Media clips

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• New Report Reveals 41% of Michigan Households Can’t Cover Basic Expenses

  Similarly, the ALICE budget allocates $530 a month for full-time day care for one child, but a 2022 study by the Economic Policy Institute estimated the actual cost at $741 monthly for a toddler and $905 for an infant.

  Michigan News Source July 29, 2024
• Steep fines in Iowa set off state-federal showdown over child labor laws

  Since 2021, lawmakers in 31 states have introduced bills that would weaken child labor protections, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank that examines how policies affect low- and middle-income workers. This year, EPI tracked bills weakening child labor protections that passed in eight red states: Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

  …

  Jennifer Sherer, an EPI researcher who tracks the issue, said federal and state governments had for decades embraced protecting the youngest workers after eradicating the worst child labor abuses. But legislatures, backed by business groups, have recently sought to loosen standards, leading to heightened tensions over federal rules, she said.

  “What we’re seeing is this pretty bold and alarming all-out assault on that consensus,” Sherer said.

  Stateline July 29, 2024
• It’s necessary to tame the national debt. And surprisingly doable.

  The foundation asked seven think tanks from across the ideological spectrum to submit detailed plans for putting the debt back on a sustainable trajectory. Every single institution agreed that American borrowing must be reined in. “It gives me hope to see a couple hundred different policy proposals that could solve this,” said Michael A. Peterson, chief executive of the foundation. “This is a solvable challenge for the United States.” (The think tanks include: the American Action Forum, the American Enterprise Institute, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Center for American Progress, the Economic Policy Institute, the Manhattan Institute and the Progressive Policy Institute.)

  The Washington Post July 29, 2024
• July 29, 2024
  July 25, 2024
• Lawmakers challenge Supreme Court ruling overturning Chevron doctrine with Stop Corporate Capture Act

  Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduced the Stop Corporate Capture Act (SCCA) alongside senators like Bernie Sanders and Cory Booker on Tuesday. The legislation would undo the Supreme Court’s decision last month to overturn the Chevron doctrine, which allowed federal agencies to reasonably interpret ambiguous laws

  …

  Organizations sponsoring the bill include: Physicians for Social Responsibility; the Union of Concerned Scientists; Public Citizen; the Economic Policy Institute; Rise Economy; and the Sierra Club.

  MLive July 25, 2024
• Fact-checking Kamala Harris’s campaign launch speech in Wisconsin

  Claim: “I do believe our teachers do God’s work. They teach other people’s children and God knows we don’t pay them enough.”

  Fact Check: True. Economic Policy Institute confirms this claim by highlighting a significant pay gap between teachers and other similarly educated professionals.

  WISN (Wisconsin) July 25, 2024
• ‘Economic and Moral Failing’: It’s Been 15 Years Since Last Federal Minimum Wage Hike

  According to the Economic Policy Institute, 31 million U.S. workers are paid less than $17 an hour.

  Common Dreams July 25, 2024
• Trump agenda likely to drive up inflation, think tank argues

  A second Donald Trump presidency is likely to drive up inflation, research organization EPI Action said, arguing that tax cuts and tighter immigration policies would likely undermine progress towards lower prices.

  The think tank said in a report on Wednesday that a second Trump administration was likely to push for the same policies as the first- namely large tax cuts for higher earners, reduced immigration, and higher trade tariffs.

  But with a changed economic environment from the first administration- in that upside risks to inflation are a lot more prevalent under current conditions- these policies would be likely to drive up inflation. Trump is also expected to roll back the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.

  Investing.com July 25, 2024
• Blue States Line Up To Ban Anti-Union ‘Captive Audience’ Meetings

  Meanwhile, at least another 10 states are considering passing similar legislation, potentially covering more than 60 million workers around the country, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank.

  …

  In lieu of a national ban, unions and other pro-labor groups have been pushing state lawmakers to step in and outlaw the mandatory meetings. The Economic Policy Institute notes that “at-will employment” prevails in the vast majority of states, giving employers broad discretion to fire workers, although it is illegal to retaliate against someone for trying to form a union.

  “State lawmakers have the power to fight back against employer coercion and address gaps in weak, outdated federal laws,” the think tank urged in April.

  Huffpost July 25, 2024
• Tennessee spent only 10% of American Rescue Plan allotment. Use it or lose it by Dec. 31

  Tennessee has spent just 10.5% of the $3.7 billion it received in fiscal recovery funds in 2021. While other states have rebuilt infrastructure and supported working families, Tennessee has done almost nothing.

