Congress, deliver tax reform that puts America’s middle class first

We’ve heard it for years, America’s tax code is unfair, outdated and complicated. Beyond this fact, there are lives and heart-wrenching stories of hard-working Americans who have been left behind because of a tax system that is failing our middle class.

Valuable American jobs have been fleeing to places like China. Incentives to expand, invest and innovate are nearly non-existent. Good-paying jobs and higher wages have been left on the table. All because of a complex and outdated tax system with multiple brackets, high rates and special-interest loopholes. Nine out of 10 taxpayers pay for a professional tax preparer or computer software to file their taxes. 

{mosads}Companies, regardless of size, should not be punished for wanting to do business in the United States — yet our corporate tax rate is the highest in the industrialized world.

Republican leaders in Congress have promised to turn things around by enacting transformational and pro-growth tax reforms. There’s no better time to get this done than now. Last week, the White House and Congress demonstrated an important and united step toward fixing our broken tax code by releasing a joint statement. This week, conservative outside groups have launched several multimillion-dollar efforts to build momentum in every corner of the country. We know garnering public support is key in getting major legislation like tax reform passed. To succeed, the momentum must start from the bottom up.

That’s why American Action Network launched a the Middle-Class Growth Initiative that will be dedicated to the passage of a tax code that is simple, fair and pro-growth. Knowing the magnitude of the challenge ahead and considering tax reform hasn’t been tackled in over 30 years, the network’s Middle-Class Growth Initiative is prepared to spend $20 million to ensure tax reform becomes a reality. With such vast resources, the initiative will be strategic and aggressive as we advocate for a tax system that lowers rates and puts middle-class families and jobs creators first. Families are working hard to get ahead, and businesses — both big and small — want to create jobs, invest and innovate here at home. Let’s allow them to do that.

The initiative will have a sustained, multi-pronged approach in congressional districts nationwide: investing significant resources on advertising efforts, elevating community leaders and grassroots activists. These efforts will be targeted and ongoing, throughout August recess and beyond, to make sure lawmakers know they are right in their fight to deliver lower rates, more jobs and higher wages to American families and individuals. 

As members of Congress spend the next five weeks out in their communities talking to their constituents about the issues that matter most, the network has pledged to spend $5 million in August alone, on tax reform. This is an opportunity for lawmakers to share the benefits of tax reform with their constituents. This topic should come naturally to conservatives. In poll after poll, jobs and the economy top the list as the most important issues on Americans’ minds. An overwhelming majority of Americans want tax reform done this year.

Without a competitive market, and a tax code that encourages growth for job creators, the American middle class will continue to fall behind. We need a fair and simple tax system with lower rates that encourages investments here to get Americans back to work in their communities. Congress’ tax reform plan will do just that. 

We urge members of Congress to continue fighting to bring America’s middle class back. It will not be easy, but it’s the right thing to do. Tax reform means more opportunity, more jobs and higher wages here at home – that’s something all Americans can unite behind. Let’s join forces and get this done.  

Corry Bliss is the executive director for American Action Network and leading the Middle-Class Growth Initiative, a project dedicated to the passage of a tax code that will be simpler, fairer and pro-growth.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.