I hear a giant sucking sound as we fall into second world status in infrastructure, education, the health and well being of our citizens. THE worst day since 11/21/16.
2
Now that republicans got what interested them most, Trump has his shoulders bare and may be left to sink with no regret. This may be his last win, his Pirro victory. Please, sink him now, before it is too late!
1
In the immortal words of Marie Antoinette, "Let them eat cake".
1
The democrats should just stop their whining, and let it ride. If things go south after this bill passes, and is signed into law, they'll benefit.
On the other hand, when things continue to improve, they'll have egg on their faces for the foreseeable future.
Passed again in the dark of night. My question, when does the Revolution begin in earnest and where do I sign up?
Pitchforks anyone?
6
Oh, don't forget, we'll have concealed carry across state lines.
Why is nobody talking about the several sub-brackets whose basic tax rates are going UP under the new plan? Republicans keep saying that all marginal rates are going down, but they are not. Consider a single taxpayer with an AGI of $175,000. Under the new plan, her marginal rate is 32% and her tax before deductions is $44,048. That is $1,253 more than under the old system, which would have given her a marginal rate of 28% and a tax of $42,795. There's a large middle range of salaries that fall into this same doughnut hole.
7
If anyone needed any further proof that the current Republican party is by, for and of the 1%, look no further than this legislation.
4
A lot of the 1% gets hosed by this bill as well.
This is really about the 0.1%
This is the second time this week that a runaway train led to a disaster: first, literally, in Washington State, and now, figuratively, in Washington, D.C.
7
A very important note for middle income tax payers:
I am middle of middle quintile. Own nothing, no kids. Always use standard deduction AND EXEMPTION. If you use this 'short form' take notice: R' tax proposal has new deduction of $12,000 per person = $24,000 married (as I am). Last year's EXEMPTION I also took = $8,100 for the two of us. R's proposal ELIMINATES this exemption. My only point - make sure you also eliminate the exemption from your thinking - you aren't getting as much as you think you are. It will NOT be standard deduction + individual exemption. It will be Standard only.
3
olyjan,
As you've undoubtedly figured out by now, a $12,000 increase in your standard deduction will more than offset your loss of $8,100 in personal exemptions.
You nevertheless make an important point: ALL taxpayers are losing their personal exemptions, while only the "non-itemizers" (like you) are benefitting from the larger standard deduction. The "itemizers" (expected to be only 10% of taxpayers) may well end up worse off. They'll lose their personal exemptions but won't benefit from the larger standard deduction.
Why, then, would someone itemize?
Reasons vary, but the most common reasons are that they can deduct mortgage interest, state and local taxes, and charitable contributions. The new law doesn't change the rules on charitable contributes, but it "caps" deductions for mortgage interest and state and local taxes. So taxpayers who rely heavily on those deductions may end up worse off. As has been noted by many commenters, a disproportionate share of such taxpayers live in "blue states," which tend to have higher state and local taxes (and mortgage interest).
A commenter's "time line" reveals just how "misguided" some criticism can be:
"Apr 2018 - Wage earners start to see ,,, larger take-home pay;... Feb 2019 - Wage earners figure their 2018 tax returns and realize that they actually owe more or are getting smaller refunds."
One thing about the IRS can always be counted on: Its "withholding" tables ALWAYS call for over-withholding -- always. Historically, the single most effective way to induce Americans to file tax returns has been to dangle the prospect of a refund if they do.
Quick: If Americans learn in February 2019 that they'll owe MORE taxes, or that their refunds will be negligible, will they be (a) more likely; or (b) less likely, to file tax returns? I think we all know the answer to that question.
Withholding will be reduced in April 2018, just as this commenter notes. Where he errs is in his February 2019 prediction. Taxpayers will NOT "learn in February 2019 that they'll owe MORE, or that their refunds will be much smaller than they'd expected." Most taxpayers -- 90% of whom are likely to take the standard deduction rather than to itemize -- will NOT owe additional taxes or receive smaller-than-expected refunds. Very few will owe additional taxes and most will receive pretty much the refund they expected. The IRS will see to that when it publishes new withholding tables.
Time to come up with a Plan B, for when taxpayers (at least the 90% who don't itemize deductions) figure out that their taxes will be lower.
How could anyone forget?
"Regarding the 'keeping your own money' Republican propaganda mantra, recall that 'no man is an island.'"
