PRESS RELEASE
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), Vice Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement following his vote against H.R. 1, the GOP tax bill:
“This GOP tax bill provides a heartbreaking catapult to income inequality in America that will serve to grow the gaping wedge between hardworking Americans and wealthy corporate bosses. This is policy not motivated by bettering the lives of families, students and retirees and certainly not founded in genuine public interest; it is driven by greed and corporate influencers in a callous move to please stockholders and increase the bottom line of big business.
“The giveaways provided to those who already have much will be paid for on the broken backs of those struggling to simply get a little ahead in life. The even greater fear is that this is just the beginning.
“The GOP has already indicated plans to move forward on cuts to Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid to pay for this ‘gift.’ These tax cuts will create a manufactured crisis as an excuse to raid the American people of their earned benefits, hurting retirees who worked hard for their Social Security, costing seniors who count on Medicare, and abandoning people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid to stay healthy, independent and in their homes.
“I support meaningful tax reform that removes corporate loopholes and advances policies that build stronger families and communities but I cannot support this bill, a cruel American betrayal guised as reform that prioritizes getting anything done before doing real good for the American people and economy.”
