Editor,

Congress should act on the opportunity to pass tax reform that provides real relief for our country’s middle class and reignites our economy.   

Washington has been debating this issue for months, and it is time to move forward with a plan that will actually make a positive difference in the lives of Maine people.

In this spirit, I want to applaud Senator Collins for her work on the comprehensive tax package. Senator Collins has long been a champion for Maine workers and I know she has acted with the interests of our state’s business community in mind.  

As a small business owner myself, I appreciate all she has done on our behalf, especially given the scrutiny she has been under over these last few weeks.

But, businesses aren’t the only ones who will benefit from the tax plan.   

American workers and families would also stand to gain a great deal from tax reform. The plan before Congress would lower individual tax rates, simplify and streamline the filing process, and double the standard deduction as well as the child tax credit — all of which would go a long way toward giving  
middle-class families more after-tax, take-home pay. That’s good news for my family and for families across our state.

It is time for Congress to pass tax reform once and for all, and our state’s representatives in Washington shouldn’t back down from making that happen.

Jennifer M Burke

Biddeford