Speaker Johnson Rips Dems Taking Credit For Tax Cuts
One of the first things Republicans did after taking control of both chambers of Congress following their sweeping 2024 victories was to make the tax cuts passed during President Donald Trump’s first term permanent.
Trump signed the historic legislation on July 4, 2025 – a bill that not only codified the tax cuts, but also allowed Americans to pay no taxes on overtime or tips, up to a certain amount, for the next three years.
Not a single Democrat voted for the package, which saved the average American worker thousands of dollars per year.
But now that the midterms are approaching and it’s not at all clear that Democrats will be able to retake control over the House or Senate, many of them are grasping at anything they can to help their campaigns.
Including taking credit for tax cuts they voted against.
On the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday accused congressional Democrats of attempting to take credit for policies they unanimously opposed, while instead supporting what he framed as what would have been a $5 trillion tax increase.
“With their unanimous opposition to the Working Families Tax Cuts, Congressional Democrats in unison voted against no tax on tips and overtime, the doubled child tax credit, $50 billion for rural healthcare, and investment accounts for every newborn in America,” Johnson said in a press release.
“Now, as tens of millions of citizens are benefitting from this historic tax relief, Democrats are attempting to mislead the American people and claim credit for something they opposed vehemently,” Johnson said.
The speaker argued that Republicans will continue reminding voters that, had Democrats succeeded, Americans would have faced what he called “the largest tax increase in American history.”
Johnson’s office also highlighted several Democrat lawmakers it said have recently embraced provisions of the tax package despite voting against the legislation.
Among them, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., introduced legislation that would permanently establish Trump Accounts under the new name “American Dream Accounts” while also making the law’s “No Tax on Tips” provision permanent.
Johnson’s office also noted that several Nevada Democrats—including Reps. Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee, along with Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen—urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure the successful implementation of the no-tax-on-tips provision after opposing the broader legislation.
The office further pointed to Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who said there were “certain things” in the bill that he supported before later backing legislation to expand eligibility for the law’s no-tax-on-overtime provision.
According to Johnson’s office, the law has provided widespread tax relief over the past year.
Citing Internal Revenue Service data, the office said 97% of tax filers received a tax cut, with the legislation’s individual tax provisions returning an estimated $82 billion to taxpayers.
Johnson’s office also said more than 7.5 million taxpayers claimed the law’s no-tax-on-tips deduction, nearly 29 million claimed the no-tax-on-overtime deduction, and almost 40 million families benefited from the expanded child tax credit.
Republicans have promoted the legislation as a key part of President Donald Trump’s second-term economic agenda, arguing that it increases take-home pay, expands tax relief for families and seniors, protects family farms and small businesses, and creates federally funded Trump Accounts for eligible newborns.
During last year’s debate over the measure, Democrats falsely claimed that portions of the package disproportionately benefited higher-income Americans and expressed concerns about its long-term fiscal impact.
However, some Democratic lawmakers have since supported or introduced legislation to expand individual provisions included in the law, because they see how popular it has become.
No doubt President Trump, who is planning on hitting the campaign trail ahead of the midterms to promote this and other GOP successed, will remind voters on the stump that all Democrats opposed making the cuts permanent, regardless of what many of them are saying now.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
