Blog Posts > Budget Beat – July 3, 2015
July 3, 2015

Budget Beat – July 3, 2015

Congress Must Save Tax Credits that Help Veteran and Military Families

Congress has a chance this year to save key provisions of pro-work tax credits that help 15,000 veteran and military families make ends meet. This Fourth of July, let’s honor our veterans and men and women in uniform by making sure these tax credits continue to be there for them and their children.

Join the WVCBP Team!

The WVCBP has an immediate opening for a policy outreach coordinator. This key staff person will build our capacity through partnerships and the development of new relationships; help educate advocates, the media, and the public on policy proposals and issues; help mobilize communities around important public policy issues, produce opinion pieces, presentations, and other materials; and provide advocates, the media, policymakers and the public with timely, accessible, and credible research and analysis on issues impacting their communities.

Please share this complete job description with anyone who you think is interested and qualified for this challenging and rewarding position with full benefits and a competitive salary.

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Yes, We Should Tax Coal Like Natural Gas

This week the Select Committee on Tax Reform held the latest in its series of meetings, this time with a focus on local property taxation. The discussion turned to the difference in assessment of coal property and natural gas property. The current system gives coal an advantage that, if eliminated, would provide nearly $200 million in local property tax revenue to fund the state’s schools and other important programs. Here’s more in Ted’s blog post.

New Overtime Rules Proposed

Good news for workers this week with the Obama Administration announcing an update to the outdated overtime rule raising the annual salary threshold from $23,660 to $50,440. In 1975 the rule applied to over 60% of workers but, due to inflation, that number is now just 8%. Modernizing this rule will affect 20,000 West Virginia workers. Here’s more in Sean’s blog post.

Great WVPBS Series: Front Porch

Former WVCBP board member Rick Wilson continues to knock it out of the park in the WV Public Broadcasting series “Front Porch.” Here’s this week’s edition which covers the new Republican legislature’s work to repeal the state’s prevailing wage.

Registration Open for Policy Workshops

Get ready for the best Policy Workshops ever. These day-long events are your opportunity to:

  • get top-notch leadership and policy training,
  • meet other top community leaders and legislators from both parties,
  • and get a chance to shape the hot button issues that will define the next legislative session.

Spots are limited. Check out the information below about the issues being discussed at each workshop, and follow the links to REGISTER NOW!

Eastern Regional Workshop in Davis, WV, July 22nd
Issue teams: Expungement, Jobs for Coal Miners, Affordable Housing, Traumatic Brain Injury, Move to Improve (Physical Activity in Schools!)

Southern Regional Workshop in Beckley, WV, August 3rd
Issue teams: Youth Mental Health, College Debt, Juvenile Justice, High Speed Internet, Foster Youth, Tax Reform

Central Regional Workshop in Huntington, WV, August 10th
Issue teams: Afterschool Education, Early Childhood Education, Opposing Right to Work, Shared-Use Agreements, Driver’s Licenses, Participatory Budgeting

Northern Regional Workshop in Weirton, WV, August 17th
Issue teams: APRN Nursing Reform; Foster Care Reform, State Earned Income Tax Credit, Oral Health, Child and Family Hunger

Registration will close one week out from each event. The Policy Workshops are designed for people who really want to join one of the issue teams above, OR for people who want to come and learn more broadly about leadership, communications, and policy development.

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