I think few understand the consequences of the tax cut bills being considered by Congress. I mention only a few points here:

• Elimination of medical deductions: With so many Americans facing major health issue, one of the few tax laws that aid them is the ability to deduct health taxes over 10% of their income. We all know many individuals who have seen their savings and even their livelihood shrunk due to massive health bills for Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer, heart disease, nursing care, and other causes. To eliminate this deduction is downright cruel to the millions of Americans in this situation.
• Repeal of the “Alternative Minimum Tax”: The elimination of this tax would allow the wealthiest among us to pay tax rates far less than most of us do, by taking deductions not available to all of us.
• Elimination of tax credit to teachers: Our educators, who serve our children and our society by their professional expertise, often at salaries far below many other professions, have a small $250 tax credit for the many supplies they furnish for the school.
• Repeal of the estate tax: A group of over 400 millionaires and billionaires say they do not approve of this tax cut. “These wealthy Americans, which include doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs and CEOs, say the GOP is making a mistake by reducing taxes on the richest families at a time when the nation’s debt is high and inequality is back at the worst level since the 1920s. The letter calls on Congress not to pass any tax bill that “further exacerbates inequality” and adds to the debt.

This legislation would add $1.5 trillion to the debt. To lower taxes on corporations and the wealthy as a means of job creation is speculative and has often proven not to happen.

The estate tax affects only those with inheritance tax they will be transferring at $5.5 million (individual) or $11 million (couple) to heirs. Of the 2,689,324 who will die this year, only 11,310 decedents will have to FILE an estate tax return this year. These people represent not just the 1 percent, but the 0.5 percent—the richest of the rich. Only some of them will actually end up owing any tax.

I would encourage people to contact their U.S. representatives and senators to voice your opposition to this outlandish giveaway to the rich at the expense of the rest of us.

Don Johnson

Critz