Tax Reform Letter to the Editor in KY Enquirer

Northern Kentucky member Jeff Hampton recently submitted to the Kentucky Enquirer, and had published today, a letter to the editor about the current shortfall in the medicaid budget.

The solution to the Kentucky budget deficit is presented as a stark choice between either Governor Beshear’s plan to borrow money from next year’s budget to offset the $140 million deficit in the State’s Medicaid budget or the Senate’s plan of draconian across the board cuts that hurt our kids through education cuts and our seniors through cuts in medical care funding.

There are other possible solutions that can and should be considered. One of them is an overhaul of Kentucky’s antiquated tax structure in which those most able to pay taxes actually pay the least (about 6%) while middle and lower income earners pay the most (from between 9 and 11%). Why are all of the solutions offered, both Democratic and Republican, sacrifices from those least able to afford them while those most able to help escape from their civic responsibility to pay their fair share?

If it is class warfare to say this, I would only respond that the rich have been waging it for the past 40 years and have been winning hands down.

Jeffrey Hampton

Morningview

You can also read the letter here, and can also post on the story.