Follow Up: Sen. Heitkamp Still Misrepresenting the Facts About Tax Reform
If Sen. Heidi Heitkamp wants to defend her no vote on tax reform she should at least be willing to use facts about the bill. So far that has not been the case. Last month, Sen. Heitkamp made several erroneous claims about the tax reform bill prior to its passage, stating all North Dakotans would see a $10,000 increase in their taxes.
That’s just not true. Yet Sen. Heitkamp still hasn’t amended her statement after the misleading tweet was deleted from her account.
Additionally, Sen. Heitkamp continues to make false claims about tax reform now that it is law.
In a recent interview on 970 WDAY’s Mike McFeely Show, Sen. Heitkamp made comments that are easily disputed and show a lack of understanding for her constituents’ needs.
Let’s take a look at the worst of the worst.
- Taxpayers with children are going to get hit pretty hard. Not true. “CBS This Morning” recently applied the new tax law to the finances of three types of families. All three, including a family with children, would see their taxes decrease.
- One-time bonuses “don’t impress me.” Sen. Heitkamp is wealthy, so she isn’t impressed, but the recipients of the bonuses may find the extra funds very impressive. Heitkamp continued that providing bonuses is “not a long-term commitment to increase compensation.” However, this tax bill is providing increased compensation both through wage and benefit increases and the additional money in each paycheck from lower tax rates.
- This tax reform bill is “wrong for the country and wrong for working Americans.” Again, not true. Working Americans will first and foremost see more of their own money in their take-home pay. Thousands of employees are receiving bonuses, higher wages and increased retirement contributions and benefits. The economy will grow and more job opportunities will be available. Tax reform is good for working Americans.
Sen. Heitkamp has also stated taxes will be more complicated to complete and claimed H&R Block’s stock had risen 13 percent since tax reform passed.
That statement is largely misleading, as H&R Block’s stock remained fairly flat the day she mentioned the increase and the ups and downs of the stock were not tied to tax reform according to the company’s CEO.
This statement is seemingly indicative of an effort to discredit a good tax reform plan. It’s unnecessarily embellished and takes attention away from the fact that tax reform is good for companies and individuals alike.
Are you tired of the facts being distorted or flat-out misrepresented? Are you excited about tax reform and what it will mean for your family? Hold Senators accountable for not supporting tax reform, because it’s better for North Dakotans to keep more of their paychecks.
