Arkansas state lawmakers defeated a bill on Tuesday that would have provided tax relief to low-income families, prompting a sharp response from grassroots advocates who say the move “amounts to a war on working people trying to get ahead.” Image may be NSFW.
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The Arkansas Citizens First Congress, a coalition of 54 community organizations that supports progressive reforms, released a statement about the defeat of the Working Families Opportunity Act, which is an earned income tax credit.
Coalition activists pointed out that low-income families in Arkansas are taxed at twice the rate as residents who have earnings in the top 1 percent. The tax share paid by the state’s middle-class residents, they added, is disproportionately high.
“By rejecting the Working Families Opportunity Act, the Legislature and governor ensured that Arkansas’ tax system remains the worst in the country,” Mark Robinson, co-chair of the coalition, said in a statement.
“Every time the Legislature meets they make it worse, tilting the system a little further towards the super rich.”
The Working Families Opportunity Act was the only bill of its kind this legislative session for low-income residents, according to the coalition.
Advocates voiced concern that state lawmakers have approved tax cuts for corporations, stock brokers and wealthy residents, yet thousands of workers in the state are “struggling on the ground.”
In recent months, members of the Arkansas Citizens First Congress have visited lawmakers and asked that they protect education and “put families first.” This week, the coalition is bringing dozens of students to the state Capitol for a youth advocacy event.
