Brakeyshia Samms
Policy Analyst
Brakeyshia researches and writes about tax policies to inform the public and supports advocates and policymakers with analyses to help secure equitable tax policies, sound fiscal practices, and policy solutions that remedy historical injustices.
Prior to joining ITEP in August 2021, she was a senior associate with Pew’s Fiscal Federalism Initiative. At Pew, she researched tax policies and public programs at the intersection of the federal-state fiscal relationship. Her research products included analyses of the student loan interest deduction, the geographic distribution of federal tax policies, and the state and local tax deduction, among others.
Before Pew, she was a state policy fellow with Every Texan in Austin, Texas, through the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ postgraduate fellowship program. At Every Texan, she conducted research, published reports, op-eds, and blog posts, and presented legislative testimony on budget and tax policies in Texas. In addition, she was the lead organizer for Texas Forward, a coalition of over 70 organizations that advocated for fair budget and tax policies.
Her publications and work have garnered the attention of the public, other researchers, and the media. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Texas at Tyler and a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University. She is a proud native of Carrollton, Texas.
brakeyshia at itep.orgRecent Publications and Posts view more
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State Tax Policy Should Adopt the Principles of ‘Black Women Best’
Focusing policy analysis on Black women illustrates how Black women have long shouldered the shortcomings of the economy and clearly points to solutions that work for all. Black women are at their best when they are financially secure, healthy, and free – and our economy is at its best when all people can thrive and benefit.
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How Tax Decisions in 2025 Can Advance Racial Justice
In the coming 14 months, federal lawmakers should address longstanding issues of racism in the tax code. With a presidential election this fall and many provisions of 2017’s Trump tax law expiring at the end of 2025, the debate over tax policy and economic fairness is in full swing.