News Round-up: March 20, 2017
Here are some highlights from the past week’s news and upcoming events on family tax credit issues.
- In trying to resolve the state’s budget stalemate, legislators in Illinois introduced 12 tax bills that would work together to both reduce spending while not disproportionately harming low-income workers and families. The bills, which lawmakers have dubbed “The Grand Bargain,” include one that would increase the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 10 to 20 percent of the federal credit. It remains unclear whether the package will pass the House and Senate (JD Supra, The Telegraph).
- We blogged about the high number of states considering EITC legislation this year (TCWF).
- Lawmakers in Michigan introduced bills that would increase the state’s EITC to 20 and 25 percent of the federal credit. In 2011, the legislature cut the EITC’s value from 20 to 6 percent (Michigan Peninsula News, Detroit News).
- The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) released a report detailing how nonprofits across the state could better encourage eligible taxpayers to claim the EITC (Business West).
- A new research brief from Sarah Halpern-Meekin, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, finds that there is less “stigma” associated with the EITC and its beneficiaries than with other means-tested programs (Scholars Strategy Network).
- Nora Carpenter, president and CEO of United Way of Treasure Valley in Idaho, encouraged Congress to expand the EITC for childless workers, which would improve the lives of 64,000 Idahoans, including 5,000 veterans and active duty military (Idaho Statesman).
- Advocates in Oregon are encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of the EITC this year. Oregon ranks 48th in the country for the percentage of eligible workers and families who actually file for the credit (KATU).
- Carrie Lukas, managing director of the Independent Women’s Forum and the vice president for policy of Independent Women’s Voice, urged conservatives to follow Ivanka Trump’s lead and back measures like the EITC and Child Tax Credit (CTC) (National Review).
- The Washington Post Editorial Board called out Congress and the Trump administration for not promoting policies that will help grow the economy and encouraged lawmakers to support the EITC and access to child care (Washington Post).