Today Congress moved into the final stages of tax reform overhaul. The House voted yes, but since a few provisions violated Senate rules the House has to vote again tomorrow.
Republicans are singing the praises of this reform, but two California Congressmen said no. Rep. Darrell Issa from Vista said:
"Californians need tax relief now more than ever, especially as the tax factory in our State Capitol continues looking for every increasing ways to take more of our hard-earned paychecks. Yet, I still fear that even in the revised proposal, many in my area could face higher taxes under this plan."
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Huntington Beach also said no:
"Today, I once again voted for the interests of my constituents. Our district in California is a major exception to the economic conditions in other states. The high value of homes as well as the high state and local tax rates in our district means that we are especially impacted by the slashing of deductions that we take. Although the impact of the conference version of H.R. 1 will not be as damaging as the original House version would have been, the final version still increases taxes on a substantial number of my constituents, and thus I could not join my fellow Republicans whose districts are different than mine in supporting H.R. 1. The heavy burden imposed on California taxpayers by irresponsible and profligate Democrat taxing and spending causes great damage to the wellbeing of the people of our state. Tax reform at a national level, to be effective in all parts of our country, will have to take into consideration these kinds of state and local challenges."
Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, joined us this afternoon to talk about the bill more and what it means for California: