House Republicans deny 200,000 Military Families Tax Cuts

kscoyote · 06-25-2003

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press...ies030612.html

For Immediate Release
June 12, 2003 Contact: (202) 225-4021

NEAL CRITICIZES PENALTY ON MILITARY FAMILIES
Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Richard E. Neal, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, criticized today the Republican amendment to a child tax credit bill (HR 1308) during debate on the floor. Neal said:

"Today, we have before us the boldly titled, ‘All-American Tax Relief Act.’ With such a red, white, and blue-sounding name, you’d wonder who could possibly object. Well, Mr. Speaker, I object. I object on behalf of the 200,000 or so military families who will be ineligible for this enhanced child tax credit simply because of their service in Iraq, Afghanastan, or other combat zones. Yes, they may be Americans, but apparently not All-American enough to qualify under this bill. The Senate bill being rejected today did say that the families of our brave soldiers were equally entitled to share in the child tax credit refund. That provision is sadly missing from the House All-American bill."

Neal objected to the House amendment to the Senate passed version of HR 1308 because families of military personnel serving in combat zones would be ineligible for the refundable tax credits, unlike the Senate version. Neal continued:

"You might have also noticed that the refundable child tax credit has no revenue impact this year under the House bill, but does so under the Senate bill. How could it be that this ‘Stars and Stripes’ House bill provides no relief this year. That’s because the All-American bill rejects the notion that low-income families deserve immediate relief, as every other American family will get in the next six weeks. Low-income families must wait for their checks until next year, and, of course, those serving in a combat zone can wait forever. I urge my colleagues to vote down this misnamed and unpatriotic bill."

The House amendment to the Senate passed version of HR 1308 passed the House and is now subject to a conference between the House and the Senate.

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kscoyote · 06-25-2003

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press...gop030612.html

For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 12, 2003
Contact: (202) 225-4021

REP. RANGEL SLAMS HOUSE GOP ATTEMPT TO PREVENT CHILD CREDIT RELIEF FOR WORKING & MILITARY FAMILIES
Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) denounced House Republican leaders’ efforts to block child tax credit relief for middle- and lower-income families, including military families.

"This is one of the most cynical and hypocritical moves I have ever seen. Tom DeLay already has told the world that he does not want a child credit for poor families but now, having heard the anger of the American people, the House Republicans are claiming they do. Then, they come up with a parliamentary scheme to kill the bill," said Rep. Rangel, the top Democrat on the Committee on Ways and Means.

When asked whether the House Republicans would allow lower income families and military families to get the child credits the bipartisan Senate bill allows, the Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) said "It ain’t going to happen." Earlier this week, Rep. Delay said "There's a lot of other things that are more important than that."

"The House Republicans have the audacity to claim they are helping poor children while they block a fully off-set Senate bill and replace it with a bill that denies immediate relief for these families and increases the deficit we give to our children $82 billion. And to add insult to injury, they intentionally left out the children of thousands of soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Thomas amendment denies low- to moderate-income working families the same immediate payment of their family credit that was provided to all other families in the recently-enacted tax bill. Those moderate-income working families will have to wait until next year to receive their benefits rather than get them immediately like everyone else.

The Thomas amendment also denies the child tax credit to many recent veterans who would have been covered under the Senate bill. Many enlisted men and women make far less than $26,000 per year. As a result, their children will not be eligible for the increased family credit.

Furthermore, the children of men and women who earned combat pay during recent service in Iraq or Afghanistan would get less of child tax credit under the House amendment. This is because the House Republicans left out the provision that would prevent combat veterans from being penalized when calculating the child tax credit.

For example, under current law, a sergeant (E-5 or E-6) with six years of service and two children earns $29,000 per year. Under the Senate bill, if he did not serve in combat, both of his children would be entitled to the full $1,000 tax credit. However, if he goes into combat for 6 months, his credit would drop to approximately $450 due to the House Republican amendment.

Altogether, the Children’s Defense Fund estimates that one million children from of active military or veterans’ families will lose the child credit because of changes made in the Thomas Amendment.

"When it comes to tax relief, the Republicans have their priorities backward. They pass hundreds of billions in tax breaks for people who have lots of ‘unearned income’ such as capital gains and dividends but they penalize those who work hard for a living and, worse yet, those who have put their lives on the line for the country," Rep. Rangel said.

"The Republicans actually think that the child of a combat veteran should receive a smaller child tax credit than the child of a member of Congress because the member pays more income tax. Their tax cut plans put the wealthy first and punish those who sacrifice the most for their families and their country," Rep. Rangel said.

Whitty · 06-26-2003

Here we go again...

hmarv347 · 06-26-2003

I guess your not going to bring up where the child tax credit will be gradually phased out for individuals making over $75,000 and completely phased out for the person making $90,000. Also for married filing jointly the amount will be $110,000 and married filing singlely it is $55,000. The phase out range for a single taxpayer with two children is $75,000 - $115,000.

