---
title: "Op/Ed: Look to the Democratic Left for Rethinking of Taxing, Spending Policies"
date: 2019-07-19T13:00:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/oped-look-democratic-left-rethinking-taxing-spending-policies-7a591a39-593b-4f11-bd80-4e6f64c4705e"
section: Articles
---
# Op/Ed: Look to the Democratic Left for Rethinking of Taxing, Spending Policies

*July 19, 2019* — by [Steven J. Klees](/author/steven-j-klees)


> Education Policy Professor Advocates for Modern “New Deal,” Expanded Government Role

*AP 19196835211882 1920x1080 — Democratic presidential candidates former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (left), entrepreneur Andrew Yang, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., stand onstage on the second night of the Democratic primary debate in Miami last month.*

We need a revolution in government taxing and spending, says Steven J. Klees, an economist and professor in the College of Education.

In an op/ed published today in The Baltimore Sun, he argues that relying on the market to solve our nation’s problems—including health care, infrastructure and poverty—has failed. Instead, he suggests that a shift of the Democratic Party to the left could lead to higher taxing of the very rich that would cover the costs of solutions. Read his essay here.


**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Economics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/economics)


**Units:** [College of Education](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-education)