The good, the bad and the ugly

Links round-up on a Friday afternoon.

First, the good:

Senate passes health insurance bill for children: "The Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation yesterday to provide health insurance to 11 million low-income children, a bill that would for the first time spend federal money to cover children and pregnant women who are legal immigrants."  This bill maintains the way federal money is distributed to the states to reflect their relative poverty and wealth, a critical calculation that GOP leaders tried to strip from the bill.

The bad:

Cities and households are moving money around - trying to stretch declining dollars to make ends meet. No shocker here, just more sad cases.  In San Diego, there isn't enough Title 1 money to provide kids with access to school counselors, nurses, etc. CT's Ridgefield Press has an article about how to talk to your kids about household budget crunches. (H/t FDL)  And for the elderly in poverty, the economic stimulus is practically worthless.

But now for the UGLY:

Have you heard the one about the U.S. banks that got federal bailouts, then got together to strategize around union-busting?  Yep, really.  You know, Obama could actually do something about their outrageous behavior - if he really wanted to.  And don't worry po' people - Obama hasn't forgotten about you: "He said his administration wants to make sure low-income people "get a piece" of the American pie "if they're willing to work for it.""

And here I thought bankers were the new welfare queens.  Silly me.  I wonder if Obama gets tired lugging that "personal responsibility" club around with him all the time.

T.G.I.F.!