Is no one safe from Democrats’ ‘reckless tax hikes?’

Republicans are united in their opposition to a federal budget reconciliation bill that U.S. Senate Democrats hope to pass by next month as part of President Joe Biden’s economic agenda.

The Build Back Better Act was proposed as $3.5 trillion legislative package that included $1.3 trillion in tax breaks and about $2.3 trillion in revenue increases to finance free universal preschool, free community college, lower prescription drug costs and other priorities over the next 10 years.

But it has been subject to a flurry of negotiations in recent days over its scope and cost, with Biden acknowledging that entire sections like free community college tuition would be removed and congressional Democrats considering a tax on billionaires instead of higher income and corporate tax rates.

So it’s not clear yet what will be in or out of the final bill. On Sept. 27, while commenting on the original Build Back Better Act, GOP U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa tweeted the following (which has been edited for clarity):

“Democrats pledge not to raise ‘1 penny’ of taxes on people earning under $400,000. Don’t believe it. Non-partisan Joint Tax committee analysis shows no income group is safe from Democrats’ reckless tax hikes. Over 12 percent of taxpayers with incomes $50,000-$100,000 would see (a) tax hike and 35 percent of taxpayers with incomes of $100,000-$200,000.”

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This episode of the Fact Checker Podcast is hosted by The Gazette's Michaela Ramm and features Erin Jordan and Marissa Payne.