Put another way, when someone audaciously claims to have "built" a business, we all humbly acknowledge that the federal government actually built it, that the self-proclaimed "builder" was merely a bystander.
Who can forget that?
I like the metaphor that Kevin Brady used: The Democrats have overplayed their hand.
Reportedly MOST Americans believe their taxes will go up. When they learn that's not so, will they nevertheless oppose this new tax law? We'll see. I don't think so, but I never thought that critics of this tax bill would persuade most Americans that their taxes will go up. Obviously I was naive to have thought that.
Unfortunately for those who've persuaded most Americans that their taxes will increase, we're about to find out which it is: Will most people's taxes go up, or will they go down? My very strong hunch (being the kind of guy who looks at actual reality) is that most people's taxes will go down. When that happens, many people will ask themselves: "Wait just a doggone minute here -- I thought my taxes were going to go UP, not down. What's the deal here? Was I lied to?"
The answer, of course, will be "Yes, you were lied to." Most NYT readers already know this, but most Americans don't. Those who have "misled" them had better be prepared with a Plan B.
1
How about this?
"Democrats will have their work cut out for them when their claims start colliding with that reality."
Nobody's really known how many taxpayers will pay less, and how many will pay more, but critics of the bill have persuaded MOST taxpayers that their taxes will go up. What will happen when taxpayers learn that isn't true? Will they feel they've been lied to? Will they complain about that?
2
The donor class is trying to break the Republican party to free themselves from being the party of Lincoln, TR or Ike. Freeing the slaves, building a transcontinental railroad or interstate highway system, trustbusting, creating national parks, sky-high top tax rates to pay down war debt as we educate and house veterans, all these are anathema to what passes for a Republican today.
It's a party of bigots who hate their fellow Americans and their would-be fellow Americans even more. A party of zealots who'd blow up a clinic to prevent an abortion, then blow up Obamacare, Social Security and Medicare to separate those who are born from help in times of need. It's greed resenting altruism. Luddites yearning to take our country back to a new Dark Ages.
Don't kid yourself these Republican Senators believe in the alchemy, junk economics and snake oil binding this heap of tributes to the 1%. What they believe is if they went a year without passing a single piece of legislation, the ads for their 2018 challengers would write themselves, and defeat them.
This bill buys them time to drive a narrative blaming the Third Great Depression it sets us up for on something other than the witches' brew of Randian poison they danced around. The election of Trump taught them the only lesson they took from the '08 crisis: gerrymandering + media control x fantasy = voter amnesia & electoral success. Lie your way into and out of anything, as the next crisis lets you off the hook for the last.
4
The Corporate Congress of the United States, Inc. has done its job and gave the gift of the corporations wanted.
The weakest will now pay the penalty: the poor, the elderly and our children!
3
Fair point:
"Do any of these elected officials know what the number trillion means?"
Last I heard, "trillion" is a very big number! Twenty of them is an even bigger number. And, yes, our elected officials don't seem to understand what "trillion" means.
Very many commenters have blamed the gargantuan national debt ($20 trillion -- put another way: $20,000,000,000,000 -- seem bigger now?) on Obama, because the national debt doubled on his watch. It's not so simple, though. Yes, Obama-era Congresses (and Obama himself) liked to pass bills that called for spending money we don't have. But so did Bush the Younger before him. So did Reagan, for that matter: The national debt really started to rise when Reagan was President. Last I heard, Reagan was a Republican.
Republicans have tried whacking taxes before, thinking naively that doing so would "starve the beast" -- i.e. that the federal government would simply cut its spending if it didn't have the tax revenues to pay for it. Wrong! Spending continued the same as before; the federal government just borrowed more, and now we have a $20,000,000,000,000 national debt!
Moral of the story? If you want to cut the national debt, you need to cut spending. Seems obvious, but neither party seems to have got the message so far.
"This is not good for me."
-- Trump
So why not show us your tax returns so we can see whether under this new law, you will indeed be paying more?
Oh wait, you can't because it will reveal you're under Putin's payroll.
11
Those who think Republicans will extend permanent tax cuts to the middle class in ten years have short memories:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/04/senate-dems-seeking-weaken-go...
More foreign nationals will get more in tax cuts than will voters in the 33 states that voted for Trump.
To believe that this isn’t anything but a coup on the wallets of the middle class is to be painfully naive.
10
I suspect that when anybody in a group of Republican legislators even mentions "supply-side economics" or the "trickle-down theory," everybody has a good laugh. It must be difficult to keep from snickering when they try to sell the American public on the proposition that the obscenely wealthy need a tax cut.