  While the state rolled out an ambitious plan for using the money, very few of those paper plans have been approved by the legislature, and even less money has gone out the door. $500 million was allocated for broadband, but only $44.6 million has been spent. $1.3 billion was budgeted for wastewater infrastructure – just $36 million has been spent. $15 million was earmarked for Habitat for Humanity to support low-income housing, but none of those funds have yet been appropriated by the legislature. 

  It’s an open question whether they ever will. Tennessee only has until Dec. 31 to formally obligate the funds, or it loses them forever. Now is the time for the governor and the state legislature to use the money they have to make things better for working families. If they don’t, they will have wasted a once-in-a-generation chance to do good.

  Tennessean July 25, 2024
• How 7 Think Tanks Would Use Taxes To Help Reduce Budget Deficits

  But the think tanks achieved deficit reduction in dramatically different ways. Not surprisingly, the groups generally considered farther to the right — the American Action Forum (AAF), American Enterprise Institute (AEI), and the Manhattan Institute (MI) — focused primarily on spending reductions. The groups generally considered farther to the left — the Center for American Progress (CAP) and Economic Policy Institute (EPI) — relied more heavily on tax increases, as did the more centrist Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) and Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), though to very different degrees.

  Forbes July 25, 2024
• ‘I try to remain optimistic, but it’s hard’

  Although women are more likely to graduate from college than men and more likely to receive a graduate degree than their male counterparts, they are paid less than men at every education level, the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, says.

  MarketWatch July 25, 2024
• Puerto Rico bans discrimination against those who wear Afros and other hairstyles on diverse island

  A March report from the Economic Policy Institute found that not all states have amended their education codes to protect public and private high school students, and that some states have allowed certain exceptions to the CROWN Act.

  Associated Press July 25, 2024
• These 5 States Have the Most Low-Wage Workers

  Just how many workers in the United States are considered low-wage employees? According to the Economic Policy Institute, 31 million people in the U.S. earn under $17 per hour. That’s about 21% of the workforce.

  GO Banking Rates July 25, 2024
• 75-year-low: Federal minimum wage nears rock bottom

  Paywall. 

  Fortune July 25, 2024
• It has now been 15 years since the federal minimum wage rose to $7.25

  In 20 states, mostly in the South and Midwest, the federal minimum wage is in effect, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The other 30 states and Washington, D.C. have minimum wages higher than the federal standard, according to EPI data.

  Additionally, at least 63 cities and towns — including New York City and Los Angeles — have local minimum wages higher than their state’s requirement, with new wage hikes still occurring, according to the EPI. Chicago’s minimum wage rose to $16.20 per hour this month.

  NPR July 25, 2024
• Lawmakers challenge Supreme Court ruling overturning Chevron doctrine with Stop Corporate Capture Act

  Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduced the Stop Corporate Capture Act (SCCA) alongside senators like Bernie Sanders and Cory Booker on Tuesday. The legislation would undo the Supreme Court’s decision last month to overturn the Chevron doctrine, which allowed federal agencies to reasonably interpret ambiguous laws

  …

  Organizations sponsoring the bill include: Physicians for Social Responsibility; the Union of Concerned Scientists; Public Citizen; the Economic Policy Institute; Rise Economy; and the Sierra Club.

  MLive July 25, 2024
• Fact-checking Kamala Harris’s campaign launch speech in Wisconsin

  Claim: “I do believe our teachers do God’s work. They teach other people’s children and God knows we don’t pay them enough.”

  Fact Check: True. Economic Policy Institute confirms this claim by highlighting a significant pay gap between teachers and other similarly educated professionals.

  WISN (Wisconsin) July 25, 2024
• ‘Economic and Moral Failing’: It’s Been 15 Years Since Last Federal Minimum Wage Hike

  According to the Economic Policy Institute, 31 million U.S. workers are paid less than $17 an hour.

  Common Dreams July 25, 2024
• Trump agenda likely to drive up inflation, think tank argues

  A second Donald Trump presidency is likely to drive up inflation, research organization EPI Action said, arguing that tax cuts and tighter immigration policies would likely undermine progress towards lower prices.

  The think tank said in a report on Wednesday that a second Trump administration was likely to push for the same policies as the first- namely large tax cuts for higher earners, reduced immigration, and higher trade tariffs.

  But with a changed economic environment from the first administration- in that upside risks to inflation are a lot more prevalent under current conditions- these policies would be likely to drive up inflation. Trump is also expected to roll back the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.

