SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley’s Bob Judge summed up his opposition to the first major revisions to the nation’s tax code in three decades with one simple sentence.
“We are giving tax cuts to billionaires at a time when children don’t have enough to eat,” said Judge, while braving frigid temperatures at a 30-minute vigil Saturday morning at Center Church.
The 20 people who attended the Vigil for Economic Justice were there to show support for poor and vulnerable community members who they believe will be hurt by congressional Republicans’ bill. The protesters claim the bill is filled with unjust economic policies that will hurt the working poor, minorities and millennials.
“We can talk all we want,” said the Rev. Lori Souder. “It’s what we do and who we speak up for (that matters).”
Republicans finalized the most sweeping overhaul of the nation’s tax laws Friday, sweetening the child tax credit to placate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as they pushed to muscle the bill through Congress this week and give President Donald Trump his first major legislative victory.
The package would give generous tax cuts to corporations and the wealthiest Americans — Trump among them — and more modest tax cuts to low- and middle-income families. The new rules state that the top tax rate for the wealthiest Americans will be reduced from 39.6 percent to 37 percent, with more modest tax cuts for low- and middle-income families.
The corporate tax rate will be reduced from 35 percent to 21 percent, a move that has been criticized by Democrats. It also calls for repealing the “Obamacare” health care mandate that requires most Americans to get health care.
Rubio had been holding out for a bigger child tax credit for low-income families. After he got it, Rubio’s spokesman said he would vote yes on the bill. Members of a House-Senate conference committee signed the final version of the legislation Friday, sending it to the House and Senate for final passage. They have been working to blend different versions passed by the two chambers.
The package would nearly double the standard deduction, to $24,000 for married couples. But it would scale back the deduction for state and local taxes, allowing families to deduct only up to a total of $10,000 in property and income taxes. The deduction is especially important to residents of high-tax states such as New York, New Jersey and California.
The tax package would also double the basic per-child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. The bill makes a smaller amount available to families even if they owe no income tax. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., said Friday that that amount had been increased to $1,400.
In South Hadley, the morning sun was shining for the group who stood along College Street with a variety of signs, including “Protect Medicare” and “The 1% don’t need a tax cut!”
The vigil was organized by congregation members Judge and Stephanie Strand, to bring attention to what they see as unjust economic policies and show support for the people who will be most affected by those policies.
“It’s a huge money grab for the wealthy,” Strand said, noting that she is particularly concerned about the future of social programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Many people who attended the vigil had personal reasons for wanting to participate. Emily Carle, 18, is a freshman at Mount Holyoke College and a new member of the Center Church congregation. She said she likes “active” activism, as opposed to activism from behind a computer screen.
As someone who is considering graduate school in the future, Carle also said she is concerned with the tax bill’s effect on graduate student finances. In the latest version of the tax bill, the tuition waiver provision that would have taxed waivers received by graduate students was removed and the student loan interest rate deduction was saved.
Jim Canning, 79, held a sign that read “Protect Social Security.” Canning said he is retiring in May and has become increasingly aware of the importance of Medicaid and Social Security for people his age.
“An opportunity like this to get out and be active and protect our lives in old age is a good thing,” Canning said.
The group garnered many waves and beeps of support from passing traffic.
Barbara Magnuson of the Democratic Town Committee in South Hadley attended the vigil and said the national tax bill will have ramifications locally.
“We have a robust food pantry here in South Hadley … which speaks to the status of people who can’t make ends meet,” Magnuson said. “This massive tax transfer isn’t helping.”
The Center Church describes itself on Facebook as a progressive and vibrant Christian community. The church has organized other vigils for other progressive issues, including vigils this fall for gun safety. For Souder, activism like Saturday’s vigil is an important part of her faith.
“Love thy neighbor as thyself,” Souder said. “All faith traditions have compassion, and that’s what we’re here to stick up for — compassion.”
Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Meg Bantle can be reached at mbantle@valleyadvocate.com.