Representative Jim Gerlach Votes for Massive Tax Increase on the Middle Class
Breaking his own “no new taxes” pledge, today, Representative Jim Gerlach voted to raise taxes on middle income families at a time when they can least afford it.
Representative Jim Gerlach opposed an amendment offered by Representative Joe Crowley that would block tax increases on any American earning below 500 percent of the federal poverty level as part of the Republicans’ misnamed ‘true up’ bill.
Representative Jim Gerlach’s vote against the Crowley Amendment is tantamount to a massive middle class tax increase. It also represents the newest way that Republicans are hoping to keep Americans from enrolling in the health exchanges that are part of last year’s health insurance reforms.
“Today’s vote by Representative Jim Gerlach to hit hardworking Americans with a massive tax increase is not only an outrageous assault on the middle class, it also proves that his ‘no new taxes’ campaign pledge isn’t worth the paper it was printed on,” said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Representative Jim Gerlach’s vote represents a double-blow to hardworking Americans. It’s a tax increase at a time when they can least afford it and it will also keep more people from enrolling in health exchanges that will finally give they and their families access to affordable health care.”
Background
· HR 705 would force a family of four earning $88,000 a year but who got a small year end bonus of $300 to be forced to repay all of the tax benefits they received to afford private health insurance for their family – a tax increase estimated at upwards of $5,000 based on an average family of four health plan costing $13,000 per year.
· The $25 billion in new tax revenue from H.R. 705 would not come from people gaming the system, but rather from payments to middle income families in the health exchange.
· The Crowley Amendment to H.R. 705, offered in the House Committee on Ways and Means, would repeal the middle class tax increase proposed in the Republican bill if it raises taxes on any American below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level. This amendment would the tax increase on middle income families earning up to $88,200 for a family of four. [Crowley amendment to HR 705, 2/17/11]
· Representative Jim Gerlach signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge opposing “any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses.” [ATR.org, accessed 2/17/11]
###