OPINION: For Arizona’s working families, tax fairness is justice, not a luxury

A message from LUCHA to Washington, DC: an economy that doesn’t work for everyone, doesn’t work.

As a mother of two and a community advocate in Arizona, I’ve seen firsthand how hard-working families struggle to balance their responsibilities—especially when it comes to caregiving. I’ve experienced these hardships myself. 

Like many Arizonans, I have to juggle my job, caring for my children, and being a caregiver for my elderly parents. For many families in our state, these challenges are compounded by an economy that doesn’t work in their favor.

At Alhambra Elementary School, I encounter countless parents who are also stretched thin by these demands. Many of them work full-time jobs with no paid leave, and they face an impossible choice: either care for a sick loved one and lose their paycheck, or keep working and neglect the needs of their family. It’s a cruel choice no one should have to make, but for too many workers, it’s the reality.

We need paid leave, not tax cuts for the rich

That’s why I joined Living United for Change in Arizona as a community member volunteer and dedicated years to advocating for policies like Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) in Arizona. But advocating for PFML is just one part of a much bigger picture. The core of this struggle—whether we’re talking about caregiving, healthcare, education, or even infrastructure—Right now our tax system is not working for families like mine or the families that drop off their kids at my school.

The 2017 tax cuts passed under the Trump Administration gave handouts to the wealthiest people and large corporations that already make billions a year in profit, giving them massive tax breaks while giving working families scraps and leaving them behind. As this trillion dollar tax cut approaches its expiration in 2025, we have a critical opportunity to fix what’s broken, make sure that those at the top pay their fair share, and prioritize families over corporations. 

This is why I, along with many other community members from LUCHA, will be joining Fair Share America and other advocates from 18 other states in Washington, DC. this week as part of a national coalition advocating for tax justice. We want Congress to hear loud and clear: It’s time to reform the tax system so it benefits everyone, not just the rich and powerful.

A fair and equitable tax system

Tax fairness is not some abstract issue. It directly affects every aspect of our lives. When corporations and the wealthiest Americans don’t pay their fair share, it’s everyday people—working families, immigrants, caregivers, and parents—who suffer. The revenue lost to corporate tax breaks is revenue that could be used to fund essential programs like PFML, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The kinds of services that make a real difference in the lives of families.

I know what this imbalance looks like because I’ve lived it. As an immigrant from Guadalajara, Mexico, I came to the United States in 1995 and made Arizona my home. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to provide for my family, and I’ve seen others like me face the same challenges. Many of us were hit hardest by the economic policies that favor the rich and punish the working class. We are the ones doing everything we can to support our children, care for our parents, and stay afloat in an economy that is stacked against us.

But I’ve also seen the power of collective action. During the dark days of Joe Arpaio’s reign as sheriff and the passage of SB 1070, Arizona’s infamous anti-immigrant law, I watched my community live in fear. We turned that fear into hope and action, standing up for ourselves and each other. That same spirit of resilience is driving our fight for tax justice today.

When we go to Capitol Hill this week, we will tell lawmakers that it’s time for change. It’s time to raise the corporate tax rate, ensure that individuals making over $400,000 pay their fair share, and use new tax revenue to invest in families, workers, and communities. Because if we’re serious about building an economy that works for everyone, tax justice is where we start.

For families like mine in Arizona, tax fairness isn’t just some talking point. It’s the foundation for a more equitable future— where every family has the chance to build a better life for themselves and thrive. We’re fighting for that future, and we won’t stop until we get there, together!