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David Brooks Keynotes Children's Budget Summit 2012   Best-selling author and New York Times columnist David Brooks delivered the keynote address at the release event for Children’s Budget 2012. Brooks has written extensively on the importance of investments in children, and his remarks to a crowd of more than 250 underscored those themes.First Focus President Bruce Lesley summarized the findings of Children’s Budget 2012: ► Less than 8% of the federal budget is invested in kids. ► That’s down more than 6% from 2011. ► For the first time since First Focus began tracking the federal budget, discretionary spending on children has declined 2 years in row. ► Total inflation-adjusted spending on children is up more than 17% since 2008, because of increased need for mandatory initiatives in kids, like Medicaid and SNAP.  Lesley also recognized the event’s congressional host, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. As ranking member of the House committee with jurisdiction over dozens of initiatives designed to improve children’s health and well-being, DeLauro has worked consistently throughout her career to make children a priority on Capitol Hill. She was one of 50 Democratic and Republican congressional representatives selected by the First Focus Campaign for Children as 2011 Champions for Children.Children’s Budget 2012 is a comprehensive guide to all federal spending on children and an invaluable resource for all those seeking to improve the lives of America’s youth. Download a free copy of the analysis for detailed information about more than 180 distinct federal investments in America’s children. Affordable Care Act Ruling a Major Victory for Children  The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling upholding in its entirety the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health reform law maintains the ACA’s critical protections for children. First Focus worked with policymakers to develop and advance several ACA provisions beneficial to children. The organization applaudedthe Court’s decision, which clears the way for state legislatures and governors to accelerate their implementation.July 19th Urban Institute Forum Releasing Kids' Share 2012 The Urban Institute's sixth annual Kids’ Share report, which will be release on July 19th, is a great companion to Children’s Budget 2012. Its broader analysis includes tax expenditures and state and local government investments in kids. It also looks back at a half-century of investments in kids and projects that the decade ahead will see a continued squeeze on federal spending for children. A panel will discuss these spending patterns, what must change, distinguishing between short- and long-term tradeoffs, and the future of investments in kids in a high-pressure budget environment.
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