Washington D.C — Today, Unrig Our Economy released a new report which focuses on several key House Republicans who voted for the Republican Tax Law one year ago and highlights campaign donations from giant corporations that received massive tax breaks from the law. This analysis doesn’t just underline how Republicans in Congress, wealthy billionaires, and big corporations have rigged the system. It also shows how working families are losing access to health care, going hungry, paying higher costs, and more thanks to this law.
The corporations listed in the report include energy companies that have jacked up prices for millions of Americans and a manufacturing giant whose products polluted drinking water with dangerous “forever chemicals.” Thanks to the Republican Tax Law, these same companies are receiving massive tax breaks, fueled by cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. In other words, these corporate tax breaks are being paid for by people losing their health care and their ability to put food on the table. It’s no surprise that the latest polling from Navigator Research shows that a majority of Americans still oppose the Republican Tax Law.
“One year ago, House Republicans ripped away health care and food assistance from millions of Americans, so that corporations could get massive tax breaks. And now, many of those companies are dishing out PAC money to the Republicans listed in this report,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal. “This report highlights the stark fact that Republicans in Congress sold out many of their own constituents to help corporations get even richer. It’s time that House Republicans step up, do the right thing, and start fighting for working Americans – not giant corporations.”
Unrig Our Economy Report: Key House Republicans Rake in PAC Money from Corporations They Voted to Give Massive Tax Breaks to
Key Findings:
- Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) voted to give 3M tax breaks and took thousands of dollars from its corporate PAC even though the company was responsible for polluting Iowans’ drinking water with cancer-causing “forever chemicals.” The same tax law that gave 3M massive tax breaks is also ripping away health coverage from tens of thousands of Iowans and putting rural Iowa health care providers at risk of closure.
- Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08) voted to give the energy company FirstEnergy hundreds of millions in tax breaks even after the company raised utility prices for his constituents. Since Bresnahan’s tax law passed, FirstEnergy is paying an effective tax rate of under 5% and its PAC is bankrolling Bresnahan’s campaign. Thanks to its cuts to clean energy, Bresnahan’s tax law is only going to continue sending Pennsylvanians’ energy costs skyrocketing in the years to come.
- Under Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01)’s tax law, the energy company Xcel Energy is paying a negative effective tax rate and hiking utility rates on Minnesotans, while also giving PAC money to Finstad’s campaign. Thanks to its cuts to clean energy, Finstad’s tax law is only going to continue sending Minnesotans’ energy costs skyrocketing in the years to come.
- The report also features Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07), and Monica De La Cruz (TX-15).
Read the full report here.
To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact press@unrigoureconomy.com
###
About Unrig Our Economy
Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.