Here is the actual link to the pdf file regarding the HR-1308.
HR 1308

**countymounty** · 06-26-2003

As said before, kscoyote, anti-republican-propaganda software on his computer that automatically distorts all fact going into and out of his computer to make republicans look bad and democrats look good.

keenr · 06-26-2003

Ok, follow CLOSELY. I know, FACTS without spin and left wing propaganda tend to confuse liberals. Most of the people who were not given the tax credit DON'T PAY TAXES!! The Republicans object to including them because this is a tax REBATE!! NOT a welfare INCREASE!!!
Now, as for the military personnel. They are VASTLY underpaid to begin with. Again, the fault of Democrats. BUT they won't get the tax REBATE on income earned while overseas, because that income is already TAX EXEMPT!! If you believe that military personnel deserve more money, and I hope you do, convince Rangel and his anti- military cronies to increase their PAY, (A permanent fix), instead of pretending to care by giving them a rebate they're not entitled to and that's TEMPORARY by design. Most of the provisions have expiration dates built in. And you KNOW the Dems will be fighting to repeal the tax cut as soon as possible. Their presidential candidates are already screaming.

kscoyote · 06-26-2003

" Now, as for the military personnel. They are VASTLY underpaid to begin with. Again, the fault of Democrats. BUT they won't get the tax REBATE on income earned while overseas, because that income is already TAX EXEMPT!! If you believe that military personnel deserve more money, and I hope you do, convince Rangel and his anti- military cronies to increase their PAY, (A permanent fix), instead of pretending to care by giving them a rebate they're not entitled to and that's TEMPORARY by design. Most of the provisions have expiration dates built in. And you KNOW the Dems will be fighting to repeal the tax cut as soon as possible. Their presidential candidates are already screaming."

In case you hadn't noticed, Republicans have been holding the pay for Federal workers since they held both houses.

There's no one else to blame anymore.

Wives still have to pay taxes on money they earn, regardless of where their husbands are stationed.

Both still pay MORE taxes as a percentage of their salaries, since they're still paying sales, state, and local taxes.

It's not welfare when you're working.

Why are their children worth less than anyone else's?

anglia_stang · 06-26-2003

OK *******, I'm stationed overseas in England and the only taxes I pay are federal. I don't pay any state or any local taxes, it all depends on your state of residency, I'm a New York resident so since I'm stationed outside the state I don't have to pay any taxes. and reference the wives, it all comes down to what state they are residents of, if they have to pay state taxes or not. peace

anglia_stang · 06-26-2003

do you get your jollies from pissing people off in these forums? you need to get a life.

hmarv347 · 06-26-2003

Since overseas pay is exempt from taxes they are actually making more money than if they were paying the taxes and getting full credit for the children. Even at a reduced rate per child theoretically.... they are still making out better.

Married couple - $1000 credit, thats $500 per spouse plus standard taxation

Military married - $450 credit and partial income taxes and tax exempt for pay overseas which by the way is not only the base pay

While overseas military personnel in a war zone get the following:

Base Pay - pending on rank
BAH Pay - (varies) housing at home is paid for based on rank and home base location
Family Separation Pay - $250
Hostile Fire Pay - $225

So I don't see where you are able to say that their children are looked at as being worth less then mine.

Also FYI Bush raised the militaries pay when he went into office since the Democrats failed to even acknowledge the worth of our fine soldiers.

The wives pay will be withheld as a married person, which is less than a single person making the same amount. The serviceman’s earnings are NOT TAXED. Therefore when they file income tax returns they are getting more breaks then you and I.

You’re just twisting the facts to suit the political agenda of the Democratic Party as usual. They are so afraid they will not get a descent run at the White House that they are spreading all kinds of misinformation. Apparently the Democratic Party has hired the Iraqi Minister of Misinformation we all were entertained with during the days of the war.

**countymounty** · 06-26-2003

Well actually kscoyte is right, if you look at the official Democratic Dictionary it states……Tax Credit - insert anything you want here to mean anything you want for this given situation.
Of course Tax Credit come right after the definition for sex………..

Twokingsracer · 06-26-2003

Wow...this is pretty heavy for a Mustang site. Its unfortunate there will never be a political common ground for everyone to meet on. I dont think anyone knows how government really works in this country, and nothing is ever as it seems with politics. As for the military...I served 16 years. Service members are underpaid for their sacrifices and unfortunately I fear it will always be that way. However, that said...I made pretty good bank when I deployed for Enduring Freedom. As well as any other time I went overseas into a Hostile Fire area. We can use some more time under Republican leadership.

hmarv347 · 06-26-2003

Law enforcement officers and fire fighters are also among the ranks of the underpaid for their contribution to the people of the community. And before you ask Twokings and countymounty, I will not talk to your boss about a raise..lol

kscoyote · 06-26-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by hmarv347
Since overseas pay is exempt from taxes they are actually making more money than if they were paying the taxes and getting full credit for the children. Even at a reduced rate per child theoretically.... they are still making out better.

Not all servicemen are overseas. We would be in BIG trouble if they were.

Not all guardsmen are overseas, but a disproportionate number of both would not qualify for the tax credit designed to allow familiies with children more funds to care for them.

So, what you're saying is that families with children who make more money have it HARDER than military families with children?

kscoyote · 06-26-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by hmarv347

The wives pay will be withheld as a married person, which is less than a single person making the same amount. The serviceman’s earnings are NOT TAXED. Therefore when they file income tax returns they are getting more breaks then you and I.

Apparently the Democratic Party has hired the Iraqi Minister of Misinformation we all were entertained with during the days of the war.

But, unless the wife is also a soldier overseas, she is still paying a larger percentage of her check in sales, state, and local taxes. Up to 12% for every diaper, food, clothing, etc, purchase is taxed, with NO capital gains or other non-working income to draw from.

Wasn't it Rumsfeld who wanted to create the "Office of Disinformation?"

Looks like he succeeded. And you're falling for it.