Economic Opportunity
Making Ends Meet: Minimum Wages and Public Assistance
Everyone in Virginia who works full-time should be able to support their family with a decent standard of living, and raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2025 will help make that happen. As wages and income grow, families are likely to qualify for less help from programs such as SNAP (food stamps) and public health insurance.
Virginia Missed an Opportunity to Be at the Forefront of Equity in Policy
This legislative session, proposals have been put forward that would begin to reverse decades of policies that have hurt low-income people of color in Virginia, from ensuring our education system works for more students to strengthening the state’s safety net.
A Regional Minimum Wage Would Accelerate Inequality In Virginia
Imagine three people who are paid minimum wage: one is based in northern Virginia, another in the City of Richmond, and the last in Hampton Roads. All three share the same employer, hold the same job title and responsibilities, and have identical education and experience.
Details Matter When It Comes to Raising the Minimum Wage
Everyone in Virginia working a full-time job should be paid enough to provide for their family. However, for many this is not the case. Legislators have the opportunity to strengthen Virginia’s working families by raising the minimum wage to $15 and removing several existing exclusions from the law, many of which have origins in Jim Crow-era restrictions.
It’s Time to Break Down Economic Barriers for Women in Virginia
Virginia has been in the national spotlight this legislative session on a number of issues, yet few have garnered the amount of attention that the Equal Rights Amendment has and its potential impact for women in the state and across the country. While the ultimate fate of the ERA is unknown, and may not be known for years to come, Virginia doesn’t have to wait for that verdict to make strong policy decisions that improve the lives of women in the commonwealth. State lawmakers can choose this session to enact policy that supports and uplifts women while breaking down barriers to economic opportunity.
Proposed TANF Improvements Will Help Rebuild the State’s Safety Net and Advance Racial Equity
An economy that works for everyone is one where all families are able to make ends meet and put food on the table, yet not every family in Virginia has benefited from the growing economy.
Virginia is Ready for a Paid Family & Medical Leave Program
A statewide paid family and medical leave program would allow more working people in Virginia the opportunity to take time off to care – time to care for themselves, a loved one, or a new addition to the family.
Stop Excluding Domestic Workers From Minimum Wage Protections
Everyone in Virginia deserves the same basic protections against wage theft, unsafe conditions, and sub-poverty wages whether they work in a private home or a large corporation.
In Potential Year-end Tax Legislation, Federal Lawmakers Must Remember to Support Families
A fair economy that works for everyone means families are able to provide for themselves and their children. That means having enough food to eat, reliable transportation, and other necessities.