A Neighbor Calls His Congressman

The House Republicans tax plan is a 500 page document compiled in secrecy.  The GOP is in a rush to make it law.  It bestows huge tax cuts on major corporations and wealthy individuals, and gives lumps of coal to everyone else.  Independent analysts have said it will increase the deficit by $1.5 to $2.2 trillion, even after eliminating popular deductions state and local taxes, medical expenses, and student loan interest.

A neighbor and friend has a wife in an Alzheimer's care facility.  (I know other people in similar circumstances, and there's a history of the disease in my own family.)  Assisted living facilities are expensive propositions, and my friend is troubled by the prospect of losing the medical expense deduction.  He crunched his numbers and estimated that losing the deduction would cost him around $20,000!  This makes him unhappy.

So he decided to call his Congressman, Rep. Pat Tiberi (R), to voice his displeasure.  Lame-duck Tiberi is among the exodus of congressional Republicans.  He's taking early retirement at the end of the year, so the shits he's giving right now are few and far between, and he's sure as hell not taking any calls in his office (not that he ever did).

"I am shocked -- shocked!"

My neighbor first called Tiberi's office in Washington D.C.  The staff member who answered claimed to be in complete and utter Claude Rains "shock" to hear that the World's Greatest Tax Plan might cause significant financial harm to a non-corporate, non-wealthy constituent.  The staffer had "no idea," and would of course "look into it and pass along your concerns to the Congressman."

Then he called Tiberi's local office here in Columbus.  The indifferent local staffer on the call made no pretense of caring:  "You say the House tax plan will cost you $20,000?  OK, so what's your reason for calling?"  "You know, we'll never see him again, but sure, we'll let the Congressman know.  Now I'm gonna uncross my fingers and hang up.  Bye."

Such is political life here in Ohio's 12th Congressional District.  You get your choice between pretend concern and honest contempt.