Tax Overhaul Committee Looks at Tax Credits The legislature's Tax Reform Committee met again this week, this time to discuss the state's wide range of tax credits and their effect on economic development. An important tax credit in place in 26 other states is the Earned Income Tax Credit which is modeled after, and augments,…
Budget Beat
Swift Reaction to Clean Power Plan Reaction to President Obama's Clean Power Plan, which calls for a decrease in carbon emissions in order to combat climate change, came quickly this week, as reported in the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Many policymakers in West Virginia are threatening legal action in what they see as an attack on the…
Medicaid at 50 Helping More West Virginians Live Healthier Lives Medicaid provides health coverage that helps low-income seniors, children and people with disabilities get needed health care. It provides parents and other adults economic security through health coverage that protect them from medical debt and allows them to stay healthy and work. It is jointly…
The Fast Fast Facts on "Right to Work" Check out our second edition of Fast Facts. This issue explains the real meaning of "Right to Work" and its broken promise of economic growth in states that have adopted it. It's a policy that could actually lower wages in West Virginia which already has a median…
Check Out Fast Facts! This summer we are launching a series of short publications to present the facts on issues of the day. Our premiere issue of Fast Facts is about the ongoing debate on the state's prevailing wage. This quick read will give you everything you need to know on this important issue impacting…
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…
This Father's Day: Helping Working Fathers Two working-family tax credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), are powerful tools for reducing children's poverty and helping families put food on the table, while boosting the local economy. About 13 million fathers in low- and moderate-income working families received either the EITC…
Income Tax Cuts for Wealthy Unlikely To Boost West Virginia Economy As the legislative committee charged with overhauling the state's tax system continues its regular meetings, concerns continue over what recommendations will emerge from this process. Reducing or outright eliminating the state's personal income tax has been a regular topic of discussion before the committee.…
How Will Tax Overhaul Affect West Virginia Counties? As state legislators consider an overhaul of the state's tax system, some of the most concerned onlookers are local and county officials. This week some of them spoke publicly about being able to maintain services and funding for schools while facing a cut in revenue, especially when…
Second Meeting Held to Look at Tax Overhaul The history of West Virginia's previous efforts to overhaul its tax system and an overview of tax breaks going back over 100 years were on Monday's agenda of the Joint Select Committee of Tax Reform. Speakers included Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss and Deputy Secretary Mark Muchow at…