Scherer Opposes Efforts to Remove Key Tax Deduction for Working Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, this week announced her support for legislation opposing efforts at the federal level to eliminate a tax deduction claimed by nearly 2 million Illinoisans annually.

“The proposed changes to the federal tax code would cut taxes on corporations and the wealthy while hurting working families,” Scherer said. “It should be the other way around—instead of asking middle-class families to hand over more of their hard-earned dollars, millionaires and billionaires should be required to pay their fair share.”

Scherer is co-sponsoring House Resolutions 672 and 85 opposing efforts by Washington politicians to remove the state and local tax deduction. The exemption allows families that pay state and local income sales tax to deduct those taxes from their federal income tax, thereby preventing families from being double taxed—once by the federal government and again by the state.

“Illinois ranks fifth in terms of states that benefit from the state and local tax deduction, so its elimination would be particularly problematic for our residents,” Scherer said. “I strongly oppose removing this exemption to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.”