Kara Eastman, the Democratic candidate in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, said on Sunday that the corporate tax rate should be increased higher than it was prior to Republican tax cuts.
Eastman, who is part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's competitive "Red to Blue" program, participated in a debate with incumbent Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.), where she slammed tax reform legislation passed by Republicans in the House and Senate and signed by President Donald Trump back in December. She castigated the reform, saying that it was intended to help the wealthy and corporations.
"The fact that the president is now even saying that we need middle class tax cuts shows that that tax bill didn't cut taxes for the middle class," Eastman said.
"We need to bring the corporate tax rate back up if not a little bit higher than what it was," Eastman said. "I would support around 38 or 39 percent."
Eastman has been an outspoken critic of the tax reform passed by Republicans in Congress, saying back in December that it is "dishonest" and "unpopular."
"Under this tax bill, the deficit will skyrocket, with $1.5 trillion in debt being added over the next decade. This is tragic news for all Americans who care about fiscal responsibility and government accountability," Eastman said on Facebook. "Any tax relief this will provide to the middle class is temporary. We should not support these policies. It’s time to vote those who do out of office in 2018!"
A few months after the tax reform was enacted, over 250 businesses offered wage increases, bonuses, and benefits citing tax reform for making this possible, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
The House Majority PAC, which has close ties to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), was originally scheduled to spend $228,000 on broadcast advertising and $18,000 on cable advertising in the Omaha market during the last couple weeks of October, but they decided to spend the money in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District.
"Kara outraised her opponent by about $700,000 this quarter, and we have the resources we need to win this district," Eastman campaign spokeswoman Heather Aliano said. "We are glad to see the House Majority PAC is shifting their resources to where they are needed the most so Democrats can take back the House on Election Day."