Democrats, predictably, came out swinging against the Republican tax reform bill by claiming that the middle class would see a massive tax increase under the proposed legislation.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) first claimed on Twitter: “Under GOP plan, U.S. families making ~$86K see avg tax increase of $794.”
His colleague, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) quickly echoed that “fact” with a tweet of his own: “The average tax increase on families nationwide earning up to $86,100 would be $794.00.”
Not to be outdone, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) reiterated the same claim three days later, tweeting: “On average, middle-class families earning less than $86,000 would see a tax increase under the Republican ‘tax reform’ plan.”
Upon inspection, the eye-opening claim did not pass muster.
The Washington Post’s Fact Checker gave the statement, which has been reposted by several Liberal Senators, its shameful “Four Pinocchios,” indicating it was a complete and utter lie.
The Post explained that the Democrats had taken a quote from a Democratic-issued report from the Joint Economic Committee, which said that the tax proposal “would saddle 8 million households that earn up to $86,100 with an average of $794.”
With Republicans committed to pushing forward on tax reform – and not a single Democrat vote needed – it’s apparent that progressives will have to do a far better job of attacking this bill.
