'WV Can't Wait' Campaign: Gubernatorial Hopeful Stephen Smith Proposes 1st State Wealth Tax

'Bolstered by People-Powered 'WV Can't Wait' Campaign, Gubernatorial Hopeful Stephen Smith Proposes First State-Level Wealth Tax.' A victory by Smith "would deliver a roadmap for how to organize in rural towns thought to be lost to the right wing forever," wrote journalist David Dayen. Common Dreams, Dec. 30, 2019.

Community organizer and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stephen Smith on Sunday released his proposal for the first state-level wealth tax in the nation, which his campaign said was based on thousands of conversations with West Virginians from all walks of life about their top concerns. https://wvcantwait.com/



- Community organizer Stephen Smith is running for governor of West Virginia as part of the West Virginia Can't Wait movement.

The proposed Half-Penny Wealth Tax, a 0.5% tax on West Virginians with more than $2 million in non-residential property assets, would generate $835 million for the state per year—enough to give teachers in the state raises, pay for infrastructure improvements, and guarantee broadband access across the state. Right now is the richest time in West Virginia history. We could have the best schools and the safest communities we have ever had—but only if we stop letting ourselves get robbed.

Here's a plan to right this wrong.https://t.co/lUrP48MijN — WV Can't Wait (@WVCantWait) December 29, 2019

The campaign wrote on its website: West Virginia should be the first state in the country to institute a wealth tax in modern times. The Good Old Boys Club will tell us that they are being treated unfairly, that they are being "double-taxed" on this wealth. That is a lie. For generations, they've exploited tax havens and loopholes and political connections at our expense and their gain. It is time for them to finally pay their fair share.

The wealth tax is just one of 32 proposals Smith's campaign is planning to unveil in the coming weeks. The proposals, which also so far include a Workers' Bill of Rights and a plan for disability rights, are part of the West Virginia Can't Wait movement, a political campaign the American Prospect called "one of the most unusual and thrilling in recent memory."

Since announcing his candidacy for governor last January, Smith—the former head of the West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition, which helped win dozens of policy victories for working people during his tenure—has held more than 150 town halls across the state. Dozens of volunteer groups have plugged in to the top concerns of West Virginians from all walks of life—creating "constituency teams" including Coal Miners Can't Wait and Students Can't Wait and asking people across the state about their priorities in the 2020 election...

..Other proposals so far include a guaranteed $15 minimum wage; guaranteed sick and paid family leave; a plan to "root out racism and discrimination in the criminal justice system, school system and workplace;" and plans to guarantee equality in employment, housing, and quality of life for people with disabilities...
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/30/bolstered-people-powered-wv-cant-wait-campaign-gubernatorial-hopeful-stephen-smith