As Democrats celebrated a victory with the Senate passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, some of Colorados highest-profile Republicans argued Tuesday that its a bad deal for Coloradans.
Republican candidates and party leaders gathered Tuesday to launch into the final three months of the midterm election season and took the chance to repudiate the Democrats federal legislation on health care, climate, and taxation.
It goes against everything that we believe in here in Colorado and trying to make it more affordable, Senate candidate Joe ODea said of the IRA. I don't know why they're calling it an Inflation Reduction Act Its a tax.
The imminent passage of the bill has given Democrats a feeling of momentum after months of rising concern over inflation and a failure to achieve many of President Joe Bidens priorities.
The bill would spend about $433 billion to address climate change and shift the country away from fossil fuels. It would be paid for with new taxes on corporations, but also by beefing up enforcement of the existing tax code.
The bill includes some $80 billion to boost the IRS, including by hiring more agents to audit people and corporations. Supporters of the bill say that new workforce will be aimed at ensuring wealthy people and businesses arent avoiding their tax obligations. But ODea and other Republicans argue it and other measures will amount to more tax enforcement against the middle class.
If they have to hire 87,000 IRS agents to collect that tax from working Americans, it's a tax, ODea said.
The claim of 87,000 new IRS agents has circulated widely among Republicans and some news publications, but administration officials have told reporters claim its not accurate.
The agency has outlined plans to hire more than 80,000 employees over a decade with new funding, but "the majority of those will be filling open vacancies, according to a Treasury Department spokesperson. Many of the employees will work in areas like customer service, not enforcement, the publication reported. But about $46 billion of the infusion will go toward tax enforcement, according to The Washington Post.
"The majority of new employees will replace the standard level of staff departures over the next few years. New staff will be hired to improve taxpayer services and (add) experienced auditors who can take on corporate and high-end tax evaders, without increasing audit rates relative to historical norms for people earning under $400,000 each year," read a statement from the Treasury Department to CPR News.
In a letter to the Senate, IRS commissioner Charles Rettig wrote that the new spending is absolutely not about increasing audit scrutiny on small businesses or middle-income Americans.
New auditors will focus on (l)arge corporate and high-net-worth taxpayers (that) often engage teams of sophisticated representatives who pursue unsettled or sometimes questionable interpretations of tax law, the letter continued.
Staffing levels at the IRS are 17 percent lower today than in 2010, with an even sharper drop for enforcement employees, The Washington Post reported. A deputy Treasury Department Secretary told NPR that understaffing and old technology mean the agency is missing out on hundreds of billions in uncollected taxes this year.
ODeas spokesman, Kyle Kohli, said it was improbable that the agency could find that much new revenue without hitting the middle class.
GOP House candidates are also critical of the Democratic bill. Weld County Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer, the candidate in CO-8, and Eric Aadland, whos running in CO-7, both said if elected theyd want to revisit the bill, including its provisions regarding prescription drug pricing.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare would use its market power to negotiate lower rates on some prescription drugs and would penalize companies that raise prices more than the rate of inflation. Kirkmeyer worries it will lead to reduced investment in new medicines. Basically, they're not going to make new drugs. They may not even produce certain drugs, she said.
Aadland added he does want transparency in drug pricing, but thinks the costs could be addressed by stopping onerous government regulation of companies.
As for the efforts to tackle climate change in the bill, Aadland argued it doesnt include the right kind of energy policy. He said the subsidies and tax incentives for people to transition to renewable energy, such as help buying electric vehicles and solar panels, would only really benefit the wealthy individuals.
The bill is projected to lower emissions 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. It would also fine companies for exceeding methane emissions from oil and gas drilling. But in a concession to oil and gas states, the bill would also require the administration to continue to hold new oil and gas leasing auctions.
Beyond their specific complaints, Republicans hammered the bill for not doing what the title says it would: reduce inflation. The Congressional Budget Offices analysis of the bill shows it would have little effect on inflation in the near term, but experts add if the bill can reduce health care costs, it could hold down inflation in the long term.
The GOP press conference went far beyond the new Democratic legislation. Also speaking were gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl; attorney general candidate John Kellner; secretary of state candidate Pam Anderson; education board candidate Dan Maloit; and treasurer candidate Lang Sias.
