Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has criticized the Democrats' proposed child tax credit, asserting that it is not a true tax credit and fails to provide relief for working families. In an article published on August 1, 2024, in Newsweek, Rubio argued that the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act misrepresents itself.

Rubio highlighted his past efforts with Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in 2017 to double the existing child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. He claimed that subsequent spending by the Biden-Harris Administration has reduced the value of this increase by approximately 20 percent, effectively raising taxes for average families. According to Rubio, the new act would solidify this reduction into law.

"A tax credit, by definition, is 'a provision that reduces a taxpayer’s final tax bill, dollar-for-dollar,'" Rubio stated. He contrasted this with the Democrats' proposal which he said allows families to receive government payments based on their previous year's tax filings and introduces additional payments exceeding their tax liability.

Rubio accused Democrats of attempting to convert pro-family policies into welfare expansions. He noted that the original child tax credit was part of a broader congressional strategy aimed at reducing reliance on cash welfare and successfully reducing child poverty by 25 percent.

Looking ahead to 2025, Rubio advocated for increasing the size of the tax credit to $3,500 ($4,500 for young children). He also called for resistance against what he described as "Orwellian propaganda" from Democrats and liberal media outlets.

Read the rest here.