Republican tax bill threatens poorest Americans, says UN envoy
Social welfare protections for the poorest Americans risk being "blown apart" by the Republican tax reform bill that is on track to become law, a UN expert said on Friday. "The US Congress is trying desperately to pass a tax bill that, if adopted, would represent the single most dramatic increase in inequality that could be imagined," said Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. Alston, an Australian, was speaking to reporters following a two-week fact-finding visit to several US states and Puerto Rico to examine whether the "persistence of extreme poverty in America undermines the enjoyment of human rights." The UN expert was particularly critical of the tax reform bill backed by President Donald Trump, saying it will "shred crucial dimensions of a safety net that is already full of holes." The Trump administration has said the tax overhaul would boost growth in the world’s largest economy and lead to more jobs and wealth. But Alston said proposed ...
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