Congressman Cleaver Joins Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to Discuss Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, ahead of President Trump's speech in Missouri outlining Republicans' plan to give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)) joined Not One Penny and Indivisible on a press call to discuss the Republican giveaways to the wealthy and well-connected. Speakers today called on President Trump to introduce a tax plan that doesn't include tax giveaways to the wealthy and well-connected.

"This is reverse Robin Hood-ism at its best," said Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO). "I think that the Missouri voters need to be aware of the trick that they're trying to play on us that somehow this is going to be some kind of an equitable cut in taxes for working people as well the wealthy."

"We believe that tax reform shouldn't increase the tax burden on the middle class, and there should not be a tax cut for the wealthiest one percent of Americans, period," said Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. "Not one penny of tax cuts should go to that top one percent." "If the President wants to use populism to sell his tax plan, he ought to consider actually putting his money where his mouth is, and putting forward a plan that puts the middle class, not the top 1%, first," Schumer continued. "Rather than pushing a plan that puts social security and Medicare at risk in order to give a huge tax break to the millionaires and billionaires, I hope the President will discuss a plan that can earn bipartisan support."

"Trump is selling a scam that's light on details and won't deliver on the promises he's making," said Chad Bolt, Policy Manager for Indivisible Guide. "It is patently absurd to say the Trump tax scam "unrigs the economy" -- it only further rigs the economy for the wealthy and corporations, and even Trump himself."

"The problem with the President' claim that his tax plan will help regular Americans is that the math just doesn't add up. Tax cuts for wealthy corporations are not going to help regular Americans whose wages have stagnated," said Michael Linden, Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute. "Millionaires will take home more than $200,000 a year from Trump's plan."

Congressman Cleaver is committed to ensuring that the working middle-class and the working poor are not ignored in the discussion of tax reform. "These are the people who need the tax breaks the most, not the wealthiest among us who will be just fine," said Congressman Cleaver.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Heather Frierson at 816-842-4545 or Heather.Frierson@mail.house.gov