Statement on Vote Against GOP Tax Plan

Statement

Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the below statement following his vote against H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

"Today I voted against the GOP tax proposal because it will raise taxes on my constituents, hurt our local communities, and irresponsibly explode our national debt.

"Many of the provisions in this bill seem crafted to deliberately target states like Illinois. It severely curtails the state and local tax deduction that more than 140,000 of my constituents depend on, forcing hard-working families to pay double taxation. I've heard from countless individuals, small business owners, and local leaders concerned with the bill's restrictions on deductions that middle-class Americans rely on -- from mortgage interest to medical expenses to student loan interest.

"At the same time that the tax plan squeezes working families, this bill also adds an unsustainable $1.7 trillion in debt, burdening our children and grandchildren with the consequences.

"This bill is a step backward, but I remain committed to working across the aisle to produce real reform that prioritizes the middle class, is fiscally-responsible and grows our economy for the next generation."

Background:

In October 2017, Rep. Schneider led a letter with seven colleagues in the Illinois delegation urging House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady to preserve the state and local tax deduction.

Rep. Schneider and the other members of the Blue Dog Coalition endorsed principles for tax reform in October and called on Congress to pursue tax reform in a bipartisan way.

Rep. Schneider is a co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition Tax Reform Task Force.

Source