The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the GOP’s sweeping tax reform bill on Tuesday, passing it 227-203 and sending it on to the Senate where it was also approved. The bill was then sent back to the House for re-approval due to an obscure ‘Byrd Rule’ that caused it to undergo several minor tweaks.
As expected Georgia’s delegation voted along party lines, with Republicans voicing full support as their Democratic counterparts decried the bill.
Said Democratic Congressman John Lewis via Twitter, “I oppose this conference report with every bone in my body. This tax bill is a $2.3 trillion holiday gift for Wall Street, the rich, and the wealthy. Conceived in darkness and birthed with the help of donors and funders. This bill is not for the people. It is not tax reform.”
His colleague Rep. David Scott was equally harsh, calling it “shameful that Republicans voted today to add $2.3 trillion to our national deficit” and that the bill “will have devastating consequences for years to come all across this country.”
On the flip side Republicans were exuberant, heaping praise on what is the biggest legislative victory of Donald Trump’s presidency thus far. Representative Buddy Carter appeared on Fox Business Channel to discuss the legislation:
.@RepBuddyCarter: “This is gonna be the biggest savings for middle income earners that we have seen in decades.” pic.twitter.com/KUnhPbLrIB
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) December 19, 2017
Rep. Austin Scott said that the bill “means more jobs, more take-home pay, and more money in their own pockets,” while Rep. Barry Loudermilk called it “an investment in the American people.”
Earlier in the day Senator David Perdue appeared on CNBC to discuss the tax cuts, offering his support and (correct) prediction that the bill would pass. “Our focus here is to get competitive again, and the person who is going to benefit the most in this tax plan, is the person that gets a job” he told the panel on Squawk Box.
Perdue elaborated following the Senate’s passage of the bill with the following statement:
“For the last eight years, America has suffered under big government bureaucrats’ vision of an America where the new norm is two percent economic growth. Today Republicans said that’s not good enough. President Trump has been working tirelessly this year making it a priority to provide regulatory relief, unleash our energy potential, and change our tax code for one reason, and one reason only: to get our economy growing again. This tax plan makes America competitive with the rest of the world again, eliminates our archaic repatriation tax, and provides real tax relief for working Americans. These changes to the tax code mean greater job opportunities, more capital at work in our economy, and more money back in the pockets of middle-class American families. This is an historic achievement. There is no denying the stimulative impact the corporate tax cut will have on our economy. The best thing we can do for Americans who go to work every day and punch a timecard is to put U.S. businesses and workers back on a level playing field with the rest of the world. We have delivered.”
Assuming Congress re-passes the bill today, it should make its way to President Trump’s desk for final approval at some point before the night ends.
