Tester: Taxes cut for 99% of Montana workers in past year

Citing dozens of tax cuts for middle class, Senator says ‘still lots more work to do’

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Hardworking Montanans are paying less in taxes this year thanks to dozens of tax cuts Congress passed in the last year, Senator Jon Tester said today.

“Some folks are out there telling people taxes on the middle class somehow went up by millions of dollars last year, but it’s time for the rhetoric to meet reality,” Tester said.  “The reality is we cut taxes on the middle class last year.  In fact, 99 percent of Montanans saw a tax cut last year—averaging more than a thousand dollars each.  We’re working hard to cut taxes because it’s a strong way to help rebuild our economy and put folks back to work.”

The most significant tax relief in decades for middle-class Montanans came as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, one-third of which was tax cuts.  It’s estimated Montanans will see more than $575 million in tax relief through the Recovery Act.

Tester also cited numerous new tax cuts passed in the last year, such as the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the sizeable tax credits for small businesses who provide health insurance to their employees.

“Montanans may be paying less in taxes this year, but there’s still lots more work to do—creating jobs first and foremost,” Tester added.  “And we need to put politics aside to take real steps to get a handle on America’s debt.  Symbolic gestures won’t solve the problem.  We need bold action to address our deficit, which is why I voted against both the Wall Street and auto industry bailouts, and voted to create a debt commission to recommend cuts to government spending.”

Tester is the only Senate Democrat to vote against both the bailouts of Wall Street and of the U.S. auto industry.

More tax information is available online at tester.senate.gov/taxes.