Take action for meaningful, fair tax reform.

In his State of the Commonwealth address on February 6, Governor Steve Beshear spoke bluntly about the shape Kentucky is in, and he made a strong case for legislators to pass meaningful, fair tax reforms that raise new revenue for education and essential public services.

KFTC members know that moments like this – when elected leaders take difficult political positions to advance a positive vision for all Kentuckians – don’t come around very often. And when they do, it’s important to make our voices heard.

Please take a moment to contact Governor Beshear and leaders of the Kentucky House and Senate today. Tell them you support the governor’s call for fair and adequate tax reforms. Urge them to get behind HB 142, a set of comprehensive reforms based on a vision for making Kentucky a great state.

Take Action

1) Call Governor Steve Beshear at (502) 564-2611. “Thank you for making the case for fair and adequate tax reform. Together we can build a bright future in Kentucky. Please support HB 142.”

2) Call the legislative message line and leave a message for both House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Senate President Robert Stivers at 800-372-7181. “Together we can build a bright future in Kentucky. Support the Governor’s call for fair and adequate tax reforms. Pass HB 142.”

HB 142 is a bill filed by Rep. Jim Wayne of Louisville. The bill is built around many recommendations advanced by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform. KFTC supports HB 142, which raises about $800 million in new revenue while bringing needed fairness to our tax system. The bill creates a 15% refundable Earned Income Tax Credit to direct $115 million back to working families with household incomes of less than $42,000. It asks wealthy Kentuckians to contribute slightly more (although still far less, as a percentage, than lower income Kentuckians currently pay). HB 142 also differs from the Blue Ribbon Tax Commission’s report in some important ways. Most notably, it does not include sizeable new corporate tax cuts that would cost more than $130 million.

As you contact lawmakers about investing in Kentucky’s future by supporting HB 142, keep in mind concerns that were expressed by Louisville member Becki Winchel at a press conference with Rep. Wayne introducing HB 142:

“It’s disturbing when I hear legislators say we don’t need more revenue. Where have they been? In my work with the non-profit community in Louisville, I've seen too many folks who are trampled, looked over or turned away. That’s not the kind of people we are. That’s not the kind of state we want to be. But those realities are a function of our inadequate state budget.”

Learn more

• The Governor’s State of the Commonwealth address

• Our HB 142 fact sheet

• An article about HB 142, a comprehensive tax bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Wayne and supported by KFTC

• An analysis of the bleak budget situation facing Kentucky