WASHINGTON — AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders issued the following statement on the U.S. House and Senate's final passage of their tax bill:
"The tax bill passed by Congress confirms the absolute worst fears average Americans have about our leaders in Washington. The right wing of this Congress and the president have chosen not just to enrich wealthy and powerful corporations and CEOs, whose army of lobbyists helped to draft this bill in secret, but to personally enrich themselves at the expense of our communities.
"In order to lavish trillions in tax breaks on corporations and the wealthy, Congress and the president are willing to take away health care from 13 million Americans, raise taxes on tens of millions of working families, and strip-mine the vital public services our communities need. Not even Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will be safe from the unchecked greed of corporate interests who have rigged the rules, and the politicians who do their bidding. This tax plan is a stunning betrayal of working families, and it will cause lasting damage to our nation."
Congress Robs Working People to Give Tax Cuts to the Rich
AFSCME's 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations — from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.