Evening Roundup "Growing Criticism" Edition
It seems criticism is coming at the GOP tax bill from all directions these days: the business community, labor, advocates for seniors and Americans with disabilities, higher education institutions, faith based organizations, and even from within the GOP itself. Here’s a look at how it’s playing out in the papers:
From The Hill:
From the Washington Post:
From Roll Call:
From the New York Times:
From The Hill:
“Fresh criticisms of the GOP tax bill emerged Tuesday from centrist and conservative Republicans following reports that the legislation would hike taxes on the middle class, as well as some wealthy Americans.”
“Conservative Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called raising taxes on people in high-tax, Democratic states like New York and California ‘a mistake’ — a concern shared by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who became the first Golden State Republican to reject the current House bill.”
“‘The way it’s being structured, it’s unfair to California,’ Issa said just off the House floor. ‘In its current form, it clearly raises taxes on some people, including in my state.’”
“GOP leaders are scrambling to wrap up support for their tax-code overhaul, a long-held aspiration of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who is also under considerable pressure to secure a legislative victory for President Trump after the failure of ObamaCare repeal earlier in the year.”
“Conservative Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called raising taxes on people in high-tax, Democratic states like New York and California ‘a mistake’ — a concern shared by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who became the first Golden State Republican to reject the current House bill.”
“‘The way it’s being structured, it’s unfair to California,’ Issa said just off the House floor. ‘In its current form, it clearly raises taxes on some people, including in my state.’”
“GOP leaders are scrambling to wrap up support for their tax-code overhaul, a long-held aspiration of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who is also under considerable pressure to secure a legislative victory for President Trump after the failure of ObamaCare repeal earlier in the year.”
From the Washington Post:
“House Republicans, meanwhile, faced new pressure from conservatives to make changes to their sweeping tax plan, days before it is set to go to the House floor.”
“The president of the Club for Growth, an influential group promoting tax cuts, issued a statement Tuesday saying parts of the House bill ‘fails the pro-growth test,’ while social conservative groups pushed lawmakers to restore a tax credit for families who adopt children.”
“‘All in all, this bill must be changed if Republicans intend to keep their promise of real pro-growth, job-creating tax cuts,’ Club for Growth’s president, David McIntosh, said, advocating for changes that would further reduce the tax bills owed by the wealthy.
“Meanwhile, groups including the National Right to Life Committee, Focus on the Family and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops mobilized to restore an existing tax credit that’s worth up to $13,570 for families who adopt children.”
“To accommodate the requests, Brady would have to find new tax revenue elsewhere, possibly by shrinking the size of provisions in the bill aimed at benefiting middle- and working-class households.”
“The president of the Club for Growth, an influential group promoting tax cuts, issued a statement Tuesday saying parts of the House bill ‘fails the pro-growth test,’ while social conservative groups pushed lawmakers to restore a tax credit for families who adopt children.”
“‘All in all, this bill must be changed if Republicans intend to keep their promise of real pro-growth, job-creating tax cuts,’ Club for Growth’s president, David McIntosh, said, advocating for changes that would further reduce the tax bills owed by the wealthy.
“Meanwhile, groups including the National Right to Life Committee, Focus on the Family and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops mobilized to restore an existing tax credit that’s worth up to $13,570 for families who adopt children.”
“To accommodate the requests, Brady would have to find new tax revenue elsewhere, possibly by shrinking the size of provisions in the bill aimed at benefiting middle- and working-class households.”
From Roll Call:
“…Republican unity is not a given. When Sen. Ted Cruz spoke at the event, he called for a roll-back of the individual mandate penalty for not purchasing health insurance under the 2010 health care overhaul law, saying it would free up money to put toward the tax cuts.”
“Cruz, who is not a member of the Finance Committee, also pointed to the potential that people with significant property and state income tax burdens could essentially face tax hikes due to the eliminations of deductions.”
“Cruz, who is not a member of the Finance Committee, also pointed to the potential that people with significant property and state income tax burdens could essentially face tax hikes due to the eliminations of deductions.”
From the New York Times:
“An analysis of the Republican tax bill released on Tuesday suggested tax cuts for lower- and middle-income taxpayers would fade over the course of a decade, more so than they would for high earners.”
“The analysis could further complicate efforts by Republican leaders to forge ahead with a bill that is already under attack from Democrats, who say the plan is a gift to the rich, and from business groups that say the legislation would disadvantage multinational companies.”
“That may be an uphill battle, as key groups begin coming out in opposition to parts of the bill, including a proposed excise tax of 20 percent on payments made by American companies to foreign affiliates. The provision is aimed at preventing American companies from shifting profits abroad through payments, such as royalties, made to subsidiaries or other foreign affiliates.”
“The analysis could further complicate efforts by Republican leaders to forge ahead with a bill that is already under attack from Democrats, who say the plan is a gift to the rich, and from business groups that say the legislation would disadvantage multinational companies.”
“That may be an uphill battle, as key groups begin coming out in opposition to parts of the bill, including a proposed excise tax of 20 percent on payments made by American companies to foreign affiliates. The provision is aimed at preventing American companies from shifting profits abroad through payments, such as royalties, made to subsidiaries or other foreign affiliates.”