For Immediate Release
January 11, 2023
Contact: Kirstin Snow, Communications Director, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, snow@pennbpc.org
99% PA Campaign Statement: US House MAGA Republicans’ Top Priority is Protecting Ultra-Rich Tax Cheats, Not Supporting Hard-Working Americans
Despite failing on the first 14 votes, Kevin McCarthy was elected as the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after conceding disproportionate power to MAGA Republican extremists, including insurrectionist Rep. Scott Perry (PA-10). After picking up the gavel, Speaker McCarthy and his extremist-controlled caucus’s first priority was to repeal $72 billion in new IRS funding designed to catch ultra-rich tax cheats and shield them from paying what they owe. The eight Republicans in Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation voted in favor of protecting wealthy tax evaders, while all nine Democrats opposed it. Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center’s federal campaigns and program director, Jeff Garis, released the following statement:
“The top item on the agenda of the House MAGA majority was rolling back President Biden and Democrats’ efforts to make ultra-rich tax cheats pay their fair share. Instead of taking action to support working families who are struggling to make ends meet, extremist Republicans quickly moved to protect billionaire freeloaders. This is particularly offensive since the ultra-rich already pay a far smaller share in federal taxes than most hard-working Americans. IRS data from ProPublica reveals that 26 of the richest people in America paid an average federal income tax rate of just 4.8% over six years, according to an analysis by Americans for Tax Fairness. From 2013 to 2018, billionaire Elon Musk paid a meager 2.1% tax rate, far less than the average 13.3% paid by Americans of all income levels.
“This initial action by the House MAGA majority makes clear that their agenda does not include supporting hard-working Americans who are trying to build a future for their families but protecting ultra-wealthy tax cheats from paying what they owe. This bill is a slap in the face to the millions of working families who pay their fair share, and it reveals the true priorities of the extremists who now control the U.S. House.”