Affordable Virginia Joins National Push for Fair Taxation and Calls on Lawmakers to End Corporate Handouts

Washington, DC – Last week, Affordable Virginia joined advocates from across the country for Fair Share America’s lobby day at the Capitol. As the 2017 Republican Tax Law is nearing its 2025 expiration, legislators and individuals from states across the US joined together, all in support of a more inclusive and fair tax program where corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share. Virginians from Virginia Beach joined the group to lobby their representatives in Congress on this issue.

“As a veteran, upon completing my service, I found that my country has left me and so many other working families behind,” said Lewis Ogletree, Army Veteran from Virginia Beach. “I still believe that America is the land of opportunity, and each person deserves to pursue their version of the American Dream. We should not be putting the weight of our essential programs on working families who are barely scraping by. We should instead be ensuring that corporations and the ultra-wealthy are paying their fair share.”

From Left to Right: Emily Yeatts, Dr. Kathy Dial, Lewis Ogletree

“Whether you’re a small business owner, a teacher, or work in the shipyard – you have likely seen the negative effects of this tax law,” said Emily Yeatts, Affordable Virginia Campaign Director. “The Republican Tax Law incentivized corporations to price gouge and pocket their profits while working families continue to struggle. Representative Kiggans has the opportunity to put people above profit and change course on her support of the 2017 Tax Law.”

Affordable Virginia is urging Representative Jen Kiggans to withdraw her support of the Tax Law, raise the corporate tax rate, and use the revenue raised to invest in programs that would benefit working families, such as paid family and medical leave, affordable child care, and crucial social safety nets like veterans healthcare, Social Security, and Medicare.