Peoria Standard

Congressman Darin LaHood spoke out on action taken by the Committee on Ways and Means, saying, "Yesterday, the Committee on Ways and Means GOP advanced two critical bills to support workers and expand learning opportunities for all students," in a Sept. 13 Facebook post.

"Democrat policies in Springfield and Washington are harming gig economy workers and diminishing school choice," said LaHood, U.S. Representative, according to Facebook. "Yesterday, the Committee on Ways and Means GOP advanced two critical bills to support workers and expand learning opportunities for all students."

LaHood’s statement continued in a graphic in his Facebook post. "Under Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and JB Pritzker, burdensome taxes and regulations have been levied on workers and small businesses and school choice has been diminished in Illinois. The Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act and the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2024 will ensure that workers aren’t unfairly targeted by the IRS as they try to make ends meet and give students the chance to fulfill their potential in the classroom. As families navigate high inflation and the negative impact of COVID lockdowns on learning, I applaud the Ways and Means Committee for advancing legislation to address everyday challenges our communities face in Illinois," said LaHood in the Sept. 12 Facebook post.

Screenshot of Congressman Darin LaHood's Sept. 12 Facebook post | Congresman Darin LaHood's Facebook page

According to the Ways and Means Committee, the Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act would repeal the tax hikes in the American Rescue Plan, which lowered 1099-K reporting requirements for taxpayers and independent contractors who use platforms like Venmo to $600. The new Act would also return the threshold to $20,000 and 200 separate transactions. It passed the committee 22-16.

The press release also explained House Resolution 9462, saying that it provides a tax incentive for new scholarships for K-12 education for low-income students. The Ways and Means Committee says as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents demanded more educational freedom. This bill aims to provide that. The bill passed the committee 23-16.

Congressman Darin LaHood has represented Illinois since 2015, initially serving in the 18th Congressional District from 2015-2023; after redistricting, he now represents the people of the 16th District. His political experience includes four years in the state senate from 2011-2015. He served as a state and federal prosecutor for more than nine years and worked for the US Department of Justice as an Assistant US Attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada.

LaHood holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loras College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois-Chicago John Marshall Law School. He resides in Peoria with his wife, according to his official biography.