4th District Congressman Jim Himes is critical of the tax bill approved yesterday.  He says restricting the state and local tax deduction to $10,000 will cause hardship for many Southwest Connecticut families.  The average SALT deduction in Fairfield county now is $33,400.  He says that means that an average family will be taxed twice on an additional $23,400 of income each year. 

Himes also notes that Connecticut sends more to Washington than is received back.  But he says as an American, it's a duty to help the hungry child in Mississippi or the sick in New Mexico.  He was also critical of adding $1.5 trillion to the national debt, having the modest benefits to American mostly phased out in coming years while disproportionately benefiting large corporations.  Himes called it a shortsighted and careless bill, saying he will fight for sensible, fair tax policy.

5th District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty says Connecticut is the state most likely to be hurt by the tax bill.  She says working families will see their taxes ultimately increase under this plan.  While promises of tax return forms the size of a postcard, Esty says this will make the tax code more complex, with more giveaways to special interests.

Senator Richard Blumenthal voted against the tax bill last night saying it betrays basic American values. It funds burgeoning tax breaks for the wealthiest one percent by burdening future generations with trillions in debt. He called it an abomination.

Senator Chris Murphy voted against the tax bill saying it isn’t tax reform, but a giveaway to the rich and powerful. He says it throws crumbs at working people while adding more than $1 trillion of debt. 

He believes the bill should have created a simpler tax code, restructured in a way that gets rid of unfair loopholes and levels the playing field for workers and small businesses.  He is concerned that the debt created by the tax bill will be used as an excuse to gut Medicare and Social Security benefits.