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January 22, 2024 by
WVCBP Becomes West Virginia State Partner in KIDS COUNT® Network

For Immediate Release: January 19, 2024 Contact: Kelly Allen, (304)-612-4180 Charleston, WV – The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy (WVCBP), an independent research and advocacy organization working to advance public policies that increase opportunity and eliminate inequities for children and families, announces that it will be serving as the KIDS COUNT® partner for the state of West…

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October 6, 2017 by
New CFPB Rule Affirms Protections from Predatory Lenders

For Immediate Release Media Contact: Linda Frame, 304.419.1454 Yesterday the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued federal regulations to protect people from the abusive payday lending industry. The "PaydayFreeLandia" Coalition - a group of civil rights, labor, faith-based and community organizations from the 15 states, including West Virginia, where predatory payday lending is illegal -…

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June 2, 2023 by
Jail Overcrowding Bill Goes Into Effect June 9, 2023

In March 2023, lawmakers passed legislation, Senate Bill 633, to address a growing reason why people are taken to West Virginia jails: capiases. A capias – or bench warrant – is an arrest order issued by a magistrate or judge. The number of people brought to jail on a capias arrest in West Virginia increased from…

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July 22, 2021 by
A Look at Student Loan Debt in West Virginia

Federal student loan debt has more than tripled since 2007, jumping from $516 billion in 2007 to nearly $1.6 trillion in March 2021. West Virginia borrowers hold $6.5 billion of that debt. The freeze on student loan payments and the temporary zero percent interest rate have been a relief to borrowers since implemented in March…

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July 3, 2025 by
WVCBP’s Statement on WV Congressional Delegation’s Votes for Largest Medicaid and SNAP Cuts in History

By supporting the sweeping reconciliation package passed this week, West Virginia’s Congress members have the shameful distinction of having voted for the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance in program history, despite representing a population and economy that benefits greatly from both programs. This is the most harmful legislation for the safety net and…

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January 17, 2020 by
Who Pays? Rethinking West Virginia’s Tax System

To get a sense of a state's values, one often need look no further than its tax system. What a state spends its tax dollars on and how it acquires those tax dollars typically reveals a lot about the priorities of its people-what they care about and what they stand for. In theory, it's a…

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October 16, 2013 by
West Virginia: Heart of the Rx Belt

Health care is a funny thing.  Everyone needs it, yet lots of people can't afford it, and hospitals have to treat them regardless.  Treatment prices vary wildly depending not only on where you live but where you go and whether or not you have insurance.  Oddly, those without insurance are almost always charged more for…

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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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January 12, 2024 by
Minding the Store in West Virginia Requires Making Up for Years of Neglecting Budget Needs

The 2024 West Virginia regular legislative session kicked off this past Wednesday, January 10. WVCBP executive director, Kelly Allen, issued the following statement in response to Governor Justice’s State of the State address: Unfortunately, the rosy picture Governor Justice painted is not the reality for many West Virginians in counties all over the state who’ve seen too…

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November 21, 2024 by
We’re Hiring! Join the WVCBP Team as a Campaign Coordinator

The WVCBP is seeking a campaign coordinator who executes an outreach and engagement plan that protects and increases support for public education by building community support, disseminating research, creating an active coalition, and garnering earned media about investing in public schools in West Virginia so that all children can thrive and feel supported. The campaign coordinator will:…

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