Rep. Meeks Statement on Twice Voting Against GOP Tax Scam

Rep. Meeks Statement on Twice Voting Against GOP Tax Scam

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Gregory W. Meeks released the following statement after twice voting against the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

"Our country truly needs comprehensive tax reform, but this isn't it. Instead, H.R.1 is a tax break for corporations that also allows the wealthiest 1 percent to receive 83% of the tax cuts. Meanwhile, 86 million middle-class American households will have their taxes raised.

"The few tax breaks that middle-class Americans will receive are temporary, while the major tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations are permanent. The uppermost wage-earners in America have their top tax rates cut, further widening the income disparity between the wealthy and the rest of America."

"For decades, the GOP has cut social programs because of an apparently disingenuous fear of increasing our nation's deficit, only to then balloon it to an estimated $2.3 trillion dollars in the next decade. Now Republicans are prepared to siphon trillions of dollars from Medicare and Medicaid, while raising healthcare premiums by over 10% every year and kicking 13 million Americans off their insurance plans."

"Sadly, my friends on the other side of the aisle have squandered an opportunity to work with Democrats. They chose instead to pursue a partisan path, rushing to cobble together a bill in such haste and carelessness that it had to be voted on twice.

"This is not the way to govern. It is not the way to strengthen the middle class. It is certainly not the way to keep alive the American dream of getting ahead."

###