NY, NJ, CT politicians seek minimum wage increase, Associated Press, March 7, 2012, CBS News: “Legislative leaders from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are pushing a novel, unified approach to promote higher minimum wages, hoping to spur a national movement and eliminate a major argument of opponents in the Northeast who say hikes hinder a state’s competitiveness. The Democrats want to increase the minimum from $7.25 an hour to about $8.50 in New York and New Jersey, and to about $9.75 over two years in Connecticut, where it’s $8.25. There are several active proposals in the states. New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and his counterparts, Speaker Sheila Oliver in New Jersey and Speaker Chris Donovan in Connecticut, want to defuse the argument by critics and business groups that a state puts itself at a disadvantage if it increases the minimum when neighboring states don’t…”
Bill slashing tipped minimum wage dies in Senate, By Sandra Pedicini, March 6, 2012, Orlando Sentinel: “A bill that would have cut the hourly pay of restaurant servers and other tipped employees by more than half has died in the Florida Senate – a development that drew cheers from hourly workers. ‘To hear it has died is phenomenal,’ said Cheryl Hennessey, a server at Epcot’s Garden Grill restaurant. ‘[I’m] thrilled to death.’ The measure (SB 2106) never got a House companion and stalled after getting approval from the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. Sen. Nancy Detert, who heads that committee, declared the bill’s demise…”
Republicans vote to repeal state’s minimum wage, By Howard Fischer, March 6, 2012, Arizona Daily Sun: “Using the soft economy as a lever, House Republicans voted Monday to ask voters to repeal the state’s minimum wage. House Majority Leader Steve Court acknowledged that the original measure was approved six years ago on a nearly 2-1 margin. That law requires the Industrial Commission to consider inflation and make annual adjustments in the minimum that companies doing business here can pay their workers. The result is a current minimum wage of $7.65 an hour, 40 cents more than required under federal law. Court said, though, the economy in 2006 was quite different than it is now. And he said that employers cannot afford the extra costs…”
State tax credit for the working poor in heavy demand, By Keith M. Phaneuf, February 13, 2012, Connecticut Mirror: “More than 70,000 Connecticut households took advantage of a new tax credit for the working poor during just the first month of state income tax filings, according to the Department of Revenue Services. The claims filed under the new state Earned Income Tax Credit were hailed both by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration and a leading private, nonprofit anti-poverty group as evidence of the new program’s necessity as well as its success…”
Tax refund is vital chunk of annual budget for many people, By Susan Tompor, February 9, 2012, Detroit Free Press: “For Ola Jones, 53, her federal income tax refund typically amounts to more than an extra paycheck each year. It’s a vital part of her annual budget and a way to cover extra bills and necessities. ‘Right now, I need a washing machine and tires for my car,’ said Jones, who stood in line one snowy Saturday morning in late January to obtain free tax-preparation help at Focus: HOPE in Detroit. Her daughter, Tujuana Jones, 19, also received free tax-preparation help, offered that day by volunteers from the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. The student, who attends Wayne County Community College District and works at Rainbow Clothing in Detroit, planned to go shopping with her $500 tax refund. For lower-income families, the tax season kickoff is a time to catch up with bills and rebuild some savings. The federal earned income tax credit and other Michigan-related tax credits offer a powerful punch for limited budgets…”
Corbett raises limit on assets for food stamps, but critics blast the idea of a test, By Alfred Lubrano, February 2, 2012, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Modifying its original proposal, the Corbett administration is raising the amount of assets a person can have to retain food stamps, drawing the ire of critics who say the asset test itself is improper. The state Department of Public Welfare on Wednesday announced that households with people under age 60 will be limited to $5,500 in assets. For households with people 60 and above, the figure is $9,000. Houses, retirement benefits, and one car would not be counted as assets. Any additional vehicle worth more than $4,650 would be counted. Asset testing will begin May 1…”
Pa.’s food stamp asset test will be easier than planned, By Karen Langley, February 2, 2012, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “The state said Wednesday that it is easing limits of an asset test it plans to reinstate for Pennsylvanians receiving food stamps. A total of 4,000 households are expected to lose their food stamps under the revised proposal by the state Department of Public Welfare. The plan sparked criticism from Democrats and advocates for the poor when it became public last month. Older people and the disabled with more than $9,000 in assets would no longer qualify for food stamps under a plan submitted Wednesday to federal officials. Those under age 60 would be disqualified if they have more than $5,500 in assets…”
Conn. working to fix troubled food stamps program, By Susan Haigh (AP), February 4, 2012, Boston Globe: “While a fraud scandal cast a cloud over a special emergency food aid program following Hurricane Irene, the state is working to address deeper troubles that have plagued the traditional food stamps program, including high error rates, slow response times and an antiquated computer system. Connecticut is ranked last among all the states and territories for processing applications for the federal program in a timely manner. In 2006, the state was processing 81 percent of applications on a timely basis. But that dropped to 59 percent in 2010 and the head of the Connecticut Department of Social Services said the current rate is even worse…”
