The Half Sheet

While tax laws may seem racially neutral, research has shown that tax policy choices often have substantially different impacts…

On Sept. 19, the Virginia Board of Education put forward ambitious, critically important revisions to how the state funds public education in the state’s Standards of Quality (SOQ).

Incomes remained fairly steady in 2018 for middle-class Virginia households after adjusting for inflation, yet poverty rates remain well above pre-recession levels and income inequality is increasing. Compared to two years ago, median household income is up 1.9% in Virginia to $72,577 in 2018.

No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and making a rent payment. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps families afford healthy food without sacrificing other necessities.

If everything goes according to schedule, Virginia’s tax department will begin issuing $110 refund checks – $220 for joint filers – to Virginia taxpayers beginning next week and continuing through the first half of October.

As Labor Day approaches and we celebrate the contributions and achievements of working people, we must also acknowledge the barriers that many continue to face.

Everyone should have the ability to care for themselves and loved ones without risking their paycheck.

Next week, the Northam administration will give their annual presentation about the state’s finances to the legislature’s money committees. Preliminary reports indicate that state revenues came in above the official forecast for the fiscal year that ended in June.

Over 300,000 newly-eligible adults have enrolled in health coverage through Medicaid, according to just-released data from the state. The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) automatically enrolling or expediting the enrollment of certain people, such as parents of children already enrolled in Medicaid, are likely part of this success.

No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Yet in Virginia, far too many working individuals and families have trouble staying afloat despite their efforts – nearly two-thirds of families below the federal poverty threshold have at least one adult who is working.

Strong relationships between students and their teachers are vital to a healthy learning environment. One of the most immediate ways these relationships are built is by students connecting with teachers who look like them.

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. State lawmakers have failed to raise Virginia’s minimum wage above the federal requirement, and July 24 will mark 10 years since the last increase in the federal minimum wage.