The only time that money trickles down from a rich Republican is when he has a hole in his pocket.
6
I'm writing this at 4:14 am UTC, 12/20/2017.
If you haven't already contacted our representatives twice, I hear the third time does the charm. This bill is on stilts before ever reaching the door. Keep the pressure on. There's probably a twenty percent chance or better the whole thing will fall apart. Venting here is good but we need citizens to write and call instead.
5
Am hoping that Senators Bob Corker, Steve Daines, Lamar Alexander and the 11 other Senators that stand to get a windfall from the real estate tax break are going to recuse themselves from voting on this bill. This is a clear conflict of interest and if they vote for it over their constituents interests, they should go to jail.
4
I have expressed by support of the tax reform. My favorite aspects of the tax reform are capping SALT deductions, capping the mortgage interest deduction at $750,000, and of course, the eliminiation of the imdividual manadate. I favor capping SALT deductions because it especially impacts states that vote Democratic. I have expressed that opinion before in this forum. The response I get to that is that Red states such as Tennessee, in which I live will suffer. How’s that? SALT paid in other states does not benefit Tennessee. The less the federal government subsidizes SALT, that it pays those taxpayers back, the more that can come to Tennessee. If the high tax states want to pay that much in taxes, then so be it, but don’t expect the federal government to continue to subsidize it, those days are over, at least until 2025. As for the mortgage interest deduction, if you can afford a mortgage more that $750,000, then you can pay the interest that will no longer be deductible. You don’t need the federal government to subsidize your need to be a big shot. I know some Republican will be affected by this, but if the Democrats feel the pain the pain, then good! As the individual mandate, good riddance, we don’t need it; it was only Obama totalitarianism. Thank you.
4
The SALT deduction will be offset by the lower tax brackets and Child Tax Credit for the majority of Americans. This is primarily a "wealthy suburb" issue. You're right. If we want to pay exorbitant property taxes (I live in the county with the highest taxes in the country), that's our choice.
Those yelling the loudest have convinced themselves that everyone else shares their ire. They don't. I am under no illusion that elsewhere in the country, where the average property tax is $3,500, people are going to feel badly that we have lost a deduction for 10 times that amount.
It's also surprising how many New York Times readers are complaining about an increase in their taxes after lecturing everyone else about the virtues of taxes. The fixation with the rich, who pay most of the taxes, is a way of complaining about a tax increase while rationalizing that it's not really about one's own taxes. It is.
Go back to Breibart where lack of intelligence, compassion and American values mean something
3
Already forced to subsidize your state, as NY gets back 80 cents of each dollar sent to DC. You needs to take a look in the mirror re who's being subsidized (8th most dependent state is Tennessee BTW)
3
Take note of this timeline:
Dec 2017 - H.R. 1 is signed into law;
Feb 2018 - IRS publishes new withholding guidelines;
Apr 2018 - Wage earners start to see lower withholding and larger take-home pay;
Nov 2018 - MIDTERM ELECTIONS;
Dec 2018 - Obamacare subscribers discover that their 2019 premiums have skyrocketed because of the repeal of the individual mandate;
Feb 2019 - Wage earners figure their 2018 tax returns and realize that they actually owe more or are getting smaller refunds.
No wonder there was such urgency on the part of Republicans to get this thing passed in time for the 2018 tax year. By the time the 2018 midterms roll around, unsophisticated taxpayers will still be in happy land. The tangible bad news won't hit until December 2018 and early 2019.
9
I just hope and pray that the Trump children are able to take advantage of shielding millions of dollars of their inheritance from federal taxes sooner rather than later
3
I suspect Paul Ryan will turn out to be correct on this:
"Mr. Ryan ... was confident that once taxpayers saw more money in their paychecks ... they would ... appreciate the merits of the tax bill."
I'm disappointed that MORE of the tax cuts didn't go to low-income taxpayers -- for example, I'd have left the top rates where they were, not lower them by 2.6% -- but the fact remains that rates will be much lower, and so less will be withheld from all paychecks. The people receiving those paychecks will notice this, and the Republicans will benefit in the polls.
Even taxpayers who end up paying more taxes -- for example, because of low caps on the SALT and mortgage-interest deductions -- probably won't figure that out until they file their returns in April 2019. In the meantime, they too will be receiving larger paychecks.
