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January 2, 2024 by
Who do Lawmakers Listen to About West Virginia Jails?

In March 2022, Governor Jim Justice announced that he had directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate Southern Regional Jail (SRJ). In the days leading up to the governor’s announcement, media reports described horrifying conditions at the Raleigh County jail: filthy and broken accommodations, people sleeping on wet floors, violence against incarcerated people…

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May 10, 2021 by
Elevating the Medicaid Enrollment Experience (EMEE)

Wanna get involved in the EMEE project? Click here!   Elevating the Medicaid Enrollment Experience (EMEE) is a project executed by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy seeking to promote policies and practices to help West Virginians access Medicaid. This project aims to better understand individuals' experiences with the application, enrollment, and renewal…

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September 24, 2020 by
Policymakers Must Address Unique Concerns of Returning Citizens During COVID-19 Pandemic

According to a study by the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice, the COVID-19 mortality rate nationwide is twice as high in prisons compared to the general population. Social distancing is difficult if not impossible in correctional facilities due to their congregate nature. This, combined with the reality that incarcerated people are more likely…

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January 30, 2013 by
Wealthiest West Virginians Pay a Smaller Share of State and Local Taxes

Contact: Anne Singer, 202-299-1066, ext. 27 or Ted Boettner, 304-720-8682, tboettner@wvpolicy.org Read report New 50-State Study Provides Detailed Profiles and Comparisons of Tax Systems and Distribution Like most state tax systems, West Virginia takes a larger share from middle- and low-income families than from wealthy families, according to the fourth edition of "Who Pays? A…

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March 4, 2022 by
New Research Finds Opioid Overdose Deaths Decline with More Generous Unemployment Insurance Benefits

As West Virginia lawmakers continue to consider Senate Bills 2 and 3, we urge them to keep in mind the conclusions of a recent study, which found that the harmful effects of job loss on opioid overdose mortality decline with increasing state unemployment benefit levels. The study, titled “Unemployment Insurance and Opioid Overdose Mortality in the United States,” looked at county…

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July 15, 2016 by
Legalized Marijuana and the WV Budget

At this week's Lunch and Learn, Tara Holmes, our Summer Research Associate, presented the potential benefits to West Virginia if marijuana were to be legalized for medicinal and recreational use in the state. Her research shows that legalizing marijuana for recreational use would bring in between $26 and $45 million a year in tax revenue…

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April 28, 2023 by
Welcome to the Team, Alex!

The WVCBP is excited to welcome Alex Gallo to our staff as our new Community Engagement Coordinator! Alex received a B.S. in Health Science from James Madison University, where she cultivated and deepened her passion for helping people in need. Prior to joining the Center, Alex worked with a variety of non-profit advocacy groups helping…

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February 15, 2023 by
Summer Policy Institute 2024

People-Powered Policy July 26-28, 2024 at Marshall University Summer Policy Institute 2024 is almost here! SPI is a convening focused on policy, where participants will learn the ins and outs of policy change through a research and data lens, as well as crucial skills rooted in community engagement and grassroots mobilization. Policy sessions will equip…

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