Dear Editor:
While U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer voted for the House tax scam which passed on Thursday, we still have time to stop it in the Senate. The House scam would reduce taxes for those making under $20,000/year by $110 in 2018, while reducing taxes for those making over $488,000/year by almost $42,000. People in the middle-income bracket making between $60,000 and $100,000/year will have their 2018 taxes reduced by $1,250. However, everyone in every income group except the top will pay progressively more in taxes every year through 2027, when only folks making over $668,000 will be paying less in taxes than they will pay next year. The beauty of it, you see, is that you will pay a little less tax next year and maybe not mind so much that the wealthy are getting a bigger break. You will be so grateful for that little bit of tax relief that in 2018 and 2020 you will re-elect the Republicans who have scammed you before you find yourself paying more in 2027, while the wealthy pay less. Roads and bridges will continue to deteriorate; and public education, Medicare, and Medicaid will be under-funded.
The bill that Roy Blunt and his cronies in the Senate aim to pass has special surprises. Their plan is similar in that the richest 5 percent of Missourians will get 40 percent of the tax cuts. What impresses me most however, is the disappearance of tax deductions for medical expenses and student loans in the bill written by the party of family values. If these deductions have been important to you and your family, though, don't worry! Senate Republicans have made sure that all costs related to the management of your private aircraft will be exempt from taxation. Storage, maintenance, and fueling of your private airplane, as well as expenses related to the hiring and training of pilots and crew, and administrative services such as scheduling, flight planning and weather forecasting will now be fully exempt from taxation imposed on taxable air transportation. So: Yay! Sen. Roy Blunt and Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer have made sure we all still come out ahead, right?