by Nyamekye Daniel
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is among 21 state attorneys general calling on the U.S. Department of Treasury to secure states’ rights to implement tax policies under the American Rescue Plan Act.
The attorneys general sent a letter this week to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, asking her to confirm that provisions in the act do not attempt to strip states of their sovereign authority. They argue language in the act is too broad and could be interpreted as a blanket policy.
The provision, according to the letter, prohibits states from using COVID-19 relief funds to “directly or indirectly offset a reduction in … net tax revenue” resulting from state laws or regulations that reduce tax burdens – whether by cutting rates or by giving rebates, deductions, credits “or otherwise.”
“As it is written, the American Rescue Plan Act could be used to deny Georgia the ability to cut taxes in any manner for years to come,” Carr said. “That would be unacceptable. In fact, it would amount to an unprecedented federal takeover of state tax policy and would represent the greatest attempted invasion of state sovereignty by Congress ever attempted.”
Carr said the language could block Georgia from enacting pending legislation to increase its foster care adoption tax credit and a $141 million tax relief bill. Both bills have passed one chamber of the General Assembly.
House Bill 114 would increase the annual tax incentive for adopting a foster child from $2,000 to $6,000. House Bill 593 would raise the standard deduction on state income tax returns for a single taxpayer by $800 to $5,400 and by $1,100 to $7,100 for a married couple filing a joint return, starting in the 2022 tax year.
“Thank you, [Attorney General Carr],” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted. “Democrats in Washington, D.C. have no business telling us we can’t cut taxes for hardworking Georgians!”
The group of attorneys general have asked Yellen to confirm the meaning of the provision by Tuesday. They fear if any governor accepts the funds, they could be legally barred from providing tax relief going forward.
Joining Carr in signing the letter were attorneys general from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for four years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel’s work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times. Daniel is a staff reporter for The Center Square.
