Slim House majority passes $4 trillion budget
Vote clears path for tax cut plan
WASHINGTON — Republicans powered a $4 trillion budget through the House on Thursday by a razor-thin margin, a close vote underscoring the difficulties that lie ahead in delivering President Donald Trump’s promise to cut taxes.
For now, Republicans sidestepped divisions within the party with a House vote of 216-212 to permit them to begin work on a $1.5 trillion tax cut without fear of blocking tactics by Democrats. The legislative landscape is strewn with land mines, however, as GOP tax writers pick winners and losers among interest groups, business sectors and rank-and-file voters.
The tax bill is the top item on the GOP agenda and would be Trump’s first big win in Congress. Republicans hope it would provide a much-needed jolt for the party’s political fortunes in advance of next year’s midterm elections. Republicans view passage of the coming tax measure as a once-ina-generation opportunity, and its importance has only grown since the party’s debacle on health care.
The goal is a full rewrite of the inefficient, loopholeladen tax code in hopes of lower rates for corporations and other businesses and a burst of economic growth. But evidence is growing that some of their hopedfor bold steps — such as eliminating the deduction for state and local taxes — will be replaced by halfmeasures dictated by politics and a narrow margin for error.
GOP leaders scrambled in recent days to overcome resistance from House conservatives unhappy about deficits and debt, as well as opposition by lawmakers from high-tax states upset about plans to eliminate the state and local tax deduction. That could mean higher taxes for many middle-class earners, and top Republicans like Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin promise a compromise that won’t be as costly to middleclass taxpayers.
Joining all Democrats in opposing the measure were 20 Republicans, a mix of spending hawks and centrists. More than half come from New York and New Jersey and vehemently reject any effort to roll back the state and local tax deduction.
New Mexico’s delegation voted along party lines, with Democratic Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Luján voting against the measure and Republican Rep. Steve Pearce voting for it.
“This isn’t over,” said Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., who opposed the budget after voting for it earlier this month. “We stood firm … to let them know we’re not kidding,” said Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., as he exited the session.