The Opportunity States Have to Attack Income Inequality Now

As they rebuild their education, health-care and tax systems after the devastation of COVID-19, they can take important steps that can significantly narrow income and wealth disparities.

Education: Make funding equitable and provide universal pre-kindergarten.

Health care: Expand Medicaid and state health-care exchange coverage.

Tax systems: Modernize them and make them more progressive.

More than any other level of government, states have an opportunity to reverse longstanding practices and policies that exacerbate inequity in America. Governors and state legislators need to start developing their visions now so they are ready to operationalize them when the COVID-19 threat begins to retreat.