The Republican budget passed the Senate and the House as of Oct. 26. Next they will tackle tax reform.

Both these agendas—the Republican budget and the Republican tax reform-­­­­-- will negatively impact low and middle income families. Of course that is not what you see on TV—according to Trump, Ryan and McConnell it will all be great—really, really great!

You can find the reality of these measures by going to the Ways and Means Committee website for the Republicans. There you will find the budget—very long and very complicated. And your Republican representative and senators are hoping you won’t read it.

First, the budget would change Medicare to a privatized system similar to Medicare Advantage and cut funds for it significantly. Medicaid will be changed to a state block program and funds will be cuts for this program also. In addition, there is a plan in the budget to cut income security programs – including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – by $653 billion. SSI provides vital and much needed economic security for 8.4 million low-income seniors and people with disabilities, including children severe functional limitations.

The adopted budget cuts Pell grants and the education budget, makes deep cuts in the EPA and the Energy Dept., and eliminates money for our crumbling infrastructure.

The underlying agenda in the GOP budget legislation is to undermine Medicaid and eventually privatize Social Security and Medicare. This budget would add $1.5 trillion to the deficit.

Then there is the tax plan which Trump says won’t help him and his family at all. Either he is outright lying or he is not too intelligent.

 The plan cuts the upper 1 percent of wealthy Americans tax rate by 4.6 percent. In Georgia that means that the wealthy will see between $130,000 to $200,000 a year in tax cuts. The plan does away with the estate tax under the guise that it will help small businesses. Small businesses already don’t pay an estate tax—it doesn’t start until after $5 Million. 

But Trump and is family will see millions in tax savings! The plan also eliminates the AMT and cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent. That is all for the wealthy!  In Georgia, taxpayers earning from $38,400 to $59,600 a year, can expect an average annual tax cut of $260. Households with incomes below that range would see slightly less, probably from $100 to $150 a year on average.  Three out of 10 middle income Americans will see tax increases.

Please call your senators and reps and tell them you know what they are doing and it will cost them their job!

Bette Holland

Dawsonville