Thousands of Kentuckians’ dreams of a more financially-secure future grew one step closer to reality last Friday with the introduction of SB 155. Senate Bill 155, introduced by Senator Morgan McGarvey and six co-sponsors, would enact a refundable state Earned Income Credit in the Commonwealth. Should the measure pass, Kentucky would be the 25th state to enact a state Earned Income Credit. SB 155 would piggyback on the federal Earned Income Credit. The federal credit [...]

Governor Beshear recently introduced his tax reform plan “Kentucky Competes,” a step in the right direction for continuing the dialogue on tax reform and the need to invest in Kentucky children and families.  We applaud the Governor for putting his plan out there as a stepping stone for further conversation. We want every child to have the opportunity to grow and be successful. However, deep cuts to investments in children over the past few years [...]

In his 2014 State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Beshear described a “collective vision of a stronger Kentucky” as a place “where every family enjoys financial security and a high quality of life.” This is undoubtedly a worthy vision, yet given the current picture of our state, it will take a number of important steps to make that happen: Kentucky’s poverty rate has risen to 19.4 percent (One of the five highest poverty rates in [...]

All Kentucky children should have a chance at success, but many face obstacles that make their journey more difficult. Many families do not make enough money to fulfill their children’s basic needs, such as shelter, food, and health care. Kentucky’s rate of child poverty is staggeringly high, but hides the fact that many families living above the federal poverty level still struggle to make ends meet. Families with incomes above the poverty line may be [...]