AFT President Weingarten Criticizes Senate's Tax Bill as Betrayal

Senate Passes Controversial Tax Bill Amid Criticism from AFT

WASHINGTON—The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President, Randi Weingarten, has voiced strong criticism following the Senate's approval of a tax bill backed by President Trump. Weingarten described the legislation as a "betrayal" of American working families, claiming it benefits the wealthy at the expense of essential public services.

The bill, passed late at night, has been labeled a "billionaire tax scam" by its opponents, who argue that it will lead to significant negative impacts on healthcare and education. Weingarten emphasized that the tax cuts are being financed by severe reductions in funding for critical areas such as healthcare, rural hospitals, and public schools, potentially harming the environment and increasing national debt.

Critics argue that the voucher system included in the bill will divert funds from public schools, negatively affecting student achievement and disproportionately benefiting affluent families with children in private education. The AFT president warned that this represents a large-scale redistribution of wealth from the poor to the rich, surpassing previous measures enacted by the House.

Weingarten also addressed what she perceives as misleading information from those in favor of the bill. She accused supporters of manipulating accounting principles to downplay the potential deficit increase and making false claims regarding the bill's impact on public services.

Despite the bill's passage, Weingarten pointed out that public opinion has largely been against the measure, as reflected in numerous polls. She called for continued advocacy against the bill as it returns to the House and possibly to the president's desk, emphasizing the need to push for tax reforms that benefit the working class and secure full funding for education.

In her closing remarks, Weingarten lamented the timing of the bill's passage, stating, “As we prepare to celebrate our independence, the promise of the American dream, of freedom and prosperity for all, is now further out of reach.”

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The AFT, representing 1.8 million members, includes pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty, healthcare workers, and government employees, among others.

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