Barbara Boxer: “when I look at the distribution chart showing who benefits from the bill before the Senate, my question is, whose side…”

“when I look at the distribution chart showing who benefits from the bill before the Senate, my question is, whose side are we on, anyway? I hope the answer to that question is, the majority of the American people. When we look at this chart, what we find is we are on the side of not even 1 percent of the American people. We are on the side of those earning over $1 million a year. That is who gets the benefits of this bill. According to The Urban Institute-Brookings Tax Policy Center, we see that the average tax cut of those over $1 million is $41,977 a year in this bill. The benefit of this tax break is essentially more than what some middle class Americans earn all year. Then we have an additional number from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Their chart shows if you earn over $1.6 million, this Republican tax bill will get you back $82,000 each and every year. Well, what is someone who earns, say, $40,000 getting back? Forty-six dollars--not even enough in some cases to fill up a gas tank. Whose side is this Republican Senate on? If this were a time when we did not have deficits and we did not have debt, it would be one thing. I still would oppose this bill. I would rather give the benefits to those in the middle. I would rather give the benefits to those who were struggling with the high cost of gas. I would rather give the benefits to those who are struggling to send their children to college.…”