They generally sought to tie Colorado Democrats to Biden, who remains deeply unpopular. They blamed the party, which has held Colorado in Colorado for the past four years, for inflation, crime and the new fees that Democrats created to pay for priorities like transportation.
(Governor) Jared Polis has decided to fight for Joe Biden and the Democrat failed policies. He's fighting for his own political career, for his own American Dream to be president and destroy our country just like he's destroying Colorado, Ganahl said.
In a statement, Colorado Democratic Party Chair Morgan Carroll said her party has offered real solutions on the state and federal levels. Democrats have touted that they are saving people money through measures like paying out TABOR refunds several months early and temporarily delaying a new gas fee.
In her statement, Carroll said the GOP was pursuing a far-right agenda of taking away the freedom from women to make their own decisions, denying climate change, and growing tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and make things tougher for working families.
Election day is Nov. 8, but ballots will be mailed almost a month early.
CPRs Caitlyn Kim contributed to this reporting.
Editor's note: This article was update on Aug. 9 with comment from the Department of the Treasury.
Continued here:
- Democrat introduces Alito censure resolution over upside-down flag - The Hill - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrat ruled 'out of order' after listing off Trump's legal woes on the House floor - NBC News - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- A Democrat listed Trump's trials on the House floor. His words were struck from the record. - The Washington Post - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- U.S. House Approves Crypto FIT21 Bill With Wave of Democratic Support - CoinDesk - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Names and faces - Arkansas Online - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrat Punished On House Floor For Accurately Saying Trump Is On Trial - HuffPost - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrats See Wins in Losing Votes - The New York Times - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Why is Trump rallying in the heavily Democratic Bronx? - Spectrum News NY1 - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrats propose ban on officials receiving payments from foreign governments after Trump probe - The Associated Press - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Senate Democrats will force Republicans to vote on federal contraception protections - NBC News - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Democrats refer 'big oil' investigation to Justice Department - Roll Call - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Senate Democrats revive bipartisan border security bill as GOP vows to block it again - NBC News - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Bynum's primary win boosts Democrats' chances to flip Oregon seat - Roll Call - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Trump targets Democratic stronghold with Bronx rally to woo minority voters - KEYE TV CBS Austin - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Detroit could be without Black representation in Congress again with top candidate off the ballot - The Associated Press - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Orangeburg County: Three Democrats running for coroner - The Times and Democrat - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- The Path to a Democratic Majority Rests In the Hands of AAPI Voters - Newsweek - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Biden and Democrats raised $51 million in April, far less than Trump and the GOP's $76 million - The Associated Press - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Ohio Democrats still trying to get Biden on ballot - 10TV - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Trump trial judge rebuked for donations to Democrat-aligned groups in 2020 - The Guardian US - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- UA track teams treating first round like finals | Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Arkansas Online - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- DEBRIEF: Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August - WBAY - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Some Democrats campaigning for Senate want to suspend the filibuster to pass abortion bills - The Associated Press - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Election results Georgia: Democratic, Republican primary wins - USA TODAY - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Israel to return seized camera, hardware to AP | Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Arkansas Online - May 23rd, 2024 [May 23rd, 2024]
- Sen. Chris Murphy urges Democrats to follow Tom Suozzi and go on the offensive on the border - NBC News - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New Mexico's Democrat-led House rejects proposal for paid family and medical leave - The Seattle Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats see 2024 blueprint in N.Y. election that centered on immigration - The Washington Post - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats cheer New York win as good omen for November. But is it enough to calm anxiety over Biden? - The Associated Press - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Leaning Into Migrant Woes, Suozzi Paves Election-Year Path for Democrats - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New York Special Election Live Results: Tom Suozzi Wins George Santos's Seat - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats win another special election, and 4 more takeaways from New York's House race - ABC News - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- NY Special Election Winner Tom Suozzi to Fill Santos Seat - Bloomberg - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrat Suozzi wins special election to replace Santos in New York - NPR - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New House lines in New York would boost 2 Democrats and a Republican - POLITICO - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats win back George Santos seat in hotly contested election - POLITICO - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrats