Congresswoman Johnson Denounces Passage Of Republican Tax Bill

“Today, I am very disappointed in the decisions made by my Republican colleagues across the aisle to advance this tax bill.  The decision to pass H.R. 1 fails to take into consideration the impact on health, economic sustainability, and prosperity for all Americans. When I say all Americans, I am describing the hard-working middle class families, small business owners, single parents, new homeowners, seniors and more who stand to lose under this bill,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “It is unacceptable that corporations continue to receive major tax breaks while they are simultaneously shipping jobs overseas and using loop holes in our tax code to avoid paying their fair share.”

This Republican-led legislation goes even further by eliminating the individual mandate that is a vital component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  More than 10 million Americans will experience increased premiums, which will ultimately result in fewer Americans having health care coverage.  In the next year alone, Medicare will be cut by $25 billion – effectively putting the burden of these tax cuts on our seniors to bear.

Congresswoman Johnson continued, “To attack people with pre-existing conditions and place barriers on an individual’s right to health care is shameful.  Who are we here to serve?  This tax reform bill shows that as public servants some are not here to serve all of the American people but just a select few – those that make up the wealthiest population in our country.  The last action my constituents can take in opposition of this bill is to call the senators of Texas and describe to them how it will personally impact them and their loved ones.”

Congresswoman Johnson Applauds Texas' Medicaid 1115 Transfer Waiver

On December 21, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Texas’ Medicaid 1115 Transformation Waiver (1115 Waiver).  The 1115 Waiver will be effective January 1, 2018 through September 30, 2022, and will allow Texas hospitals to provide the best care to publicly insured and low-income patients.

“I’m pleased that the state of Texas reached an agreement on the 1115 Waiver with joint efforts of the entire Texas Congressional Delegation, Governor Greg Abbott, THHSC Executive Commissioner Charles Smith, Texas Hospital Association, and Administrator Seema Verma,” said Congresswoman Johnson.

“The 1115 Waiver has played a critical role in Texas’ health care system. Failure to approve the 1115 Waiver would have resulted in near catastrophic consequences for the state’s most vulnerable populations,” said Ted Shaw, President/CEO of the Texas Hospital Association. “The waiver has been absolutely critical for increasing access to quality health care. And it has done so with an efficiency that has saved Texas and the federal government more than $8 billion.”

Congresswoman Johnson Pushes Back On Republican Tax Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed its final version of the tax reform bill now heading to the President’s desk for signature Wednesday, Dec. 20. The House passed the bill by a vote of 224-201 with no Democratic support and little opposition from moderate Republicans. With the Senate having also approved this final version by a vote of 51-48, a rewritten tax code is no longer just a Republican campaign promise – it is a looming reality.

Both supporters and opponents acknowledge the final bill largely provides relief to businesses big and small, lowering the current corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Supporters of the bill claim lowering the corporate rate will help spur economic growth and job creation, while opponents view it as a giveaway to businesses that largely avoid paying taxes as it as.

"It is unacceptable that corporations continue to receive major tax breaks while they are simultaneously shipping jobs overseas and using loopholes in our tax code to avoid paying their fair share,” said Congressman Eddie Bernice Johnson in response to the House passing its version of the tax reform package.

Despite repeated claims of “simplifying the tax code” touted by many Republicans on Capitol Hill, the soon-to-be law maintains the current number of personal income tax brackets at seven. And although the vast majority of households will see their bracket’s tax rate cut, the largest breaks are targeted to higher income earners with many of the tax breaks going toward the middle class expiring by the end of 2025.

“It pretends to be a tax cut, but most working families will eventually see their taxes go up,” said Orson Aguilar, President of the Greenlining Institute – a multi-ethnic public policy, research and advocacy group. “It selectively targets Americans of color, who already sit on the losing end of a racial wealth gap that this bill will make worse.”

The bill awaiting the President’s signature also reduces the estate tax, allowing some of the wealthiest Americans to leave behind millions of dollars to their legatees without having to pay a cent in taxes.  And while all taxpayers are likely to see a cut in the short-term, the Joint Committee on Taxation reports that by 2027, income earners making less than $75,000 a year will see a tax increase. The Congressional Budget Office also reports that by that very same year, the cuts included in the tax bill would add an estimated $1.41 trillion to the deficit – adding to the more than $20 trillion the U.S. is currently in debt.

Congressman Beto O’Rourke, who voted against the House version of the bill and is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Ted Cruz, slammed the tax reform effort via Twitter, claiming it “hurts middle-class families, causes (the Texas) uninsured rate – already the highest in the country – to rise, (and) hurts our public schools”.

SOURCE: North Dallas Gazette

Congresswoman Johnson Marks Two Year Anniversary Of Paris Climate Accord

“On the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Paris Climate Accord, I am hopeful that, while our President has chosen to cede leadership on environmental issues, the other signatories and my fellow Americans will continue to take steps forward to act on and mitigate the effects of climate change.

“Just today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that in 2017 the Arctic saw record low winter sea ice coverage and the second warmest air temperatures. In the past year, we have seen major ice shelves break off Antarctica, above average ocean temperatures, and extreme weather events that have affected millions across the globe. No one nation can find solutions for these issues. We must all work together to address this threat. I will continue to fight to promote the goals of the Paris Agreement, and hope that before too long our Nation will once again be a leader in protecting the environment and preserving our planet.”