Blog Posts > Budget Beat – December 13, 2013
December 13, 2013

Budget Beat – December 13, 2013

Much of West Virginia Remains Owned by Out-of-State Corporations

This week the WV Center on Budget and Policy and the American Friends Service Committee revisited a 1970s study looking at who owns West Virginia’s private land. While large out-of-state corporations still own much of the state’s land, timber interests, not coal companies, are now the biggest players. The full analysis was released this week and covered by the Charleston Gazette, the Huntington Herald-Dispatch and West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Recommendations from the report, including greater transparency of tax data to ensure these corporations pay their fair share of taxes, were included in this Gazette editorial.

Top-Ten-Landowners-web

Budget Should Grow the Middle Class

With the 2014 Legislative Session right around the corner soon the governor will release his budget for the upcoming fiscal year. With talks of more budget cuts looming, read more in Ted’s oped urging the governor to adopt a pro-middle class legislative agenda.

ted and lucy 12.12.13 filterTed and Lucy Boettner mingle with WVCBP coalition partners

Time to Raise the Minimum Wage

Ted took this issue to statewide talk radio last week. Listen here. And mark your calendars for January 14 when the WVCBP and our coalition partners bring ‘”Inequality for All” to the Culture Center for a free screening and discussion on the country’s widening income inequality.

Long-Term Unemployment Should Be Off the Chopping Block

Part of the latest budget deal coming out of Congress is the elimination of long-term unemployment benefits. Check out Sean’s blog post on why extending these important benefits should be part of the budget deal, especially for 16,000 West Virginians who rely on them.

He’s Our Hero

Nobody cares more about raising the minimum wage, helping the unemployed and taking care of West Virginia’s low-income kids and families than WVCBP board member Rick Wilson. Here he is receiving the Hero Award from the Our Children Our Future coalition today in Parkersburg (third in from the right).

Great Things Happening

  • Yesterday Appalachian Voices launched its new Energy Savings Action Center, a tool designed to help people save money and energy by promoting energy efficiency loan programs through their electric utility.
  • Want to know more about how many new jobs the Marcellus gas boom is bringing to West Virginia and its neighbors? Join us for a webinar on Friday, January 10 from 2-3PM. Registration open now. Read more in the Charleston Gazette and WV Public News Service on how the number of new jobs has been exaggerated by the gas industry.
  • The Black Ministerial Alliance is holding a health care enrollment session from 1 pm to 3 pm on Saturday, December 14th at the Metropolitan Baptist Church (205 Donnally Street) in Charleston. Come and find out what you need to know about the Affordable Care Act.

Final Note

As Nelson Mandela was laid to rest this week, we thought this piece was a a fitting tribute.

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