In the end, people (also known as "taxpayers" or "voters") like lower taxes -- deficits be damned. Ryan's prediction will come true.
1
This will trigger $25 billion in Medicare cuts automatically.
You are sadly uninformed about the electorate, and falsely confident about Ryan’s prediction.
5
It will amount to peanuts in most paychecks.
3
The bottom line is that some Americans across all income levels will see a benefit. Democrats will have their work cut out for them when their claims start colliding with that reality.
This is completely different from how Obamacare carved up the winners and losers. It helped one cohort while seriously hurting others (unsubsidized middle class). These tax benefits are not limited to any single group.
2
"Items that have a nominal budget impact, but are mostly there for policy reasons, are also supposed to be struck, though that’s a more subjective standard."
Clearly, the Arctic Refuge drilling provision falls into this category. Did the parliamentarian actually examine the provision and rule specifically that it's allowable?
5
Good point. I don't claim to know the nuances of the rule involved, but the Arctic Refuge drilling provision certainly doesn't seem to pass muster under the NYT's explanation of it. Either the Senate parliamentarian got it wrong or the NYT got it wrong. Which one of those possibilities do you think it was?
Regarding the 'keeping your own money' Republican propaganda mantra, recall that 'no man is an island.'
2
Yes. Liberals look for any excuse to have government take as much money from productive earners as possible, as though government, even wasteful, corrupt, or inefficient government spending is better than spending by the people who do the work or saving or investing that earned the income. Got it.
Billionaire Relief Bill — Check
Next step on Ryan/Trump Agenda - strip Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
Yes, Trumpsters, they really are coming after your Social Security and Medicare!
8
Are you paying attention, Republicans? Your constituents are angry now, but you have another chance to do the right thing and hold on to your jobs. Otherwise, your whole party could go South (like maybe Alabama).
3
1) How come the House was incognizant of the Senate rules?
2) How can anyone object to getting anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000 savings in 2017 taxes versus 2016? Oh, yeah, the media has harangued for months that the bill only benefits the wealthy. Of course the wealthy will benefit, families with income in the top 5% of the country pay nearly 30% of the total IRS intake.
2
The overwhelmingly liberal commenters here are tone deaf. This tax bill isn't corruption; it's self-interest. Yes, we in NY, NJ and CA are getting screwed, plain and simple - a redistribution of wealth from the working middle to upper-middle class citizens of these states to everyone else - geographically and economically. We will suffer; others will gain.
Listen: this will be overwhelmingly popular. Stop kidding yourself that the Republican "bums will get voted out." That is a fantasy. Any ill effects will take too long to be felt and the electorate is too easily duped.
You all complaining about politicians doing this only for their own personal finances are part of the problem - that is not necessarily so and it's irrelevant - understand that they actually believe this will help the economy. And it might. Get it into your heads. It's not only the mega-rich who use LLCs to make income. They are lapping us "whiners" because they are playing hard ball, trying new things - yes, including taking our money and giving most of it to the rich - but all you are doing is whining. We need actual policy proposals that the left can agree on. Sadly "agreement" and the "left" is becoming incompatible. The sanctimonious complaints here are the precise reason DJT got elected. Start acting like adults in your own self-interest (this is the system, deal with it), make consensus and make policy. Stop whining about the "rich" and the "corporations" and use your knowledge for good.
1
I disagree they believe it will create jobs or boost investment. The Fortune 500 are sitting on record amounts of cash and refuse to spend it. It's already been proven that trickle down does not work, at the federal level and recently in Kansas.
They are not mistaken, they are LYING. and you are buying it.
7
Trickle-down isn’t new.
What is new are the media channels by which Republicans are able to sell their snake oil.
But you forgot to acknowledge that this bill is as unpopular as Trump.
Nice try, though.
6
"What is new are the media channels by which Republicans are able to sell their snake oil."
Don't kid yourself that it doesn't work both ways. You cannot divide and conquer without a two-party system.
Trickle down is growing too; how else do you explain the group of able-bodied people, with every hard-luck excuse in the world, why they need government support and handouts?
There is no excuse, in the current economy, to not have a half-way respectable job. The business owners that I know would all but kill to find people that can pass a drug test and then are willing to show up. I'm looking forward to many of these overdue changes; it's time for more people to get up and help themselves rather than expecting others to step up and provide for their standard of living.
