GOP Tax Scam Spells Disaster for Seniors and People with Disabilities

Today, Seniors Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) released the following statements highlighting the devastating impact that the Republican tax proposal would have on seniors and people with disabilities:

“Seniors and people with disabilities are among the biggest losers from the Republican Tax Scam,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky. “The bill being voted on by the House today would mean a $25 billion cut to the Medicare program in 2018 alone. By exploding the deficit, it also puts Medicaid, a program that provides health and long term care for over 6 million low-income seniors, on the chopping block. Between those cuts and the elimination of provisions like the medical expense deduction and the tax credit helping businesses comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this bill is an all-out assault on millions of people. Seniors, people with disabilities, and their loved ones deserve a better deal, and we won’t stand for this scam.”

“This Republican tax plan makes seniors and their families shoulder the burden for tax cuts to billionaires and corporations,” said Rep. Doris Matsui. “Not only does it eliminate the medical expense deduction that seniors and people with disabilities with high-cost illnesses depend on to help pay for care, it will trigger cuts to older Americans’ earned Medicare benefits. To make matters worse, the Republicans will use the $1.5 trillion deficit that they’re creating through this legislation to turn around and harm programs like Medicaid and Social Security. This is a bad deal for American Seniors, and the Seniors Task Force is going to do everything we can to fight it.”

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