|
Eleanor Holmes Norton on Tax Reform
Democratic Representative (DC-Delegate)
|
|
|
D.C. residents are taxed without representation
The House of Representatives passed a bill that would make Washington D.C. into a state. While Democrats say it's time to make D.C. a state, Republicans say the motivation is purely political. D.C. House Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton
(D) introduced this bill and says district residents deserve full representation in Congress. "D.C. residents are taxed without representation and cannot consent to the laws under which they as American citizens must live," Norton said.
While Democrats say this is about fairness, Republicans say this isn't about the people, it's about the politics. As a state, D.C. would likely add two new Democrats to the Senate.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it will need to clear a 60-vote threshold to pass. [See details of H.R.51 / S.51]
Source: WETM 18 Elmira on 2021 DC-0 House incumbent
, Apr 23, 2021
American People's Dividend: Give $300 to every person.
Norton adopted the Progressive Caucus Position Paper:
The Problem
President Bush argues that upper income people pay a larger share of the taxes, therefore they should get a larger tax cut. We disagree. These people have significantly benefited from the economic boom of the 1990s, while those in the bottom range of incomes have received little benefit. It’s these folks that we must help. President Bush’s plan is “Reaganomics” revisited and it’s fiscally irresponsible. Despite spending $1.6 trillion or more, the President’s tax plan gives little to nothing for those with little income. In fact, anyone below 140% of the poverty line, will get a zero tax cut.The Solution
The Progressive Caucus believes that tax relief must flow to those who need it the most, the working class and people with limited incomes. We have endorsed an idea called the American People’s Dividend. We’ll give a dividend to every American, because every American is an equal shareholder in America. We estimate the total cost to be about $900 billion
over 10 years. The plan will give to every person about a $300 refundable tax credit. A married couple with 3 children will receive $1500, $300 for each member of the family. This plan is simple, easy to administer, and progressive. The plan could provide an economic stimulus since it would put money in people’s pockets immediately. Unlike the Bush proposal, which reserves 40% of the tax benefits for the wealthiest 1% of the population, our proposal gives the wealthiest 1% exactly 1% of the tax relief. This makes the bulk of tax relief available for the bulk of the population. The American People’s Dividend is payable every year the federal budget is in surplus.| Comparison of Progressive Tax Plan & Bush’s Plan |
|---|
| The Wealthy | The Low Income |
|---|
| Progressive Caucus American Peoples Dividend | $300 | $300 |
|---|
| President Bush’s Tax Cuts | $$46,000 | $0 |
|---|
Source: Progressive Caucus Press Release, "Tax Relief" 01-CPC2 on Feb 8, 2001
Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million.
Norton co-sponsored Paying a Fair Share Act
Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012: - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require an individual taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $1 million to pay a minimum tax rate of 30% of the excess of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income over the taxpayer's modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year (tentative fair share tax).
- Establishes the amount of such tax as the excess of the tentative fair share tax over the excess of the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) amount, and the payroll tax for the taxable year;
- Provides for a phase-in of such tax.
- Requires an inflation adjustment to the $1 million income threshold for taxable years beginning after 2013.
- Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact tax reform that repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes and expenditures, simplifies the tax system, and makes sure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a fair share of taxes.
Source: HR3903/S2230 12-HR3903 on Apr 16, 2012
Tax incentives for child care; eliminate marriage penalty.
Norton adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:
The teams of the Women’s Caucus are charged with advancing action on their designated issues in a bipartisan manner. Legislation from Team 10. TAX POLICY:
Child Care:
- HR389—Child Care Infrastructure Act of 1999—A bill to provide a credit against tax for employers who provide child care assistance for dependents of their employees, and for other purposes. (Maloney/Ros-Lehtinen)
- HR963—Child Care Availability Incentive Act—A bill to allow employers a credit for a portion of the expenses of providing dependent care services to employees. (Pryce/Roemer)
- HR1097—A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify the $500 per child tax credit and other individual non-refundable credits by repealing the complex limitations on the allowance of those credits resulting from their interaction with the alternative minimum tax. (Neal)
Dependent Care Tax Credit:
Several bills pending to expand the DCTC—General concepts we endorse—Increase percentage of expenses from 30% to 50% Increase the income level at which one can receive the maximum credit from $10,000 to $30,000 Some kind of state-at-home parent component Indexation for inflation Bills: HR1139 (Tauscher)—the Affordable Child Care, Education, Security, and Safety Act, a bill which includes this provision. HR2259 (N. Johnson)—Tax Relief for Parents Act of 1999, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the dependent care credit.
Marriage Penalty:
HR6—Marriage Tax Elimination Act of 1999—A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the marriage penalty by providing that the income tax rate bracket amounts, and the amount of the standard deduction for joint returns shall be twice the amounts applicable to unmarried individuals. (Weller/McIntosh/Danner)
Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC13 on Jul 15, 1999
Tax incentives for education, new schools, & families.
Norton adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:
The teams of the Women’s Caucus are charged with advancing action on their designated issues in a bipartisan manner. Legislation from Team 10. TAX POLICY:
Estate Tax:
- HR241—Surviving Spouse Fairness Act of 1999—A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that the $500,000 exclusion of gain on the sale of a principle residence shall apply to certain sales by a surviving spouse. (Roukema)
Education:
- HR464—Higher Education Affordability and Availability Act—A bill to provide tax incentives for education and to exclude from income distributions from qualified tuition programs used for qualified higher education expenses (Granger)
School Construction: —providing low-interest bonds to local school districts:
- HR1760—America’s Better Classrooms Act of 1999 (N.Johnson) HR415—Expand and Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 1997 (Sanchez)
- HR1660—Public School Modernization Act of 1999 (Rangel)
- HR2085—Family Tax Reduction Act of 1999—A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end the marriage penalty, to provide estate tax relief for family-owned farms and other family-owned businesses, to provide a tax credit for longterm care needs, to expand the child and dependent care tax credit, to increase the deduction for health insurance costs for self-employed individuals, and to adjust for inflation the exemption amounts used to calculate the individual alternative minimum tax. (Hooley)
- HR2020—Tax Relief for Working Americans Act of 1999—A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide marriage penalty relief, incentives to encourage health coverage, and increased child care assistance, to extend certain expiring tax provisions, and for other purposes. (N. Johnson).
Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC14 on Jul 15, 1999
Page last updated: Jan 25, 2022