https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mark...d65?li=BBnb7Kz
![](https://eccie.net/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"49","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAPd8bk.img?h=683&w=1119&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"dpi":1.4,"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"38","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAPd8bk.img?h=533&w=874&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"38","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAPd8bk.img?h=533&w=874&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
© Provided by Washington Examiner The Biden administration and Democrats in Congress have now begun to use the IRS and tax code to circumvent this commonsense policy under the guise of a “child tax credit.” Passed through the American Rescue Plan Act, the credit was boasted about all year by the Democrats, declaring a victory for taxpaying families. What they failed to mention, however, is the program also gives direct cash payments to so-called “taxpayers” who don’t file or pay taxes, including illegal immigrants.
While many hardworking families have benefited from the Trump tax cuts and could use further tax relief, the Biden administration’s new credit is not limited to American taxpayers. To qualify for the credit, an individual simply needs to have a taxpayer identification number and a child who has a Social Security number. There is no requirement that the individual work or file taxes. And there is not even a requirement that the individual be in the country legally. While this program is currently only in effect for 2021, Democrats in Congress have made it a priority to include a permanent extension in their recent multitrillion-dollar spending proposals.
If Democrats want to provide tax relief to hardworking families, there is already a framework in place that would allow them to do this without turning relief into a welfare program for illegal immigrants. The earned income tax credit has existed for years with bipartisan support. Unlike the new Biden credit, the EITC only applies to those who actually pay taxes. There is also a monthly advanced payment option under the EITC. But simply increasing the EITC would not allow Biden and congressional Democrats to provide a direct payday to those who don’t work or are in the country illegally.
One of several consequences of this Democratic scheme is that it incentivizes individuals who have left the workforce to remain unemployed, even when their enhanced unemployment benefits run out. Businesses across the country are already struggling to find labor while many workers sit at home collecting benefits. This new Democratic subsidy to those not trying to find work will undoubtedly prolong these crippling effects on our businesses and economy.
Even Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin has recently called for a work requirement to accompany the credit. Such a requirement would remove the incentive for recipients to sit at home and collect while unemployed. A work requirement, if properly implemented, would also prohibit illegal immigrants who are not authorized to work in the U.S. from collecting this benefit.
Additionally, the program does not count as income when calculating other benefits, which many of the nonworking recipients are likely to receive. Generally, an increase in income would affect benefits such as food stamps, public housing, or welfare. But the payments under the Democrats’ program are misleadingly classified as “tax credits” and therefore do not affect the amount of other benefits received.
So, how much will this subsidy of non-taxpayers and illegal immigrants cost? According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, this benefit will cost taxpayers more than $80 billion in 2021 alone. How will Democrats look to pay for it? By raising taxes on actual working families and small businesses, of course.
How’s that for a tax credit?
Taxpaying families have been duped into believing they are actually benefiting from this misguided program, when in fact they have fallen victim to a larger scheme aiming to expand America’s welfare state. This program should not be extended until it can be implemented without giving payments to “taxpayers” who don’t actually pay taxes or to illegal immigrants. Until these changes are made, this thinly veiled benefit scheme will only hurt hardworking families who will be left to pay the bill.
Rep.
Greg Steube represents Florida's 17th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Comment - the usual Lies, fraud, and valuing illegals over citizens by teh lying democratucommunist party hacks.
They Lie - Lie - Lie!!
Buck fiden
From my cold dead hands!