and Republicans hold Black History Month celebrations with an eye on November's election - The Associated Press - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- NY-03 Special: Four Takeaways from Suozzi and Democrats' Decisive Win - The Cook Political Report - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New York special election results: The Democrats flipped George Santos' old seat. But here's the real story. - Slate - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- West Virginia bill defining gender is transphobic and 'political rubbish,' Democrats say - The Associated Press - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Biden isn't leaving the 2024 race, but how would Democrats pick a nominee if he did? - ABC News - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Proposed TikTok ban dies in Virginias Democratic-controlled House - The Hill - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Opinion | Tom Suozzi Makes the Democrats Look Good for a New York Minute - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Tom Suozzi buoyed by higher Democratic turnout, decline in GOP voting - Newsday - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- We asked young Black voters about Biden and the Democrats. Here's what we learned - NPR - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- New York Special Election: Tom Suozzi Wins House Seat Vacated by George Santos - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrat Tom Suozzi to replace republican George Santos in U.S. House of Representatives - 13newsnow.com WVEC - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Who is Tom Suozzi, Democrat in New York's special election - The Washington Post - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrat Tom Suozzi wins special election to fill George Santos's House seat. Here's why it matters beyond New York. - Yahoo News - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Democrat Wins Special Election for George Santos' House Seat Mother Jones - Mother Jones - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Not an Ordinary Special Election, and Yet a Typical Result - The New York Times - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Trump slams Democrat Nikki Haley on home turf ahead of South Carolina primary: Shes finished - Washington Examiner - February 14th, 2024 [February 14th, 2024]
- Senate Democrat calls GOP hostage-taking in debt ceiling deal making dangerous: This cannot be the norm - The Hill - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Scoop: Dems told to say debt ceiling bill rejects GOP's "extreme demands" - Axios - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Debt Ceiling Is First Big Test for Hakeem Jeffries, the Top House Democrat - The New York Times - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Does the debt deal have enough GOP support? This Democratic senator says he's worried. - POLITICO - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Delbert the Democrat and his friends in the liberal media - leader-call.com - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Why I believe RFK Jr. will be the 2024 Democratic nominee - The Hill - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Republican blitz on LGBTQ issues exposes fractures among Texas ... - The Texas Tribune - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Texas Passes Bills Targeting Elections in Democratic Stronghold - The New York Times - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- The Rise of Religious 'Nones' Won't Save Democrats - New York Magazine - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Democrats trade insults over bill at committee meeting - Spectrum News NY1 - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Kentucky Democrat Who Lost Bid to Unseat McConnell Fined $10K ... - Heritage.org - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Mississippi Democrats improperly excluded candidate for governor ... - The Associated Press - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Asian voters in the U.S. tend to be Democratic, but Vietnamese ... - Pew Research Center - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Gilbert, Mesa lawmakers unimpressed with Democrat's reason for ... - Daily Independent - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- Former Republican and Democratic Governors from Alabama ... - Death Penalty Information Center - May 30th, 2023 [May 30th, 2023]
- 3 Tennessee Democrats face removal from office in Thursday vote after gun control protest on state House floor - CNN - April 6th, 2023 [April 6th, 2023]
- Democrat or Republican: The Official Differences | Merriam-Webster - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Truck driver who upset top N.J. Democrat in 2021 faces GOP primary challenge in big election year - NJ.com - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- A top Democrats radical plan to deal with Trumps worst judge and protect abortion rights - Vox.com - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- About the Democratic Party - Democrats - February 7th, 2023 [February 7th, 2023]
- Democratic Party (United States) - Simple English Wikipedia, the free ... - February 2nd, 2023 [February 2nd, 2023]
- Democrat NYC Mayor Adams calls on federal government to play more proactive role to secure border - Fox News - January 17th, 2023 [January 17th, 2023]
- Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin announces he has 'serious but curable form of cancer' - CNN - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Sen. Sinema's switch to Independent will not impact Democrats' control of the chamber, representatives say - CNBC - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- 'People are fed up': As NC Democrats reflect on election missteps, a party shake-up is underway - WRAL News - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- What is a Democrat? (with pictures) - Historical Index - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- This is the late message some Democrats believe could make a difference in close elections - CNN - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- Dylan Roberts in his words: The Democrat running for a seat in Senate District 8 promises to focus on living affordability, the environment and rural... - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]