The National Treasury Employees Union’s endorsement of Kamala Harris has ignited a debate over the future of U.S. tax policy.
At a Glance
- The NTEU endorsed Kamala Harris, praising her for increasing the IRS budget and staffing.
- The Biden-Harris administration increased the IRS budget by $80 billion over ten years.
- Critics fear the endorsement signals higher taxes for Americans.
- The Harris campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Union Endorsement of Kamala Harris Stirs Controversy
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for President, drawing significant social media backlash. This endorsement comes after the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which increased the IRS budget by $80 billion over ten years. Critics fear that Harris’s endorsement by a union closely affiliated with the IRS is a harbinger of higher taxes. Social media erupted with responses from conservative commentators expressing grave concerns over this development.
The administration’s 2025 budget proposal requests an additional $104 billion for the IRS, fueling the debate. This allocation comes two years after Congress approved an amount that was seven times the agency’s annual budget. NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald justified the endorsement, stating it followed extensive research and consultation with NTEU members and chapter leaders.
Inbox: NTEU, the union that represents IRS workers among others, endorses Harris, calling it a “clear choice.”
— Richard Rubin (@RichardRubinDC) September 18, 2024
IRS Budget: Key Concerns and Social Media Reaction
The significant increase in the IRS budget under the Inflation Reduction Act has been a point of contention. The Act allows the hiring of 87,000 more agents, which some fear will lead to increased audits and higher taxes. Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz and others have questioned the necessity and implications of these budget increases. Despite the concerns, NTEU President Doreen Greenwald has highlighted Harris’s strong advocacy for federal employees’ rights and working conditions as pivotal to their endorsement.
“The IRS Agents Union just endorsed Kamala Harris. That should tell you all what her plans are for us. Get ready to be taxed to death. VOTE TRUMP!” – conservative commentator Joey Mannarino announced on X on Saturday morning.
Jason Chaffetz raised questions about the purpose behind these increases in funds, outlining the substantial figures and their potential economic impact. Harris’s support for worker empowerment and civil service protections further fuels the debate among conservatives and libertarians, who view such moves as excessive government overreach.
NTEU’s Broader Goals and Harris’s Long Career
President Doreen Greenwald of the NTEU emphasized Harris’s commitment to workers’ rights, fair pay, paid family leave, and adequate agency funding and staffing. Harris’s role in the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment was critical in gaining union support. The NTEU represents federal employees in 35 federal agencies, showcasing widespread influence and interest in having supportive leadership in office.
“Now, the Biden-Harris administration’s 2025 budget proposal calls for an additional $104 billion for the IRS. That’s eight times the annual budget, just two years after Congress appropriated an amount that was seven times the agency’s annual budget. What is going on here?”, stated Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz
The endorsement also implicitly contrasts Harris’s record with that of her opponent, former President Donald Trump, who aimed to diminish labor influence during his tenure. The debate is expected to continue as both sides prepare for the upcoming election cycle, with federal workforce policies at the forefront.