Ok. The country has two big issues. Equal health care for all and debt with increasing interest rates that will crush our country. The new tax plan does nothing to address these huges issues. People who opt out of health care. If they have a $1,000,0000 hospital bill with no insurance, guess who foots the bill? Increasing debt that can't be serviced by the US Treasury, a devaluation of the dollar to the point where a dollar won't buy a gum ball. So sad that our government can't be smart enough to really figure it out. Spend your money now while it still has value!
6
Except you have no idea what you're talking about. If you have no insurance, the hospital has to save you from dying, say by bleeding to death from an accident. It does NOT have to cure your cancer or other very expensive disease that you die from over time.
So, what have these fine people done to reduce the $20T national debt? Is this a step in the right direction? Do any of these elected officials know what the number trillion means? I do not have any need to enrich myself any more than my basic needs. For what has this travesty come to pass?
5
Funny you should mention that. There is a lot of liberal hyperbole over the static calculation of the additional $1.5 trillion in debt over the next decade. Because liberals don't like to admit that faster growth may well mitigate part of that.
But at the same time, when their hero Obama was responsible for piling up the large majority of an additional $9 trillion in debt to reach that $20 trillion number (he owns it for when the economy was in good recovery from summer of 2009 on), why that's just fine. Because liberal spending is always good and debt doesn't matter IF a democrat is POTUS.
Funny how that works.
Dear NTY: Please stop calling this a victory. It is certainly no victory for the 99%. If there’s any good news here, it’s that the Republicans have set the stage for an overwhelming defeat by Democrats in the 2018 mid-terms.
5
Don't you just love the Tea Party Freedom Caucus that constantly kept any amount of spending added to the debt, requiring offsets? There they went today.. adding a couple of Trillion. They voted for it. I hope I never hear a peep from these 'deficit hawks' ever again.
9
Keep track of what you write and let us know in 6 months whether you were correct:
"[T]his tax bill ... is so bad and so many people see that it is bad that it could very well cost the Republicans control of Congress and the Presidency..."
People SHOULD care about the deficit, but the reality is that they don't. They DO like paying lower taxes, and most will. I wish the Republicans hadn't lowered
the very highest rate, but the dollars involved there aren't large. Most taxpayers will pay less, especially the projected 90% who just take the standard deduction. The other 10% might pay more (or at least some of them will) but, frankly, I'm less concerned about taxpayers who have high incomes and live in expensive houses than I am about taxpayers who DON'T have high incomes and live in expensive houses -- i.e. the 90% who will take the standard deduction.
What we've all learned from this is that taxes are good, as long as someone else is paying them. But if someone tells you that YOUR taxes may go up, that's not good; that's bad. It's especially bad if you live in a "blue state," since those higher taxes you'll be paying will have been imposed on you out of spite.
3
You should be concerned about those lower income people who don’t have a lot of money and don’t live in blue states. They depend on the Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security that are about to be gutted by the guys that just crashed the country’s revenue, and will be looking for ways to cut costs, and that won’t be through things that cost the donor class.
3
The way you talk, you'd think Obama didn't expand the debt in 8 years by SIX times the "crushing" delta you're pretending to worry about over the next years (worst case) to score political points.
Why start with an unpopular tax bill? Infrastructure would have been a quick, easy win with a guaranteed legacy.
The GOP is not interested in voters. They care only about donors. And donors don't drive to work.
5
Are you speaking about Obamacare or the Tax Bill? The only reason the Tax Bill is unpopular is because the MSM and the Dems have misrepresented it to the American public. Were I just following the advice of those guys, I would not like it, either. How about looking at it yourself and seeing the huge tax cuts and great job growth incentives. Do you plan on returned your tax cut to the Federal Treasury?
Just because the republicans have won a battle doesn’t mean they will win the war.
14
Nicely said - they will win the battle but lose the war. You don't play pretty much the entire US population for rubes and get away with it...
4
This is going to be an unbearable Trump gloat signing party this week. Remember the beer garden laugh fest when they half killed Obama Care. Trump's going to be over the moon and he might claim to be the best president of all time.
8
Those who voted for him will be very happy, especially when they find the tax changes aren't as bad as the democrats have been claiming.
2
Why does every single credible economist disagree with you, AACNY?
And what do you think Trump’s base will do when they find they have no Social Security and Medicare for retirement?
5
Tip Jar:
I've worked the numbers on tax preparation software for many different income scenarios. As I pointed out elsewhere in an example, a family of 3 making $100K will get a nice tax break.
The Child Tax Credit, alone, for 2 kids is $4K. That's a *credit*, which is worth multiple times itself in tax deductions.
