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U.S. NEWS Saturday 11 November 2017

Tax split between House, Senate poses a big challenge

By ANDREW TAYLOR Senate version doubles
MARCY GORDON those exemption amounts
Associated Press — but doesn’t repeal the
WASHINGTON (AP) — The tax.
House and Senate tax To repeal or not to repeal?
overhaul plans are broadly That may be the class-war-
similar, but crucial differ- fare question.
ences are creating head- The Senate bill would elimi-
aches for Republican lead- nate a taxpayer’s ability to
ers determined to keep deduct state income taxes
myriad interest groups and local property taxes.
and factions of the GOP But the final bill may have
satisfied. And then there’s to closely track a House
the ambitious timetable compromise that provides
they’ve set of finishing in a property tax deduction
time to get legislation to of up to $10,000 or else risk
President Donald Trump by a revolt from GOP lawmak-
Christmas. ers from New York, New Jer-
The most politically chal- sey, and California.
lenging decisions involve The Senate bill preserves
dealing with popular and popular individual tax
widely used tax deduc- breaks for large medical
tions, structuring tax cuts expenses, mortgage inter-
for business and balancing Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., meets with reporters as he encourages support for est, electric vehicles and
personal income tax rates Republican tax reform legislation, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) college costs that were
between middle-class system. It shrinks the num- multimillion dollar estates, Currently, when someone targeted by the House. The
families and the rich. ber of brackets from seven called the estate tax, is an dies, the person inheriting House limits deductibility of
All of these decisions come to four, with rates of 12, 25, especially hot-button issue. the estate must pay taxes mortgage interest to the
against a generous — but 35 and 39.6 percent. Democrats point to the on its value above $5.5 mil- first $500,000 of a loan, riling
firm — 10-year, $1.5 trillion Lots of numbers here for proposed GOP changes as lion for individuals, $11 mil- the real estate and housing
cap on the measure’s cost congressional negotiators proof that the Republicans lion for couples. The House industries, and eliminates a
to the federal deficit. Both to play with, to move up or are out to help wealthy bill initially doubles those deduction for medical ex-
House and Senate have down. people like Trump and his limits and then repeals the penses that’s often taken
adopted accounting gim- The inheritance tax on family. whole tax after 2023. The by families facing crippling
micks to squeeze tax cuts nursing home costs. q
that appear larger down
Trump’s enormously ex- Supreme Court takes a technological step forward
to fit that restraint.

pensive demand for a cut
in the corporate tax rate to By MARK SHERMAN tem does charge fees. are routinely sent on paper, and posts many of them,
20 percent — from the cur- Associated Press “Though the Supreme definitely not by email. along with opinions.
rent 35 percent — is a big WASHINGTON (AP) — Sure- Court has moved glacially Chief Justice John Roberts The Justice Department
complication, as is unrest ly but slowly, the Supreme to join the rest of the judi- himself noted a few years has an easily accessible ar-
among House Republicans Court is entering the 21st ciary in permitting online back that the court stuck chive of its extensive high
hailing from affluent subur- century. filing, that’s better than not with pneumatic tubes to court filings on its website,
ban districts who are upset The court is making new le- at all, and the institution transmit newly released and the American Bar As-
over the proposed loss of gal filings available online should be commended for opinions from the court- sociation posts briefs in the
the deduction for state in- starting Monday, years be- creating an e-filing system room to reporters waiting 70 to 80 cases the court
come taxes. hind the rest of the federal that, unlike PACER, will be one floor below until 1971, agrees to hear each term.
The Senate measure keeps court system. free and easily accessible long after their heyday. But the public may not
the current number of per- Can livestreamed audio of to the public,” said Gabe Roberts said that it’s appro- know to look elsewhere.
sonal income tax brackets, arguments and even tele- Roth, executive director of priate for courts “to be late When the justices issued
seven, though it changes vised sessions be far be- Fix the Court. to the harvest of American their highly anticipated de-
the rates to 10, 12, 22.5, 25, hind? Yes, they can. Over the years, the jus- ingenuity” because their cision upholding President
32.5, 35 and 38.5 percent. But advocates of court tices have at times shown primary role is to resolve dis- Barack Obama’s health
That last top bracket for openness will take what a glancing familiarity with putes fairly. care overhaul in 2012, the
the wealthiest earners car- they can get for now, technology. Many Supreme Court legal court’s website was over-
ries a higher rate of 39.6 especially because the Some carry computer tab- briefs already are available whelmed.
percent under current law. Supreme Court will not lets with high court briefs online and for free from It, too, has recently been
The House bill goes further charge for documents. The loaded on them. several sources. overhauled to make it
toward simplifying the tax federal courts’ PACER sys- But notes between justices Scotusblog.com obtains friendlier to the public.q