News Round Up: August 31, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting low-income communities and exacerbating economic inequality across the country. Throughout this crisis, TCWF will compile news, legislation, and research on how tax credits and other income-boosting policies can provide much-needed relief for the hardest-hit communities:
Top Story: The California state Senate is considering legislation to expand the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to all taxpayers using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs.) California’s EITC is currently only available to ITIN filers with children under age six. The Senate must pass the bill before the end of session today. (Sacramento Bee)
- A new report from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center made the case for enacting a state EITC, which would benefit almost 900,000 households in the state. (PA Budget and Policy Center)
- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) outlined policies Congress could pass in the next federal economic relief package to help millions of struggling families stay afloat and help avoid cuts to jobs and services in states. (CBPP)
- We blogged about the Hamilton Project’s new report that analyzed the disproportionate economic and health consequences of COVID-19 for Black Americans. (TCWF)