This tax bill is an absolute disgrace. I sincerely hope the electorate gets smart and votes these disgraces out of office..
13
Ah, Republicans. You control all three branches of government, and the only legislative “win” you can manage is theft in the night of the middle class and a kick in the faces of blue states that have progressed, much to your jealous dismay.
Pathetic.
22
Definition of American feedback loop:
-Republican lawmakers lie to their base about their tax plan.
-President lies about the tax plans' impact on his personal wealth.
-Alt-right hate radio promotes the phony bill.
-Credulous right-wing base claims victory.
-The working poor pay the price, many of them Trump supporters.
It has always been thus.... sigh.
Is American Great yet?
11
Reminds me of a bill written in 1773 called the Tea Act. That was a time the Tea Party wasn't made up of corporate shills. That was a time when small independent shop owners descended on Boston and boarded ships flying the flag of the British East India Company and dumped British East India Company untaxed tea into Boston Harbour.
https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/the-tea-act
5
Republicans near victory, America nears another defeat.
8
What could almost be worse than this Trump Tax Bill being passed...well...Trump’s grandstanding over “his” victory and his gloating.
5
Steal from the poor and middle class, and give to the rich-trumpism. Thanks to all the LOSERS who voted this creep in.
12
Please explain how you can *steal* something from someone who doesn't own it?
2
Of course the House passed it.. They are the Republican majority! SHEEP.
1
Can the NYT explain why the continued use of the word victory in the headlines? Pyrrhic perhaps, botched, definitely, un-American, mean-spirited, despicable, cowardly- far more appropriate if you are choosing to frame the issue.
3
My tax clients will be very happy to hear about the $2K tax credit they'll be receiving for each child. It will definitely take the sting off the loss of their real estate tax deductions. Many will also appreciate the lower brackets. Every little percentage helps when you're talking about keeping your own money.
Speaking of *own* money, how in heaven's name can democrats claim that anyone is "stealing" this money? Who do they believe it belongs to? What a twisted perspective.
4
Because these tax cuts are unearned, as well as undeserved and unnecessary, particularly because the obscenely wealthy already take enormous tax exemptions and tax loopholes, to the extent that some do not pay any taxes at all.
And how will this massive theft be funded? By robbing Social Security and Medicare, which are deferred wages deducted from the paychecks of wage earners, and by states having to raise taxes to compensate what wont be available anymore from the feds.
I cannot fathom the mindset that shrugs indifferently and says, Me? I will be fine. And that is all that matters.
2
As a New Yorker, you surely know that your clients will be more than making up for any Federal taxes saved in increased state and local taxes. As it stands, the middle class pays a higher percentage of their income in state and local taxes than the wealthy do. So when those taxes go up - and they surely will in order to supplement federal tax cuts for the wealthy - this is indeed stealing from them, as it is money out of their pockets.
2
T E:
It's *stealing* when the middle class pays higher taxes but not when a minority pays the majority of all taxes? Either the government's taking taxpayers' money is stealing or it's not.
Renee Jones:
People already earned that money. It's theirs. The tax cut simply allows them to keep what's already theirs. Since when do they have to "earn" the right to keep it?? Talk about stealing.
The infamous tax bill put these disgraceful butlers "closer to victory"? What a misuse of the word victory! By the way, we should revise the notion of democracy because it doesn't seem to be working very well. Happy Holidays to the NYT and all its readers and beyond!
1
This tax bill proves where the GOP's allegiance lies, ultra riches and cooperations that pay for their election. American public are so stupid that their reliance on TV ads are filled with lies and deceptions. Everyone who lives in this land should pay tax and the tax should be used for education, health care, infra structure and social system, which none of the GOP tax cut will help to pay for.
Nauseating,sickening, including the relative silence from the Democratic leadership.
3
"including the relative silence from the Democratic leadership."
absolutely not. Just because your TV station doesn't interview them doesn't mean that they have not been speaking out, and strongly.
And, every single Democrat is voting against this, including, bravely, those Senators in states that Trump won by large margins and who are up for re-election. Why do you feel the need to criticize Democrats even now, when if more voters had voted for Democrats in 2016 this travesty of a bill would never have been concocted?
4
They are silent because they only have a class warfare argument. People outside the bubble don't care about this. Like income inequality, it's an argument for bubble inhabitants and only used to bolster a position.
2
AACNY, this travesty is deeply unpopular across the nation.
