Bipartisan Senate Coalition Expresses Support for Charitable Deduction
1/27/2014
Last week, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Thune (R-SD), along with 31 other senators, sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) urging them to maintain the charitable deduction as they consider reforming the tax code.
Senators Thune and Wyden are both members of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee. Wyden will become Senate Finance Committee Chairman when Max Baucus, the current chairman, steps down following his nomination to become U.S. Ambassador to China.
"The charitable deduction is unique," the senators state. "It is the only provision that encourages taxpayers to give away a portion of their income for the benefit of others. For this reason, it is not a loophole, but a lifeline for millions of Americans in need."
Joining Thune and Wyden in sending the letter were Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dan Coats (R-IN), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Dean Heller (R-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Mark Kirk (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Carl Levin (D-MI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jim Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jean Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mark Udall (D-CO), David Vitter (R-LA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
