The Other Side of the Coin

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May 7, 2009 Michael Cassidy, Executive
Director The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal
Analysis
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3 Legislative Caucuses
14 Commissions or Task Forces
8 Poverty Reduction Targets
11 Summits
8 Poverty Reduction Targets
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United States
Virginia
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Putting Poverty in Perspective

• Richmond International Raceway (RIR) home to
  Virginias largest sporting events
• Seating capacity 107,097

• RIR could be filled more than twice with the
  number of Virginia children living in poverty
• RIR could be filled almost 7 times with the
  number of Virginians living in poverty

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Unemployment Insurance RecipiencyOnly 4 States
Extend Fewer Benefits
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Medicaid SpendingOnly 3 States Spend Less
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Medicaid EligibilityOnly 7 States Have More
Stringent Rules
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Recommendations

• Make VA Earned Income Credit refundable
• Expand Medicaid coverage
• Raise minimum wage
• Reform unemployment insurance
• Expand food stamps
• Improve TANF