WVCBP in the News

November 11, 2012 by Ted Boettner
Report: Cuts to Childcare Makes Program ‘Cost-Prohibitive’

Charleston Gazette - A new report on childcare assistance said West Virginia officials may have made the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program "cost prohibitive" when they raised parents' co-payments for the program in August. Read In West Virginia, TANF provided needed financial assistance to more than 24,000 young children in 2011 whose parents had…

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November 11, 2012 by Ted Boettner
Sunday Shows Ignore The Most Important Economic Issue: Jobs

Four of the five major Sunday morning political shows ignored the issue of job creation and economic growth, which economists and voters say are the most important economic issues facing the nation. Instead, the economic discussion on the November 11 editions of these shows focused almost exclusively on the debate over how to achieve deficit…

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November 9, 2012 by WVCBP
Report Offers Solutions to Child Care Cost Issues

The State Journal - Thousands of West Virginia families rely on public child care assistance so they can maintain full- or part-time jobs. But recent changes in copayments and eligibility could leave some low-income families without that support, according to a new report issued by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. Read

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November 8, 2012 by Ted Boettner
Labor Union: Lame Duck Congress Could Hurt Social Programs

The State Journal - Federal funds benefit many West Virginians. A recent report from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy found that more than 20 percent of state residents depend on federal benefits for personal income. Read

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November 6, 2012 by Sean O'Leary
Coal Reality: Time to Face Facts

Charleston Gazette - Federal researchers estimate that Central Appalachian tonnage will fall more than half in the coming decade. Sean O'Leary, of the West Virginia Center for Budget and Policy, told (Ken) Ward: "The reality is that even without greenhouse gas or mercury regulations, coal production in Central Appalachia is going to dramatically decline. Repealing…

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November 3, 2012 by Ted Boettner
After Election, Coal’s Challenges Will Remain

Charleston Gazette - Last week, the West Virginia Center for Budget and Policy reported that coal mining and natural gas extraction, two of West Virginia's largest industries, accounted for 5.5 percent of the state's total personal income in 2011. By comparison, the federal Medicaid program made up 4.4 percent, Medicare 6.6 percent and Social Security…

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October 31, 2012 by Ted Boettner
Governor Tomblin Rejects Idea to Diversify Coal Economy

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is rejecting a proposal that he form a bipartisan commission to begin more serious planning for the decline of Southern West Virginia's coal industry. Tomblin has also rejected a proposal by the West Virginia Center for Budget and Policy for a small increase in coal taxes to create a "future fund"…

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October 31, 2012 by Ted Boettner
Climate and Energy in the Presidential Campaign

Energy policy is an important issue in the presidential campaign and West Virginia coal has been a part of the discussion. "The regulations may have long-term impact" on the coal industry, but recent mine closures are due more to the plunge in prices for natural gas that make coal less cost-competitive, says Ted Boettner, executive director…

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