OpEds

June 25, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Abortion Restrictions and Bans Disproportionately Harm the Poor

Beckley Register-Herald - With Roe v. Wade overturned, abortion is likely to become even more restricted or altogether banned in West Virginia. Indeed, the fall of Roe will create a stark patchwork of abortion legality and access in states across the country. This will exacerbate scenarios wherein people with means will continue to have access…

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June 3, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Kelly Allen: Kids Shouldn’t Take Backseat to Special Interests (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail - Right now, Congress has before it two major tax policy changes: One would give a tax break to wealthy tech and other corporations, while the other would help hundreds of thousands of West Virginia families and parents of kids across the country make ends meet during a time of rising prices. Read…

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May 6, 2022 by Kelly Allen
Allen, Rosser: Congress Must Pass Reconciliation Package (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail - As we emerge from the pandemic, it’s a good time to take stock of what we’ve learned. Read the full op-ed. A big takeaway from the past two years is that government response matters. From the Paycheck Protection Program to the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, federal investments helped keep families and businesses…

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April 20, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
Martinez, O’Leary: West Virginians Deserve More for Their Money (Opinion)

This coming Monday, West Virginia lawmakers will hold a special session to authorize a $600 million “revolving door” loan fund touted as a way to bring private investment and jobs to the state. Read the full op-ed. While Gov. Jim Justice celebrates it as a “self-sustaining” project, it requires a $600 million up-front commitment from…

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October 11, 2021 by Kelly Allen
Kelly Allen: What is Meant by ‘Entitlement Mentality?’ (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail - Entitlement. When did it become a dirty word? Read the full op-ed. In government services, it refers to a program that is available to all who are eligible, like Medicare or Social Security. If you meet the qualifications, you can get the benefits. And it’s no coincidence that these programs for older…

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October 2, 2021 by Kelly Allen
Manchin Must Support Robust Budget Reconciliation Package

Beckley Register-Herald - The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy strongly urges Senator Manchin to recognize the urgency of our state’s needs and move quickly to support workers and families in West Virginia. Read the full article. In a statement released earlier this week, Senator Manchin suggested that the need is neither urgent nor…

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September 10, 2021 by Kelly Allen
Kelly Allen: Debate of Bill Should Focus on Merit, Not Figures (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail - Right now, Congress is considering a budget package that serves as an important companion to the negotiated bipartisan infrastructure package. Read the full op-ed. Alongside much-needed investments in roads and bridges, it would address longstanding needs of workers and families in our state and around the country — things like paid family…

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July 16, 2021 by Kelly Allen
Kelly Allen: Infrastructure Alone Will Not Move WV Forward (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail, Daily Advent - Since the coronavirus pandemic began, we at the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy have been soliciting stories from people all across the state to hear how various issues — unemployment insurance changes, challenges accessing child care, food insecurity, lack of paid leave and more — have affected their…

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June 29, 2021 by Rhonda Rogombe
Rhonda Rogombe: LGBTQ Data Collection Should Be Prioritized (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail - Every June, the United States and the world uplift and celebrate the LGBTQ community — their history, their achievements, their identities and more — through Pride Month. Read the full op-ed. But at its core, Pride Month is about advocacy. It is about queer folks fighting for sociopolitical autonomy, acceptance and freedom.…

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June 22, 2021 by Quenton King
Quenton King: Expungement would help WV job market

Charleston Gazette-Mail - This past weekend marked the end of West Virginia’s participation in federally enhanced unemployment programs, enacted to address joblessness in the wake of the pandemic, and, now, thousands of struggling West Virginians are losing crucial supports regardless of whether good-paying jobs are available to them. Read the full article. This short-sighted decision…

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