Media clips

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• With child labor violations on the rise across the country, West Virginia lawmakers want to make it easier for kids to work

  In 2023, the state rolled back its previous protections for child labor, despite a 266% rise in violations from 2020 to 2023. 

  Nina Mast, a policy analyst at the Economic Policy Institute, said these protections are important for young workers. She said permits keep employers compliant with state labor laws, inform parents of the job duties and create a dedicated paper trail for enforcement. 

  “It’s not a burdensome process,” she said. “It creates some work for the employers, schools and labor agencies, but it’s worth it.”

  States that required children to get work permits had 15% fewer workplace violations between 2008 and 2020, according to a University of Maryland study.

  Mountain State Spotlight March 17, 2025
• Indiana Childcare Costs

  A new report from the Economic Policy Institute reveals that the average annual cost of infant childcare in Indiana is $14,471.

  That exceeds the cost of in-state college tuition at Indiana University and Purdue University.

  WWBL March 17, 2025
• Should you sell all your stock? Buy a car now? Don’t panic: Here’s how to handle the economic turbulence.

  Research from the Economic Policy Institute think tank found that the now-paused 25 percent tariffs on…[paywall]. 

  Boston Globe March 17, 2025
• HOAs are creating barriers for home-based childcare providers, lawmakers told

  Nevada is one of the 38 states in the United States where childcare is more expensive than in-state college tuition, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The average annual cost of infant care in Nevada is $15,950 and the cost of care for a 4-year-old is $13,268.

  Nevada Current March 17, 2025
• Yes, Canada can place 250% tariffs on US dairy products — but online claims lack context

  In practice, high tariffs could lead to high shelf prices for consumers, as importers often raise their prices to make up for the increased cost of tariffs. This is known as “price pass-through,” according to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank that carries out economic research and analyzes the economic impact of policies and proposals.

  Snopes March 17, 2025
• Florida Republican believes state minimum wage is too high for young workers

  A spokesperson for the Economic Policy Institute, a progressive independent think tank that researches economic trends and policies, said their experts were not aware of similar bills that had recently been introduced elsewhere in the U.S.

  Orlando Weekly March 17, 2025
• Baumgartner backs bipartisan bill to support fired federal workers

  Even Trump, Baumgartner pointed out, has come to endorse a more targeted approach to cutting the government workforce, whose salaries account for about 5% of federal spending, according to the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute.

  Spokesman Review March 17, 2025
• Trump Tariffs Plunge Local NYC Businesses Into Uncertainty

  The tariffs Trump has threatened on China, Canada and Mexico would cost the average New York State household $1,742 a year, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, a labor-based group that supports targeted tariffs but not the Trump approach. It is the 11th highest projected burden in the country.

  The City March 17, 2025
• Fact check: NC Gov. Josh Stein shares 6 statistics on ‘child care crisis’

  The average cost of infant care at a child care center is about 11.6% of the median income for a two-parent household in North Carolina, according to a report by the NC Department of Commerce. The Economic Policy Institute reports only about 20% of North Carolina families can afford infant care at the 7% benchmark rate.

  We’re rating this as mostly checks out, because the 7% benchmark is specifically set for low-income families, and The Economic Policy Institute’s statistic is based on infant care, which is the most expensive type of child care. Out-of-pocket costs for parents typically go down as their child grows, because a toddler can be served in rooms with more children per caregiver than an infant.

  WUNC March 17, 2025
• Bipartisan bill seeks deadlines for union contract agreements

  Indeed, a study published by the Economic Policy Institute in 2021 showed some unions wait years to get their contracts approved. 

  Construction Dive March 17, 2025