JANUARY 13, 2023

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

Republicans have controlled the House for just over a week, not counting the days upon days spent attempting to elect a Speaker. Amid the chaos of multiple failed votes, Kevin McCarthy was finally elected in the dead of night on the 15th round of voting -- but only after making major concessions to the most extreme wing of his party.

Prioritizing Tax Cheats

Republicans’ first bill, the so-called Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, is anything BUT helpful for families. Instead of working to lower costs for everyday Americans, the bill makes it easier for billionaires and big corporations to avoid paying the taxes they owe.

My office has been working with many families who have experienced financial hardship while waiting months for the IRS to process their tax refunds – which are often thousands of dollars. Why? Because the agency has fewer auditors than 1954 and tax returns are processed on computer systems designed more than 40 years ago. 

This is a direct result of years of attacks and budget cuts by Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration.

Last year, Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes investments to replace retiring taxpayer service workers and update aging technology to increase efficiency so hardworking taxpayers can receive prompt refunds and service.

Republicans should be helping the Americans waiting on hold for hours to get their tax refunds instead of making it easier for tax cheats to skip out on paying their fair share.

Targeting Women’s Health

In Congress, we should be focused on helping American families and addressing the issues they care about. But the House GOP’s second order of business this week was not helping Americans lower costs, reduce inflation, or expand opportunities – instead, they focused on further restricting women’s reproductive rights. 

The extreme House GOP has prioritized passing legislation that politicizes abortion and criminalizes doctors. This is NOT what Americans want. People, not politicians, should make their own health care decisions.

Watch my Floor speech on their harmful H.Con.Res. 3 here.

If their first ‘weak’ of the 118th Congress is any indication, Americans will not be well served by the House Republican leadership and their extreme-MAGA agenda. 

But you have my commitment to continue serving you, the people of the Fourth District, and do everything I can to protect our priorities through the Appropriations process, speak out against harmful Republican measures, and work collaboratively where opportunities present themselves to make progress for Minnesotans.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with your policy opinion or if you need help with a federal agency. Thank you for being an informed and engaged constituent.

Sincerely,

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress