Recovery Act In Georgia

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President Obama February 17, 2009, stimulates the U.S. economy, thus preventing this historic and deep recession from throwing the country into a depression. This legislation reverses the downward economic spiral in which consumers are spending less, thus causing companies to cut back on production and lay off workers, leading to further reductions in purchasing by businesses and households.

The Recovery Act injects $787 billion into the economy (much of it was spent quickly), thus increasing the demand for goods and services as well as stimulating economic growth. It allocates funds through federal tax breaks; expansion of unemployment benefits and other social welfare provisions; and domestic spending in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and energy. A large portion of the Recovery Act is for states to relieve budget deficits and prevent extreme cuts to vital services.

This web page features Georgia Budget & Policy Institute reports that analyze how Recovery Act funds are spent in the policy areas we focus on: Georgia’s healthcare, its overall state budget, and the economic security of Georgia’s families.

Resources

• State and National Resources (external link)
• Federal accountability tracking for Georgia (external link)
• Federal Recovery Act website (external link)
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (external link)
• "Principles for State Implementation of the ARRA," by the Working Poor Families Project (external link)
• ARRA Resource Guide for Advocates (external link)

Relevant Articles

• "Stimulus Jobs on State’s Bill in Mississippi" New York Times (read article)

GBPI Publications

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Page 1 of 2 State Directs Majority of TANF Funds to Child Welfare Despite Rise in TANF Recipients for FY 2011 Georgia has 13.7% cumulatively less TANF funds than it had to use for families struggling to make ends meet prior to the Great Recession. Even with less available funding and rising poverty, policymakers continue to use 60% of TANF funds to replace state funds for child welfare-related services while cutting TANF funds from state programs that directly satisfy its core self-sufficiency purposes. Posted: 6/24/2010 Category: Budget, Recovery Act, Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps Download Report    |    Email to a friend Lawmakers Protect Medicaid, Funding Gaps Loom for 2012: Analysis of FY 2011 Healthcare Budgets Lawmakers cut Department of Community Health by $236.8 million and increased support for the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities by 9.3 percent. There are no cuts to Medicaid or PeachCare eligibility; the budget has new revenue from a provider fee to increase reimbursement rates to hospitals. The budget is heavily reliant on enhanced Medicaid funds from the federal Recovery Act that are about to expire. Posted: 6/21/2010 Category: Budget, Health, Recovery Act, Download Report    |    Email to a friend Deep Cuts to Government Mark Fiscal Year 2011, Budget May Yet Be in the Red The Great Recession has resulted in the worst fiscal crisis in more than 70 years, resulting in multi-billion dollar deficits. Although Recovery Act funds help, lawmakers’ strategy to slash impacts every facet of state government, resulting in severe service cuts as well as layoffs/furloughs of thousands of teachers/employees. The irony is that as Georgia is less equipped to provide services, more families require basic help. Posted: 6/16/2010 Category: Budget, Recovery Act, Download Report    |    Email to a friend Fact Sheet: Georgia is Depending on Congress to Avert a Medicaid Crisis Georgia’s new budget assumes Recovery Act Medicaid funds will be extended past Dec. 31, when it is expires. The Senate is considering legislation to extend it temporarily (the House already stripped it out of a bill). Without it, Georgia would need to find hundreds of millions in new revenues or significant new budget cuts this year. If state lawmakers cut Medicaid, the state would lose $1 billion. Read the facts here. Posted: 6/9/2010 Category: health, budget, recovery act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Recovery Act Directly Aiding Unemployed, Elderly, and Low-Income Families Data on dollars spent and Georgians helped to date with a county-by-county breakdown. Posted: 1/12/2010 Category: Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Balancing the State Budget With Federal Stimulus Funds Georgia is utilizing $1.44 billion in federal ARRA funds this year, despite drastic cuts and using almost all reserve funds. It also has the #8th worst deficit in the nation, yet it is one of the few states that did not raise revenues strategically; it only cut. These funds, which have saved or created thousands of jobs, are set to expire. Enhanced Medicaid funding also is, the report recommends phasing it out instead. Posted: 12/7/2009 Category: Budget, Taxes, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend The Clock Is Ticking: Will Georgia Maximize Federal Stimulus Funds to Help Poor Families? Provisions in the ARRA are intended to help poor families during this historic recession, yet the state plan calls for using less than two percent of the available TANF Emergency Fund. Posted: 11/3/2009 Category: Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Summary of Successful TANF-Funded State Initiatives That Increase Family Self-Sufficiency 3-pg summary of the key findings and recommendations discussed in the report to help families by using TANF funds wisely, including recommendations for applying for $165 million in ARRA (stimulus funds). Posted: 8/24/2009 Category: