Debbie Dingell: “I intend to vote in favor of H.R. 2014 albeit with some reservations. This legislation is the product of great…”

“I intend to vote in favor of H.R. 2014 albeit with some reservations. This legislation is the product of great compromise by both sides. I am pleased that my Republican colleagues recognized the need to include some tax relief for middle-class Americans in the final version of the tax plan. However, I am deeply concerned that this may still explode the deficit in the out years. The $500-per-child tax credit will be available to low-income families and the education tax breaks will be fully implemented. We, as Democrats, fought hard to ensure all families will receive some benefit from this tax package. Low-income American families deserve the $500-per-child tax credit just as much as a family whose earnings exceed $110,000. The HOPE scholarship and the student loan interest deduction will make higher education more affordable and accessible for all Americans. I am still troubled by the distribution of the tax cuts. The capital gains reductions will allow CEO's to cash in their stock options and pay less in taxes than a family earning $30,000. It is the unfortunate nature of compromise that we must cede these generous capital gains tax breaks to the Republicans to provide some relief for hard working low-income Americans. We should defer the self-congratulations until such time as the budget is actually in balance.”