Find out more in the new @kypolicy.bsky.social report, produced with the help of @itep.org, here: 8/ kypolicy.org/kentucky-tax...

State decision-makers should explain why they would not tax the windfall the wealthy few have received to prevent harms and invest in a better and more affordable commonwealth for the many. 7/

Kentucky faces a $305M revenue shortfall this year and problems in the next budget because of state income tax cuts, an economy weakened by federal policies and new costs shifted to the state because of HR 1. 6/

The richest 1% will receive $1.7 billion. For the same price, Kentucky could make all public universities and community colleges tuition-free, or build tens of thousands of units of new affordable housing every year. 5/

That's more than the state will spend in 2026 on Medicaid, which covers 1.5 million kids, seniors, people with disabilities and low-wage workers now at risk of losing health coverage due to HR 1. 4/

For example, the richest 5%, whose average household income is $617,720 a year, will receive $3.4 billion in state and federal tax cuts in 2026. 3/

The rich are receiving a huge windfall from the legislature's effort to eliminate the individual income tax and from federal tax cuts--including in HR 1, the megabill that Congress passed this summer. 2/

In the absence of leadership in Washington DC, Kentuckians can and should act to protect our people. See more here: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

The President is legally obligated to fund SNAP in November using contingency funds but has so far refused to do so. Congress can also easily keep kynect health care costs from skyrocketing and reopen the government to resume funding SNAP but has failed to take that action. 3/

The money is there in the state’s Budget Reserve Trust Fund to fill the gap in the loss of November SNAP benefits. Kentucky has stockpiled $3.76 billion in that fund, and aid equal in cost to November benefits would take a fraction of that. 2/

“That needs to be on the list of options, because it’s a downpour for the 600,000 Kentuckians who are not going to have enough food on the table if their benefits are cut off. I believe that the primary purpose of the rainy day fund is for emergencies. And this is one.” - @jbaileyky.bsky.social

As explained here, the administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund these benefits: www.cbpp.org/research/foo...

If the spike in costs will be a challenge for you and your family to meet and you'd like to tell your story, please share it here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Find your county, and more information, here: kypolicy.org/kentuckians-...