This week in New York City, the Food Bank For New York City released a poll revealing that one-fourth of households with a military veteran in our city are struggling to put food on the table while Congress deliberated over whether to pass legislation to help veterans find employment. Despite higher numbers of job openings, job competition remains fierce for veterans and non-veterans alike. While Mayor Bloomberg sent his recommendations to the deficit-cutting Super-committee in Congress, reports of partisan divisions among the members raise questions about whether they will be able to reach a deal.

Poll: Veterans Looking for Food Help, The Wall Street Journal, 11/10
About one in four New York City households with military veterans has trouble putting food on the table, according to the Food Bank For New York City's latest research report. Veterans in such households are eating less frequently and choosing to pay other living expenses — rent, utilities, medical care and transportation — over food, which they get more frequently from food pantries and via government assistance, according to the poll by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.

Senate Acts on 2 Pieces of Proposal on Hiring, The New York Times, 11/7
The Senate on Monday cleared the way for a measure that would repeal a tax withholding program on government contractors and provide tax incentives for companies that hire veterans, making them the first pieces of President Obama’s jobs plan to gain some momentum in Congress. The Senate voted 94 to 1 to take up the bill to end a new tax withholding program on government contractors after the House easily passed the measure last month.

Job openings rose to three-year high in September, but competition for each job remains fierce, Associated Press, 11/8
Employers advertised more jobs in September than at any other point in the past three years. The increase suggests hiring could pick up in the next few months. Competition for jobs is fierce. And many employers aren’t rushing to fill some because they are worried about the strength of the economy. Still, most economists say the increase in openings is a reassuring sign. Nearly 3.4 million jobs were posted in September, the Labor Department said Tuesday. That’s the most since August 2008, one month before the financial crisis intensified.

Mayor Bloomberg Outlines Plan To Balance United States Budget, Associated Press, 11/8
Congress' deficit-fighting "supercommittee" must take bold action to balance the budget, and both parties must be willing to compromise to get it done, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday. "For too long, Washington has operated on the 'something for nothing' principle," Bloomberg said in speech in Washington. "Both parties have promised their constituents the world — and given them debt and a sluggish economy and anemic job growth." Bloomberg, a billionaire entrepreneur, said U.S. business leaders won't invest or hire workers until they know how Washington intends to grapple with the deficit.

Supercommittee members: panel shy of deficit compromise, Associated Press, 11/14
Despite prodding from President Barack Obama, members of Congress’ supercommittee concede no deal is in sight to meet their goal of $1.2 trillion or more in deficit savings over the next decade. Instead, with only 10 days remaining until a Nov. 23 deadline, the panel is divided along partisan lines and Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. said Sunday the six committee members of his own party “have not coalesced around a plan.” Despite the difficulties, Clyburn and Republicans on the deficit panel all said they haven’t given up hope of a deal by the deadline.