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Update on Tax Bill and Action Needed

Vote on Tax Bill Tomorrow Contact your Members Today!

December 18, 2017

What is Happening?

Over the weekend, House and Senate negotiators finalized a tax bill (see final bill here and Ways & Means Committee summary here). It has been announced that the House will vote tomorrow (December 19) and the Senate is expected to vote on Wednesday (December 20). 

This legislation adds $1.5 trillion to the national debt, increased red ink that will lead to cuts in programs and services to people with disabilities.

It is imperative that you continue to call your Members of Congress TODAY to educate them on the devastating impact this bill will have on people with disabilities as well as on Medicaid, Medicare, and other critical programs that support people with disabilities.

The Time to Act Is Now!

Today (Dec 18) National Call-In Day & Thunderclap.
More info - https://www.facebook.com/events/1698849603470859/ 

Call the Capitol switchboard who will direct you to your Senators and Representatives: (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091 (tty).
See talking points below.

Tomorrow (Dec 19) if you are in DC, rally on Capitol Hill beginning at noon. More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/171649466913533/

Resources:

  • Please see key disability provisions of the bill posted here:
    • Individual Mandate under ACA - repealed: "Elimination of Shared Responsibility Payment for Individuals Failing to Maintain Minimal Essential Coverage. The conference agreement follows the Senate amendment." (p. 153)
    • Disabled Access Credit - kept: "Repeal of credit for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals. ... The conference agreement does not follow the House bill provision." (p. 290)
    • Work Opportunity Tax Credit - kept: "Repeal of work opportunity tax credit. ... The conference agreement does not follow the House bill provision." (p. 285)
    • Orphan Drug credit -  reduced to 25%: "Repeal of credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions. ... The conference agreement follows the Senate amendment, but reduces the credit rate to 25 percent of qualified clinical testing expenses." (p. 282)
  • Joint Committee on Taxation score (attached)
  • Joint Explanatory Statement: http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20171218/Joint%20Explanatory%20Statement.pdf
  • CBPP: Last-minute changes to the Child Tax Credit: https://www.cbpp.org/blog/final-ctc-changes-dont-alter-tax-bill-basics-24-million-working-family-children-get-little-or 

Key Messages:

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

  • 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
  • Over 5 million low-income people would lose insurance if the individual mandate penalty is repealed
  • Critical community services for people with disabilities will be cut if this tax cut passes

Today is the day to educate your members by calling offices, sending e-mails, visiting staff in state and DC offices. Continue to make sure your Members know your concerns. Thank you!