For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Patriotic Millionaires Endorse Three New Tax and Wage Champions in Virginia, Wisconsin, and Arizona
“These candidates are committed to fighting against the spiraling economic inequality threatening our democracy, lifting up America’s workers, and building a better, more equitable tax code.”
Washington, DC – Today, the Patriotic Millionaires announced three new endorsements of candidates for the United States House of Representatives. The organization limited its criteria to non-incumbent tax and wage champions running in particularly competitive House districts. The candidates are:
- Missy Cotter Smasal (VA-02)
- Rebecca Cooke (WI-03)
- Conor O’Callaghan (AZ-01)
They join a group of six previously-announced endorsed candidates:
- Sue Altman (NJ-07)
- Ashley Ehasz (PA-01)
- Mondaire Jones (NY-17)
- Josh Riley (NY-19)
- Will Rollins (CA-41)
- Diane Young (MI-10)
These leaders come from a range of personal and professional backgrounds and include a veteran, small business owners and nonprofit leaders, an attorney, and a financial services professional. They are committed to fighting against the spiraling economic inequality threatening our democracy, lifting up America’s workers, and building a better, more equitable tax code. The Patriotic Millionaires offer their full and enthusiastic support for both their primary and general election campaigns.
Economic inequality has reached levels not seen since the Gilded Age, workers’ wages have stagnated and declined in real terms, and billionaires are buying policy outcomes in Congress. These three candidates understand the critical moment we are in, and the dire consequences of failing to raise wages, tax wealth, and defend our institutions from the corrupting influence of money. These candidates will especially play an important role in next year’s fight over the expiring provisions of the 2017 Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Announcing these endorsements, Erica Payne, President and Founder of the Patriotic Millionaires, said,
“We need economic champions in Congress next year who are committed to reforming a tax code that gives absurd breaks to the rich and leaves everyday Americans holding the bag. In 2018, after Republicans rewrote the tax code, for the first time in history, billionaires paid a lower effective tax rate than every other income group in the country. That’s both immoral and economically unsustainable.
Donald Trump is now selling even more tax cuts for billionaires in exchange for campaign contributions. The current tax code is a key driver of the destabilizing level of inequality that has brought our nation to the edge of social chaos. It must be fixed.
These candidates will advocate fervently on behalf of working people against the interests of the ultra-rich and corporate America. They have demonstrated their commitment to unrigging the tax code and building an economy that works for all working people in this great country. We are eager to see them continue the fight in Washington.”
Morris Pearl, the Chair of the Patriotic Millionaires and a former managing director at BlackRock, Inc., said,
“There is a reason why laws like the 2017 Trump tax cuts overwhelmingly benefit the interests of the ultra-rich: wealthy Americans like me can invest in campaigns and lobby efforts which essentially compel politicians to do whatever we want them to do. People should be able to donate to candidates and causes that they care about, but there’s no reason why millionaires like me should have a hugely disproportionate say in who runs for office and who wins elections.
I am confident that the candidates endorsed by the Patriotic Millionaires will work tirelessly to meet the needs of their constituents, and not just wealthy donors like me. The first step in getting big money out of politics involves electing people who are committed to changing our broken system, and we believe these candidates fit the bill.”
For additional information or interview requests, please contact Emily McCloskey at emily@patrioticmillionaires.org.
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