Bay State pols vow to repeal Trump tax reforms if Dems take control

Bay State residents could lose their recent boost in take-home pay if Democrats retake Congress, as Democratic congressional leaders — joined by some Merrimack Valley candidates — vowed yesterday to overturn the Trump tax reforms.

“If we’re talking about responsible fiscal policy, we do have to start with overturning that tax bill,” said Rufus Gifford, a former U.S. ambassador to Denmark and one of many Democrats running in the crowded 3rd District congressional race.

“There’s nothing that anybody wants more than more money in our paychecks,” Gifford said. “But I do not believe that this tax bill is the right way to go and I do think we need to start over.”

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who dismissed the popular tax breaks as “crumbs,” again blasted the “tax scam” bill yesterday. She’s promised to repeal the overhaul as Democrats expect to win a majority of seats in Congress this year.

President Trump signed the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul bill into law in December, and Republicans across the country are touting the popular reforms in campaign ads. Workers began to see bigger paychecks in February, and businesses such as Cooperstown Environmental in Andover have offered additional benefits, doubling company-paid retirement contributions for all of their employees.

State Sen. Barbara L’Italien, an Andover Democrat in the 3rd District race, argued those benefits are fleeting.

“Many folks will see a few dollars in their pocket at first, only to lose health care coverage or a job down the line,” L’Italien said. “This plan should be repealed, before we start feeling the effects of the holes this will blow in state and federal budgets this year.”

Former U.S. intelligence officer Alexandra Chandler also said she’d overturn the law.

But Lowell native Lori Trahan, once chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan, said she’d fight to keep the take-home pay tax break.

“I would not take away that pay bump,” said Trahan, though she still blasted the tax reform’s one-party passage. “I do think we need a more bipartisan package.”

Dan Koh, former chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, also said he’d repeal all tax cuts, “except for middleand working-class families.”

Rick Green, a Republican candidate and CEO at 1A Auto in Westford, said he handed out bonuses companywide after the tax reforms.

“We should be talking about making some of these features permanent, particularly those aimed at the middle class, not plotting to take them away,” said Green.