Tax Bill Taxes People With Disabilities

December 1, 2017

Background

The Senate will begin voting today at 11 a.m. EST on a tax bill that would negatively impact people with disabilities and their families.

A new estimate released yesterday by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation says the bill adds more than $1 trillion to the budget deficit over the next ten years. To appease deficit hawks, Senate leaders are scrambling to change the bill to secure the votes they need for passage.

None of the changes being made to the proposal would benefit people with disabilities. Under the bill, 13 million people would still lose their health insurance if this proposal becomes law. Severe future cuts will still be made in support services for people with disabilities. In addition to drastic Medicaid cuts, funding for vocational rehabilitation, education, and housing supports would be at risk.

Both the House and Senate tax bills do little to benefit people with disabilities and their families. They would eliminate several tax deductions that will increase the tax burden for many. The time to act is now!

What is Happening?

A Senate vote is planned for TODAY! Since the House has also passed a bill, there would then be a conference committee to negotiate differences between the proposals. Neither will help people with disabilities.

The President has said he wants a tax overhaul signed into law before Christmas.

Resources

• Joint Committee on Taxation bill analysis: https://www.jct.gov/publications.html?func=startdown&id=5045

Take Action

Call your Senators today!

Call the main Capitol line at (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091 (tty) (You'll be directed to an operator at the Capitol switchboard. This switchboard can direct you to both Senators as well as Representatives.)

Key senators to target: Sens. Jeff Flake (AZ), Susan Collins (ME), Jerry Moran (KS), Ron Johnson (WI), Bob Corker (TN).

Key Messages

The bill is an attack on people with disabilities and families with a member who has a disability:

• It removes tax deductions, including medical expenses, affecting 8.8 million families, according to the IRS
  • The tax bill is a tax on those living with disabilities
  • Taxing people with disabilities to pay for the tax cuts of others is wrong
• The bill adds more than $1 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years, which will lead to cuts in disability programs
  • Tax cuts today will cut disability services tomorrow
  • Critical community services for people with disabilities will be cut if this tax cut passes

Now is the time to call offices, send e-mails, visit staff in state offices and DC offices, and to make sure your Senators know your concerns.

Thank you!