Barrasso: GOP Tax Cuts Put More Money in People’s Pockets

"Republicans permanently lowered taxes. We did it for hardworking families and small businesses. In doing so, we made it easier for all Americans - whether working or retired - to keep more of what they earn. More than 53 million Americans have benefited from at least one of the new Republican tax cuts."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today highlighted the direct benefits Americans are receiving from the Working Families Tax Cuts law.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso's remarks.

Sen. Barrasso's remarks:

"Today is April 15. That means it is Tax Day in America.

"I just heard the Minority Leader come to the Floor, and it sounds like he's almost despondent that this year the American people are able to get higher tax refunds than in the past. Because of what we've been able to do and pass, people are keeping more of their hard-earned money. For people that are filing their taxes for the first time under this new tax law - the Working Families Tax Cuts - they are seeing that they are keeping more. And this is what we promised - to put more money in people's pockets.

"I hear about it at home in Wyoming. In Dubois, I recently spoke with veterans and their families. In Sundance, Gillette, and Laramie, I visited with students. In Lusk and in Newcastle, I sat down with farmers, ranchers, and small business owners. Across the board, we talked about new opportunities that they're experiencing as a result of the law since Republicans cut taxes dramatically. How it appears in their daily lives and what it means to them and their families. These families in Wyoming aren't alone. Americans across the country are seeing smaller tax bills and larger tax refunds.

"The Internal Revenue Service released data today on the tax refunds. The average refund this year is over $3,400 per family. Now that's nearly $250 per month in people's pockets. That's much higher than it was last year. These are the refunds people are getting.

"And yet when I hear the Senator from New York, he referred to the amount of money people are getting back in refunds - I think he said the word were 'duds.' Maybe to him that's a dud. Maybe to him in New York City that's a dud. But for working families in Wyoming, $250 a month means a lot of money in their pockets. When you go to the gas station, the grocery store, when they plan what they want to do over the summer, all of those things. This is real money in the pockets of Wyoming families and American families. And the best we can hear from the Minority Leader is it's a 'dud.'

"That is not what I'm hearing around my home state. People understand money in their pockets matters to them and matters to their families, even if the Democrats don't believe that or the Minority Leader doesn't see it the way we see it. But in so many ways, he doesn't. Because we think it's important for people to keep more of their hard-earned money, and it's a direct result of the bill that we passed - the Working Families Tax Cuts law.

"Democrats tried to do the opposite last year. They wanted to pass a $4 trillion tax increase on the American people. That's where they were headed - and they voted for that. They voted for the largest tax increase in American history. And Senator Schumer today talked about a poll. And what did he say? He said that Americans think they're paying too much in taxes right now. Can you imagine what they would be saying if they were paying what they were paying now plus 4 trillion additional dollars in taxes? Why in the world would the Minority Leader come to the Floor and put together a group - lead the charge - to raise taxes by $4 trillion if he comes to the Floor and talks about the fact Americans think they are paying too much in taxes? I think we're paying too much in taxes. I want to cut more taxes. That's what the people of Wyoming want, that's what Americans want, and that's certainly what Republicans want. So, it's interesting to hear the Minority Leader talk about these refund checks that are putting more money in people's pockets and saying, 'Well, it's a dud.' It's not a 'dud' for the people of Wyoming. They're encouraged by what we're doing, and they want us to do even more. And we need to do more.

"Democrats voted to raise taxes on families, on workers, and on small businesses. Republicans permanently lowered taxes. We did it for hardworking families and small businesses. In doing so, we made it easier for all Americans - whether working or retired - to keep more money in their pockets. More than 53 million Americans have benefited from at least one of the new Republican tax cuts. That's a lot of people.

"If you are a senior and you receive a Social Security check, you are benefiting for the first time on our 'No Taxes on Social Security' pledge. This is the new $6,000 deduction for seniors. Already, 30 million seniors have benefited.

"If you are a mother or father with children, you are benefiting from the expanded Child Tax Credit - $2,200 per child per year. Millions of parents have enrolled their children in Trump Accounts. That's a big deal. For parents with newborn children, these savings accounts get $1,000 deposited into them straight from the U.S. Treasury. It happens immediately when your child is born. There are groups and individuals across the country who are matching those contributions into Trump Accounts. All of this in an effort to get these young people off on a good start.

"In Wyoming and across the country, more than 6 million Americans are benefiting from the 'No Tax on Tips' provision. These are waiters, barbers, bartenders, and tour guides. They have claimed an average deduction of over $7,100.

"More than 25 million Americans have benefited from No Tax on Overtime. These are firefighters, police officers, and nurses. They are linemen and coal miners in Wyoming. They have claimed an average deduction of over $3,000 on overtime. Hardworking Americans are being rewarded - rewarded for working more. The extra money they earn goes directly to their bank accounts - not to bureaucrats in Washington.

"The Working Families Tax Cuts law protects two million family-owned farms and ranches from the dreaded Death Tax. Instead of being forced to sell their land or small business to pay taxes to Washington, families in Wyoming are now able to plan for their future for generations to come.

"The Working Families Tax Cuts law also allows businesses to immediately deduct up to $2.5 million in new equipment. That means more jobs. It means more growth. More people in the workplace. It means more opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and Main Street America.

"Because of lower taxes and more opportunities, workers across our nation are seeing bigger paychecks. Real wages are up this year. This is significant progress.

"The only people seem to be upset about lower taxes, bigger refunds, and higher wages are the elected Democrats in this body who voted for a $4 trillion tax increase. Democrats want to raise taxes on the American people. Democrats believe that the money you earned isn't yours. Democrats believe that the money you earn belongs to the government. That's why the Democrat Party is known as the party of high taxes. It's not just here in the United States Senate. It is in the states and big cities run by Democrats across the country.

"This year, Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in as Governor of Virginia. Democrats now control the House, the Senate, and the Governor's Mansion. Since they've taken over in January, Democrats have introduced 50 new tax increases. Democrats want to raise taxes on barber shops, nail salons, dry cleaners, and gyms. Democrats are proposing new taxes on firearms and ammunition in Virginia. That's what happened now that Virginia elected Democrats.

"Democrats like to use the word 'affordability.' Apparently, Democrats' idea of affordability is higher taxes paid by working families so they can spend more money on liberal social programs.

"Republicans know the best way to make America affordable is with good jobs, growing paychecks, and lower taxes. That is exactly what we are seeing today as people file their taxes and see their larger refunds this year.

"The American people know the money belongs to them, not Washington. They've earned it. They should keep more of it. Republicans trust people at home to know best what they want to do with that money. How to spend it, save it, and invest it.

"This Tax Day, the American people have more money in their pockets because Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts law. Republicans will continue to fight for an America where families keep more of what they've earned and make the decisions about how to spend it."

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