Congressman Payne Condemns Republican Plan to Raise Taxes on Working Families

Payne Vows to Stop GOP Scheme to Penalize the Most Vulnerable

NEWARK, NJ – After a bombshell pronouncement by Republican Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida), the Chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, that his party should seek to raise taxes on millions of low income working families, seniors, people with disabilities and other vulnerable communities, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., (D-Newark) is condemning the GOP tax hike plan and vowing to stop it from being enacted.

“People in Essex, Hudson and Union counties are struggling right now, and the last thing they need is Republicans taking money out of their pockets with a cruel, unnecessary and offensive tax increase on working-class folks,” said Congressman Payne. “I was born and raised in the South Ward of Newark and I still live on the very same block, so I see the challenges low and middle-income people face every day trying to afford rent, food, medical care and other basic necessities. It’s disgusting that Republicans would even consider making life even harder for the people who need help the most, like our low income workers, single parents, seniors, people with disabilities and other vulnerable communities. I can promise my constituents one thing – this Republican tax increase on working-class families will only happen over my dead body.”

Congressman Payne is running for re-election to his sixth term in the House of Representatives and he has recently been endorsed by the New Jersey Education Association, the Communications Workers of America NJ, Laborers’ International North America Eastern Region, the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association and AFSCME NJ. He also recently announced the support of U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker as well as Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

About Congressman Payne:

A lifelong Newark resident, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., is a champion for working families, Democratic values and fighting to provide more opportunities for people in black and brown communities. He’s a devoted husband and father and a former union member with a blue collar background who has an immense respect for the dignity of work and the value of organized labor. A five-term Congressman, he was first elected in 2012 to succeed his late father, the legendary Rep. Donald Payne, Sr., who was the first Black Congressman in state history. Congressman Payne is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials in the powerful House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has jurisdiction over major infrastructure initiatives including the Gateway Project that are critical to New Jersey’s economy. Congressman Payne co-wrote the House version of President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure act and has supported critical progressive legislation like the Build Back Better plan, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the Equality Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and much more.