The Half Sheet

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.

Ensuring that as many individuals with the ability to work have the opportunity to do so is a key indicator of a healthy economy.

Everyone should be able to take time to care – time to welcome a new addition to the family or care for yourself or a loved one – without fear of losing their job or income.

Many veteran and military families in Virginia struggle to make ends meet.

Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finalized a new rule helping to narrow a tax loophole that had been abused here in Virginia. The rule prevents people or corporations from “double-dipping” when making donations to private or religious schools as explained here by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP).

Supporting families means making sure each parent can provide for themselves and their children. That includes putting food on the table, keeping the lights on, having reliable transportation, and affording other basics.

Every year, eligibility for programs including Medicaid, CHIP, Affordable Care Act insurance premium subsidies, SNAP, and school meals is determined relative to the federal poverty line. That measure is adjusted annually for inflation in order to account for the rising cost of living. However,

Decisions about tax policy reflect our values as a society and have a direct impact on our ability to support our families and contribute to our communities. No family should lack the basic resources necessary to thrive, and some federal policies are in place to specifically boost incomes for low and moderate-income families.

While work requirements are often touted as a means to promote self-sufficiency and reduce poverty, the evidence continues to pile up: work requirements simply don’t work as a method for reducing poverty.

In Virginia, 1 out of 7 children live in families that struggle with food insecurity, meaning they lack consistent access to enough food for a healthy, active life. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a crucial federal program to combat this problem of childhood hunger by providing students attending high-poverty schools and school districts with a free and nutritious breakfast and lunch. Unfortunately,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which affords us the opportunity to take stock of recent significant investments the state has made and look at the ongoing work that still needs to be done in order to improve quality and access to behavioral health services in Virginia.

The decision to expand Medicaid in Virginia was a watershed moment for low-income adults and families in need of quality, comprehensive health coverage. Expanded coverage began on January 1, 2019 with enrollment starting in November of last year. While