WASHINGTON >> Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) delivered the Weekly Democratic Address on behalf of House Democrats.
In the Address, the Congressman discusses why his party believes the Republicans’ tax bill is an unfair piece of legislation. Thompson pointed out that instead of helping middle class families, the Republicans opted to give massive tax breaks to the rich and to corporate interests .
“It does gives a handful of temporary tax cuts to some middle class tax payers, but actually raises taxes on millions of middle and working class families,” Thompson observed. “An overwhelming majority of these tax breaks go to the top 1 percent of the richest Americans.”
Independent analysis of the plan corroborate much of Thompson’s criticism. In addition to cutting or reducing popular deductions, the Republican plan includes some provisions that received little notice.
“Seniors, disabled Americans, and veterans all count on various tax provisions that are now on the chopping block, effectively raising their taxes,” Thompson pointed out. “As a Vietnam veteran and supporter of our veterans, I find any legislation that would hurt our country’s heroes to be particularly disgraceful.”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi asked Thompson to give the Address because of his longtime advocacy for responsible tax reform and his position on the House Committee on Ways & Means, the tax-writing committee.
Thompson decried the secretive nature of the approval process.
“This bill was written without the benefit of any hearings, any testimony from expert witnesses, or any input from Democrats,” he said.
Democratic complaints about the measure voiced by Thompson include cuts that will roll back funds to first responders on the local level, as well as cuts that he argues would damage law enforcement efforts.
Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ benefits and other government services would also suffer under the tax plan.
“That’s just wrong,” Thompson told listeners.
Thompson added that the GOP plan would restrict American jobs.
“The bill is written to give massive, permanent tax breaks to the rich and to corporate interests, many of which ship U.S. jobs overseas,” he said.
