Economic Security

March 29, 2025 by Kelly Allen
Trump Funding Cuts Ripple Through Rural America

Reuters - The phone rang over the whine of Trey Yates' butter churn. The person calling was polite, but the message was devastating: Mountaineer Food Bank was ending Yates' butter contract, due to the federal government's funding cuts. Read the full article. The next day, President Donald Trump signed a declaration celebrating National Agriculture Day,…

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March 28, 2025 by Seth DiStefano
RFK Jr. Pushes Ban on Soda From Being Purchased With Food Stamps

Washington Post, Spokesman Review - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s quest to reshape food policy in America took him to an event in West Virginia with the state’s Republican governor, who announced Friday his intent to seek the federal government’s help in barring the use of food stamps to buy soda. Read the full article. “Taxpayer…

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March 27, 2025 by Seth DiStefano, Kelly Allen
Exclusionary SNAP Policies Ignore Rural Food Access Realities and Increase Costs for Retailers

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides vital food assistance to more than 147,000 households throughout West Virginia, with research showing it improves health and boosts household economic security. People participating in SNAP spend about 25 percent less on health care annually than similar non-participating adults, report better health, and are less likely to stay…

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March 26, 2025 by Rhonda Rogombe
Bill That Could Decrease SNAP Eligibility Clears Senate

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - The state Senate passed Senate Bill 249 which would expand training and employment requirements to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The bill also pushes back the age at which West Virginians would no longer have to participate in those work requirements for SNAP eligibility. Read the full article. …

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March 26, 2025 by Rhonda Rogombe
WV Senate Passes Bill that Would Expand Work, Training Requirements for SNAP

West Virginia Watch - The West Virginia Senate has approved a bill that would expand the work and training requirements for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called food stamps.  Read the full article. Senators approved Senate Bill 249 with no discussion and a vote of 32 to 2.  With some exceptions, able-bodied people without dependents…

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March 11, 2025 by Kelly Allen
Federal SNAP Proposals Under Consideration Put State Budget and Food Assistance for West Virginians at Risk

In West Virginia, one in six residents (277,400 people) rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help put food on the table. SNAP is the nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger program, playing a key role in reducing poverty and improving health and economic outcomes for households with children, adults with disabilities, seniors,…

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March 10, 2025 by Kelly Allen
Budget Cuts on Inside West Virginia Politics

WOWK - On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, we discuss the Myrtle Beach wildfires, budget cuts, a pitch competition and bills. Read the full article. In Segment One, we talk to Meteorologist Scotty Powell about the wildfires in the Carolinas. In Segment Two, we talk to Kelly Allen of the WV Center…

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March 5, 2025 by Kelly Allen
Gutting the Federal Workforce Won’t Make Government More Efficient

West Virginia Watch, Beckley Register-Herald , Ohio Capital Journal- Two hundred workers were laid off from the Bureau of Fiscal Service in Parkersburg. Thousands from the Department of Veterans Affairs (including at least 10 in West Virginia). And hundreds each from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Caring for our veterans,…

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March 2, 2025 by Kelly Allen
West Virginia Starts to Size Up the Consequences if Medicaid is Cut at Federal Level

West Virginia MetroNews, Beckley Register-Herald - West Virginia officials are watching what could happen if a financial framework for the federal government makes major changes to Medicaid. Read the full article. The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a budget resolution this past week that could open the door to $880 billion in cuts to spending with…

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