Multiple economic advocacy groups in Colorado held a press conference Tuesday where they rejected President Trump’s and conservatives’ proposed tax agenda.

Rocky Mountain Values (RMV), the Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI), and economic leaders from rural Colorado raised concerns over the President’s tax proposal, which would expand the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). In their press release, RMV argues that the proposal would slash programs that serve rural communities, widening disparities in income inequality and burdening Colorado families. 

The organizations’ main concerns with  the tax agenda were:

  • The Two Tax Brackets Primarily Benefiting the Wealthy: The proposed expansion of the TCJA would consolidate tax brackets to 15 and 30%, lowering the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans while raising taxes on middle-income people. RMV states in a news release,  “A single filer earning $46,000 (Colorado’s median income) would pay $1,000 more annually, while married couples earning $130,000 could see a $3,000 increase.”
  • Programs that Support Rural Colorado Would See Cuts: Programs like Medicaid and the SNAP (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program)  would be significantly reduced. According to RMV, Medicaid accounts for nearly 50% of healthcare in rural areas, and over 600,000 Coloradans depend on SNAP for food assistance. 
  • Other federally funded programs that rural communities rely on like the the Child Tax Credit (CDC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) would be reduced or eliminated, undermining the stability of local economies. RMV notes that these programs are essential for working families. 
  • Proposed Tariffs Will Raise Costs: An increase in tariffs, like the ones proposed by the Trump administration, could result in higher prices of essential goods like groceries and clothing. RMV added that these tariffs would wind up “forcing Colorado families to pay more,” hurting consumers. Rural and working-class households would be disproportionately impacted. 

Justin Lamorte, the director of RMV, argues that the new administration’s tax proposal would ultimately harm working and middle-income Coloradans. 

“This tax plan is a giveaway to the ultra-wealthy and a betrayal of rural communities,” Lamorte said in the press release. “Rural Colorado relies heavily on programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit to support their families, healthcare systems, and local economies. Gutting these programs to fund tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans is simply unacceptable.”

Both RMV and CFI emphasized that the economic challenges facing rural Colorado are unique with less high-paying jobs and limited healthcare access. 

“Rural communities are the backbone of our state, and they deserve better,” said Caroline Nutter, Legislative Coordinator for CFI. “This plan threatens to increase poverty, decrease access to healthcare, and destabilize local economies in rural areas—all while giving handouts to corporations and the ultra-wealthy.”

RMV and CFI recently put out a full report explaining how the TCJA impacts Colorado communities. 

Both organizations urged Colorado’s congressional delegation to oppose expanding TCJA provisions. Instead, RMV and CFI say lawmakers should pursue equitable tax policies such as: closing loopholes that corporations exploit to pay less than their fair share, protecting and expanding programs that benefit rural families like Medicaid and SNAP, and providing meaningful relief for working Coloradans. 

State Rep. Katie Stewart (D-Durango) echoed this sentiment. “We cannot let this administration prioritize the wealthy at the expense of hardworking Coloradans,” Stewart said in a news release. “We need tax policies that reflect Colorado’s — fairness, opportunity, and support for our most vulnerable communities.”