KEJA Economic Justice
Policy Framework
CRITICAL ISSUES
2006-2010
Fair & Adequate Taxes
Goal:
Establish a fair tax system in Kentucky that asks most from those most
able to pay and generates adequate funds to invest in education, health
care, and other public structures that improve the quality of life in
Kentucky.
Analysis: Kentucky’s tax system has long been recognized as outdated and unjust. It puts a higher responsibility for paying taxes on the poorest Kentuckians, and is marked by exemptions and loopholes for the wealthy and corporations.
As currently designed, our tax system results in the chronic under-funding of education, health care and other critical needs.
Poor political leadership and adherence to “revenue neutral” tax policies has produced record levels of state debt and rising costs of tuition and other fees.
Principles: Kentucky’s tax system should be fair; it should support needed investment in education and public structures; and it should promote the health and well being of Kentuckians. A fair tax system asks corporations and individuals to contribute based on their ability to pay, and asks the most of those who have most.
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