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Joint Economic Committee Democrats

Publications

Nov 14 2018

Tax Credits Expand Adoption of Electric Vehicles

Last month, the United Nations released a report highlighting the devastating impacts of global warming. Without a drastic reduction in carbon emissions in the next 12 years, scientists predict the globe will miss its target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and greatly increase our risk of drought, floods, extreme heat, and poverty for millions of people. We need a variety of solutions to this pressing problem, including incentivizing more Americans to adopt electric vehicles.

Nov 13 2018

State and Local Government Infrastructure Investment Dwarfs Federal Government's Share

Public spending on transportation and water infrastructure as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined over the last several decades despite much needed investments across the country. When it comes to infrastructure investment, state and local governments have carried the burden for decades. In 2017, state and local governments accounted for nearly 78 percent of spending on transportation and water infrastructure. Increasing the federal government’s share should be a top priority, as federal infrastructure investment can create good jobs and increase economic activity.

Nov 12 2018

Administration Abandons Lending Protections for Service Members

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) under President Trump’s direction plans to eliminate its supervisory role under the Military Lending Act (MLA) of predatory lenders who charge excessive interest on loans to service members. These predatory lenders target young service members and their families who lack an established credit history and have less access to traditional forms of credit when emergencies occur.

Oct 29 2018

October Economic Snapshot of the States

Although the U.S. economy overall continues its expansion following the Great Recession and associated financial crisis, the recovery can look very different from state to state. The lion’s share of economic gains are not only concentrated at the top of the income and wealth distribution, but also in a small share of regions. While some parts of the country have surged ahead, millions of Americans in urban and rural communities are still waiting for their wages to start rising again and struggling to make ends meet.

Oct 19 2018

GOP Tax Law Risks Shipping American Jobs Overseas

More than 15.4 million Americans have jobs that are vulnerable to offshoring and work in industries with a track record of moving production to foreign countries. Rather than passing policies that protect these workers and their families, President Trump and Congressional Republicans created a law that actually encourages companies to move factories and jobs out of the United States and into foreign countries in order to take advantage of new tax breaks.

Oct 18 2018

Innovation Spotlight: Universal Pre-K in Dayton, Ohio

In a series called "Innovation Spotlight," Joint Economic Committee Democrats are highlighting cutting-edge policy solutions that empower small towns and rural communities across the nation. The latest edition looks at implementing universal pre-K in Dayton, Ohio.

Oct 17 2018

Families & Seniors Foot the Bill for GOP Tax Cuts

The Trump and Bush-era tax cuts are projected to give a $2 trillion break for the wealthiest 1 percent by 2025. Meanwhile, Republicans have proposed $2 trillion in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the ACA between 2019-2028. The average beneficiary of these programs stands to lose an average of $1,500 per year in services or tax credits. This would translate to 3.6 weeks of unpaid work for a retail sales person earning $23,000—the most common job in America. The average household would lose over $3,000 in services and tax credits per year.