Hello, Friends —
On Wednesday, the House considered a tax package consisting of an expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and an extension of certain business-tax provisions. While H.R. 7024, the “Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024,” was sold by its architects as tax relief, in reality, it is a welfare bill masquerading as a tax bill. For this reason, I was one of 47 Republicans to vote against it.
In the name of bipartisanship, Republican leadership cut a deal with Democratic leadership to boost the refundability of the CTC in exchange for tax cuts for businesses. Some of the business provisions I support; however, I could not support providing refundable tax credits in the form of checks to people who have not paid taxes. This simply is not tax relief—it is welfare.
Making matters worse, the bill continues the policy of not requiring the tax filer to provide a Social Security number to claim the CTC. A Social Security number is only required for the child the tax filer is claiming; accordingly, illegal immigrants, whose numbers only continue to increase under President Biden’s open-border policies, will be able to receive checks if they have children born in the U.S. This will end up being a massive pull factor to bring people into this country illegally.
Compounding the problem with this bill is a side deal that was made with New York House Republicans to bring a bill to the House floor next week to increase the cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction. The SALT deduction is provided to taxpayers who live in states with high state and local taxes. I am opposed to the SALT deduction in principle because taxpayers in low-tax states are forced to subsidize taxpayers in high-tax states, like New York and California. Therefore, I have urged my fellow Florida representatives to reject any SALT legislation.
FIREBRAND EP. 144: ARE WE AT WAR WITH IRAN? (FEAT. REP. CORY MILLS)
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On Monday’s episode of Firebrand, I was joined by Rep. Cory Mills to discuss the drone strike by Iran-backed militants that killed three U.S. troops, the articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas, and the critics claiming President Trump killed the Senate amnesty bill because of politics.
I spoke with President Trump about the Senate amnesty bill. He wanted to kill the legislation because of its policies, not the politics. The bill is an authorized invasion of our country, and any Republican who supports it better never run another campaign on how they care about border security.
REP. GAETZ: THE U.S. SHOULD NOT GO TO WAR WITHOUT A VOTE!
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On Monday, I joined “The Balance with Eric Bolling” on Newsmax to discuss President Biden’s disaster on the Southern border and the situation in Iran, where my fear is that the Biden administration will stumble us into yet another war without a clear goal. The Constitution requires that Joe Biden come to the United States Congress to seek a vote on any hostilities he wants to engage in.
FIREBRAND EP. 145: WHO IS THE J6 PIPE BOMBER? (FEAT. REP. THOMAS MASSIE)
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On Tuesday’s episode of Firebrand, I was joined by Rep. Thomas Massie to discuss the recent revelations around the planted pipe bombs on January 6, 2021, on Capitol Hill and our opposition to the recent tax bill.
Rep. Massie confirmed that the person who found the pipe bomb at the DNC on January 6 was a plain-clothes U.S. Capitol Police officer. We also laid out our opposition to the tax bill since it is basically an expansion of welfare.
FIREBRAND EP. 146: FANI WILLIS AND THE OFFICE OF FRAUD
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On Wednesday’s episode of Firebrand, I reacted to the bombshell evidence of corruption out of District Attorney Fani Willis’ office, Mark Zuckerberg getting harangued in a Senate Judiciary hearing, and a satanic temple display at Iowa’s state capitol getting destroyed.
FIREBRAND EP. 147: WELFARE IN DRAG
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On Thursday’s episode of Firebrand, I recapped the debate and vote on the “Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024”– and explained why it is really just a welfare bill in disguise.
I also called for all of Florida’s representatives to oppose the efforts to degrade the Trump tax policies with a terrible SALT bill that New York Republicans are trying to pass. People in low-tax states should not have to subsidize people in high-tax states just because local governments want to take more of their money.
IMPENDING ATF RULE ON UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
In March of last year, President Biden issued an executive order directing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to increase background checks for private gun sales. And, on August 30, 2023, the ATF proposed a rule doing just that.
The public fought back, issuing numerous comments opposing the rule, but according to whistleblowers, it looks like a final rule might be coming out shortly that could be a legal fig leaf for universal background checks, including single sales, and including at gun shows. Such a rule would be unacceptable, illegal, and unconstitutional. You can be assured that House Republicans will be all over this rule if and when it comes out.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
REP. GAETZ RESPONDS TO TRAINING ACCIDENT AT NAS WHITING FIELD
On Tuesday, during a training exercise at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, two Student Naval Aviators sustained injuries when their TH-57C helicopter rolled over while taxiing.
Ginger and I were relieved to hear that they are not in critical condition, and we are praying for a speedy recovery. My office will continue to communicate with NAS Whiting Field while the investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Read my full statement here.
TEAM GAETZ ATTENDS NATURALIZATION CEREMONY FOR 34 NEW CITIZENS IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Last Friday, my team attended the Naturalization Ceremony for 34 new U.S. citizens. Congratulations to these new American citizens of Florida’s 1st Congressional District. I applaud them for their hard work and their commitment to doing things the right way to become citizens of this great country.
TEAM GAETZ HOSTS MOBILE OFFICE HOURS
On Tuesday, my team hosted in-person mobile office hours at Costa Leadership Institute. It was a great chance to meet with constituents and find out what help we can provide with federal agencies. Be on the lookout for future mobile office hours throughout our district!
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
Politico — January 31, 2024
Lawmakers to Pentagon: Do a better job shooting down drones
“Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said he left the briefing with unanswered questions about whether the air defenses at the outpost failed. ‘I would like to understand whether this was a case of mistaken drone identity; I want to know if all of our air defenses are fully functional,’ Gaetz said. ‘Was it a human error in tracking what was incoming, was it a software error.’”
Tampa Free Press — February 1, 2024
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz Slams Tax Bill As A “Welfare Bill In Drag”
“Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida on Wednesday slammed a tax measure applauded by many of his fellow Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as Democrats. The Fort Walton Beach Republican said the $79 billion proposal contained some provisions that would support the GOP’s pro-growth agenda. But, he added in a House floor speech, ‘This is not a tax bill. This is a welfare bill masquerading as a tax bill.’”
Newsweek — February 2, 2024
Fani Willis Needs to Be Investigated for ‘Misconduct’—Matt Gaetz
“House Republican Matt Gaetz has called for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to step down from former President Donald Trump’s Georgia election interference case and ‘be investigated for her misconduct and impropriety.’”
WHAT WE’RE READING
Revolver News — January 31, 2024
The Plot Thickens: Damning New Details Emerge in Jan 6 Pipe Bomb Cover Up
New York Post — February 1, 2024
Police believe four of the migrants arrested in cop beatdown near Times Square fled on a bus to California
NBC News — February 2, 2024
Fulton County DA Fani Willis acknowledges personal relationship with the special prosecutor in Trump election case
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