Just a little quick note as I try to calm down about my experience with writing my Representative, former “conservative shock jock” Jason Lewis in purple as a plum MN-2. Rep. Lewis rode Donald Trump’s skinny coattails to a win in 2016 in a traditionally red portion of Minneapolis’ southern suburbs, but in an area that is quickly becoming more diverse and trending blue by the year.
Citing bogus claims of “fiscal conservatism”, and pointing out the fallacies of the slashed corporate rates, pass-through rates, and “help for the middle class”, I reminded Rep. Lewis that his election fortunes in 2018 were going to be hurt, by Democrats and working class and middle class Republicans here alike, by supporting a Bill that gives away $1.5 trillion dollars to the rich, and offers little relief to those who need it, especially after that relief suddenly “expires”.
I asked for a meeting to discuss this before his vote (clearly was never going to happen) or, at a minimum, a reply to the e-mail to explain why we should support his choice to vote yes. The steaming pile of bullsh%t that came back follows:
Dear Mr. _______:
Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Understanding your ideas and concerns helps me better represent you and the Second District of Minnesota. I value your comments and appreciate the opportunity to respond.
As you may know, on November 2, 2017, Congressman Kevin Brady, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, introduced H.R. 1. This bill works to fulfill the promise I, and many others, made to our constituents to provide tax relief and simplification. It provides lower and simplified taxes, and makes filing so easy that it could be done on a post card. The current tax system is too costly, too complex, and unfair to hardworking Americans. Our tax code punishes work, rewards special interests, and discourages job creation and investments here in the U.S. Our country has been plagued by subpar economic growth of only 1-2% over the last eight yearsand American families' wages have stagnated.
This bill simplifies the tax code, reducing the number of brackets from seven to four, moving the lowest tax bracket to zero percent. Taxpayers in every bracket will see a reduction in their taxes, increasing the amount of money in all Americans' pockets, and growing the economy. It also repeals the Alternative Minimum Tax, preventing families from having to calculate their taxes twice and pay the higher amount. We also repeal the Death Tax, in which Washington takes Minnesotans' money twice for the same assets. The Death Tax will be repealed after six years, and until then, the Death Tax exemption will be doubled, freeing up more resources for our hard-working families, small-business owners, and farmers.
This tax bill works to lower taxes for individuals, families, and small businesses. It doubles the standard deduction, which is taken by seventy percent of Americans, from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples. If a filer chooses instead to itemize their deductions, this bill allows for deductions for mortgage interest for any existing mortgages, and for mortgages on newly purchased homes up to $500,000; for state and local property taxes up to $10,000; and charitable contributions.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also provides additional deductions, even if a filer chooses not to itemize, in the form of a new Family Credit, which includes an expanded Child Tax Credit. This new credit provides for $1,600 per child, and $300 for each parent and non-child dependent in a family. It also includes an Earned Income Tax Credit, for low- and middle- income individuals and couples, and the Higher Education Tax Credit, which retains the American opportunity tax credit (AOTC). The AOTC is a credit for qualified education expenses for an eligible student for the first four years of higher education, up to $2,500 credit per eligible student. This bill also retains the Adoption Tax Credit, which is a non-refundable tax credit for up to $13,460. Under this bill, a typical middle-income family of four, earning the median household income in the United States, will receive a tax cut of $1,182.
This bill doesn't only help families and individuals, but it also works to help our small businesses and job creators. American job creators have been leaving for other countries due to America's business tax rates, which are some of the highest in the world. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers the corporate tax rate to twenty percent, down from thirty-five percent. It also lowers the pass-through rate to twenty-five percent, which is the lowest tax rate on small business income since World War II. This legislation also allows businesses to write off the full cost of new equipment immediately, as well as allowing small businesses to write off the interest on loans.
Reforming our tax code is key to getting our economy going again. Tax reform will make America more globally competitive by encouraging private sector investments, which will lead to economic growth, and it will let all Americans keep more money in their pockets. Families in Minnesota need a tax code that works for them. That is why I ran for Congress, and that is what this bill accomplishes. I have been passionate about this issue since my days of organizing tax reform rallies at the Minnesota State Capitol, and I am proud to support this legislation.
H.R. 1 passed the House of Representatives, with my support, on November 16, 2017, and the Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 1 on December 2, 2017. To reconcile the two versions of the bill, the House voted to go to conference on December 4, 2017, and the Senate voted to go to conference on December 6, 2017. I will continue to monitor the progress of the conference committee, and will keep your thoughts in mind when I review the conference committee's work.
Thank you for contacting me. As Congress debates solutions to the challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and views with me. Should you have any further questions or comments about this or any legislative issue, please do not hesitate to contact me in my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2271. Also, please visit me on social media at: www.facebook.com/repjasonlewis, www.youtube.com/repjasonlewis, https://twitter.com/repjasonlewis, and my website at jasonlewis.house.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter for the latest updates from Washington, D.C. and around the district.
In other words...pre-written, complete, and utter BS.
It might be helpful for us to use their own words against them on 11.6.2018 — numbers which are now etched in my brain. After having already shared and discussed this with neighbors and friends — most of whom are apolitical and avoid such conversations, the anger was palpable, and relieving.
My response to Rep. Lewis sums it up:
Mr. Lewis -
Thanks for the form letter - completely chock full of bullshit.
I raised several concerns about the reality of this Bill which this form letter literally tries to sell otherwise. Your statements, especially about lowering the corporate and pass-through rates as if they are even relevant in stimulating the economy (which, as your President makes painful efforts to point out, is humming along just fine since well before he took office) and the "Death Tax", which literally no one in Lakeville pays, are complete lies, and I am offended by your lack of any effort at all to openly and forthrightly discuss this very serious matter with your constituents beyond having an office staffer send out a pre-prepared form letter. Thank you for nothing.
If you ever actually read any of our concerns, including this letter, be advised that your complete lack of care or concern for MY family and my concerns have just ensured that YOU will never - I repeat, NEVER get a vote from me, and I will now take this letter and make it a daily and ongoing mission to ensure as many of MN-2's residents as I can reach know the truth about how little you care about us, how little effort you and your Office have put into responding to our specific issues, and how bogus your claims to be a conservative and a friend of Lakeville's taxpayers really are.
Thanks for nothing, Rep. Lewis. I would love an opportunity to speak with you in person about this before your vote, but I Won't hold my breath. It's painfully clear to me that my original e-mail to you about this was never read, and you could care less about what me and my family care about.
I hope you enjoy November 6, 2018. I KNOW I will.
Sincerely,
________
Lakeville, MN