Protesters rally against tax bill
PENN TWP — A group of about 15 people held up signs in front of Congressman Mike Kelly's business Thursday afternoon protesting a tax-cut bill that was passed by the House of Representatives just hours earlier.
The demonstration, held in front of Mike Kelly Chevrolet Cadillac, was planned before the bill came to a vote, said Maureen Byko, one of the organizers.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed by a 227-205 vote in the House, would reduce the seven federal income tax brackets to three: 12, 25 and 35 percent, according to a news release from Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, who voted in favor of the bill.
“This historic legislation means more take-home pay for every single hardworking American so that he and she can keep more of their hard-earned money to spend as they choose instead of shipping it off to the federal government,” Kelly said in the news release earlier this month. “It also means that American companies will no longer have to pay the highest taxes in the industrialized world.”
Byko said that the legislators were bringing the bill to a vote too quickly and despite it being touted as beneficial to middle-class people, it would take away important deductions such as student loan interest and nursing home costs.
“It's just tax cuts for the rich. Everyday Americans like us in Butler County will have to pay more,” she said.
Tom Qualtere, director of communications for Kelly, in an email Thursday noted that the bill was a product of more than 40 hearings of the House Ways and Means Committee conducted over the last seven years.
Rick Drumm of Ford City, Armstrong County, said that the cut for people in the highest tax bracket will be much larger than the savings for the low bracket.
“The middle class can buy a pizza a week — the 1 percent, they can buy a pizza franchise,” he said.
Drumm also said he believes the bill will increase the national deficit and result in cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.
Mary Bell of Sharon, Mercer County, said the bill benefits wealthy political donors and corporations more than average people.
“This is part of a trend of shifting wealth from middle income people to the wealthiest 1 percent, including Mike Kelly himself and including (President Donald) Trump himself,” she said.
They held up signs criticizing the House's plan to cut taxes for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. Slogans included “Millionaire Mike No Tax Cuts for the Rich” and “Take Your Tax Bill and Stuff It.”
A Penn Township police officer responded and asked the protesters to stay on the grassy area next to the road, which is within the public right of way.
A corresponding tax cut bill has been proposed in the Senate and both houses of Congress would have to vote again on a final version before it would be sent to the president.