Those who don’t know that are the ones living in a bubble.
3
now can we see his tax returns?
6
NYT writers (and many others) almost always mix up a "static" view -- wealth -- with a dynamic view -- income.
A person can be "wealthy" and have no income at all. For example, a wealthy heir who lives off large and frequent withdrawals from his brokerage account may have no income at all (I know a few like that). Conversely, a surgeon who makes $500,000 a year may not be "wealthy" because he spends it all (I know a few like that too).
Think of "wealth" as like a still photo, and "income" as like a video. Those are pretty good analogies.
This important distinction is ignored by most NYT articles.
4
They also don't know the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction.
2
> Conversely, a surgeon who makes $500,000 a year may not be "wealthy" because he spends it all (I know a few like that too).
Or because they're still paying off school debt...
Some law-makers -- they can't even keep track of their own rules.
1
I guess in Trump's America, destroying the middle class and further increasing the hardships of the impoverished and rapidly increasing underclass is what passes for victory.
Talk about being out of touch and on the take...
2
For the last decade or so the federal government has been taking the peoples money in taxes and then handing large sums over to the like of Elon Musk. Now the federal government is allowing people to keep more of what they earn and that is corrupt? There is zero logic in the "progressive" argument.
This tax reduction tackles both demand side and supply side. Allowing folk to keep more of their hard owned $, while simultaneously making doing business in the US much more attractive. Watch GDP grow and federal government revenues increase, the tax reduction will easily pay for itself.
4
This tax bill is promoting what has become, under 8 years of Obama's "You didn't build that!" mentality, a radical idea: People's keeping their own money. Competition is no longer a dirty word.
We went from someone who only sought goals that were going to be recognized at some distant point in the future -- and, as a result, were impossible to measure -- to someone who only focuses on the bottom line. Radical.
3
Does any poor or middle class sane person really believe their wages are going to go up from this slick backroom tax deal? I hope not for I believe you are in for a let down. Our tax cuts are temporary, while theirs are permanent. They're feasting while occasionally tossing us a scrap to fight over, and then twisting it into them being the victim.
Fortunately it does not hurt me much, but I certainly do worry for my great grand kids(3). What's the country going to be like by then
2
The anger on social media and in these comments are palpable. The Republicans and their billionaire benefactors have unleashed the American spirit in a way that will not be contained until all of them are no longer in office. Kiss your jobs good bye and can we please take away their benefits while we are at it? And please pass laws to prevent this from ever happening again.
14
"This is our chance, this is our moment," gushed House Speaker Ryan after the bill's passage. But why is he and fellow members of Congress missing out on chance after chance, moment after moment, to finally pass sensible gun control legislation as Americans of all ages and walks of life continue to be gunned down in droves from mass killings that are virtually all preventable? Where is their conscience, their sense of humanity? Sure, they've passed a tax overhaul, or are close to do so, but what they need is a humanitarian overhaul.
16
I think they need human emotions to do that. Their only interest is donor money and the NRA provides that. Humanity doesn't enter into it.
4
I'm optimistic about this tax bill. It is so bad and so many people see that it is bad that it could very well cost the Republicans control of Congress and the Presidency. We only have to hang on until it is time for us to vote again.
13
And then get blamed for raising taxes to cover the disaster this bill will create and the infrastructure they've ignored and shoring up medical care. It would be fun to watch them go down but I think they're expecting it and grabbing what they can while they can.
2
The problem, Paul, is that it's not nearly as bad as democrats are claiming. Just because the rich benefit, doesn't mean the poor and middle class don't. That logic works for political campaigns, but in reality, people will see tax savings and ignore the rich.
3
Then why does the public largely reject it, AACNY?
What is tragic is that the victory is for the Republicans, not the people they serve. Our government should not be made of two teams, and one is a winner while the other is a loser. When will the newspaper stop encouraging people to think of all decisions and policies as competitions between parties and revisit the idea instead that the government should be working together for the benefit of the people?!
5
Closer to victory? If the Republicans are the victors, then who have they vanquished and what are their spoils?
7
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is under assault by Trump and republicans. Once the agency is neutered look for credit card interest rates to skyrocket. Those with high credit card debt will be crushed into bankruptcy. The supposed annual middle class $1,200 tax savings will be meaningless as the Trump supporters and the working middle class and poor find themselves drowning the Trump and GOP swamp. The sad thing is that they don’t realize it.
