Read all 28,000+ words here: kypolicy.org/preview-of-t...

And read even more in our new report, "Building a Kentucky Workers Can Afford." kypolicy.org/kentucky-wor...

bgdailynews.com/2025/12/10/l...

4. Kentuckians need an affordability agenda

None of this is inevitable. Our new report includes many state level policy options to directly ease the cost of living and grow good jobs that make life more affordable. kypolicy.org/kentucky-wor...

3. Workers and families are struggling

In many Kentucky communities, the median family income is not enough to cover basic family needs.

2. Wages are suppressed and incomes are inadequate.

Blame it on weakened labor laws, inaction to raise the minimum wage, unfair trade policies and a failure to enact fiscal and monetary policies that maintain a consistent economy of full employment.

A windfall tax on the wealthy that asks those at the top to pay what they owe would go a long way in funding the investments requiring new resources in this report.

Read the report: kypolicy.org/kentucky-wor...

A key part of implementing these strategies is balancing Kentucky’s upside-down tax code that has resulted in the richest 5% of Kentuckians paying an astounding $3.4 billion less a year in state and federal taxes than they were just a decade ago.

• Strengthening communities by building affordable housing, reinvesting in public schools and increasing resilience to natural disasters.

• Supporting families by helping kids thrive, fighting rising health care costs and expanding secure retirements.

The report contains ideas proven to work in other states and in Kentucky’s past, including:

• Increasing job quality by improving wages and working conditions, growing labor unions, and making education and training more affordable.

Our op-ed on why it's time to stop efforts to eliminate the income tax in Kentucky: www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-e...