Economic Justice
Earlier this year, the Richmond city government announced a direct-cash aid program for residents. Since then, it has shown wonderful results: those in need have been able to evade eviction, stave off rising living costs, and even pull themselves out of homelessness. The Family Crisis Fund follows in the footsteps of a program of the […]
Economic Justice
Press Release
Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act Passes Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Richmond, Virginia—Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor passed SB1321, also known as the Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act this afternoon. The bill, sponsored by Senator Jennifer McClellan, would help ensure that utility monopolies are not making too much profit at the expense of hardworking families in our community, and that’s something we can […]
Press Release
Republicans Vote to Lower Minimum Wage for Workers Under 18
Richmond, Virginia—Republican members of the House Commerce and Energy Subcommittee #1 voted today to pass HB1669, a bill that would lower the minimum wage to $9 an hour for any worker who is under the age of 18 years old. The bill, sponsored by Delegate Danny Marshall, unfairly discriminates against youth workers, and it is […]
Press Release
Hardworking Families Disappointed As Members of House Finance Subcommittee Reject Fully Refundable Earned Income Tax Credit
Richmond, Virginia—Hardworking families across the Commonwealth are disappointed as Republican members of the House Finance Subcommittee #1 rejected Delegate Marcia Price’s HB1312, a bill to make the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) fully refundable. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a targeted tax credit that low-wage Virginians can claim at tax time to reduce what they owe […]
Press Release
Workers Across the Commonwealth Celebrate As Democrats Protect Our Progress On Minimum Wage
Richmond, Virginia—Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor voted today to block two bills that would have capped the minimum wage at $11 an hour. HB296 and HB320 both would have capped the minimum wage at just $11 an hour, though they went about it in slightly different ways. The minimum wage is currently set to raise […]
Press Release
Counsel at First Appearance Promises Pretrial Quality Representation for Everyone
Richmond, Virginia—In a pivotal step towards justice today, Virginia community members are relieved today after members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of SB475 , Senator Jennifer McClellan’s bill requiring defendants to have access to a lawyer the very first time they appear before a judge. This move ensures that everyone, particularly people […]
News
6 Things I Hate About Delegate Nick Freitas
Going through the bills that were filed this session, I noticed a disturbing pattern: many of the worst bills were all sponsored by the same guy. Who, you might ask? None other than Delegate Nick Freitas.
News
Work, Work, Work, Work, Workers’ Rights
“How can we have a labor shortage if there are so many people who are unemployed?” Ahh, the question posed by all of our least favorite uncles. I think the answer can be summed up into three words: People are tired. Tired of working long hours for little pay. Tired of putting themselves at risk […]
News
Help Is on the Way for Virginia Student Loan Borrowers!
More than a million Virginians are saddled with student loan debt, and a lot of them have to deal with sketchy student loan servicers that have a history of scamming borrowers. Check this–– nowadays these companies are not subject to the same rules and oversight that exist for other financial service providers, like credit cards […]
News
Three Reasons We’re Celebrating The Passage of the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights
It seems like approximately one million years ago (pandemic time is real), but in March, members of the General Assembly passed the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, a series of bills designed to protect domestic workers and ensure they earn at least the minimum wage for their work. This is the first of its kind […]