Republicans say California congressman voted for higher taxes. Is it true?

David Lightman, McClatchy Washington Bureau on Apr 21, 2025

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WASHINGTON — Republicans are running a digital ad campaign against Democratic Rep. Adam Gray, charging he “voted to raise taxes.”

He didn’t specifically vote to raise taxes.

He did vote against legislation that will make it easier for Republicans to cut taxes.

That bill, Gray said, also could lead to huge spending cuts that could have devastating effects on his constituents.

What the Central Valley Democrat, who defeated a GOP incumbent in November by less than 200 votes, voted against earlier this month was a broad outline of a Republican-authored budget plan. Every other House Democrat, and two Republicans, also voted no.

The plan makes no specific tax reductions or increases. What it does is pave the legislative way to extend the Trump-backed 2017 tax cuts, which are due to expire at the end of this year.

Those cuts lowered most tax rates. Gray was not in Congress in 2017. No Democrat voted for the bill’s final passage that year.

Republicans blast Gray’s vote

The ad criticizes Gray for “voting against the budget resolution, leading to higher taxes for Californians by slashing the child tax credit in half and making families pay thousands more.” That could be true if the tax cuts are not extended.

Most Democrats say that the budget plan also paves the way for big spending reductions in Medi-Cal, environment, housing, education and other popular government programs. The bill does include a plan for big cuts.

Most Democrats also maintain that by extending current tax law, it disproportionately benefits the wealthy. They’re willing to cut or maintain taxes on lower and middle class taxpayers, but there’s sentiment for raising taxes on the very rich.

“Republicans are attempting to distract Valley families from the fact that they have done nothing to counter the economic fallout from reckless tariffs on our trade partners,” Gray told The Bee.

“Markets are down, prices are up, and farmers across the Central Valley are dealing with the uncertainty and chaos impacting their business,” he said. “I’m focused on continuing my work to represent the Valley and defend our ag producers. Everything else is just noise.”

Democrats fire back

At the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, spokesman Viet Shelton said the bill “takes away health care, cuts off food assistance, and raises costs to pay for massive tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy while sticking working families with the bill.”

Republicans cited the legislation’s importance in their tax cutting effort, and stressed that no specific programs have been cut at this point.

“Out of touch Democrat Adam Gray just screwed over the people of California by voting for higher taxes,” Christian Martinez, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in the ad. “Gray is hell-bent on pushing a radical agenda, no matter the cost to working Californians.”

The NRCC offered examples of how it says Gray hurt constituents by voting against the budget plan.

If the tax cuts first enacted in 2017 are allowed to expire at the end of this year, the committee says, “Tax rates go back up for EVERY income level.” Rates will go back to generally steeper pre-2017 tax cut levels if no action is taken.

The Republicans say the child tax credit would be cut in half if nothing is done — also true. Now $2,000 per qualifying child, it would drop to $1,000 if no action is taken. There is strong Democratic support for raising the credit.

Other effects of not continuing current taxes: The standard deduction would drop. A small business 20% deduction would drop.

Congress won’t return until April 28. Lawmakers hope to have the spending and tax legislation ready for final votes in May. That means Gray and everyone else will get more chances to vote on specific bills that include program budgets and tax policy.