The White House has come under fire for making misleading claims about Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump’s tax bill. In a recent statement, the White House claimed that Democrats oppose key measures in the bill, including tax cuts for seniors, expanded child tax credits, and no tax on tips. However, a closer look at the facts reveals that Democrats have actually championed many of these measures in the past.
Tax Cuts and Child Tax Credits
The White House claimed that Democrats oppose the largest tax cut in history, which would put an extra $5,000 in Americans’ pockets. However, according to analysis by the Tax Policy Center, the tax cut would actually average 2.4 percent for middle-income households, far from the largest tax cut in history. Democrats have also long pushed to expand the child tax credit, with some senators introducing legislation to increase the credit to $6,360 for newborns and $3,600 for children aged 6-17.
No Tax on Tips
The White House also claimed that Democrats oppose no tax on tips, despite the Senate unanimously passing the bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act. In fact, both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris have pledged to eliminate taxes on tips. Senate Democrats, including Jacky Rosen of Nevada, have also co-sponsored the bill.
Savings Accounts for Newborns
The White House claimed that Democrats oppose new savings accounts for newborns, but this is not entirely accurate. In 2018, Democratic Senator Cory Booker introduced the American Opportunity Accounts Act, which would provide $1,000 to newborns and up to $2,000 in annual contributions. Booker reintroduced the bill in 2023.
Border Security and Healthcare
The White House also claimed that Democrats oppose historic border security measures, but Democrats have actually opposed Republican plans to use US military bases for migrant detention and have long opposed border wall funding. On healthcare, the White House claimed that Democrats oppose expanded health savings accounts, but Democrats have expressed concerns that these accounts do not help socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals who may not have the financial resources to contribute to the accounts.
Conclusion
The White House’s claims about Democratic opposition to the tax bill are misleading and do not accurately reflect the facts. While Democrats do oppose certain aspects of the bill, they have actually championed many of the measures cited by the White House. The bill’s provisions on tax cuts, child tax credits, and savings accounts for newborns are not necessarily opposed by Democrats, and the White House’s claims should be viewed with skepticism.