People who are paid low wages often work challenging jobs, such as restaurant servers, child care providers or home health aides. They deserve to make enough money to make ends meet. Our state and national tax codes are upside down and full of holes. Taxpayers at the very top pay
In one of its more positive moves, the U.S. Senate included cash payments that will send most Americans $1,200 per person from the $2 trillion stimulus package it recently passed. However, people who are paid very low wages or don’t have any income at all may not file taxes. That’s
Good afternoon, Chairman Hackett, Vice Chair Hottinger and Ranking Member Craig and members of the committee. My name is Kalitha Williams and I am the project director for asset building at Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with the mission of creating a more prosperous, equitable, sustainable and inclusive
Last month, I served as a panelist for a local public affairs television program. I was invited to talk about “Race in the Heartland,” a report our organization co-released with Economic Policy Institute, COWS of Wisconsin, University of Iowa and Iowa Policy Project. The report chronicles racial disparities in the
Good afternoon, Chairman Hambley, Ranking Member Brown and members of the committee. My name is Kalitha Williams and I am the project director for asset building at Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with the mission of creating a more prosperous, equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio. My work centers
Policy Matters and ACTION testify in support of House Bill 103 Today Policy Matters Ohio and ACTION, a faith-based membership organization composed of 26 churches and civic groups in Youngstown and Mahoning County, appeared before the Ohio House Civil Justice Committee to express their support of House Bill 103, which
Today on Tax Day, a coalition of organizations that advocate on behalf of Ohio’s working poor called on policymakers to improve Ohio’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by making it refundable. The EITC boosts the income of working people who earn low wages. The federal credit is one of the
Washington, D.C. — A report released today from the Consumer Federation of America shows 81 percent of Ohioans support the current national fuel economy standards under attack by the Trump administration. In August, the Trump Administration proposed a freeze on the full implementation of the standards, which would create a
Columbus, Ohio – The Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration yesterday proposed weakening fuel efficiency standards for 2021-2026 models of cars and light trucks. The agencies also blocked states’ rights to adopt their own standards to protect their citizens. Fuel economy standards have saved Ohio households
Last week, President Donald Trump revived Jim Crow-era lending practices when he signed a resolution that makes it harder to hold accountable car lenders that charge people of color more for car loans than white people. The resolution repeals guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that held car
Kalitha WIlliams Kalitha Willliams, policy liaison at Policy Matters Ohio, was recently elected to the board of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), a research, advocacy, education and service organization. Kalitha has led Policy Matters Ohio’s consumer protection work for six years and convenes Ohio CASH, the state asset building
Columbus, Ohio – A rule to protect consumers against fraudulent practices by payday and car title lenders survived threats in Congress, handing a big win to the more than 100 Ohio organizations that fought for it. In October, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule with common sense
