Tax and Budget

September 26, 2024 by Tamaya Browder
Hope Scholarship Expansion Threatens Public Education, Communities Already Under Strain

Overview In 2021, the West Virginia Legislature established the Hope Scholarship Program, which proponents refer to as an “education savings account” (ESA), but is more accurately described as an expanded school voucher. Recipients of the scholarship can apply the funds toward a variety of costs including but not limited to tuition, fees, tutoring services, transportation,…

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September 26, 2024 by Sean O'Leary
‘They Make It Up Somewhere’: Weighing Costs, Benefits, of Personal Income Tax Cuts

Charleston Gazette-Mail, Huntington Herald-Dispatch - Personal income taxes — and the consequences of cutting them — have been a source of recurring debate across the Mountain States for longer than Gov. Jim Justice has been in office. But Justice’s desire to cut them by an additional 5% has resurrected the topic. Read the full article.…

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September 26, 2024 by WVCBP
Lawmakers Must Focus on Economy

Wheeling Intelligencer, The Intermountain - We are months away from the next regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, but the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Campaign for Jobs Digest includes some ideas about what lawmakers should prioritize. (Hint: It’s not incredibly archaic socio-cultural agendas.) Read the full article. Economic issues are still a…

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September 24, 2024 by WVCBP
W.Va. Needs Workforce, Education Improvements, Say Economists

West Virginia Public Broadcasting, River Cities Tribune and Register, West Virginia News - West Virginia continues to struggle in key economic areas, according to new data from the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The business group says the years-long trend requires policy solutions. Read the full article. Between 2013 and 2023, West Virginia was one of just…

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September 20, 2024 by Kelly Allen
Flat Budgets By Way of Tax Cuts are Increasing Costs for Families

West Virginia Watch, Beckley Register-Herald - Earlier this month, Gov. Jim Justice announced that legislators have had sufficient time to reach a consensus on his proposal to slash the state’s personal income tax for the third time in 18 months. In reality, the first two rounds of tax cuts have not even been fully phased…

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September 16, 2024 by Seth DiStefano
Veterans’ Healthcare on Inside West Virginia Politics

WOWK - On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, we talk about a Greenbrier business summit, tax cuts and childcare, scams and veterans’ healthcare. Read the full article. In Segment One, we talk to Kaylin George of the WV Chamber of Commerce about the business summit held at the Greenbrier Resort. In Segment…

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September 13, 2024 by Tamaya Browder
Tamaya Browder: WV must increase funding of public schools (Opinion)

Charleston Gazette-Mail - School is officially back in session for children across the Mountain State — with the vast majority (90%) receiving their education in our public school system. The new school year brings excitement and opportunities, but this year in West Virginia it also brings challenges as school districts face serving their students with…

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