charitable missions. Some of those same institutions are spending millions of dollars to put their names on stadiums, arenas, and other sports facilities. Valley Children’s Healthcare in California, for example, entered a 10-year, $10 million partnership with Fresno State that included naming rights to the university’s football stadium. According to Stateline, the agreement included ac

The Medicare system is on the verge of bankruptcy. By this time next decade, there will not be enough money in the system to pay full promised benefits. Without cost savings, America's $40 trillion national debt will get even bigger just to pay scheduled Medicare benefits to seniors. Some of Medicare’s problems are rooted in the program’s basic design and will require broader reforms. But Congress can begin addressing the immediate budget problem with a relatively simple appr