Budget, Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Summary of Federal Recovery Funds in Georgia This brief outlines where the $6 billion in federal stimulus funds are going in Georgia. GBPI will continue to examine where and how stimulus funds are used. Posted: 6/12/2009 Category: Budget, Taxes, Health, Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Fact Sheet: Recommendations for Using Federal Stimulus Child Care Funds Georgia’s Children and Parent Services (CAPS) program, which provides subsidized child care for children in low-income working families and families with parents engaged in education or training, draws its funds primarily from the federal CCDBG. CAPS currently serves a monthly average of 54,000 children, representing a fraction of eligible children. In fact, there are 300,000 eligible children under age 6. Posted: 3/30/2009 Category: Family Economic Security, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Page 1 of 2 Loading… Page 1 of 2 Federal Stimulus Funds and Georgia: Medicaid FMAP and State Fiscal Stabilization Fund The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 contains approximately $3.3 billion in federal funds through increased Medicaid funding and a State Fiscal Stabilization Fund that will help Georgia restore some of the proposed budget cuts. Posted: 2/20/2009 Category: Budget, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Fact Sheet: Recommendations for Using Federal Stimulus Child Care Funds Georgia’s Children and Parent Services (CAPS) program, which provides subsidized child care for children in low-income working families and families with parents engaged in education or training, draws its funds primarily from the federal CCDBG. CAPS currently serves a monthly average of 54,000 children, representing a fraction of eligible children. In fact, there are 300,000 eligible children under age 6. Posted: 3/30/2009 Category: Family Economic Security, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Recommendations for Using Federal Stimulus Child Care Funds in Georgia Additional child care subsidy funds granted to Georgia through ARRA will provide needed support during this economic crisis for low-income families eager to work and whose spending will directly benefit Georgia’s economy. The sooner Georgia uses the federal stimulus funds to support working families, the faster Georgia’s economy is likely to improve. Posted: 3/30/2009 Category: Family Economic Security, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Summary of Federal Recovery Funds in Georgia This brief outlines where the $6 billion in federal stimulus funds are going in Georgia. GBPI will continue to examine where and how stimulus funds are used. Posted: 6/12/2009 Category: Budget, Taxes, Health, Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Summary of Successful TANF-Funded State Initiatives That Increase Family Self-Sufficiency 3-pg summary of the key findings and recommendations discussed in the report to help families by using TANF funds wisely, including recommendations for applying for $165 million in ARRA (stimulus funds). Posted: 8/24/2009 Category: Budget, Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend The Clock Is Ticking: Will Georgia Maximize Federal Stimulus Funds to Help Poor Families? Provisions in the ARRA are intended to help poor families during this historic recession, yet the state plan calls for using less than two percent of the available TANF Emergency Fund. Posted: 11/3/2009 Category: Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Balancing the State Budget With Federal Stimulus Funds Georgia is utilizing $1.44 billion in federal ARRA funds this year, despite drastic cuts and using almost all reserve funds. It also has the #8th worst deficit in the nation, yet it is one of the few states that did not raise revenues strategically; it only cut. These funds, which have saved or created thousands of jobs, are set to expire. Enhanced Medicaid funding also is, the report recommends phasing it out instead. Posted: 12/7/2009 Category: Budget, Taxes, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Recovery Act Directly Aiding Unemployed, Elderly, and Low-Income Families Data on dollars spent and Georgians helped to date with a county-by-county breakdown. Posted: 1/12/2010 Category: Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Fact Sheet: Georgia is Depending on Congress to Avert a Medicaid Crisis Georgia’s new budget assumes Recovery Act Medicaid funds will be extended past Dec. 31, when it is expires. The Senate is considering legislation to extend it temporarily (the House already stripped it out of a bill). Without it, Georgia would need to find hundreds of millions in new revenues or significant new budget cuts this year. If state lawmakers cut Medicaid, the state would lose $1 billion. Read the facts here. Posted: 6/9/2010 Category: health, budget, recovery act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Deep Cuts to Government Mark Fiscal Year 2011, Budget May Yet Be in the Red The Great Recession has resulted in the worst fiscal crisis in more than 70 years, resulting in multi-billion dollar deficits. Although Recovery Act funds help, lawmakers’ strategy to slash impacts every facet of state government, resulting in severe service cuts as well as layoffs/furloughs of thousands of teachers/employees. The irony is that as Georgia is less equipped to provide services, more families require basic help. Posted: 6/16/2010 Category: Budget, Recovery Act, Download Report    |    Email to a friend Page 1 of 2 Loading… Page 1 of 2 Balancing the State Budget With Federal Stimulus Funds Georgia is utilizing $1.44 billion in federal ARRA funds this year, despite drastic cuts and using almost all reserve funds. It also