House Republican leaders have been trying to tamp down a rebellion by members from New York, New Jersey, California, and Illinois, states where taxpayers would lose big if the Republican tax plan kills the state and local tax deduction. Senate Republicans aren’t worried:
“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), when asked Monday if any of his Senate colleagues are demanding that the deduction for state and local taxes remain in the law. “I don’t know anybody who’s advocating strongly for that.”
“Not on this side,” Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (Texas) said Monday when pressed if anyone in his conference is opposed to eliminating the deductions.
There are no Senate Republicans from the states where taxpayers stand to lose the most, so no problem! The deduction allows people to deduct the state and local taxes they pay from their federal taxes, which means that people in states with higher taxes benefit more. But 35 House Republicans come from the four states most affected, and if they all voted against a bill containing the deduction, that could doom it in the House.
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2017 · 4:36:46 PM +00:00
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Laura Clawson
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady speaks:
Asked if there would be relief on the income side of state and local taxes, Brady replied: “The answer is ‘no.’ ... Our lawmakers in those high-tax states really believe their families are being punished most by property taxes.”