It's hard to believe, but Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Hillary Clinton all agree on something!
Pfizer and Allergan have announced the largest merger in 15 years, a $152 billion deal. Although the Irish Allergan is technically smaller, it's buying the American Pfizer in what's called an "inversion." Pfizer won't have to pay U.S. taxes anymore, taking from our country without giving back.
Creating the world's largest drugmaker also means putting more and more power in the hands of fewer and fewer people.
When Pfizer tried something similar last year, President Obama called it "unpatriotic." Hillary Clinton said, "This proposed merger, and so-called 'inversions' by other companies, will leave U.S. taxpayers holding the bag." Even Donald Trump said, "The fact that Pfizer is leaving our country with a tremendous loss of jobs is disgusting. Our politicians should be ashamed."
The Treasury probably can't stop the deal. Congress must act. The good news is that Republicans and Democrats alike want to get it done. The bad news is that even when Congress actually can do its job, it still won't. According to the Washington Post, "Republicans have argued that curtailing tax inversions should be part of comprehensive tax reform, but Democrats have pushed for immediate action."
The Republican plan would take too long. Why wait to do later what everyone is able to do now? Tell Congress: Block the Pfizer-Allergan merger now, and crack down on future harmful tax inversions!
Dear Decision Maker,
Americans need you to block the Pfizer-Allergan merger. Don't wait for a tax code overhaul - crack down on harmful tax inversions now!
While an overhaul of the tax code is important, I don't want Congress to put off the immediate issues, like Pfizer's tax dodge, just so we can wait for more comprehensive legislation that may be years away. Why wait to do later what everyone is able to do now?
[Your comments here]
Block the job-destroying Pfizer-Allergan merger, and pass a bill cracking down on tax inversions!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
