skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, December 1, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

On World AIDS Day, New Mexico activists say more money is needed for prevention; ND farmers still navigate corporate land-ownership policy maze; Unpaid caregivers in ME receive limited financial grants.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges Israel to protect civilians amid Gaza truce talks, New York Rep. George Santos defends himself as his expected expulsion looms and CDC director warns about respiratory illness as flu season begins.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Congress has iced the Farm Bill, but farmer advocates argue some portions are urgent, the Hoosier State is reaping big rewards from wind and solar, and opponents react to a road through Alaska's Brooks Range, long a dream destination for hunters and anglers.

Tax Rebate Proposal Aims to Fend Off Inflation Impacts on ID Families

play audio
Play

Monday, December 12, 2022   

A tax rebate program approved during the Idaho special session this year has sparked an idea: why not send more rebates to families?

In September, state lawmakers approved a program that sent $300 to individuals and $600 to joint tax filers, in order to spend down the state's record budget surplus.

A collaboration between the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy and PODER of Idaho, the Elevate Idaho Families Coalition, is exploring how that rebate impacted households.

Estefania Mondragon is the executive director of PODER of Idaho.

"Especially in times of this inflation that we're seeing, $200, $300 actually goes a long way for many of the families," said Mondragon. "And so what we're seeing is that this rebate that just was passed during special session already creating a lot of relief for families."

PODER of Idaho is a grassroots organization that advocates for the Latino and immigrant community in the state.

The Elevate Idaho Families Coalition is considering proposing a tax rebate program in the upcoming legislative session. People have until the end of the year to claim the tax rebate.

Mondragon said the rising costs of goods and housing are affecting the families her organization works with. She said families have been cutting back and seeking out food assistance.

"We know we're in the holiday season," said Mondragon. "Many families might not buy their children presents because if it's between and dinner, of course they're going to choose to feed their children."

Mondragon said so far, they're finding that families are spending the rebate checks locally and on basic goods.

Over the past few years, families also were supported by federal programs, like stimulus checks that went out during the pandemic and the expanded Child Tax Credit, which reduced child poverty to a record low rate nationwide.

Mondragon said these positive impacts could be modeled again on the state level.

"We're gathering stories from families that received the rebate," said Mondragon, "low-to-moderate income families that received the rebate to see if it's making a difference, see if we should continue the policy, possibly make it permanent or find a variation of that."

The Idaho legislative session is scheduled to begin on January 9.




get more stories like this via email
more stories
According to the National Family Farm Coalition, the average U.S. farmland value is now $3,800 per
acre, the highest since the 1970s. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

North Dakota's farming landscape is seeing policy shifts dealing with corporate ownership of agricultural interests. Now, there's fresh debate at the …


Social Issues

play sound

Advocates for unpaid family caregivers in Maine say they'll need continued support beyond the recently passed paid family and medical leave program…

Social Issues

play sound

The Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida are filing lawsuits against the deacti…


An estimated 40% of recent college graduates in the U.S. are underemployed, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

A new report from WGU Labs, a nonprofit affiliate of Western Governors University based in Millcreek, Utah, is shedding light on the importance of …

Social Issues

play sound

Many older residents of Washington state are facing strains on their budgets -- and the government programs that could assist them are underused…

The Thrive Indianapolis Annual Report 2022 says Indianapolis has been recognized as a Tree City USA for 35 consecutive years. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Bloomington and Indianapolis are getting some international recognition for the work they're doing to help the environment. The two have been named …

Health and Wellness

play sound

New Mexico activists are tapping today's World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, to announce they'll ask the State Legislature to provide more money for treatment …

play sound

Bipartisan legislation that proposes the installation of solar panels in schools across Pennsylvania awaits a vote in the state Senate. The Solar …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021