Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota

Bismarck, ND – North Dakota Rep. Earl Pomeroy fell into lock step with his party leadership and voted to plug the hole in the leaking dike that is the broken Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) by increasing taxes on many investors. 

“Rep. Pomeroy voted with Democratic leaders Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chairman Charlie Rangel to hold much needed AMT relief hostage to reckless tax hikes, including a capital gains tax hike on general partners in investment partnerships.  This bill was a blatant attempt to couple necessary short-term middle class tax relief with a long-term penalty for investing the stock market.  We are disappointed that Rep. Pomeroy put partisanship above doing the right thing for American taxpayers, workers, and investors and we will continue to push for repeal of the AMT without tax hikes,” said Rudie Martinson, spokesman for Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.

Pomeroy also decided not to support the Republican’s permanent AMT fix.  The Taxpayer Choice Act, which would not only repeal the AMT, but also gives all taxpayers a simple choice between the current income tax system and a new “Simplified Tax” consisting of two rates: 10 percent for joint filers on income up to $100,000 ($50,000 for single filers) and a 25 percent bracket for taxable income above those amounts, with an annual inflation adjustment.

“Ironically, Instead of supporting real tax reform for middle-class Americans, Rep. Pomeroy has chosen to attack those same individuals by increasing the tax burden on their investments.  Most North Dakotans understand that they are overtaxed at all levels, especially at the federal level.” Martinson concluded.

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