By Sean Copeland
A smaller, but politically charged crowd of demonstrators were present outside the BCPA tuesday afternoon, chanting to “kill the bill” in respsonse to the latest GOP intiative to reform the current tax code under the Trump Administration.
Some of the chief complaints with the bill are centered on the effects of major tax cuts against the middle and lower classes as well as graduate students whose stipends and assistantships will be considered taxable income, raising them into a higher tax bracket and raising their taxes anywhere from 300-400 percent.
Illinois State University docotrate student Trevor Rickered, says this makes it nearly impossible for those seeking higher education, to get ahead professionally; let alone live off their school work and study grants.
“Hours and stipends are being cut, so a lot of students are trying to live off of 20 hours or 10 hours a week, working 10 to 20 hours a week, which doesn’t work,” said Rickered.
The group Stand Up for Social Justice spearheaded the event in order to create a dialogue about the future tax reforms and how they will affect people in McLean County and the surrounding areas.
Sean Copeland can be reached at sean.copeland@cumulus.com.
