If you're not in Frankfort for KFTC's Economic Justice Lobby Day, call in!

KFTC members and allies are headed to Frankfort to speak out for policies that would build new economic power in Kentucky, and to defend against policies that would move Kentucky in the wrong direction. You can join in from home!

What are two policies that, together, would build new economic power in Kentucky? A robust Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) along with an increase in the minimum wage would transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians. Both policies are in both the House and the Senate, and the time is now to move them through.

Raising the minimum wage would benefit 1 in 4 Kentucky workers, and 22% of the state’s children, according to a recent KCEP report. Raising tipped worker wages is a necessary addition; Kentucky is one of only 13 states that haven’t yet updated the $2.13 wage for tipped workers. Both the House and the Senate have bills to raise Kentucky’s wage—HB 1, HB 191, and SB 215.

The perfect compliment to raised wages is enacting a robust state Earned Income Tax Credit. KFTC’s Kentucky Forward Plan (HB 220) includes a 15% EITC, as did the Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations. There’s also an EITC bill in the Senate (SB 155), and an EITC was included in the Governor’s tax proposal. To learn more about how the EITC would impact your community, check out this KCEP report with district specific data.

The time is now for these policies. Together, they can lift Kentucky workers out of poverty and into economic stability.

TAKE ACTION

Call the toll-free legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181, and ask to leave a message for the House and Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee members, the Senate State and Local Government Committee, and House and Senate Leadership. “Please support a robust EITC and raising the minimum wage. Hand-in-hand, these policies will improve the lives of Kentucky’s workers and their children.”

If you have just a few more minutes, legislators also need to hear from you about these bills that KFTC opposes:

1) The AT&T bill is back again as the telecommunications industry tries to deregulate itself and cut Kentuckians off from landline service with SB 99. Let’s hang up on them. The AT&T bill has passed the Senate, and is up for a vote in the House Economic Development Committee Thursday at 8 a.m.

TAKE ACTION
Call the toll-free legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181, and ask to leave a message for House Leadership and the House Economic Development Committee: “Keep Kentucky’s phone lines open by rejecting SB 99, the AT&T bill.”

2) The Local Option Sales Tax (SB 135/HB 399) would disproportionately impact lower-income Kentuckians, and the revenue would fund projects (like a building), but not programs—like an affordable housing trust fund. By lifting up viable options to the Local Option Sales Tax—options that don’t disproportionately impact lower-income residents—we can show our cities and towns a better way to reach shared goals.

TAKE ACTION
Call the toll-free legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181, and ask to leave a message for your representative, your senator, House Leadership, and Senate Appropriations Committee: “I urge you to join me in opposing the SB 135/HB 399. There are fairer options for local revenue that don’t disproportionately impact low-income Kentuckians.”

Thank you for taking action!