Business

Many oil companies have sought access to ANWR for years, but the official decision to open it comes at a time when few in the industry are expected to take a risk on unexplored properties with little data on the oil resources beneath the surface. But Bernhardt said despite the absence of seismic data that companies use to map out oil reservoirs before drilling, he expected interest to be strong. “I think a lot of people will bid without seismic data,” he told reporters. President Donald Trump, who has previously boasted about opening ANWR, indicated in an interview early Monday that no final decision had been made on opening the area. “We may or may not do it,” he said. “Well no, we are looking at it.” Bernhardt declined to comment on Trump’s comments, saying,...

Congress has access to this basic information. A Congressional Research Service study notes that since the EITC was first enacted in 1975, lawmakers have shown a growing preference for using these refundable tax credits to help working families afford childcare, health care, education and have the income to cover the basics of life; Congress likes these refundable credits as they are thought to encourage work. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes that in 2018, the EITC lifted over 10 million people out of poverty, while making over 17 million less poor. This statistic shows both how important the EITC has been to improving the health and well being of families — but it also shows the extent to which our economy has come to rely on the working poor. It is also important to note ...