Charleston Gazette - One advocate called Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's decision to expand Medicaid the "biggest victory for low-income working families in decades." Read "If this all goes well, it will save lives, reduce health-care costs and increase productivity so people can spend their money on other things instead of barely getting by," said Ted…
WVCBP in the News
Charleston Gazette, The State Journal, Centre Daily Times, Boston Globe and Boston.com - In West Virginia, about one-quarter of kids live in families with income below the federal poverty level. About half of kids live in families with income below double the poverty level, generally estimated to be the level at which a family can get…
Ted Boettner, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy, said, "West Virginia still gives $150 million a year in various tax cuts and tax credits to businesses. Read "The state also lost $175 million a year by cutting the food tax. That amount has not been made up."
West Virginia Public News Service - With the legislative session over, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is expected to announce whether the state will expand Medicaid as offered under Obamacare. Advocates say expansion would not be hard on West Virginia's state budget. The federal government would pay the full cost of expansion for three years and…
The State Journal - There's no doubt the American economic recession of recent years hit West Virginia hard, especially in our core industries of mining, construction and manufacturing but our state is rebuilding. According to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, our mining jobs are on their way back, and we've had big…
Charleston Daily-Mail - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is still waiting for a study he commissioned to help him decide whether to expand the state's massive health care program for the poor. The actuarial analysis considers the ramifications if Tomblin decides to allow more residents to be eligible for Medicaid benefits. Read CCRC Actuaries, a Maryland-based…
San Francisco Chronicle and The Republic - The West Virginia Senate hopes that instituting public-private funding partnerships will enable the state to become the nation's first to give free breakfast and lunch to all schoolchildren. The program would initially focus on elementary schools with hopes to expand it to all students as funds become available.…
West Virginia Public News Service -An in-depth analysis of the budget recently passed by Republicans in the U.S House shows it would shift huge costs to West Virginia state programs and taxpayers. At a time when the legislature is already wresting with shortfalls in key health and education programs, the budget authored by Congressman Paul…
West Virginia Public New Service - Enrollment in West Virginia colleges and universities has grown rapidly, but the state has slashed higher-education funding. Read Enrollment has risen by a quarter in the past decade, said Sean O'Leary, a policy analyst for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, but total funding has fallen by…
Charleston Daily Mail - Last week, the left-leaning West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy issued a report stating it could cost more than $5 million over five years to implement a law requiring photo identification to vote. Read The report estimates 11 percent of eligible voters lack a photo ID, and it costs the…