Economic Justice

CFC Priorities for the 2011 Legislative Session

• Support fair tax reform that lowers the burden on low- and middle-income families while protecting the integrity of the state budget.

• Implement energy policies to save consumers money, create jobs and combat climate change.

• Discourage wage theft by increasing penalties for any employer who fails to pay workers.

• End corporate tax hideouts by implementing a “combined reporting” law that limits the ability of Arkansas companies to avoid paying certain state taxes.
• Create an Arkansas Renewable Energy Payment Program (AREPP) and a statewide Energy Improvement District (EID).

Economic Justice Bill Tracking

Past Accomplishments

2007

Although Arkansas still has one of the most unfair tax systems in the country, the 2007 General Assembly made some strides toward progress for working Arkansans in this area.  Essentially there were 3 major tax acts: a cut in the grocery tax, an increase in the minimum amount for income tax and an increase in the amount that can be claimed as a Homestead exemption. 

Additionally, we successfully protected the increase in the minimum wage for tipped employees from a rollback.  We fought for more regulation of "payday lenders" but were unsuccessful.  A couple of tax cuts for the corporate world slipped through but we were largely successful in our fight to help working people keep more of the money they bring home.