Pros and Cons of the Inflation Reduction Act

Alliance for Citizen Engagement

In its commitment to addressing climate change, the United States is focusing on transforming its existing energy systems to minimize carbon emissions and enhance the adoption of green energy. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, lays out a comprehensive strategy to achieve this transformation. This […]

Understanding the Minimum Wage Debate

Alliance for Citizen Engagement

Introduction A minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay that employers may give their employees. Each U.S. State has the power to set its own minimum wage at or above the federal minimum of $7.25/hr. Minimum wages vary greatly from state to state, ranging from $7.25/hr to $17/hr. Typically, minimum wages will rise over time […]

Pros and Cons of a Residential Tax Credit for Clean Energy

Alliance for Citizen Engagement

Introduction The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, contained many provisions designed to curb the impact of climate change while also addressing economic issues. The main approach to achieving this involves offering residential tax credits for clean energy. These credits enable Americans to get back up to 30% of their expenditure on clean energy upgrades […]

Pros and Cons of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act

Alliance for Citizen Engagement

Background President Nixon initiated the War on Drugs in the 1970s, which was designed to tighten security over the regulation, consumption, offenses, and accessibility of controlled substances. The War on Drugs and increased prosecution of drug-related offenses have disproportionately impacted minority populations. Schedule 1 drugs—substances that are considered to have the greatest risk of abuse […]

Introduction to the Child Tax Credit

Alliance for Citizen Engagement

Introduction The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a tax benefit granted by the government to American taxpayers for each qualifying dependent child under the age of 18 at the end of the tax year. The CTC provides money to support American families by making it more affordable to raise children and by helping them save […]

US Response to the EU Energy Crisis

Alliance for Citizen Engagement

Over the course of the past six months, the United States committed to several EU-U.S. trade agreements to support the European economy in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US aims to reduce the European Union economy’s dependence on Russian gas and oil. The EU and the US have restricted energy imports […]