John,
Republicans thought they’d struck gold with their new election-year messaging.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said that a “shadow army” of IRS agents was coming for you.[1]
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), head of the Senate GOP campaign committee, said that IRS agents would “use deadly force” in their tax enforcement.[2]
And Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said: “After todays raid on Mar A Lago what do you think the left plans to use those 87,000 new IRS agents for?”[3]
Now, we’ve learned where Republicans got their messaging guidance from: billionaire ex-casino mogul Steve Wynn, who's being sued by the U.S. Justice Department for secretly lobbying President Trump for favors for the Chinese government.[4]
According to the Washington Post and Politico, on a recent Republican big-money donor call, Wynn suggested Republicans start running “hard hitting” TV spots telling everyday people that the IRS is “coming after you if you’re a waiter, if you’re a bartender, if you’re anybody with a cash business.”[5]
Wynn, like many GOP members of Congress, are lying to the public claiming that the just-passed Inflation Reduction Act, will result in the IRS hiring 87,000 auditors to go after working people. In fact, any new auditors―more like 20,000―will be hired to go after billionaires like Steve Wynn and corporate tax cheats to make them pay what they owe.
In addition to providing fraudulent messaging guidance, Wynn and his wife have donated $5.7 million to Republican candidates and causes this election cycle. That includes $300,000 to Kevin McCarthy’s super PAC and $100,000 to a Herschel Walker super PAC, who is running to defeat Sen. Rafael Warnock in Georgia.[6]
Billionaires like Wynn prefer to operate in the shadows, controlling our democracy and rigging our economy.
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund is providing invaluable reporting on how billionaires use their fortunes to buy our elections. Pitch in today to fight back against Republican lies and expose billionaires manipulating voters and buying elections.
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Together, we’re holding billionaires accountable and fighting for a democracy that includes us all.
Frank Clemente
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
[1] https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1556268919786278913
[2] https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/services/files/FE938C2F-152C-47FA-A200-16BFE5573837
[3] https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1556795448614060035
[4] “U.S. Accuses Steve Wynn of Lobbying Trump on Behalf of China,” New York Times, May 17, 2022
[5] “Leaked audio of a billionaire GOP donor hands Democrats a weapon,” Washington Post, Aug 25, 2022
[6] Federal Election Commission
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