WHEREAS, the Republicans and the Trump administration have long promised wealthy campaign contributors that they would lower taxes for corporate America and the wealthiest U.S. citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Republicans in the House of Representatives have passed a bill that would add $1. trillion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years in large part by slashing the corporate tax rate to 20 percent; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Senate passed a bill which would give large tax cuts to the rich while raising taxes on U.S. taxpayers who earn between $10,000 and $75,000 during the next 10 years, according to non-partisan Congressional analysts; and
WHEREAS, both the House and Senate bills deliver these cuts to corporations and wealthy U.S. taxpayers by slashing billions in funding for social safety nets, including Medicare and Medicaid, upon which millions depend; and
WHEREAS, Republicans specifically want to cap real estate tax deductions; eliminate state and local tax deductions; eliminate the deduction for school-related materials for teachers; increase the tax bill of graduate students by as much as 400 percent by eliminating the tuition waiver; end the medical expense deduction; and end the Obamacare individual mandate thus effectively raising the cost of health insurance for those enrolled; therefore be it
RESOLVED, the UFT opposes the current tax bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate (bill HR1with Senate amendments 1850, 1852, 1717, and 1856); and be it further
RESOLVED, the UFT will work with its national unions, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association (NEA), to fight against tax cuts that unfairly target those who need help the most including senior citizens, those who earn the least, children, the poor and the destitute.