U.S. Bishops Call House Tax Bill ‘Unconscionable,’ Urge Amendments to Protect Families and the Poor
WASHINGTON— (Nov. 9, 2017) – In a letter to Congress, three leading U.S. Bishops have called for significant amendments to the House of Representatives’ tax reform bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, arguing that it must be changed “for the sake of families” and “for those struggling on the peripheries of society.”
The letter was signed by:
- Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development
- Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace
- Bishop George V. Murry, SJ of Youngstown, Chairman of the Committee on Catholic Education
The Central Objection: An Unfair Burden on the Poor
While acknowledging some positive elements, the bishops stated that the bill is fundamentally flawed.
“As written, this proposal appears to be the first federal income tax modification in American history that will raise income taxes on the working poor while simultaneously providing a large tax cut to the wealthy,” the bishops wrote. “This is simply unconscionable.”
They cited the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), which projects that households with incomes between $20,000 and $40,000 will see tax increases in 2023, 2025, and 2027, while the wealthiest Americans receive significant tax breaks each year.
New and Unreasonable Burdens on Families
The bishops stressed that the bill places “new and unreasonable burdens on families” by eliminating several critical provisions, including:
- The adoption tax credit and adoption assistance program exclusion.
- The personal exemption, which will harm many larger families.
- The deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- Incentives for employer-provided dependent care and child care.
Acknowledged Positive Provisions
The letter did highlight some positive aspects of the bill, noting that “doubling the standard deduction will help some of those in poverty to avoid tax liability.” They also pointed to positive provisions in education and modest increases to the child tax credit. However, they maintained that these benefits are outweighed by the bill’s negative impacts.
Future Risks and Other Concerns
The bishops also raised alarms about the long-term consequences of the legislation:
- Threats to Social Programs: They cautioned that the deficit created by the bill could “be used as an argument to further restrict or end programs that help those in need.”
- Disincentives: The letter warned that the bill would create disincentives for charitable giving and for the development of affordable housing and community revitalization projects.
Read the Full Letter
The full letter can be found on the USCCB website at: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/federal-budget/upload/Tax-Cuts-and-Jobs-Act-Letter-11-9-2017.pdf