Reparations for all the people!
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) proposed the Refund Equality Act in order to provide past tax refunds to LGBTQ couples. From NBC News:
“The federal government forced legally married same-sex couples in Massachusetts to file as individuals and pay more in taxes for almost a decade,” Warren said in a statement. “We need to call out that discrimination and to make it right — Congress should pass the Refund Equality Act immediately.”A report by the Joint Committee on Taxation released Tuesday estimated that taxpayers who were in same-sex marriages prior to the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013 would be eligible for up to $57 million in refunds. Warren introduced a version of the bill in 2017.
The Supreme Court “struck down the Defense of Marriage Act” in 2013, which then allowed gay couples “to file joint federal tax returns.” Then in 2015, the Court legalized same-sex marriage in America.
Warren first proposed this idea back in 2017, but it never went anywhere in Congress. Two House of Representatives introduced a similar act this year:
Warren’s new version of the bill complements the Promoting Respect for Individuals’ Dignity and Equality (PRIDE) Act of 2019 that was introduced to Congress on June 18 by Representatives Judy Chu and Andy Levin. If approved, this legislation would also allow same-sex couples married in states that recognized gay marriage before DOMA was overturned to file for refunds with the IRS. Both the PRIDE Act and Refund Equality Act aim to readjust the systematic discrimination by the U.S. government against LGBTQ+ people in terms of taxation.”This bill will correct an older injustice against same-sex couples and put money directly back into the pockets of families who have earned it,” Chu said in a statement. “For too long, discriminatory laws penalized same-sex married couples by denying them the ability to file jointly and claim tax refunds they were entitled… Because of IRS restrictions, these couples cannot amend their returns to claim reimbursement credits for many prior tax years. The PRIDE Act solves this problem.”
The government owes them $50 million?! Um, no, Sen. Warren. The government has money due to us taxpayers so you’re basically saying that us taxpayers owe them $50 million. We do not owe anyone anything.
I have a better idea. How about the government stop spending and overhaul the tax code? Everyone seems to complain about these loopholes and exemptions. Why not get rid of them?
Injustice? Did we not cure that injustice when the Supreme Court finally decided that gay couples should receive the same benefits as straight couples?
You know what else I love? No one mentions which administration implemented the Defense of Marriage Act. It happened in 1996. Gee, who was president then? DEMOCRAT Bill Clinton.
But where does this all end? Who will pay for all of this? The government has no money so will it have to raise or implement new taxes? Is it not enough that gay couples finally have the ability to marry under federal law like everyone else?
When you give anyone in the government an inch they go a mile. They will not stop with this.
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