Yesterday the WVCBP released its analysis of the Governor Tomblin’s FY 2014 proposed budget. While the governor called for budget cuts from many state agencies, the state’s Rainy Day Fund totals over $900 million and is the third-largest in the nation. Read the full report here.
The Senate Select Committee on Children and Poverty held its first meeting away from the Capitol on Wednesday in Fayetteville. Next, the Committee will travel to Beckley on March 20. Senators plan to travel across the state to hear directly from people impacted by poverty. Read more about the meeting here. During the legislative session, the Committee meets Wednesday at 10AM.
After five years of phone calls and emails from the WVCBP, the New York Times finally caved in and gave economist Paul Krugman his own newspaper. Ladies and Gentlmen, the Krugman Times!
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has not yet decided whether West Virginia will join the ranks of states choosing to expand Medicaid, thus providing health insurance for 120,000 West Virginians. He is the last undecided Democratic governor. Want to learn more? The WVCBP will cosponsor a forum and training on Sunday, April 7 on Medicaid Expansion. The event takes place from 2PM – 3:30PM at Christ Church in Charleston. Refreshments will be provided.
President Obama has called for an increase in the minimum wage and Congress is considering the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013. What would this mean to West Virginia workers? In his blog post this week, Sean lists the economic benefits to an increase in the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Over 190,000 workers would be impacted in the Mountain State.
Governor Tomblin is hearing from health care advocates from across the state who are urging him to expand Medicaid to tens of thousands of West Virginians. This week Ted was quoted in the Charleston Gazette joining others who are asking the governor to take advantage of this opportunity to help so many low-income families.
Senator Unger blogged in his hometown newspaper this week about the work of his Select Committee on Children and Poverty. Here’s what he had to say about the WVCBP and his committee’s progress.
The WVCBP is currently accepting resumes for the position of Outreach Coordinator. Read more about the position here.
