Republican Leadership Denies Tax Credit to Working Families

Media Contact: Christine Glunz, 202.225.3072

Washington, DC – U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Mike Honda (D-San Jose) and Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) announced today that they will cosponsor the Working Families Tax Credit Act of 2003 (H.R. 2286) to provide and increase the child tax credit for families who make between $10,500 and $26,625 a year.  In last minute negotiations on the recent tax cut legislation, the Republican congressional leadership denied the increase in the tax credit to these families and this legislation would provide the tax break.

“The Republican tax cut legislation that passed last week did not get my support, however if Congress is going to give tax credits, we must make sure they go to the people who need it most.   My constituents were told that anyone who paid taxes would receive tax relief and that isn’t true.  Over 11 million children were left out of this tax cut and almost 3 million are in the state of California,” said Rep. Lofgren. “The Republican leadership has once again chosen the wealthy over the working families in this country.  I urge my colleagues, regardless of party affiliation, to take immediate action in passing this legislation.”  

"The Bush Administration and the Republican leadership in Congress now are arguably the most right-leaning extremists in modern American history," said Rep. Honda.  "Last week, it was revealed that the Bush administration shelved a report by then-Treasury secretary Paul O'Neill, slated for the 2004 annual budget report, that showed the U.S. faces future federal budget deficits of more than $44.2 trillion.  Not only did the President continue to lobby for a $350 billion tax cut for the wealthiest of Americans, but to pay for this, Republicans chose not to provide or increase a child tax credit for working families making between $10,500 to $26,625 annually.  As Democrats, we will fight to ensure that the millions of children and their families left behind by Republicans get relief."

“It’s stunning that the President would support a child tax credit for families with an income of $2 million per year, but leave out families earning $20,000,” Eshoo said. “It’s unjustifiable, it’s unfair, and it’s just plain wrong. Our legislation will ensure that all families benefit from the child tax credit and we’re going to fight to see that it gets passed now.”

The Working Families Tax Credit Act of 2003 (H.R. 2286) introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) on June 2, 2003 has over 25 cosponsors.   In joining this legislation, Reps. Lofgren, Eshoo and Honda have reiterated their strong commitment to fight for children and working families.