As House Debate Begins, Watson Coleman Condemns Congressional Republicans for Disastrous Tax Legislation
As House Debate Begins, Watson Coleman Condemns Congressional Republicans for Disastrous Tax Legislation
“This ill-considered scheme would further dismantle America’s ladder of opportunity”
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman released the following statement ahead of the House of Representatives floor debate on H.R. 1 – Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the announcement from Senate Republicans of a provision in their version to repeal the individual mandate, spiking Americans’ health insurance premiums and causing 13 million Americans to go uninsured:
“Today, the House of Representatives will begin formal debate on their tax scam legislation - after denying Democrats the opportunity to offer amendments – all while experts, advocates and organizations nationwide continue to release damaging analyses of the harmful effects of this legislation. But the American people, particularly the people I represent in New Jersey, have made it clear that they don’t want this ill-considered scheme rammed through that will further dismantle the ladder of opportunity that allows Americans to grow and thrive.
Eliminating the medical expenses deduction would devastate households nationwide struggling to recover from high health-care costs. Removing the student loan interest deduction would cost recent graduates hundreds of dollars a year - significant to young Americans trying to get on their feet. My constituents didn’t send me to Washington to raise their taxes just so Donald Trump and his family can pay less taxes, our children and grandchildren can be saddled with crippling debt, and Republicans in Congress can chalk up a hyper-partisan notch at the expense of working Americans.
And if raising taxes on hard-working Americans wasn’t horrible enough, apparently, adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit was not a deal-breaker. If you needed any more proof of the moral bankruptcy of Republicans in Congress – look no further than the poison pill Republican Senators slid in their version of the tax bill to eliminate the ACA individual mandate. It is inexplicable to me that Republicans would add such a heartless provision unless their true goal is to sabotage their own bill.
I may be one voice and one vote in Congress, but I have a responsibility to fight the onslaught of injustices pursued by Donald Trump and his Republican pals in Congress.
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