ICAN - Fair Taxes Tax Rally Press Release

Fair Taxes Tax Rally Press Release

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2003
Contact: Deb Stehr 712-657-3068

Citizens Rally, Say No to Tax Cuts for Millionaires
Call on Senator Grassley to Take Care of Iowa First

ICAN activists protest tax cuts Des Moines - Workers, seniors, veterans, farmers, people with disabilities and other Iowans rallied today in Nollen Plaza to protest the tax cut recently passed by Congress.

Betty Ahrens, co-director of Iowa Citizen Action Network said, “Two years ago, President Bush proposed, and the Congress passed an enormous tax cut plan that largely benefited the wealthy. Since then, we have gone from surpluses to huge budget deficits, state and local governments are swamped with red ink, we are fighting an expensive war and vital programs are under-funded. Yet, President Bush has proposed another tax cut for the wealthy that takes even more money from health care, Social Security, education and homeland security.” Ahrens added, “We call on Senator Grassley to stand up against these reckless tax cuts that our country cannot afford.”

Jan Corderman, President of AFSCME, Iowa Council 61 said, “The House Budget resolution, passed under the leadership of Representative Nussle, contains deep reductions in domestic programs, including entitlement programs like Medicaid. The cut in Medicaid is a whopping $92 billion over the next ten years, which could translate into a cut of $864 million for the state of Iowa.”

Paula Connolly, a parent consultant for children with disabilities said, “It is an outrage that Representative Nussle proposed such deep cuts in health care to fund tax cuts for millionaires.”

Ed Rethman, a retired teacher said, “You’d have thought from the last election that seniors would have a prescription drug benefit by now, instead President Bush is pushing for a massive tax cut for the rich.” He added, “The money from the President’s tax cut plan would go a long way toward providing a comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit to all seniors, without requiring us to join an HMO.”

Retired Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel, Dave Campbell said, “A time of war is a time of sacrifice, never in our nation’s history have we given tax cuts to the most fortunate Americans while we sent our sons and daughters into battle. It is morally indefensible to give tax cuts to the wealthy at a time of national crisis.” Campbell stressed “What’s worse, these tax cuts are being partially paid for by cutting health care, education, and pension benefits for veterans. It’s unpatriotic and unfair.”

After the speakers talked about the dire consequences of the budget cuts and tax cuts there was a surprise appearance by three pretend CEOs, who were allowed to give their side of the story. The CEOs, members of the participating organizations explained why they really needed a tax cut this year.

ICAN activists protest tax cuts The group then marched to the Federal Building to call on Senator Grassley to do the right thing for Iowa. Senator Grassley, as chair of the Senate Finance Committee will work with Representative Nussle when the budget resolutions, passed by the Senate and House go to conference committee.

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Event organized by Iowa Citizen Action Network, in conjunction with Fair Taxes for All, a coalition of over 240 local, state and national groups opposing President Bush’s tax cut proposals. For more information on Fair Taxes for All, go to fairtaxesforall.org.

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RESOURCES

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REPORTS

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