Blog Cash and Safety Net Bigger Tax Credits for Working Families Lead to Bigger, Healthier Babies October 26, 2017 / January 14, 2020 by Eric Strunz Some 1,047 babies in Georgia a year can be saved from risky, low birth weight if lawmakers pass a credit to offset state taxes for low-income working families, according to a new study. State tax credits for working families with modest wages are linked to higher birth weights for babies across the country, and larger […] Read more » EITC Georgia Work Credit Safety Net tax-credits taxes
Melissa Johnson Reports Worker Justice Laying the Foundation: A Wealth-Building Agenda for Georgia Women October 19, 2017 / April 25, 2023 by Melissa Johnson Why a Wealth-Building Agenda for Georgia Women? Building and growing the wealth of women is a necessary concern for Georgia lawmakers striving to keep the state growing and prospering. Women are a majority of Georgia’s adult population[1] and are the primary or co-breadwinners in more than half of Georgia households with children.[2] Women help shoulder the weight […] Read more » caregiving entrepreneurship gender gap homeownership paid leave wages wealth gap weath-building women of color
Blog Higher Education Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Jennifer Lee Georgia’s Higher Education Goals Hurt by Undocumented Student Policies October 12, 2017 / April 2, 2020 by Jennifer Lee Across Georgia, people aspire to go to college. But students caught in the web of immigration laws and policies face daunting barriers. Many students who grew up in Georgia and lack a path to legal status must pay a much higher price for college. At the same time, they are barred from most loans, grants […] Read more » daca Higher Education HOPE Scholarship In-State Tuition Pell Grant
Budget and Taxes Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Reports Wesley Tharpe Worker Justice Adding Citizens a Powerful Way to Boost Georgia Communities September 15, 2017 / April 2, 2020 by Wesley Tharpe States and cities nationwide are discovering they can strengthen their local economies and boost tax revenues by encouraging immigrants legally in the country on a permanent basis to become citizens. About 9 million people nationwide live in the country as lawful permanent residents and are eligible to become naturalized citizens[1], including an estimated 195,000 in […] Read more » Budget Budget & Taxes citizenship daca immigration Wesley Tharpe
Blog Health Justice Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Laura Harker Georgia Takes Steps to Strengthen the Health Care Workforce September 8, 2017 / April 2, 2020 by Laura Harker | 1 Comment on Georgia Takes Steps to Strengthen the Health Care Workforce Georgia lawmakers are scheduled to meet Monday to study barriers that block Georgians’ access to adequate health care. The committee is set to examine ways to remedy provider shortages and ease scope of practice restrictions on advanced practice registered nurses. Georgia lawmakers can use this opportunity to consider some sensible solutions to improve provider capacity […] Read more » Department of Community Health health health-care Laura Harker medicaid Medicaid Expansion
Blog Cash and Safety Net Melissa Johnson Planned Federal Budget Cuts Likely to Increase Hunger Risk for Georgians July 27, 2017 / January 14, 2020 by Melissa Johnson The U.S. House Budget Committee passed a resolution last week calling for deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly called food stamps). If these cuts took effect, nearly 1.6 million Georgians who rely on the program will face a greater chance of hunger. That includes children, seniors, people with disabilities, workers and […] Read more » Food Assistance food stamps Safety Net SNAP
Blog Budget and Taxes Cash and Safety Net Jennifer Owens Worker Justice Momentum on State Earned Income Tax Credits Evident Across the Country, Will Georgia Be Next? July 26, 2017 / January 14, 2020 by Jennifer Owens This spring significant momentum built across the country for state earned income tax credits (EITCs). In recent months, three more states adopted new state-level EITCs to support low-wage workers struggling to make ends meet. Now 29 states and the District of Columbia provide the tax credit. Six of those states offer non-refundable credits, meaning the […] Read more » EITC Georgia Work Credit
Budget and Taxes Budget Primer Cash and Safety Net Health Justice K-12 Education Reports Worker Justice Georgia Budget Primer 2018 July 12, 2017 / April 14, 2020 by Taifa Smith Butler Welcome to GBPI’s 2018 Budget Primer Georgia plans to spend $25 billion in state funds for the 2018 fiscal year. The budget plan anticipates a revenue increase of $1.26 billion, or 5.3 percent more than the prior year. Keep in mind when you hear Georgia’s $25 billion 2018 budget is record-setting that 80 percent of […] Read more »
Budget Primer Cash and Safety Net Melissa Johnson Reports Georgia Human Services Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2018 July 12, 2017 / March 23, 2021 by Melissa Johnson Human Services Budget Overview Georgia’s Department of Human Services oversees state spending to protect children and seniors, as well as provide non-medical assistance to people with low incomes. The agency’s state funding is $757 million in 2018, or 3 percent of state spending. Child welfare-related services represent the largest share of the department’s responsibilities, accounting […] Read more » Budget Primer child care Safety Net
Blog Cash and Safety Net Jennifer Owens Food Stamps Help More than 500,000 Working Georgians June 29, 2017 / January 14, 2020 by Jennifer Owens Food assistance plays a critical role in helping Georgians working low-wage jobs put meals on the table. An average of 546,900 working Georgians lived in households that participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly called food stamps) in the last year, according to analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In […] Read more » Food Assistance food stamps Minimum Wage Safety Net SNAP