Page 3 - Consumer Issues News Today

Today, groups working with lower-income families in Connecticut are raising awareness about the states "benefits cliff" with a day of action. The benefits cliff is when a person might get a raise, have a kid with a part-time job, or some other income increase which then makes them ineligible for certain benefits. The changes can have severe impacts on communities and disproportionately affect families with children. ...

Concerns about potential voter intimidation have spurred several states to consider banning firearms at polling sites but so far, New Hampshire is not among them. Only a dozen states and Washington, D.C., prohibit both open and concealed-carry weapons at voting locations. Emma Brown, executive director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said most of the bans were enacted after the 2020 election, when unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud took hold. ...

Oregon is working to address the states digital divide with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. Infrastructure presents the largest challenges for connecting people in Oregon to high-speed broadband internet. Nick Batz, director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more than 170,000 residencies in the state with no or slow internet access. ...

New York towns are reaping many benefits since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed. Along with funds for larger clean energy projects, the state was awarded $158 million for the IRAs Home Energy Rebates program. Smaller towns and villages use these grants to implement their climate action plans. ...

Florida residents can now file their simple income-tax forms for free and save time through the Internal Revenue Services Direct File pilot program. Its estimated the simplified filing process could eventually save Florida taxpayers more than $530 million in filing fees every year. With the April 15 income-tax filing deadline right around the corner, Adam Ruben, vice president for campaigns and political strategy at the Economic Security Project, said you can easily use the program by visiting ...

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed legislation making prescription drugs more affordable. The bill would have created an independent body to evaluate drug prices and determine if increases are reasonable. ...

As out-of-state, and sometimes disreputable companies offering solar installations crowd the market, a local effort called Solarize aims to connect residents and small businesses with pre-screened solar contractors, while also providing discounts on installation. Nick Hartnett, Pure Power Solar and Solarize partner, said residents considering solar should find local companies, read reviews, and talk to customers whove had systems installed, adding the Solarize program is designed to do the leg...

In less than a week, Pennsylvania residents who need assistance in filing their income-tax returns can use the free services of the AARP Foundations Tax-Aide program. You dont have to be an AARP member or a senior citizen to get help. Francis Tremel, Pennsylvania state coordinator for the program, said while Tax-Aide volunteers assist people of all ages, their main focus is on serving individuals with low to moderate incomes. ...

Today is the beginning of America Saves Week, and Connecticut groups are hosting events all week. Each day is correlated to a different aspect of spending - whether its paying down debt, saving at any age, or preparing for the unexpected. Faye Griffiths-Smith - a family economics and resource management educator for at the University of Connecticut Extension - said she often hears people feel they dont have enough money to save. ...

As California faces a $38 billion budget deficit, state lawmakers have identified $17 billion in potential cuts before the Legislature begins crunching the numbers later this week. Initial plans include shifting some funds away from job training programs but the idea is getting some pushback. Advocates of the programs said at a time when skilled worker shortages plague essential sectors, investments in job training are needed. ...