Speeches and Statements

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Republican tax plan that was unveiled earlier this month.

Tax reform is an issue that is deeply important to my constituents and that could affect the lives of all American families, in central Florida and in communities across the country.

That’s why I want to take the time to explain to you why I will be voting “No” on this legislation.
 
I had hoped to vote for a bipartisan bill that would reduce the tax burden on middle class families and small businesses in my district.

However, the partisan bill before us fails to accomplish either of those goals.

Six of 10 households in my district earn less than $75,000 annually. These are the families that tax reform should seek to empower.

Yet, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the typical family in Florida that earns between $48,000 and $78,000 a year will see its tax bill increase by 17 percent under this plan.  
 
Moreover, instead of simplifying the tax code for small businesses, this bill creates a more complex tax system that stands in the way of job creation. 
 
My district is also home to many excellent colleges and universities, including one of the largest schools in the nation. This bill will further increase the cost of higher education, harming students and undermining the quality of our workforce.  

I simply cannot support a bill that, according to the Education Council, would reduce tax benefits and savings for college students by $65 billion over the next decade.
 
Finally, I had hoped to vote for a fiscally-responsible bill that would strengthen the American economy. Here again, the bill before us fails the test.
 
It would add $1.5 trillion to federal deficits over the next decade.  At a time when our national debt already sits at $20 trillion, this bill moves us in the wrong direction.
 
In fact, the bill is so fiscally irresponsible that it could trigger $136 billion in automatic spending cuts in 2018, including $25 billion in cuts to Medicare.
 
Despite Republican leadership’s decision to take the partisan path, I’ve worked across the aisle to make improvements to this legislation.
 
For example, Congressman Kevin Yoder and I successfully fought off attempts to slash critical tax benefits for families with young children and other dependents;
 
But I’m disappointed that the bill doesn’t expand these tax benefits to make child care more affordable, which would give much-needed relief to hardworking families.
 
When this process began, I said the bill needed to be bipartisan, it needed to help middle class families and small businesses, and it needed to be fiscally responsible.

Because the bill accomplishes none of those goals, I intend to vote “No.”
 
I call on my Senate colleagues to work in a bipartisan way to fix the House’s flawed tax proposal. 
 
Thank you. 

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To watch Congresswoman Murphy deliver her remarks, click here. To read the remarks in PDF format, click here.