On April 9, 2026, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies hosted the webinar, Taxing Consumption and Work: The Cost to Black Households:

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) makes major changes to the federal tax code with implications that extend well beyond Washington. As federal revenue shifts and intergovernmental fiscal pressures intensify, states are likely to face renewed budget constraints which often lead to greater reliance on consumption taxes, fees, and other regressive revenue tools. This cost shift translates into higher everyday expenses, from sales taxes and transportation costs to utility fees and local property tax pressures. Black households are particularly exposed to these shifts due to longstanding disparities in income and wealth and because state and local tax structures rely heavily on taxing work and consumption rather than accumulated wealth.

This webinar examined how H.R.1 reshapes fiscal responsibility across levels of government, how these changes raise the cost of living for Black households and undermine Black affordability for low‑ and moderate‑income families and the Black middle class, and what federal and state policymakers should do now to prevent deepening inequities and further strain on Black middle‑class stability.

Grounding Remarks:

• Portia Allen-Kyle, Attorney, Scholar, and Member of the Joint Center’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee

Panelists:

• Kyle K. Moore, Economist, Economic Policy Institute (Slides here)
• Goldburn P. Maynard Jr., Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut and Member of the Joint Center’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee (Slides here)
• Erica Williams, Executive Director, DC Fiscal Policy Institute (Slides here)
• Whitney Jemison, Director of State Fiscal Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Slides here)

Moderator:

• Dr. LaToya Parker, Senior Researcher, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies