House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Thursday that the GOP’s tax bill won’t be an electoral drag and that every major analysis of the GOP tax bill has found that the average American will see a tax cut.
Speaking to reporters as final touches were being put on the bill in committee, Mr. Ryan disputed comparisons to Obamacare and other bills that damaged incumbents’ election chances in the past.
He said those bills were opposed by voters, and said the tax cut is different.
“This is not unpopular. We’re actually letting people keep more money,” he said.
The Wisconsin Republican said he won’t allow the bill to falter, saying voters have demanded action.
“We’re going to get this over the finish line,” he said.
Democrats said Tuesday’s election results sent a message that Americans didn’t want to see tax cuts, but rather wanted to see more government support in the form of expanded control of health care.
In Virginia, GOP gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie ran on a tax cut plan, while Democratic candidate Ralph Northam ran on expanding Medicaid. Mr. Northam won the largest Democratic victory in the state in decades.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said that should be a warning to Republicans who hold seats in suburban districts that tilted toward Democrats. Mr. Schumer said those lawmakers’ constituents are the ones likely to be hardest hit by the GOP’s elimination of the state and local tax deduction and limit on the mortgage interest deduction.
“Average households at every income-level see a tax cut,” Mr. Ryan said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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