has the #8th worst deficit in the nation, yet it is one of the few states that did not raise revenues strategically; it only cut. These funds, which have saved or created thousands of jobs, are set to expire. Enhanced Medicaid funding also is, the report recommends phasing it out instead. Posted: 12/7/2009 Category: Budget, Taxes, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Deep Cuts to Government Mark Fiscal Year 2011, Budget May Yet Be in the Red The Great Recession has resulted in the worst fiscal crisis in more than 70 years, resulting in multi-billion dollar deficits. Although Recovery Act funds help, lawmakers’ strategy to slash impacts every facet of state government, resulting in severe service cuts as well as layoffs/furloughs of thousands of teachers/employees. The irony is that as Georgia is less equipped to provide services, more families require basic help. Posted: 6/16/2010 Category: Budget, Recovery Act, Download Report    |    Email to a friend Fact Sheet: Georgia is Depending on Congress to Avert a Medicaid Crisis Georgia’s new budget assumes Recovery Act Medicaid funds will be extended past Dec. 31, when it is expires. The Senate is considering legislation to extend it temporarily (the House already stripped it out of a bill). Without it, Georgia would need to find hundreds of millions in new revenues or significant new budget cuts this year. If state lawmakers cut Medicaid, the state would lose $1 billion. Read the facts here. Posted: 6/9/2010 Category: health, budget, recovery act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Fact Sheet: Recommendations for Using Federal Stimulus Child Care Funds Georgia’s Children and Parent Services (CAPS) program, which provides subsidized child care for children in low-income working families and families with parents engaged in education or training, draws its funds primarily from the federal CCDBG. CAPS currently serves a monthly average of 54,000 children, representing a fraction of eligible children. In fact, there are 300,000 eligible children under age 6. Posted: 3/30/2009 Category: Family Economic Security, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Federal Stimulus Funds and Georgia: Medicaid FMAP and State Fiscal Stabilization Fund The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 contains approximately $3.3 billion in federal funds through increased Medicaid funding and a State Fiscal Stabilization Fund that will help Georgia restore some of the proposed budget cuts. Posted: 2/20/2009 Category: Budget, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Lawmakers Protect Medicaid, Funding Gaps Loom for 2012: Analysis of FY 2011 Healthcare Budgets Lawmakers cut Department of Community Health by $236.8 million and increased support for the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities by 9.3 percent. There are no cuts to Medicaid or PeachCare eligibility; the budget has new revenue from a provider fee to increase reimbursement rates to hospitals. The budget is heavily reliant on enhanced Medicaid funds from the federal Recovery Act that are about to expire. Posted: 6/21/2010 Category: Budget, Health, Recovery Act, Download Report    |    Email to a friend Recommendations for Using Federal Stimulus Child Care Funds in Georgia Additional child care subsidy funds granted to Georgia through ARRA will provide needed support during this economic crisis for low-income families eager to work and whose spending will directly benefit Georgia’s economy. The sooner Georgia uses the federal stimulus funds to support working families, the faster Georgia’s economy is likely to improve. Posted: 3/30/2009 Category: Family Economic Security, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Recovery Act Directly Aiding Unemployed, Elderly, and Low-Income Families Data on dollars spent and Georgians helped to date with a county-by-county breakdown. Posted: 1/12/2010 Category: Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend State Directs Majority of TANF Funds to Child Welfare Despite Rise in TANF Recipients for FY 2011 Georgia has 13.7% cumulatively less TANF funds than it had to use for families struggling to make ends meet prior to the Great Recession. Even with less available funding and rising poverty, policymakers continue to use 60% of TANF funds to replace state funds for child welfare-related services while cutting TANF funds from state programs that directly satisfy its core self-sufficiency purposes. Posted: 6/24/2010 Category: Budget, Recovery Act, Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps Download Report    |    Email to a friend Summary of Federal Recovery Funds in Georgia This brief outlines where the $6 billion in federal stimulus funds are going in Georgia. GBPI will continue to examine where and how stimulus funds are used. Posted: 6/12/2009 Category: Budget, Taxes, Health, Family Economic Security, Welfare and Food Stamps, Recovery Act Download Report    |    Email to a friend Page 1 of 2 Loading…

Recovery investment isn't only about the government paying for individual jobs; it is about rebuilding confidence in the economy and creating an environment that will enable economic growth and spur the private economy to create jobs.
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Did You Know . . . The Recovery Act includes $20 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Through November 20, 2009, the Recovery Act delivered an estimated $218 million in additional food stamp benefits (or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to low-income Georgians. (read more) Stay Informed Sign up to get updates about the analysis, data, and reports that are so critical to being an effective policymaker, policy advocate, or informed citizen.