Campaign For Our CommonWealth | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Campaign For Our CommonWealth

KFTC has a Vision for Tax Justice in Kentucky...

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth is working for a day when the lives of all our people and communities matter before the profits of a very few. That’s why we work for tax reform that is fair, adequate and sustainable. We’re approaching a moment of urgency for this work, and want you involved.

A Tax Shift that Neglects our Communities

Over the past couple of years (2018-19), the Republican-led General Assembly gave away more than $600 million in revenue, primarily through lower taxes on the wealthy and corporations, while raising sales taxes for everyone. Yet they say they can't find money for textbooks, maintenance at state parks, fully-funded mental health services and many other critical programs. 

Tax Reform that is Fair, Adequate, and Sustainable 

Luckily for our elected offcials, a different playbook based a piece of legislation known as the Kentucky Forward Plan would bring balance to our tax structure by lowering taxes for low- and moderate-income families, ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share, and would generate about $570 million in desperately-needed public dollars every year. That’s true tax reform.

Kentucky's Pension Crises

Employees have always paid their part to the pensions systems; the state must also uphold promises made. Our pensions are underfunded because the state, as an employer, didn’t pay its share for years – not because pensions are too generous. As a part of the Campaign For Our CommonWealth, KFTC stood in solidarity with public employees to prevent the Gov. Bevin and legislators from taking away the pensions these workers EARNED! The best way to solve Kentucky's pension crises is for legislators to raise more revenue and fund the pension system like they should have been this whole time.

Ways to Get Involved and Take Action

To ensure that Kentucky's tax code is fair and grounded in justice, KFTC has launched the Campaign For Our CommonWealth. Below are ways you can engage in this campaign.

Sign and Circulate our Online Petition

The more people that vocalize their support for economic justice and sustainable tax reform in Kentucky the better! Sign up here.

Request a Training, Workshop or Presentation

KFTC offers an array of tax justice workshops to help people learn about our current tax and budget landscape and how to get involved in taking action for a better Kentucky. We'd love your help in hosting a workshop in your community! If you are involved with a faith group, community organization, school or even just a group of friends who want to sit around the kitchen table and learn more, get in touch with Jess Hays Lucas at [email protected] or 859-276-0563.

Join a Regional Tax Justice Team

KFTC members and allies have formed regional grassroots action teams to organize for tax justice in their communities. The current groups are below with contact information for how to get involved.

Tax Justice Webinar Series

KFTC is partnering with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy and other allies to host a webinar series to inform Kentuckians on important issues surrounding important issues of economic justice in Kentucky and where our taxes go. Please join us and learn about the issues (2020 schedule pending).

Issue Area(s): 
Economic Justice