Lawmakers in Congress are facing mounting pressure from corporate lobbyists to pass business tax breaks before the end of the year but new analysis suggests cuts would be far more costly than promised. Joe Hughes, federal policy analyst at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said reinstating the expanded Child Tax Credit would be a better investment. He pointed out it is unclear whether corporate tax breaks would achieve their stated policy goals, but they would make a lot of very rich people even richer. .
Alabama Arise, a statewide advocacy group, is fighting for marginalized communities affected by poverty. The organization recently unveiled its 2024 policy priorities, highlighting the importance of expanding Medicaid and ending the state sales tax on groceries to improve residents overall well-being. Robyn Hyden, executive director of the group, believes addressing the issues will create lasting effects on communities and improve communication with legislators. .
Consumer watchdogs say Black Friday sales might have set records this year, as retailers offer deep discounts to get shoppers into their stores, and Cyber Monday could do the same. For shoppers who are concerned about where these gifts were made, a new directory lists American-made products from more than 200 companies, and in every state. The latest poll shows consumers support buying them, to boost the economy and create more jobs. .
A new plan takes an interconnected approach to saving Virginia s coastal wetlands. The aim of Virginia s York River and Small Coastal Basin Roundtable is to conserve tidal wetlands and increase coordination among regional stakeholders. Virginia s wetlands face multiple threats, from rising sea levels due to climate change to invasive species and commercial development. .
Recent polling from The New York Times and Siena College found President Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in five of the six most crucial battleground states, one of which is Arizona. In the Grand Canyon state Trump leads Biden by five-percentage points. Elaine Kamarck, director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institute, said the question is - if polls are showing Biden slipping, compounded with his unfavorable approval rating, does that mean voters won t vote for him and other Democrats in the upcoming election? She said it isn t a simple answer. .