My sister, Ann, and I make a very slender living making community quilts here at Daily Kos (click here for a list of our 159 quilt recipients) — and also little catnip filled quilts for cats (Pootie Pads) and other catnip toys. We usually make enough to cover household bills and feed ourselves — but do need help when it comes tax time — property tax in the fall and income tax in the Spring. As you probably know, last year was particularly hard for us because Ann had several heart attacks and hospitalizations. She now has four stents — and I hope we never have to call the paramedics again. As you can imagine, my stress level has been through the roof. Unfortunately, I, myself, have a serious health condition that is made worse by stress. Thankfully, we live in Oregon where the Medicaid expansion means that even we low income people can get health care. But I digress...
This year, thanks to Mr. Trump’s largesse to the rich, the less well off such as ourselves are hit hard. For me and Ann, our taxes are higher than ever — and we are very low income. Our tax preparer charged more this year, too, because the new laws are that much more time consuming for him. I know we are not alone in this situation of tax shock because I just received the following in an email message from my Representative in Congress, Earl Blumenauer:
It’s tax season, and this year especially, Americans are experiencing even more stress—all because of the GOP tax scam. Republicans promised a middle-class tax cut, but instead, in true GOP fashion, they showered the top one-percent with tax breaks, giving a break to those who need it least and leaving the most vulnerable to pay the price.
Today, the Ways and Means committee heard from economists, workers, and professors to learn who the 2017 GOP tax scam left behind, and we didn’t have to look far. Republicans sold this scam as a break for the working class to provide jobs, but all we got were huge tax benefits for corporations to buy back stock and reward wealthy shareholders, all while wages remain stagnant.
Similar to many other states around the country, Oregonians saw this first hand. By taking away the property and income tax deduction, thousands of Oregonians are seeing tax increases. They will be punished with higher taxes, even taxing amounts already taxed by Oregon. It's outrageous!
Instead of trying to make a significant difference in the lives of Americans who need it the most, the Republican tax bill puts important middle-class programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid at risk and saddles the next generation with trillions of dollars of debt.
With Democrats in charge, we will be looking at ways to reverse this damage and put the power back in the hands of working families. I will continue to fight this in Congress to make sure Oregonians are not footing the bill for the rich to get richer, and ensure the days of irresponsible GOP tax cuts are over.
Courage,
Earl Blumenauer
The emphasis in the above is mine.
The upshot is that Ann and I are going to need the community’s help - double what we needed last year. Our adjusted gross income for 2018 was barely over $11,000 each — and we each owe $355 to Oregon, $2100 to the Feds, and $35 each for the Portland Arts Tax. That comes to about $5000, total.
We have already covered the cost of tax preparation, the amount our business owed to Oregon and what is called the Tri Met Self Employment tax — this was all due to the lovingkindness of a particular angel (you know who you are and our gratitude is boundless!).
Any help you can give would be a blessing to us. Here is a PayPal link for general donation to our quilting project. If you Kos Mail me, I can give you our address should you prefer a check.
PayPal link for general donation to the quilters, Ann and Sara
Thank you for your very kind support. You keep our needles going. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
We are $1765 toward our goal — $3235 remaining.