Blackburn Achieves Permanent Tax Relief for Tennessee Families

Statement

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) issued the following statement praising the work of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) for his leadership in including language in the extenders bill to make permanent the ability of Tennesseans to deduct their state and local sales tax from their federal income tax. Blackburn and Brady have been leading the fight in the House on the issue for over a decade.

"When I was in the Tennessee state Senate, I led the fight to make sure that Tennesseans wouldn't be additionally burdened by a state income tax; instead we pay state and local sales taxes. Coming to Congress in 2003, I made the commitment that I would work to restore that deduction. That goal was achieved in 2005. Immediately, I began working to make the deduction permanent and with passage of this extender bill, it is achieved. Chairman Kevin Brady has worked with me every step of the way and I am grateful for his leadership on this issue.

"Making these deductions permanent is vital to Tennessee families and small businesses as it will allow millions of dollars to be pumped back into our economy. Families and individuals should not be punished because they pay state and local sales taxes rather than an income tax. Taxpayers can deduct their state income tax; there is no reason that Americans in states without an income tax can't deduct sales tax. . Hardworking Tennesseans pay their fair share of taxes just like citizens in every other state. We know better than anyone how important it is to make permanent the state and local sales tax deduction.

"This is simply is simply an issue of fairness -- fairness for families that live and work in states that don't have a state income tax. That's why I've worked tirelessly with Chairman Brady over the last decade on this issue and look forward to pushing it over the finish line when we vote on the extenders bill later this week," Blackburn said.

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