By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter .
Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate amendment to the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolution, which contains the framework for the joint House, Senate, and White House tax reform plan.
“By passing this budget today, Congress is one step closer to enacting pro-growth tax reform that will offer much-needed relief to American families,” U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, said. “Our tax reform plan will grow the economy, create jobs here in the United States, and allow hardworking taxpayers to keep more of their money in their pocket. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to deliver on our promise and give the American people the results they deserve.”
Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Saks, made the following statement after House passage:
“Today’s vote is the beginning of the biggest tax overhaul in thirty years. I am hopeful both the House and Senate will take up and pass President Trump’s tax plan as soon as possible.”
“Simplifying the tax code, lowering rates and making small businesses more competitive will improve take-home pay for hard-working American families,” Rogers continued. “I agree with President Trump that our tax system should reward hard work and encourage investment in the private sector. Closing special interest loopholes and simplifying the tax code will save everyone billions of dollars spent on filling out IRS paperwork each year.”
U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne said, “The budget gives the instructions to the pertinent committees in Congress to give us a tax reform bill. This is something we have been talking about a long time, and the House is on course to get this tax reform done before Thanksgiving.”
When asked, ‘Why should the average American care about tax reform?’
“There are four reasons,” Bryne said. “The first one is that it is a tax cut for virtually everyone in America. So all of us that pay taxes, it is time for us to get a tax cut. Secondly, because we are making the tax code a lot simpler in order to give us that cut, it is going to be a lot easier for you and I to fill out our tax form. In fact, for most of us, this is what our tax form will look like: a postcard. It will take you just a few minutes to fill out and send in. You won’t need an accountant. You won’t need a tax return professional. You will be able to do this yourself. The third reason is that we actually are going to make the tax code a lot fairer. If you are rich in America, you can afford to have the lobbyists and accountants and lawyers go out and get you a special preference in the tax code. Well, this tax reform effort is going to remove a lot of those preferences, which is how we get everyone’s rates down. Fourth reason is this. We have been told by economists, in fact a new study came out today, that if we do this it will significantly increase the growth in the American economy. That’s good for all of us. That means more money for jobs, increases in wages, and benefits. So, there are four big reasons to do this, and I am excited we are about to go through a very, very important month here in Congress in November.”
When asked: ‘Why is this going to have a better outcome than health care?’
Byrne answered, “Well, number one I think we learned a big lesson from the health care reform process. I think we are doing this a lot differently. The rollout of this has been great, and we have had lots and lots of good support. Secondly, I think all of us understand this is incredibly important to the American people. It is something we feel we can get done by the end of the year so everybody can have a little bit of a Christmas present here since the tax cuts will be retroactive. Finally, I just know that President Trump is putting everything he has got into it. With his help, I believe we will have the votes there – both in the House and the Senate – to get this passed.”
Before the vote, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, said, “You can count on my “no” vote on this one.”
The budget resolution passed the House by a vote of 216 to 212. It now goes to the desk of President Donald Trump who is expected to sign it into law. This will be the first budget passed since 2008.
