Action Alert: Call & Educate Senators about Dangers in the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act

GCDD Call to Action 1702

Call Alert: National Call-In Day on Impact on Disability in Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – Tomorrow Nov 29!

On November 17, the House of Representatives passed its version of a tax bill. The Senate is prepared to act on its bill right after they return from Thanksgiving recess THIS WEEK! Both bills are extremely harmful to people with disabilities. A conference committee may have to work out the differences between the bills, meaning that provisions in either bill could end up in a final tax bill. Both bills are harmful because they:Increase the deficit significantly to provide tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans and corporations.

  • Lead to cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income, and other critical programs for people with disabilities in order to reduce the deficits and debts incurred by tax cuts.
  • While the House tax bill does not directly cut Medicaid, the actions it takes will have the same or even worse effect on Medicaid and other services and supports for people with disabilities.

While the House tax bill does not directly cut Medicaid, the actions it takes will have the same or even worse effect on Medicaid and other services and supports for people with disabilities.

The House passed a tax bill that has many provisions that harm people with disabilities and their families by eliminating the following tax deductions and credits:

  • Deduction for high medical expenses, which is critical to many people with disabilities and their families
  • A $2,400 tax credit businesses can get when hiring someone with a disability
  • A $5,000 tax credit for businesses that make their businesses accessible to people with disabilities (Architectural Barriers credit)
  • The incentive to contribute to non-profit agencies that often provide support for people with disabilities and their families (charitable giving)

The Senate has proposed a bill that is even worse. It includes a provision to repeal the individual mandate to obtain health insurance. The individual mandate is a central part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which greatly benefits people with disabilities by eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions, banning annual and lifetime limits, prohibiting discrimination based on health status, and much more. Repealing the individual mandate will:

  • Result in almost 14 million people losing health care coverage (according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office).        
  • Increase health insurance premiums for those purchasing coverage on the exchange by at least 10% for the unforeseeable future (also according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office);·        
  • The CBO analysis also says the repeal of the individual mandate will save approximately $330 billion (because of the large number that will not be insured) over ten years. This money will be used to pay for making the corporate tax cuts permanent and to cut to the tax rate for corporations and individuals on the upper income scale.

We have a VERY short timeline to educate our legislators about how this legislation will impact Georgians with disabilities. The Senate is scheduled to vote on its Tax Cuts and Jobs Act THIS WEEK!

TAKE ACTION
National Call-In Day on Impact on Disability in Tax Cuts & Jobs Act – Tomorrow Nov 29
Contact your Senators TODAY! Call the Capitol Switchboard number 202-224-3121 or 202-224-3091 (TTY) and ask for your Georgia Senators: Johnny Isakson and David Perdue. 

WHAT TO SAY

  • I am your constituent from <city, georgia>.
  • I am a <person with a disability> or <person who cares about someone with a disability>.
  • Will you please report my concerns on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to the Senator?
  • This tax bill will hurt people with disabilities and their families.
  • We cannot afford these tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans and large corporations. 
  • Tax reform should not be rushed. People should have time to understand the bill and how they will be affected.
  • Do not repeal the ACA individual mandate. This will further destabilize our health care system, raise premiums, and could lead to my family losing their health insurance.
  • This bill will lead to less jobs for people with disabilities.
  • This House bill will prevent me from using a tax deduction to pay for my medical expenses.