Economic Justice

CFC Priorities for the 2009 Legislative Session

Stimulate our economy by supporting entrepreneur, small business and rural development.  It’s time we spent more resources on growing our economy from the bottom up.

Support progressive tax-reform that lowers the burden on low and middle income families while protecting the integrity of the state budget.  Low income Arkansans currently pay TWICE the tax rate that wealthy Arkansans pay, and middle income families pay a disproportionately heavy share as well.

Close the loophole in Arkansas labor law that prevents the Department of Labor from prosecuting mid-size employers who steal the wages of their employees.

Update! - April 2

Update! - February 17

Economic Stimulus Package Information

Accomplishments of the CFC in the 2007 Arkansas General Assembly

Although Arkansas still has one of the most unfair tax systems in the country, the 2007 General Assembly made some strides toward progress for working Arkansans in this area.  Essentially there were 3 major tax acts: a cut in the grocery tax, an increase in the minimum amount for income tax and an increase in the amount that can be claimed as a Homestead exemption. 

Additionally, we successfully protected the increase in the minimum wage for tipped employees from a rollback.  We fought for more regulation of "payday lenders" but were unsuccessful.  A couple of tax cuts for the corporate world slipped through but we were largely successful in our fight to help working people keep more of the money they bring home.