We know that the Republican “tax reform” plan is a budget-busting gift to the wealthy. We know that the so-called middle-class tax cuts actually raise taxes on many middle-class families and that the Republicans are happy to stick it to the blue states out of spite. But there are some other insidious items included in the plan that make it even worse, as USA Today reports.
Perhaps the most outrageous one is that the GOP has decided to stick it to just about the last group of people who should be getting penalized: teachers. It’s outrageous enough that teachers are required to pay with their own money for classroom supplies necessary to do their job. I can’t think of any other group of employers who require employees to pay for their work-related supplies. But now, the GOP wants to remove the tax deduction for these work-related expenses. Maybe they think it’s OK because most teachers don’t earn enough to itemize. That only makes it that much more repugnant.
Next on the hit list — sick people. Republicans will no longer allow you to deduct catastrophic medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your income. Rather than make health care more affordable, as they promised, they want to make it more expensive when you need it most. They want to hit you when your down.
And speaking of hitting you when you’re down, they want to eliminate the deduction for disaster losses. So, if you happen to get hit by, say, a hurricane, and you suffer losses greater than 10% of your income, tough luck. You’re screwed. Love, Republicans.
Found a new job or looking for work where you need to relocate? Too bad. You’re on your own. You’ll no longer be allowed to deduct work-related moving expenses.
The list totals 15 items. The above are, in my opinion, the most egregious. The Republicans think this is all fine and dandy because it simplifies the tax code, the logic being that simple is good. That’s a simple-minded way of looking at things, of course, but it plays well to their base. Life isn’t simple, and sometimes a little complexity is called for. Not that any of these deductions are all that complex.
But none of this is worth worrying about if you’re a Republican member of Congress or the Republican President of the United States. Priorities are priorities, and as long as Donald Trump gets millions of dollars in tax cuts, everything is peachy.