  Investing.com July 25, 2024
• Blue States Line Up To Ban Anti-Union ‘Captive Audience’ Meetings

  Meanwhile, at least another 10 states are considering passing similar legislation, potentially covering more than 60 million workers around the country, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank.

  …

  In lieu of a national ban, unions and other pro-labor groups have been pushing state lawmakers to step in and outlaw the mandatory meetings. The Economic Policy Institute notes that “at-will employment” prevails in the vast majority of states, giving employers broad discretion to fire workers, although it is illegal to retaliate against someone for trying to form a union.

  “State lawmakers have the power to fight back against employer coercion and address gaps in weak, outdated federal laws,” the think tank urged in April.

  Huffpost July 25, 2024
• Tennessee spent only 10% of American Rescue Plan allotment. Use it or lose it by Dec. 31

  Tennessee has spent just 10.5% of the $3.7 billion it received in fiscal recovery funds in 2021. While other states have rebuilt infrastructure and supported working families, Tennessee has done almost nothing.

  While the state rolled out an ambitious plan for using the money, very few of those paper plans have been approved by the legislature, and even less money has gone out the door. $500 million was allocated for broadband, but only $44.6 million has been spent. $1.3 billion was budgeted for wastewater infrastructure – just $36 million has been spent. $15 million was earmarked for Habitat for Humanity to support low-income housing, but none of those funds have yet been appropriated by the legislature. 

  It’s an open question whether they ever will. Tennessee only has until Dec. 31 to formally obligate the funds, or it loses them forever. Now is the time for the governor and the state legislature to use the money they have to make things better for working families. If they don’t, they will have wasted a once-in-a-generation chance to do good.

  Tennessean July 25, 2024
• How 7 Think Tanks Would Use Taxes To Help Reduce Budget Deficits

  But the think tanks achieved deficit reduction in dramatically different ways. Not surprisingly, the groups generally considered farther to the right — the American Action Forum (AAF), American Enterprise Institute (AEI), and the Manhattan Institute (MI) — focused primarily on spending reductions. The groups generally considered farther to the left — the Center for American Progress (CAP) and Economic Policy Institute (EPI) — relied more heavily on tax increases, as did the more centrist Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) and Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), though to very different degrees.

  Forbes July 25, 2024
• ‘I try to remain optimistic, but it’s hard’

  Although women are more likely to graduate from college than men and more likely to receive a graduate degree than their male counterparts, they are paid less than men at every education level, the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, says.

  MarketWatch July 25, 2024
• Puerto Rico bans discrimination against those who wear Afros and other hairstyles on diverse island

  A March report from the Economic Policy Institute found that not all states have amended their education codes to protect public and private high school students, and that some states have allowed certain exceptions to the CROWN Act.

  Associated Press July 25, 2024
• These 5 States Have the Most Low-Wage Workers

  Just how many workers in the United States are considered low-wage employees? According to the Economic Policy Institute, 31 million people in the U.S. earn under $17 per hour. That’s about 21% of the workforce.

  GO Banking Rates July 25, 2024
• 75-year-low: Federal minimum wage nears rock bottom

  Paywall. 

  Fortune July 25, 2024
• It has now been 15 years since the federal minimum wage rose to $7.25

  In 20 states, mostly in the South and Midwest, the federal minimum wage is in effect, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The other 30 states and Washington, D.C. have minimum wages higher than the federal standard, according to EPI data.

  Additionally, at least 63 cities and towns — including New York City and Los Angeles — have local minimum wages higher than their state’s requirement, with new wage hikes still occurring, according to the EPI. Chicago’s minimum wage rose to $16.20 per hour this month.

  NPR July 25, 2024
• Economists debate Rick Scott’s assertion the federal budget should be ‘half its size’

  “Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans programs make up two-thirds of the non-interest, non-defense portion of the federal budget,” added Josh Bivens, chief economist with left-leaning EPI Action. “There are only two ways to interpret this statement from Sen. Scott — he is either calling for huge cuts to these programs or he is too uninformed to know this. He owes it to voters to follow up this statement by either specifying what he wants to cut or studying up and learning how the federal budget works.”

  Florida Phoenix July 23, 2024
• Wage thieves must not get government contracts

  Wage theft is rampant: A 2017 Economic Policy Institutestudy examined one form of wage theft – minimum…[paywall]

  New York Daily News July 23, 2024