Friend's Letter on Unjust Tax Bill

Today I am publishing an e-mail letter written by my good friend Jeff Deiss on the topic of the unjust and financially irresponsible Republican tax bill currently making its way through congress. I'm sure you will be as impressed by the cogency of his points as I am. Here is Jeff's missive:

Dear Senator McCain/Flake,

I am writing you about the pending tax reform bill in a sense of desperation.  I am a California citizen, but given the divided nature of politics in the US, it would be of little use to write to either my Congresswoman or Senators.  Given the Republican majority, their votes will not decide the outcome, and indeed they have not been able to participate in any significant way throughout the legislative process.

I urge you to reconsider your support of the pending tax bill.  It is ill-conceived, mean-spirited, financially imprudent, and profoundly unjust.  Consider just a few of the features of the bill:

• A significant tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, who notwithstanding their tax burdens are already doing well.
• A significant tax cut for large corporations, who already have significant cash reserves and are not tax-constrained in undertaking new investment.
• A serious loss of government revenue at a time when our deficit is already a matter of widespread concern.
• A new taxation principle that will tax wages at a higher rate than contractor income.
• The loss of tax features that support affordable housing, historic preservation, and renewable energy development. 
• A reduction in the mortgage tax deduction that penalizes Americans unevenly - striking only citizens who have the misfortune of living in high housing costs states such as California.
• Elimination of the local and state tax deduction that also penalizes Americans unevenly - again striking only citizens who have the misfortune of living in states with a high local/state tax rate such as California.

I am astonished by the flagrancy of this ill-conceived, mean-spirited, financially imprudent, and profoundly unjust tax bill.  I am an American, but my representatives have neither been consulted nor had input.  Who will stand up for me and my fellow Californians?  I am turning to you because I know and appreciate that you have repeatedly had the courage to vote against partisan blocs and instead side with the best interests of all Americans.  I urge you to oppose the final tax bill and save the nation from further division and just as importantly the anguish of having to later unwind what would quickly be viewed as a broken, discredited tax system.

Sincerely,

Jeff Deiss

Oakland, California