Issue Position: Tax Equity

Issue Position

Income inequality hurts. It is a national phenomenon but is rampant here in our state too, as you can see.

Over my five terms in Montpelier I have developed a reputation for reminding legislators that Vermont's median household income is about $53,000. That means half of all Vermont households earn less than $53,000. In Chittenden County the numbers are higher but the same principle applies -- too many families are living paycheck to paycheck.

Part of the solution is making our tax system more progressive. We have a progressive income tax in Vermont, but when we add in other taxes (property, sales, rooms & meals) our overall burden falls on middle-income families.

We can do better and I have been a consistent advocate for making our tax code more progressive so that working families and middle-income families get a break while the wealthiest Vermonters pay their fair share. We can't starve state government since austerity budgets hurt low-income families the most. At the same time, the data proves middle-class families are maxed out and deserve relief.

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