Issued December 20, 2017
WASHINGTON—SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement after Congress passed a tax bill providing massive tax giveaways to corporations and millionaires at the expense of working families:
“This bill may be a win for wealthy corporations, but it’s a devastating loss for working people like Shana Boston of Richmond, Va. Shana is a home care worker who will see her taxes increase while her job and clients’ care remain at risk from congressional Republicans plot to cut over a trillion dollars from Medicare, Medicaid and other programs.
“These tax giveaways are yet another example of the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans’ misplaced priorities and disrespect for the people who elected them. The federal government is going to run out of money on Friday, immigrant families live in fear of being ripped apart, victims of natural disasters – including in Puerto Rico – continue to suffer and children’s health remains at risk. Republicans in Congress have had all year to fund the government and address these other crucial priorities. Instead, they have manufactured a crisis days before Christmas because they think it’s more important to pass tax giveaways for millionaires and corporations.
“Even more insulting is the blatant disregard for working families shown by every member of Congress who voted for this bill. SEIU members and our communities are not fooled by President Trump and Congressional Republicans who claim working families will benefit from this bill, when independent studies clearly show the opposite. Although members of Congress chose to ignore the voices of their constituents who called, wrote letters and participated in civil disobedience in protest of this bill, they will not be able to ignore the votes cast against them next year.”