- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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Congressman Thompson opposes tax bill over provision aimed at fire survivors
Thompson (D-St. Helena), represents California’s Fifth District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
With Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma having undergone catastrophic wildland fires, Thompson said he’s particularly concerned about the provision in the proposed tax bill that would repeal a tax law that would allow fire survivors to deduct uninsured property loss as a result of a fire.
“Buried in the Republican tax bill is one of the most cold-hearted provisions I’ve seen in my tenure in public service. In an attempt to offset the cost of tax breaks for wealthy and corporate interests, Republicans are repealing a measure that allows survivors of fire disasters to write-off some costs of property destroyed in a fire,” Thompson said.
“Simply put, this is a cruel act against the families who have lost everything in the devastating fires we just experienced in California. I will not stand for it,” he said.
He added, “Every single American should be outraged that Republicans now want to take from those who literally have nothing, to give tax breaks to the wealthy.”
Thompson said the bill doesn’t reflect the country’s values. “Our country stands up and lends a helping hand to those who have been struck by disaster – it doesn’t swoop in and pick their pockets while they’re down.”
He concluded, “I will fight the repeal of this deduction tooth and nail, and I urge my Republican colleagues to drop this flawed bill altogether.”