While the United States is a low-tax country compared to most industrialized nations, for a majority of Americans it doesn’t feel this way. That’s largely because private health insurance companies receive a large portion of our income every month. If we sent our money to a publicly run health insurance plan (e.g., Medicare) instead, almost all of us would save thousands of dollars each year while guaranteeing comprehensive health coverage for everyone.
While opponents of Medicare for All like to scare people with big numbers, saying it will cost $32.6 trillion over the next 10 years, this is actually about $2 trillion less in total national projected health spending over this period. Estimates show Medicare for All would reduce total U.S. health expenditures by $5.1 trillion over 10 years relative to current projections under our existing system.
Read more in Ted’s op-ed which appeared in the Charleston Gazette-Mail last Friday.
According to Work Force West Virginia, nearly two-thirds of the jobs created in our state over the next decade will be low wage. This includes many service jobs that make the events happening at the newly renovated Charleston Coliseum and the Shawnee Sports Complex possible. More people will be needed to prepare food and wash dishes and ring up purchases at local gas stations and shops downtown.
Economic development must not leave them behind, and if our local and state leaders embrace a shared prosperity for all West Virginians, we can all share in the bounty of more people visiting and spending money here.
The best place to start is raising the minimum wage, incrementally, to $15 an hour and eliminating the tipped minimum wage. It has been shown time and time again that when working folks have the kind of economic security that allows them disposable income, they spend it in local economies.
Read more in Seth’s op-ed in today’s Charleston Gazette-Mail.
Have you ever taken paid or unpaid leave to care for a loved one or yourself, or had someone take leave to care for you?
Have you ever needed to take family or medical leave, but found out this was financially impossible when unpaid leave was your only option?
We want to hear from you. Go here to tell us your story.
This week, WVCBP Executive Director Ted Boettner attended the “We’re All In” conference hosted by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
NELP is a key partner in our work on labor standards and criminal justice reforms. Learn more about their great work here.
West Virginia has used tax incentives as an economic development tool across the state. There has been little follow up or accountability to show if these give-aways have provided the promised boost in new jobs and a growing local economy in return for millions of dollars of tax breaks.
Read more about whether or not the costs of these incentives outweigh the benefits in this Citylab post.
EITC Regional Coordinator – Mid-Ohio Valley Region
Part-Time/Part-Year Position
Primary Responsibilities:
Skill Requirements:
This position is part-time and part-year and reports directly to the EITC Program Director. To apply, please send your resume to Jennifer Thacker.
Tell your members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation to publicly reject the proposed Categorical Eligibility revision rule proposed by the USDA. It is never OK to take food away from children and it is time for the rest of our members of Congress to go on the record as to where they stand on this issue today.
Please send a personal note to your member of Congress.
Please join us for the release of the Criminal Justice Listening Project Report next month at the State Capitol! The West Virginia Criminal Justice Listening Project collected stories about the criminal justice system from over two hundred people around the state.
The majority of those interviewed have experienced incarceration or have had family members behind bars. The individuals surveyed shared their observations as pastors, volunteers, attorneys, correctional officers and staff of community re-entry programs.
The event will take place on Monday, November 18 at 11:00AM in Governor’s Press Conference Room.
RSVP on the Facebook event. The event will also be live streamed on Facebook.
Mark your calendar for January 15, 2020 for our 7th annual Budget Breakfast as we kick off the 2020 Legislative Session.
