House approves GOP tax plan

Published 7:25 am Friday, November 17, 2017

WASHINGTON — Republicans rammed a $1.5 trillion overhaul of Americans’ business and personal income taxes through the U.S. House Thursday, edging the nation toward its biggest rewrite in three decades and President Donald Trump and the GOP toward their first major legislative triumph after 10 bumpy months of controlling government.

However, the mostly party-line 227-205 vote masked more ominous problems in the Senate. There, a similar package received a politically awkward verdict from nonpartisan congressional analysts showing it would eventually produce higher taxes for low- and middle-income earners but deep reductions for those better off.

Those projections came a day after Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson became the first GOP senator to state opposition to the measure, saying it didn’t cut levies enough for millions of partnerships and corporations. With at least five other Republican senators yet to declare support, the bill’s fate is far from certain in a chamber the GOP controls by just 52-48.

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Even so, Republicans are hoping to send a compromise bill for Trump to sign by Christmas.

“Now is the time to deliver,” the White House said in a written statement that underscored the party’s effort to maintain momentum and outrace critics. Those include the AARP lobby for older people, major medical organizations, Realtors — and, in all likelihood, all Senate Democrats.