With poverty on the rise in Louisiana, a new Louisiana Budget Project report urges policymakers to consider doubling the value of the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)—one of the most effective anti-poverty policies.
Nearly 30 percent of Louisiana households receive the EITC, which rewards and encourages work by increasing income. The credit is especially beneficial for children, as studies have shown that higher family incomes leads to stronger school performance and improved lifetime earnings.
Unlike many other tax credits that have never been rigorously evaluated, the benefits of the EITC for Louisiana’s families and children are proven. Doubling the value of the EITC would be an important investment in a stronger economic future for Louisiana.
For a copy of the full report and more information on LBP, visit www.labudget.org and read “Louisiana’s Earned Income Tax Credit: A Smart Investment in Working Families and Children.”