House Democrats Claim Victory Against Tax Proposal

Georgia House Democrats are claiming victory after a stalled today.

The House was expected to vote on HB 387 today, but lawmakers have instead spent the day attempting to adjust the measure.

Democrats describe HB 387 as a “dangerous proposal that would raise taxes on middle class Georgians.”

"Our full-throated advocacy stalled the dangerous march of this middle class tax increase,” said House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in a released statement.  “Republicans have been working in huddled groups to tweak a proposal that has serious flaws. We are happy to see a broad coalition of voices joining Democrats, including the Georgia Tea Party and Americans for Prosperity. This is truly grassroots powered.”

According to a House Democratic Caucus press release, taxes would increase for 90 percent of families who make between $100,000 and $180,000.

"The choices they are foisting on the middle class are too difficult.  The bill will force families to decide between taking a mortgage deduction for their federal income tax or pay higher state taxes. For too many of our families, it is not a choice at all," Abrams said.

While conceding the measure contains some improvements, Abrams said the proposal will ultimately benefit corporations at the expense of the middle class.

"They chose what they liked and discarded the pieces they didn't like. The problem becomes 'who pays?' As the bill is currently configured, the middle class loses," Abrams said. "Our state's tax policy should examine tax fairness and how the state should best benefit.  Tax reform should never pit classes of people against one another. Good fiscal policy improves the state of the economy and those who participate.”

House Democratic Whip Carolyn Hugley criticized Republicans for what she described as a rush to pass the bill.

"Deals are happening around the Capitol as citizens learn what is at stake in this bill. But in trying to clean up their mistakes, the narrowness of the margin of error is too slim," Hugley said. "In a time of fiscal unrest, and a state budget with huge shortfalls, we can ill-afford to gamble with taxpayer money.”