Americans for Affordable Products (AAP) – a collection of more than 400 businesses and trade associations seeking to stop the Border Adjustment Tax (BAT) – released new polling showing strong public opposition for a trillion-dollar tax increase on middle-income families costing them $1,700 more per year.
The survey undertaken by The Tarrance Group among 800 likely voters from April 2-5 found a strong majority (63 percent) of voters oppose the Border Adjustment Tax, including nearly half (46 percent) who strongly oppose it. There is majority opposition to it among voters in states with competitive U.S. Senate races (66 percent) and among voters in states that were competitive in the 2016 Presidential election (62 percent), as well as among key voting blocs, including women (70 percent) and seniors (63 percent).
Voters are more likely to oppose the Border Adjustment Tax when they learn about the potential economic impact it could have on them, particularly upon hearing costs for food, clothing, gasoline, medicine and prescription drugs would increase, including paying more in monthly car payments.
Additionally, voters are more likely to oppose the Border Adjustment Tax when learning of the increases in unemployment generally and losses in retail jobs specifically. And a strong majority of voters are more likely to oppose the Border Adjustment Tax when they learn it could result in profitable, multi-national companies paying less in taxes.
Finally, a majority (56 percent) of voters say they would be less likely to vote for their Member of Congress if they support the Border Adjustment Tax.
“Utah’s retailers support 393,000 jobs in our state and contributes more than $21 billion to our economy,” said Dave Davis, President of Utah Retail Merchants Association. “A Border Adjustment Tax is going to hit their bottom line hard and unemployment is certain to follow. Consumers are also going to feel it in their pocketbooks on simple, everyday items that they buy. We urge Utah’s congressional delegation to stand unified against this unjust tax proposal.”
Fortunately, Utah’s two U.S. Senators are on the right side of the debate. Senator Orrin Hatch is a key player in this debate. As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, all roads to tax reform will have to pass through his committee. He recognizes the controversies of the BAT and has said that he has “some real reservations about it.” He also believes it could put the brakes on enacting a tax reform package, which is why he is exploring other tax reform alternatives. Senator Mike Lee concurs and has said that the Border Adjustment Tax “could ravage huge swaths of our economy.”
Americans for Affordable Products represents the largest employment sector in the country and speaks for nearly one in four jobs in our nation totaling over 42 million.
To view a summation of the survey data, click here.
