A resolution opposing a national sales tax on working families and supporting a tax cut to benefit the middle class.

Subjects: Taxation, Budget deficits and national debt, Medicaid, Medicare, Sales and excise taxes, Social security and elderly assistance, Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:  <p>This resolution opposes the enactment of a national sales tax, supports the passage of a responsible tax cut, and opposes paying for any tax cuts with cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, or cuts to pay and benefits for servicemenbers, veterans, or law enforcement.</p>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 65 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 65

Opposing a national sales tax on working families and supporting a tax 
                    cut to benefit the middle class.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 15, 2023

Ms. Rosen (for herself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. 
  Fetterman, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
 Kaine, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Brown, and Mr. 
Merkley) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                          Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Opposing a national sales tax on working families and supporting a tax 
                    cut to benefit the middle class.

Whereas hardworking families have faced significant economic challenges over the 
        past few years, including high gas prices, rising costs for groceries, 
        and increasing rent and home prices due to record-high inflation;
Whereas elected leaders should be working to relieve individuals in the United 
        States of the financial pressure at the kitchen table, and pass 
        legislation that brings down costs rather than raises prices;
Whereas Republicans in Congress have introduced and plan to consider H.R. 25, 
        the FairTax Act of 2023, which would impose a new national sales tax and 
        increase the price of all goods and services by 30 percent;
Whereas, under this legislation, it is estimated that, for a family in the 
        United States--

    (1) the average yearly grocery bill would rise by $3,500;

    (2) the cost of buying a car would go up $10,000; and

    (3) the cost of buying a home would increase by $125,000;

Whereas the price increases brought on by the FairTax Act of 2023 would 
        disproportionately impact retirees, seniors, and those living on a fixed 
        income by raising prices on individuals whose incomes will remain flat 
        as prices rise;
Whereas this misguided legislation, which places a financial burden on seniors 
        and hardworking families, also eliminates all income taxes for the 
        ultra-rich;
Whereas in recent years, Republicans in Congress have given massive tax cuts to 
        billionaires and giant corporations at the expense of middle class 
        families;
Whereas Republicans in Congress have suggested paying for past tax cuts for 
        corporations and the ultra-wealthy by cutting Social Security, Medicare, 
        and Medicaid;
Whereas Democrats in Congress passed the largest middle class tax cut in 
        generations through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 
        117-2; 135 Stat. 4), which expanded the earned income tax credit and the 
        child tax credit, cutting child poverty nearly in half in 2021; and
Whereas individuals in the United States deserve real bipartisan tax reform and 
        a simpler, fairer tax code aimed at supporting the middle class: Now 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) strongly opposes H.R. 25, the FairTax Act of 2023, 
        which would impose an effective 30 percent sales tax on all 
        goods and services, raising prices for hardworking families, 
        seniors, and other individuals in the United States working to 
        make ends meet;
            (2) supports the passage of a responsible tax cut that 
        would actually benefit hardworking families and grow the middle 
        class, while making the ultra-wealthy and billion-dollar 
        corporations pay their fair share; and
            (3) opposes paying for any tax cuts with cuts to Social 
        Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, or cuts to pay and benefits 
        for our servicemembers, veterans, or law enforcement.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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