TAX CUT AND JOBS ACT

Background: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), enacted in December 2017, is a comprehensive tax reform legislation aimed at boosting economic growth by lowering tax rates for individuals and businesses.

Our Challenge: The JCI team was engaged in the 11th-hour by a consortium of universities and other national educational organizations to oppose changes to the federal tax code. We were tasked with organizing outreach efforts nationwide to nonprofits, think tanks, and student advocacy organizations to oppose changes to the federal tax code changes that would have eliminated education-related deductions and credits.

Our Approach: JCI focused on rallying support for critical tax benefits that students and universities across the country relied on. Making inroads in an ongoing debate without any groundwork in any issue is difficult, and the truncated timeline made the process even more so. Having the flexibility to quickly adapt to the situation and implement a winning strategy was critical in this effort. Timing was critical, as the legislation was being debated just as educational advocacy efforts were occurring. Key targets included members in both parties in the House of Representatives and the Senate as well as influential state governors and legislators.

Our Results: JCI was able to rapidly develop a conversation among groups of influencers in several states, many of whom were previously underrepresented voices in the policy debate. Among those who mobilized to advocate for changes in the proposal were students, leadership from high-profile educational institutions, and organizational educational interest groups.