GOP senator slams ‘dubious’ report on charitable giving

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Saturday ripped a Washington Post report saying the newly implemented tax law could make philanthropy a pursuit for the wealthy, calling the idea “idiotic.”

“Idiotic. The charitable deduction is fully preserved. Also, the dubious premise is that the reason people generously give to worthy causes is so they can deduct from their taxes. Nevertheless, everyone still can,” Cornyn tweeted. 

Idiotic. The charitable deduction is fully preserved. Also, the dubious premise is that the reason people generously give to worthy causes is so they can deduct from their taxes. Nevertheless, everyone still can. https://t.co/Ct3cjh3djC

— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) December 24, 2017

The senator’s comments come after the Post reported that various American charities, such as United Way Worldwide and the Salvation Army, had expressed concerns that the Republican-backed tax plan could make it harder for middle-class donors to take part in philanthropy.

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“We don’t have any choice but to look to those higher-end donors more. We have to,” Steve Taylor, vice president for public policy at United Way, told the newspaper.

“But it’s not really what we want to do, and it’s not really healthy for the charitable sector in America.”

The publication cites an Indiana University study showing donations potentially falling by at least 4.5 percent, mostly among middle-income individuals, in 2018. 

The report comes after President Trump signed the sweeping tax plan into law on Friday.