By: NSEA
Bill would risk funding for 250,000 education jobs by eliminating most state and local tax deductions
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a multi-trillion dollar tax plan that funds tax breaks for the wealthiest and corporations on the backs of students and working families. The bill eliminates a popular tax deduction that allows educators to deduct up to $250 of the money they spend on their classrooms and students.
The bill also expands a tax loophole for the wealthiest to pay for private school expenses while cutting tax deductions for the middle class. The elimination of most of the state and local tax deductions would blow a hole in state and local revenue to support public education and risk funding for nearly 250,000 education jobs, including 1,628 in Nebraska.
The House tax bill eliminates the state and local deduction for people but keeps it for corporations. It eliminates the educator tax deduction for school supplies but allows corporations to continue to claim deductions for supplies they purchase. It eliminates the student loan deduction but opens a new loophole for the wealthy to sock away money to pay for private school tuition.
As educators spend more and more of their own funds each year to buy basic essentials for their students and classrooms, Washington chose to ignore the sacrifice made by those who work in our nations public schools to make sure students have what they need, said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA). A majority in Congress voted to make this deduction permanent in 2015 yet now they want to eliminate it. Its hypocritical and nonsensical.
It is irresponsible to put funding for 250,000 education jobs at risk including 1,628 jobs inour state, said Maddie Fennell, executive director of the NSEA. This tax bill would mean significant cuts to public education. It would also expand education tax loopholes for the super-rich to stash away money for private school. Make no mistake: this poorly veiled and risky voucher program will only benefit those who can already afford private school tuition at the expense of our students and neighborhood public schools where 9 out of 10 children attend. This is not normal. As with the health care debacle this year, the majority party in Congress is rushing to pass a massive, partisan bill that impacts every American household, critical public services like education, and our economy without giving it the scrutiny and deliberation it deserves. We encourage Nebraskans to contact their U.S. senators to reject this reckless plan.
