Progressives rally to urge taxing the rich

By MARTIN WILBUR

Two progressive groups called on federal and state officials Wednesday to increase taxes on ultra-wealthy people and corporations to fund programs they deem vital to prevent ordinary citizens from falling into poverty and maintain quality of life.

The Tax Day rally organized by Empire State Voices and Citizen Action in Mount Kisco took aim at President Donald Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill last year that made it more difficult for those in need to access food stamps and Medicaid in addition to cuts to education and health care while multimillionaires and billionaires received generous tax cuts.

Dylan Wheeler, an organizer of the rally for Empire State Voices, said this is happening while the nation’s deficit continues to explode. He estimated that the wealthiest 2,000 Americans saved $116 billion in taxes for the just concluded 2026 tax filing season.

“Right now, we’re in a funding crisis in the United States,” Wheeler said. “We are seeing our deficits rise and we are seeing taxes for the ultra-wealthy get cut at unprecedented rates.”

Wheeler explained that advocates for fairer taxation support beginning to raise taxes on those earning $500,000 to $600,000, but specifically putting more responsibility on those earning over $5 million to pay more. Over many years, that would trim the deficit while caring for the nation’s most vulnerable people, he said.

Alan Levy, of Northern Westchester Indivisible, said the problem of inadequate taxation extends to corporations, with some of the largest companies paying a few percent or even no taxes, while some, such as Amazon, Meta and Verizon have announced major layoffs. 

To highlight the dilemma, Levy said the effective corporate tax rate in the U.S. was 50% in 1950, fell to 25% by 1990 and in 2020 was 13%. He was one of several speakers who took aim at Congressman Mike Lawler (R-17) for his support of the One Big Beautiful that continued to slash taxes for the wealthy and corporations.

“Congressman Mike Lawler supports the big, ugly bill and supports programs that make the top 1% wealthy and the rest of us poorer,” Levy said. 

Lawler’s campaign refuted comments criticizing the legislation, focusing on the quadrupling of the state and local income tax deduction to $40,000 and how middle- and working-class families will benefit the most, including the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime and a larger deduction for eligible seniors that cuts their tax bills.

“Congressman Lawler protected Hudson Valley residents from the largest tax hike in American history, delivering historic relief for middle-class and working families across the district, contrary to the desires of the tax-and-spend radicals who want to drive even more people out of New York,” a spokesman for Lawler stated. 

Citizen Action organizer Isaiah Fenichel said the inequality continues to soar largely through policy, including at the state level. New York state has the most millionaires and billionaires in the nation but has the 13th highest poverty rate, Fenichel noted.

While a majority of the Democratic state legislature supports higher taxes on millionaires to pay for health care, child care, education and other services, Fenichel didn’t spare Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in his critique. He blasted her for her refusal to rankle her largest donors.

“Our governor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, has decided that’s not a priority for her,” Fenichel said. “What’s a priority for Gov. Hochul is making sure that her millionaire and billionaire donors continue to donate, that they do not get taxed and leave the state, though none of them are leaving.”

Zach Disador, a coordinator of The Arc Mid-Hudson, said the real damage from the current funding and tax policy is happening to families, including many who have children with disabilities. Some are having difficulty getting classified due to cuts in education or are having trouble being approved for Medicaid, even though they are eligible. He said about 25% of people eligible for Medicaid in New York are not receiving it.

As a result, families are rationing medication or doing without certain services because of the barriers that have been erected, Disador asserted.

“We are already seeing pain and it’s not even 2027 and 2028 when the pain is really going to start biting us,” Disador said.