Blog

January 28, 2021 by Sean O'Leary
How Do You Pay for a $2.1 Billion Tax Cut?

Urge your legislators to protect revenues by taking action here. We've covered Governor Justice's and legislative leadership's goal of eliminating the state's personal income tax from several angles over the past few weeks, showing that states without income taxes aren't growing any faster than states with the highest income taxes, that eliminating the income tax…

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January 27, 2021 by Rhonda Rogombe
Addressing Uninsured Black West Virginians is Essential to State’s Wellness

The COVID-19 pandemic has both underscored and exacerbated Black Americans’ health disparities across the United States. While this pattern has garnered national attention, West Virginia has been less successful in identifying and quantifying similar patterns, in part because Black West Virginians comprise less than 4 percent of the population, or roughly 64,500 people — well below the national average of 13…

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January 21, 2021 by Quenton King
Criminal Justice Priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session

February 10 marks the beginning of West Virginia’s 85th Legislature, and with this session lawmakers will have the opportunity to build upon their 2020 criminal justice reform efforts. The following are the criminal justice priorities for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. Immediately Protect Incarcerated People and Correctional Facility Staff Evidence is clear…

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January 14, 2021 by Rhonda Rogombe
Funding Cuts to Local Health Departments Harmful for Public Health

West Virginia’s local health departments have served as the cornerstone of public health initiatives for decades. Providing services such as immunization, family planning, harm reduction, environmental and food inspections, and much more, local health departments deliver a holistic approach to ensuring health and wellness for West Virginia residents across the state. They have been crucial…

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December 21, 2020 by Quenton King
Decarceration Needed to Protect Correctional Facilities from COVID-19 Spread

As COVID-19 cases rise across the country and throughout the state, West Virginia’s correctional facilities continue to be at heightened risk of outbreaks. Outbreaks are particularly concerning in these facilities because incarcerated people tend to have both more health challenges and less access to quality medical care than the general populace. With the state entering…

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December 17, 2020 by Sean O'Leary
School Enrollment is Falling During the Pandemic, Which May Lead to Budget Cuts

Statewide enrollment in West Virginia's public schools fell by 9,300 students this past year, as states across the country are seeing declining school enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Declining enrollment could mean budget cuts for school districts, even as schools struggle with the extra costs of improving remote learning offerings and adopting safety procedures…

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December 9, 2020 by Kelly Allen
One in Five West Virginia Adults Will Gain Access to Dental Benefits on January 1

One of the most significant bills passed during the 2020 legislative session is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2021. SB 648 adds a dental benefit to the state’s adult Medicaid program, extending this important coverage to an estimated 310,733 West Virginia adults. The legislation provides for each adult Medicaid recipient to be…

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December 3, 2020 by Rhonda Rogombe
Major CARES Act Provisions Will Expire at the End of the Year Without Action from Congress

In March, the federal government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which established several programs that have since proved critical for stabilizing the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act's remaining provisions will expire on December 31, leaving Americans anxiously awaiting Congress's next economic relief package. But with no precise…

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