Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Democratic Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Cory Booker of New Jersey joined Friday in Milwaukee to release their own tax plan as one counter to the Republican tax plan that transfers billions of dollars to the ultra-rich and nickels and dimes to middle-class and working class Americans.

Proving once again that Democrats haven’t learned a thing from Republican messaging successes, the two senators call their bill the “Stronger Way Act.” Sigh. And meh. Almost better just to call it by its Senate bill number: S.3231.

Not that the bill has a ghost of a chance of passage even with a resonant moniker until the extremist Republican control of Congress and the White House is overturned. But Baldwin and Booker’s proposal includes some worthwhile reforms that deserve a soundbite name that sings rather than thuds. Because, even though no Democrat-initiated legislation short of naming post offices will pass in the coming 16 months, it’s important that Democrats present to voters the kind of legislation we would pass if we had the political clout. And letting Americans know what our plans for making their lives better is one element in getting them to vote in a way that provides us with that clout.

The two senators commented:

“Tax reform needs to reward hard work, raise incomes and help working families keep more of what they earn. Too many people are being left behind by Washington and The Stronger Way Act starts helping them get ahead,” said Senator Baldwin. “The Stronger Way Act offers tax reform to reward work and a new partnership to invest in local jobs programs that will help raise incomes for working families.” “We must realize the fundamental promise that if you work hard in America, America should work for you,” said Senator Booker. “Our bill will raise incomes and keep more Americans out of poverty by strengthening tax credits for working families and ensuring that hard work is more fairly rewarded. In stark contrast to the tax framework offered by President Trump last week, this bill will put money in the pocket of low- and middle-income individuals and families—not just the wealthy and the well-connected.”

At the heart of their proposal are two proposals that would provide more money to lower- and middle-income Americans—expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit. These two ideas originally were put forth in the tax reform section of one the earliest iterations of the Peoples Budget, a product of the Congressional Progressive Caucus that has been rolled out in ever-more-polished form every year since 2012.

Baldwin and Booker explain their version: