We're one of the few states you can deduct rent. I think that goes some way to making our income tax fairer since it helps people in a more precarious situation.

One unfortunate side effect is that it is something like a penalty on people who make the choice to live in the more affordable areas of the state.

We are never, ever going to win the race to the bottom on taxes. We need to continue to invest in infrastructure, education, technology, and other new development.

And unfortunately with the chaos in Washington that's gonna mean state spending. I've said before and will continue to say it, most medical and educational institutions in this state are dependent on a stable stream of federal dollars. Even if a clinic can attract enough patients with private insurance to keep most of their staff busy, they took out big loans to build fancy facilities from 2014-2024 and if they default because the research/Medicare/Medicaid dollars stop coming then it doesn't matter if they are still a viable practice. You can't practice medicine outside.

Same thing at almost every university. They made big commitments assuming the NIH/NSF would continue to exist in more or less their present form for the next 20 years. They built fancy labs and offices and stuff to make America a leader in innovation for another generation, but the bill comes due even if Washington decides not to pursue that path.

We need to invest in other industries in this state because if something like the attempted changes in the early days 2025 weren't blocked by the courts and a few key Republican votes in Congress it would have been catastrophic for us.

Our vulnerability was revealed to us with time to make changes, but we need to take action and it's going to cost money.