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Reports that the U.S. President George W. Bush administration has proposed reducing the value of subsidized-housing vouchers given to poor New York City residents in 2005, with even bigger cuts planned for some urban New England areas. How the proposal is based on a disputed new formula; Potential impact on poor families, who will be forced to pay hundreds of extra dollars per month in rent; Overview of the Section 8 program, which will be affected; Rationale for changing the Section 8 program, according to the housing secretary, Alphonso Jackson; Issue of fair market rents; Observation of some housing groups that many predominantly Democratic states, including New York and Massachusetts, fare poorly under the new proposals, while Republican states tend to benefit; Outlook.

Reports that U.S. President George W. Bush administration officials say they are planning an election-year initiative to promote marriage, especially among low-income couples. Details of the measure, which focuses on training for so-called healthy marriages; Why officials believe the measure is timely; Pressure on Bush from conservative Christian advocacy groups to prohibit same-sex marriage; Political aspects of the proposal; Arguments for and against the measure; Outlook.