Budgets
Budgets are more than numbers on a page. They’re reflections of our state and national priorities, and of our willingness as a society to work together to make those goals a reality. Strong investments in vital public infrastructure like education, health care and child care can help remove barriers to opportunity for struggling Alabamians and promote shared prosperity for everyone in our state. Arise’s budget analysis examines the importance of investing in these services and protecting them from harmful, shortsighted cuts.
Featured Resources
Fact Sheet
How would the grocery tax reduction bill (HB 479) benefit every Alabamian?
HB 479 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, is a grocery tax reduction bill that would benefit every Alabamian. Below is a look at the principles that make a grocery tax reform bill good, what the bill does and what Alabamians need next. What makes a grocery tax reform bill good for Alabamians Provides a tax [...]
Fact Sheet
Why Arise supports HB 479 / SB 257, a good plan to untax groceries in Alabama
SB 257 by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, and HB 479 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, are grocery tax reduction bills that would benefit every Alabamian. Below is a look at the principles that make a grocery tax reform bill good, what the bills do and what Alabamians need next. What makes a grocery tax reform [...]
Fact Sheet
What would an ideal plan to untax groceries in Alabama look like?
Several tax bills (including grocery tax cut bills) will be discussed this year in the Alabama Legislature. What makes a tax reform bill good for Alabamians? Here are four important factors to keep in mind: It provides a tax cut for families with low incomes (not just wealthy households). Alabama’s state sales tax on groceries [...]
Fact Sheet
A revenue-neutral plan to untax groceries in Alabama
Alabama Arise supports legislation that would end the state sales tax on groceries and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and protect school funding. By capping the state income tax deduction for federal income taxes, the plan would bring in $520 million a year, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) estimates. That would replace the revenue from ending the [...]
Letters & Testimony
Alabama Arise, 81 partner groups urge Alabama to fund public transportation
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) relief funding provides an opportunity for Alabama to jump-start public transportation across the state. Alabama Arise joined 81 partner organizations Wednesday in a letter asking lawmakers to allocate ARPA money to public transportation. The full text of the letter is below. Letter text Dear Governor Ivey, Lieutenant Governor Ainsworth, members [...]
Personal Stories
Postpartum Medicaid extension brings a glimmer of hope for new mothers in Alabama
This story originally appeared on AL.com. On Mother’s Day in 2014, I found out I was pregnant. For me, the existential dread set in just as deeply as the morning sickness. Motherhood and its crushing weight had been drilled into me my entire life. I told myself it was too hard, that I just wasn’t [...]
Letters & Testimony
Alabama Arise, partners urge no disruption to summer food program in Alabama
The Summer Food Service Program has been a critical tool to fight child hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. But many key program flexibilities will expire June 30 unless Alabama applies for a waiver. Alabama Arise and our partners in the Hunger-Free Alabama coalition wrote a letter Thursday to state school Superintendent Eric Mackey to urge [...]
Letters & Testimony
Alabama Arise testimony on ARPA funding priorities in Alabama
Alabama Arise’s Robyn Hyden testified Wednesday before a joint meeting of the House and Senate’s General Fund budget committees. She discussed Arise’s top priorities for lawmakers’ allocation of federal relief funds under the American Rescue Plan Act. Here’s the full text of Hyden’s prepared remarks: Good afternoon. My name is Robyn Hyden. I am the [...]
Resources
Alabama Arise toolkit on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is an unprecedented opportunity for local and state lawmakers in Alabama to invest equitably in an economic recovery that serves Alabamians of all backgrounds. ARPA provides $130 billion in federal funding directly to local governments. This level of aid will help communities across the country shape their recovery from [...]
Letters & Testimony
To strengthen the common good: Six principles for allocating Alabama’s ARPA funding
Introduction Dear Governor Ivey, One of the darkest years in recent memory has put Alabama’s families, communities, health system, businesses – and our leaders at all levels – to the test. Thank you for all your efforts to keep Alabamians safe and secure during this unprecedented emergency. Now that a post-COVID world is dawning, the [...]
