Sen. Tim Kaine said Wednesday that Democrats wanted to work with Republicans on tax reform, but they could not support a bill they see as only benefiting the top-income earners.
“It’s all for people at the top end: corporate tax cut, estate tax, alternative minimum tax. But everything for the middle class is temporary or expires,” Mr. Kaine, Virginia Democrat, said on CNN.
“The reduction of the corporate tax rate to 20 was much more important than giving middle class people tax relief,” he said.
The final bill ended up with a 21 percent corporate tax rate, which Mr. Kaine also said was to benefit people in the top bracket. He said Democrats wanted a 25 percent corporate rate, arguing that would have benefited the middle class more. Republicans, he said, rejected that proposal in the Senate.
The Virginia senator also commented on the tight race in the state legislature, which saw the balance of power shift due to a single vote.
“On Election Day, the Republicans had a 66 to 34 lead in our House of Delegates, but when the elections were over, we had gained at least 15 seats. And yesterday in a recount in her seat — the 16th — she won by one vote,” Mr. Kaine said, referring to Shelly Simonds who won Tuesday’s recount by a single vote.
The Virginia House of Delegates now stands at a 50-50 partisan split, breaking 17 years of Republican control.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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