Rep. Messer Votes in Support Of Tax Cut

Doubling of Child Tax Credit and Standard Deduction, Repeal of Obamacare Individual Mandate Included in Sweeping Reform

WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017) — U.S. Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) today voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowers taxes on middle-class Hoosiers and updates America’s tax code for the first time in 31 years.

Under this plan, most middle-class families will see savings of between $1,000 to $2,000.

“One of President Trump’s key campaign promises was to cut taxes for working Americans and today we delivered,” Messer said. “Under this plan, Hoosier families will see bigger paychecks, fairer taxes, and more jobs.”

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which passed the House today, simplifies the tax code and lowers tax rates across the board for individuals, families and job creators. The plan increases the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 and increases the amount of money protected from taxes by roughly doubling the standard deduction from $6,500 to $12,000 for individuals and from $13,000 to $24,000 for married couples. It also preserves the adoption tax credit, the home mortgage interest deduction, and the charitable giving deduction.

Additionally, the bill allows families to use 529 accounts to save for elementary, secondary and higher education, which will expand choice for parents and opportunities for students. Messer has introduced legislation similar to this in every Congress since he’s been elected.

The bill also eliminates Obamacare’s individual mandate, which Messer has long championed and pushed for as the final bill was being written. According to the Internal Revenue Service, nearly 140,000 Hoosiers paid the individual mandate penalty in 2015. Of those, more than 80 percent earned less than $50,000 per year.

“Obamacare’s individual mandate is crushing middle-class Hoosiers,” Messer said. “By repealing it, we are bringing relief to low and middle-income Americans who have had to pay fines simply because they can’t afford skyrocketing premiums.”

Part of Messer’s legislation to eliminate tax credits for illegal immigrants, which will save U.S. taxpayers $29.8 billion, is also included in the final bill. It ensures that the children claimed by those receiving the Child Tax Credit have a valid Social Security Number. Messer plans to file legislation to ensure only taxpayers with a valid Social Security Number can claim the Child Tax Credit.

The Senate now must vote to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act before it goes to the president’s desk.