The wealthiest people in our country keep getting richer, while working families struggle to make ends meet—and the gap between the ultra-rich and the rest of us grows even greater. The nation’s 740 billionaires now control more wealth than the 65 million households that make up the bottom half of our economy. They use that wealth to buy off politicians and keep the system rigged in their favor, while paying lower tax rates than firefighters, teachers, and nurses.

Until the ultra-rich pay what they owe, it will be impossible for us to ensure that every worker and every family has the housing, child and senior care, and health care they need to be full participants in our economy and common life.

This is a problem that must be addressed by all levels of government—federal, state, and local.

Congress must raise the tax rate on ultra-rich millionaires and billionaires, end estate tax loopholes that allow the ultra-wealthy to hoard their wealth for generations, and repeal the Trump tax cuts for corporations.

The General Assembly of Pennsylvania must pass the Fair Share Tax, which lowers taxes for working people and raises them for the top 1%, and reform corporate taxes to ensure that multi-national corporations pay the state what they owe.

Local governments must take action, too. A wealth tax has been introduced in the City of Philadelphia, and a Fair Share Tax has been proposed in Pittsburgh. Other cities should adopt similar measures.

For more information on this issue, check out the following publications from the Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center: