The key fiscal policy at the heart of the progressive movement (and most of the Democratic Party) is a progressive income tax. Wealthy people should pay more of their income and poorer people should pay less of their income in order to create economic opportunity for all and place the tax burden to finance our governments on the shoulders of the people who can most afford it.
In order to raise taxes on high incomes (above $200,000 annually, as an example), we need the ability to impose a progressive income tax rate. The federal government has this ability, thanks to decades of advocacy from progressives several generations ago. Some states do. My state of Illinois does not, and neither does Michigan.
The Democratic Speaker of the Michigan House is looking to change that and asking voters to amend the constitution. This is a very good thing and something we civic-minded progressives ought to support and embrace.
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