The Half Sheet

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.

This Sunday, House Appropriations and Senate Finance will release their proposed amendments to the governor’s 2020-2022 budget. Educators and advocates are hopeful to see critical investments in Virginia’s public schools that build upon the introduced budget, especially with continued economic growth bringing in additional revenues to the state budget.

The 2020 legislative session is now at the halfway mark and some crucial health care related bills, detailed in an earlier post, aimed at increasing affordability and access to comprehensive health care coverage for those on the individual marketplace continue to move forward. In addition, several exciting proposals to strengthen Virginia’s Medicaid program and reduce premiums on the individual marketplace have been included in Gov. Northam’s introduced budget or in budget amendment requests from legislators. 

Central to creating a high-quality education under which students can thrive is having a team of support and instructional staff that can meet a diverse set of needs at every school.

Every student deserves a safe and healthy school environment where they are supported academically, socially and emotionally, and school counselors and support staff play a critical role in meeting these needs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

While the U.S. has a long, yet often divisive, history of welcoming immigrants to join our democracy, the country has never quite developed a formal system to help integrate newcomers into the economy and our communities

The cost of health care coverage is a growing concern, especially for individuals and families who access health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual marketplace. A recent report by Altarum Healthcare Value Hub found that 79% of Virginia adults who purchase health insurance on the private market are concerned they will not be able to afford health coverage.