Brent Kramer, PhD, Senior Economist

 

ALBANY, New York – In today’s post-Great Recession environment, student loan debt has reached all-time highs, and more young adults are living at home longer, and are unable to purchase homes, cars, and other assets because of persistent unemployment or underemployment. Many young would-be workers are forgoing the job market altogether, and returning to school or taking unpaid internships in hopes of breaking into their respective fields.

Eight years after … (read more)

August 1, 2017.

We’re pleased to announce some staff changes at the Fiscal Policy Institute.

Kendra Moses recently joined FPI as Operations Manager. Kendra comes to us from Greater Adirondack Home Aides, where she was Chief Financial Officer and Consumer Directed Medicaid Program Director.

Melissa Krug was hired as FPI’s new Poverty Policy Analyst. Melissa was a Center for Women and Government fellow at FPI through the budget season working on poverty issues.

David Dyssegaard Kallick has been promoted to … (read more)

For immediate release: June 5, 2017

 

Watchdog Groups to Senate and Assembly: Don’t Come Home Without Passing Comprehensive Clean Contracting Reforms Legislature has yet to act on massive corruption risks revealed by biggest bid rigging scandal in New York State history

Watchdog groups again called on New York State Senate leader John Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to pass comprehensive Clean Contracting legislation.

To date, the legislature … (read more)

 Medicaid Supports New York’s Schools and Children House Republican Plans to Cut Medicaid Would Jeopardize Critical Health Services for Students

[Albany, NY] – New York’s schools receive over $273 million from Medicaid each year, according to data released by the Washington, DC-based Center on Budget and Policy … (read more)

March, 2017. The substantial growth in New York’s nonprofit human services sector has come in response to a host of social, demographic and economic changes. The State and its local governments have turned to nonprofit organizations to provide these critical services; these are public services that serve many populations, including children and those with low incomes striving to enter the middle class. Millions of New Yorkers are directly served, and all New Yorkers reap the benefits of more stable … (read more)

February 7, 2017. Executive Director Ron Deutsch testified before the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees on the Governor’s FY 2018 Proposed Budget and Financial Plan.

Income inequality, as indicated by the richest 1 percent share of total income, has grown substantially since 1980 in New York State as well as nationally. One of the most sensible tools the state has to address the growing income gap in New York is the millionaires’ tax. The proposed extension of … (read more)

February 7, 2017. In its 27th annual New York State budget briefing book, the Fiscal Policy Institute analyzes and comments on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s FY 2018 Executive Budget.

This year’s New York State budget negotiations take shape against a worrisome backdrop. The president and congress are threatening to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, make drastic cuts to programs that help millions of New Yorkers, and create a hostile environment for the states four million immigrants. The state has an … (read more)

January 27, 2017. As part of a campaign launched earlier this fall, and in recognition of EITC Awareness Day, over 60 New York-based organizations representing hundreds of thousands of residents throughout the state sent a letter to Senator Schumer urging him to stand strong in his support for expanding the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working adults not raising children in the home. This expansion would help 1.1 million workers (466,000 of whom are actually taxed into – … (read more)

January 10, 2017. The following op-ed by Ron Deutsch appeared in the Buffalo News.

Poverty. While it may not be the glitz and glamour of a flashy news story, it is a very real and pervasive issue for millions of Americans, particularly in New York State. As such, and especially in the aftermath of the 2016 election, it should be clear to members of both political parties that struggling workers face real challenges and need real solutions.

The need in … (read more)

March 18, 2016. The state’s EITC is an extremely important benefit to low- and moderate-income working families. There is considerable merit to Assemblyman Kolb’s proposed 50% enhancement to the state’s EITC, raising it form 30% to 45% of the federal EITC. However, the proposal is certainly not a substitute for raising the minimum wage. It is more appropriate to view the EITC and raising the minimum wage as complementary policies. See the complete brief issued jointly by the Fiscal Policy … (read more)