Round and round we go
On the Wittman carousel of (mis)information
Wittman is circling like a merry-go-round that occasionally stops in front of you. There are several points regarding taxes that are mostly correct but are outweighed by the selective framing, misuse of the term "average," and complete omission of negative effects. While we have addressed in detail many of his repeated claims, we'll once again try to illuminate the reality of these glorious tax cuts. A major misleading reference concerns his tendency to equate HR1 (passed and enacted into law) and the Working Families Tax Cut Act (introduced but not enacted). Many of the provisions he trumpets are aspirational and not yet law.
Wittman focuses most of his attention on tax cuts for various counties in VA01. While these estimates are based on data from the Tax Foundation, Wittman fails to distinguish between "average" and "typical." Average estimates include individuals who are multimillionaires and those living below the poverty level. An accurate assessment would use the median, which is the center point of the population and provides a more precise estimate of the "typical experience." Also, he does not tell us how many tax filers there are in the two extreme groups. Further, he mentions 62% of tax filers avoid a tax hike in 2026 without revealing that it’s due to extension of 2017 Trump tax cuts. The remaining 38% will see little change or higher taxes starting in 2026. Over time, the share receiving tax cuts declines while the majority face tax increases. Additionally, he fails to itemize "wasteful spending": to the GOP, a "dog whistle" for the lie that immigrants are stealing your resources.
Finally, as does every good politician, he completely omits the negative effects of the HR1 tax cuts on our most vulnerable citizens and the federal and state budgets. In the past, we've outlined the damage this bill will do to Medicaid, SNAP, and the ACA. Even those of us who have employer-based healthcare or Medicare will see higher costs due to those who will become underinsured or uninsured. Also, reductions in federal contributions to these programs will fall to the states to compensate. With the extension of the 2017 tax cuts and new, deeper billionaire and business cuts, the federal deficit is expected to rise by $1.4 TRILLION [CBO], so forget finishing that I-64 widening project.
Most of the points in Wittman's summary are simply campaign-style mission statements and subject to political winds. Just once, we'd like to see Wittman face his constituents and answer honestly what tax and healthcare prospects we will see in 2026 and beyond due to the Big Ugly Bill. Perhaps then we can all get off the merry-go-round.