FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 17, 2012

Contact: Brian Pugh, 845-657-1972

 Workers Play “Corporate Tax Dodge Ball” To Protest Unfair Tax Benefits For The Wealthy

Orange Residents Blast Rep. Hayworth’s Support for the Ryan Plan to Cut Medicare, Lower Taxes For Rich

Video available here.

Pictures available here.

On Tax Day working families and community advocates played a game of “tax dodge ball” outside the Middletown Post Office to protest Rep. Nan Hayworth’s support for the 1% priorities embodied by the Paul Ryan Budget, which she voted for in March.   The demonstrators demanded that Hayworth stand up for the middle class constituents of her district by repudiating the Ryan budget, supporting the Buffett Rule (which would apply a minimum tax of 30 percent to individuals making more than a million dollars a year) and support legislation to save the US postal service and local postal jobs.

Participants called out Rep. Hayworth for advocating for even more tax breaks for millionaires and corporations while New York’s working families are stuck with the bill. These tax breaks for the super-wealthy will result in cuts to essential programs and services for working families, military service personnel, students, veterans, seniors and jobless New Yorkers and put thousands of jobs at risk.

"Sixty-eight percent of Americans think the tax system benefits the rich and is unfair to ordinary workers, according to CNN.  They are right!  We're here today to tell Congresswoman Nan Hayworth: support the Buffett rule and a fair system that doesn't allow millionaires to pay a lower tax rate than a schoolteacher.  If our congresswoman fails to act, we will remember in November!" said Paul Ellis-Graham, President of the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation.

"I am a truck driver here in Newburgh and I have recently been laid off.  I want Rep. Hayworth to know that it is essential, in these economic times that all Americans chip in and pay their fair share in taxes. Workers across America are paying their fair share to help while the 1% want to continue to pay as little as possible and not contribute to rebuilding our country," said Frank Arndt of Teamsters Local 445.

"America's postal workers are part of the 99% that have been overlooked by Congresswoman Hayworth.  Five New York Republicans have co-sponsored legislation [H.R, 1351] that would save the postal service and protect thousands of jobs.  Nan Hayworth has found time to vote for the Ryan budget twice, which would give huge tax breaks to the very wealthy, but has yet to support this critical piece of legislation.  It is time for Congresswoman Hayworth to support a fair system for the middle class taxpayer and fair plan to save middle class jobs," said Debbie Szeredy, President of APWU–Mid Hudson Region.

"It is outrageous that one of Rep. Hayworth's largest financial backers is Honeywell International, one of the 'Dirty Thirty' Corporate Tax Evaders.  How is that Honeywell has no money to pay for schools, highways, aid to the needy or national defense yet it has money to give to its friends in Washington?" said Sparrow Tobin, Vice President of the Hudson-Catskill Central Labor Council.