TOMS RIVER, NJ — On Friday, as Toms River prepares to kick off the Christmas season with lights and carols at Town Hall and the Ocean County Library, there will be another group caroling downtown with a distinctly different message: protesting the tax reform bill that's working its way through Congress.

The "#GOPTaxScam Caroling" protest is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, outside Rep. Tom MacArthur's office at 33 Washington St. in Toms River. "Stand up to the Scrooges behind this morally bankrupt tax scam," organizers said. One resident who said he plans to attend sent an email urging others to get involved. "We'll sing carols such as 'We wish you a Corporate Tax Break, And a Tax Haven too!' " to express frustration with the tax reform plan that MacArthur voted in favor of on Nov. 16. He was the only House member from New Jersey to vote in favor of the House version of the bill, which passed 227-205.



MacArthur has defended the bill, saying it "provides real relief for families and businesses — by simplifying the tax code, reducing rates, doubling the standard deduction, providing tax credits for childcare and care of adult dependents, and eliminating the AMT (alternative minimum tax) that has trapped working families." MacArthur also said he fought for the restoration of a property tax deduction, which he said benefits all property owners in South Jersey. The average homeowner in Burlington and Ocean Counties respectively pay $6,682 and $6,102 in property taxes annually, MacArthur said. The amended tax bill allows a deduction of $10,000 for property taxes.

Opponents and those organizing rallies say the tax bill, with its measure to repeal the individual insurance mandate of the Affordable Care Act, will hurt millions of Americans, leaving 13 million people without health care coverage and raise coverage costs for almost everyone else by double digits. It would take away the child tax credit from more than 3 million children, repeal tax deductions for teachers buying school supplies but allow corporations to deduct business expenses, and hurt middle-class families, people with student loans, and residents of states and cities with high local and state taxes. "This is more than just a blatant scam on the people to transfer wealth to the very rich," organizers said. "It is now also a full assault on health care."

The protest scheduled for Toms River is one of more than 20 being organized throughout the country, according to the group Move On. There additionally is a protest planned for 11 a.m. Friday in Morristown outside the office of Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, and one scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday in Marlton.

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