Afternoon Roundup: “Just Aren’t That Into It” Edition
Republicans are moving ahead with their GOP tax scam, but the American people just aren’t that into it. As Senate Republicans attempt to bring their version to the Floor, here is a look at what the American people think of their bill that raises taxes on 82 million middle-class households, cuts taxes for the wealthiest Americans, explodes the deficit, and revives their efforts to dismantle the ACA:
LA Times: Republicans push hard on GOP tax plan, but voters just aren't that into it
The Atlantic: Why the GOP Tax Bill Is So Unpopular
Axios: Senate moves ahead with politically risky tax bill
Salon: GOP tax bill is second-most unpopular legislation in 30 years
Washington Post: Despite skeptical public, GOP pushing ahead on tax-cut plan
LA Times: Republicans push hard on GOP tax plan, but voters just aren't that into it
“Republicans are investing enormous amounts of political capital and dollars to pump up support for the GOP tax overhaul in a risky, last-ditch legislative undertaking ahead of next year’s midterm election.
“Problem is, voters just don't seem to be that interested.”
“Polls show most Americans view the tax bill as benefiting the wealthy and corporations, skeptical it will do much for middle-class taxpayers. Outside analyses of the $1.5-trillion package echo those assessments despite revisions.”
“Republicans are nevertheless rushing ahead on a plan that may please wealthy donors, but it is opposed by most major categories of voters, including independents, women, minorities and young people, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.”
“‘I don't see any political reward in passing or not passing tax reform legislation,’ said David Wasserman, who analyzes House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. ‘I don't think the Trump base of the Republican Party sees this as an issue that would suddenly cause them to run to the polls.’”
“Problem is, voters just don't seem to be that interested.”
“Polls show most Americans view the tax bill as benefiting the wealthy and corporations, skeptical it will do much for middle-class taxpayers. Outside analyses of the $1.5-trillion package echo those assessments despite revisions.”
“Republicans are nevertheless rushing ahead on a plan that may please wealthy donors, but it is opposed by most major categories of voters, including independents, women, minorities and young people, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.”
“‘I don't see any political reward in passing or not passing tax reform legislation,’ said David Wasserman, who analyzes House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. ‘I don't think the Trump base of the Republican Party sees this as an issue that would suddenly cause them to run to the polls.’”
The Atlantic: Why the GOP Tax Bill Is So Unpopular
“President Donald Trump says he doesn’t want to cut taxes on the rich. His Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he doesn’t want to cut taxes on the rich. The Democratic Party says they don’t want to cut taxes on the rich. Americans say they don’t want to cut taxes on the rich.”
“The House and Senate Republican tax bills are taking a different approach: They are cutting taxes on the rich—significantly.”
“Nearly 50 percent of the benefits of the Senate tax cut would go to the top 5 percent of household earners in the first year of the law, according to the Tax Policy Center. By 2027, 98 percent of multimillionaires would still get a tax cut, compared to just 27 percent of households making less than $75,000. It’s no wonder then that the GOP tax bills are now among the least popular pieces of major legislation in modern history, with the public rejecting it by a two-to-one margin. Other than Republicans, all party, gender, education, age and racial groups disapprove of the bill.”
“The House and Senate Republican tax bills are taking a different approach: They are cutting taxes on the rich—significantly.”
“Nearly 50 percent of the benefits of the Senate tax cut would go to the top 5 percent of household earners in the first year of the law, according to the Tax Policy Center. By 2027, 98 percent of multimillionaires would still get a tax cut, compared to just 27 percent of households making less than $75,000. It’s no wonder then that the GOP tax bills are now among the least popular pieces of major legislation in modern history, with the public rejecting it by a two-to-one margin. Other than Republicans, all party, gender, education, age and racial groups disapprove of the bill.”
“In an almost eerie way, the unpopularity of the bill is an almost perfect reflection of its distributional effects.”
Axios: Senate moves ahead with politically risky tax bill
“The Senate GOP tax bill gives most wealthy people substantial tax cuts — although plenty of other people will get tax cuts as well, especially in the early years. While this seems to be making the bill unpopular with the public, Republican senators are going all out to pass the bill this week anyway, desperate to get a legislative win.”
“Focusing on the distribution of cuts lacks some nuance — Republicans say their tax bill will boost the economy — but only 25 percent of voters approve of the GOP tax plan, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. And 59 percent of voters say the plan favors the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. These kind of approval numbers don't win elections, particularly following an equally unpopular health care bill.”
“Focusing on the distribution of cuts lacks some nuance — Republicans say their tax bill will boost the economy — but only 25 percent of voters approve of the GOP tax plan, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. And 59 percent of voters say the plan favors the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. These kind of approval numbers don't win elections, particularly following an equally unpopular health care bill.”
Salon: GOP tax bill is second-most unpopular legislation in 30 years
“While Republican insiders in Washington have been fond of blaming the party's legislative failures on President Donald Trump, the primary cause of their inability to pass legislation has been that their policy views are significantly opposed by most Americans… A comprehensive examination of political polling data shows that these congressional members---such as Sen. Susan Collins of Maine or Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania---are correct to be cautious in their approach to wide-ranging Republican policy efforts, especially the Republican plan to cut the taxes of the wealthy.”
Washington Post: Despite skeptical public, GOP pushing ahead on tax-cut plan
“Republicans are pushing full steam ahead on their tax cut plan, despite polling that shows more Americans oppose rather than support the sweeping proposal to reduce corporate rates and some individual tax bills.”