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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 20 december 2017

GOP on the verge of huge tax overhaul _ with one hiccup

or raise wages. And they ary, and workers would The legislation repeals an
mocked the Republicans’ start to see changes in the important part of the 2010
contention that the bill will amount of taxes withheld health care law — the re-
make taxes so simple that from their paychecks in quirement that all Ameri-
millions can file their re- February. cans carry health insurance
turns “on a postcard” — an For now, Democrats are or face a penalty — as the
idea repeated often by the planning to use the bill in GOP looks to unravel the
president. their campaigns next year. law it failed to repeal and
“What happened to the Senate Democrats posted replace this past summer. It
postcard? We’re going poll numbers on the bill also allows oil drilling in the
to have to carry around a on a video screen at their Arctic National Wildlife Ref-
billboard for tax simplifica- Tuesday luncheon. uge.
tion,” declared Rep. Rich- “This bill will come back The $1,000-per-child tax
ard Neal of Massachusetts, to haunt them, as Fran- credit doubles to $2,000,
the top Democrat on the kenstein did,” said House with up to $1,400 available
Ways and Means Commit- Democratic leader Nancy in IRS refunds for families
tee. Pelosi. who owe little or no taxes.
From left, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Tax cuts for corporations The bill would slash the cor- Parents would have to pro-
Brady, R-Texas, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and would be permanent while porate income tax rate vide children’s Social Secu-
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., chair of the Republican
Conference, arrive to speak after passing the GOP tax reform bill the cuts for individuals from 35 percent to 21 per- rity numbers to receive the
in the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, would expire in 2026 in or- cent. The top tax rate for child credit, a measure in-
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. der to comply with Senate individuals would be low- tended to deny the credit
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) budget rules. The tax cuts ered from 39.6 percent to to people who are in the
Continued from Front bill as crucial to proving to would take effect in Janu- 37 percent. U.S. illegally.q
This is a promise kept,” as Americans they can gov-
he and other GOP leaders ern — and imperative for
convened a victory news holding onto House and
conference moments later. Senate majorities in next
The Senate was still on year’s midterm elections.
track to approve the pack- They have repeatedly
age that will touch every argued the bill will spur
American taxpayer and economic growth as cor-
every corner of the U.S. porations, flush with cash,
economy, providing steep increase wages and hire
tax cuts for businesses and more workers. But they
the wealthy, and more acknowledge they have
modest help for middle- work to do in convinc-
and low-income families. ing everyday Americans.
Despite Republican talk of Many voters in surveys see
spending discipline, the bill the legislation as a boost to
will push the huge national the wealthy, such as Trump
debt ever higher. and his family, and a minor
After the delay for a sec- gain at best for the middle
ond House vote, the mea- class.
sure then heads to Trump “I don’t think we’ve done a
who is aching for a win af- good job messaging,” said
ter 11 months of legislative Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore.
failures and non-starters. “Now, you’re able to look
The president tweeted his at the final product.”
congratulations to GOP Ryan was positive, even
leaders and “all great insistent. He declared, “Re-
House Republicans who sults are what’s going to
voted in favor of cutting make this popular.”
your taxes!” Democrats called the bill
Congressional Republi- a giveaway to corpora-
cans, who faltered badly in tions and the wealthy, with
trying to dismantle Barack no likelihood that busi-
Obama’s Affordable Care ness owners will use their
Act, see passage of the tax gains to hire more workers