On Tax Day, Merkley Calls for Tax Fairness for the Middle Class

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tax Day, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement:

“As Americans complete their 2014 taxes today, April 15 is an important reminder that we need to fight every day for greater tax fairness for the middle class. Our tax code is broken and riddled with special-interest loopholes and deductions, while middle-class Americans struggle to pay for basics like child care and higher education. The very wealthiest Americans pay tax rates that average 17%, while many middle-class families pay a higher rate.

“Our tax code shapes our economy, so it’s no wonder we have an economy that’s not fulfilling its full potential for our middle class or making it easier for working families to get ahead. If we want to fix an economy that’s rigged against the middle class, we need to tackle the problem at its core. That means cutting taxes for the middle class while taking on special interest provisions that cost our national treasury and stack the deck against working families.”