ON CAPITOL HILL, 200+ ADVOCATES LAUNCH NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO WIN TAX FAIRNESS WITH LOBBY DAY + PRESS CONFERENCE

18 September 2024

Today, Hundreds Arrived in DC to Launch a National Campaign to Win Tax Fairness in Congress and in State Capitols

With 2017 Tax Law Expiring Next Year, Members of Congress, National Movement Leaders, & Fair Tax Advocates from across the U.S. Made Clear Americans will Accept Nothing Less Than Higher Taxes for the Wealthy and Big Corporations 

**VIEW PRESS CONFERENCE HERE***

Washington, DC –  Today, members of Congress, fair tax advocates and national labor, climate, and care economy leaders came together on Capitol Hill to champion raising taxes on the wealthy. Notable attendees including Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), National Education Association President Becky Pringle, and National Domestic Workers Association President Ai-jen Poo to send on clear message on 2025 tax reform: Millions of Americans are united in their desire to see Congress make the U.S. tax code fairer by raising taxes for the wealthy and big corporations when the 2017 tax law expires next year.

Leading the day’s efforts was Fair Share America (FSA), a new and groundbreaking organization uniting state and federal campaigns across the country to win major tax reforms in 2025 and beyond. Following meetings with members of Congress, hundreds gathered outside the Capitol to celebrate the launch of Fair Share America. Joining them was the State Revenue Alliance (SRA) – a key partner to FSA – who works with dozens of state-based policy, labor, and community organizations. 

Advocates from 22 states held over 100 meetings with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress to echo calls they made to congressional leaders in May, which included: 

• Raising the corporate tax rate

• Raising taxes on wealthy and high-income households / not extending tax cuts for those making over $400,0000 annually 

• Raising revenue and using revenues raised to finance investments in families, workers, and communities 

SRA Executive Director Amber Wallin said, “Lawmakers may be used to seeing an army of well-dressed lobbyists, but starting today they will see their constituents, families, and communities engage on tax policy. Those who came to DC today represent many thousands of people back home who are ready to take on the powerful – in a fight decades in the making and one that we are not going to lose. The rich and the most well-connected aren’t paying their fair share that has to change in Congress and in our state capitols.”

Taxes and revenue are among the major issues driving the 2024 election cycle. With the looming expiration of several federal tax cuts – which primarily benefited the wealthy and well-connected –the federal and state debates around taxes will merge, making the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions enormously important.

Advocates came to Washington from 22 states, including more than 50 people from New York. “Our work to make New York an affordable, healthy, safe place for working-class people to thrive goes beyond the halls of Albany,” said Invest In Our NY Campaign Director Carolyn Martinez-Class. “We’re not waiting until next year to make our federal priorities clear. Regardless of their party affiliation, New York’s federal representatives must fight for all of us, not just the wealthy few. That means reversing the extremely regressive 2017 tax cuts that benefited millionaires and billionaires and ensuring giant corporations pay what they owe in taxes.”

Maribel Ponce traveled to Washington from Arizona with the Arizona Center for Empowerment. She is an immigrant, mother of two and caregiver to her elderly parents. She said, “Families like mine are struggling to meet the challenges of juggling multiple jobs, caregiving responsibilities, and financial insecurity. While the wealthy and corporate executives can afford to take time off, millions of working families like hers cannot. No one should be forced to choose between caring for their loved ones and maintaining job security, that’s why I’ve fought to make sure everyone has access to paid family leave. That’s why I’m here today; if the wealthy paid what they owe in taxes we will be able to fund programs that provide essential support to caregivers, parents, and immigrants.”

The events in Washington come on the heels of a national survey conducted by Data for Progress on behalf of State Revenue Alliance that shows an overwhelming majority of respondents–78 percent overall–support raising taxes on wealthy corporations and individuals making more than $400,000 per year. 

Participating organizations came from 22 states, including: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington State, Wisconsin, and Virginia. 

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State Revenue Alliance provides a network of state-based community, labor, and policy advocates from across the country with the strategic resources they need to build intersectional, people-powered campaigns that transform revenue policy – ensuring states fully fund communities and that corporations and the ultra-rich pay what they owe.