14
Why is it that no one mentions the seemingly invisible elephant in the room - the aging of the current populace and its inability to take care of itself? The GOP's next move is to slash the so-called "entitlements" of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid to make up for a fraudulent tax cut. The cracks are already starting to widen and with the transfer of even more wealth to the upper echelon, we are soon to have a nation in deep poverty who will not be able to care for its elderly and sick - and which will soon number in the tens of millions with the aging of the Baby Boomers. Families and friendship networks will be overwhelmed with elder care and it will be every person for himself/herself with no safety net. It won't be unusual to see people trying to work at the age of 90. We may well have to become a communal society in which to survive. Think about it. It's not a far-fetched fantasy. This country is in trouble with the wipe-out of the middle class by our esteemed Trumpster Administration and the GOP.
12
How desperate?
So desperate, Donald Trump (a sleezy reality TV star) was elected as President of the United States.
And now, desperate enough to pass anything-anything to get a "win."
I cannot say desperate enough.
It's not going to get any better for you RNP, you left the building years ago.
4
The millionaires that represent you have felt your pain and responded.
6
I know Americans aren't going to do anything but back in 1773 America's middle class took action when the British East India Company got parliament to pass similar legislation that benefited only the richest of the rich.
https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/the-tea-act
6
The Republican Congress appears to be comprised of a vicious band of Mafia thugs. This bill is contrary to what the country's majority asked for in petitions, letters and polls.We must rise up and protest. We must vote this minority cabal of evil doers out of office.The well being and future success of America depends on a healthy well-fed middle class and nourishing support for the poor. The deep pockets of the 1% rich have never been the heart of American life and in the past have brought the majority nothing but desperation. They must go.
9
Bob Corker: the best senator money can buy.
8
Far from the best anything. A two-year-old will say yes for a piece of candy. He's hardly better motivated.
1
The Republicans are just doing what they do best: cut taxes, don't worry how to pay for it. When Democrats get back it, they'll do what they do best: expand social programs, don't worry how to pay for it. Worst thing is, neither side ever lives up to the hype. In the end all we can say for sure is thanks to both parties, someone, someday in the future will end up having to foot one heck of a bill.
1
"expand social programs, don't worry how to pay for it."
actually, Democrats DO include pay-for provisions in their bills. That is why the Republicans blocked the Democrats' attempt to let people re-finance their student loans at available lower interest rates: the Republicans didn't like the idea that Democrats would raise taxes on the wealthiest to stop the government from making a profit on student loans.
Remember also, Obama cut the deficits, Clinton cut the deficits (and started paying down the national debt). It is, as you say, Republicans who explode the deficit just to lower taxes on their wealthy donors. In dramatic contrast, from the New Deal to health care to education to infrastructure, Democrats invest in strengthening America.
3
Bill Clinton put away a huge surplus until the GOP was elected and squandered it.
3
Lynn:
Both Clinton and Obama had republican majorities to contain their spending. Americans aren't crazy.
The Democrats have not been popular with voters because they believe in tax and spend and it is the middle class who suffer the consequences. The Republicans won the presidential election because they promised there would be tax cuts which they are delivering.
If the liberals are upset with the Republican tax cuts, it must be good. They have not been happy with any of their policies, and never will be. The Democrats and liberals are still upset that they won the election and will not give them credit for anything. All they do is criticize. Are they surprised at their reaction. Absolutely not. They almost expect it.
You will need all that extra money and more to pay for your skyrocketing health insurance premiums, that is, assuming you will still be able to buy it(and afford it).
1
deus02 Toronto:
Seems like yesterday when those facing skyrocketing health insurance costs were told to suck it by democrats. Will insurance companies be blamed again?
We all agree that this will boost the economy in 2018. with a roaring economy at election time, Dems won't stand a chance of taking over the House or Senate. The best Christmas present will be if Republicans can get a super majority next November.
1
Yes, there is no question that this will boost the economy. After so many years of Obama's slo-mo recovery, they've forgotten what that looks like.
Cue the dire warnings about bubbles, etc. Democrats will have to spin the good economic news as bad. They seem to be having trouble gaining traction. It's irrelevant what people think about the tax bill now because it's mostly political rhetoric. Soon enough they'll test drive it and see for themselves.
2
Since when did we all agree to that?
2
For the relatively minority of average Americans who naively believe this tax cut bill will be of benefit to the country, think again. The "fix is in" and this scam has already been exposed for what it is. Republicans don't believe for a moment the tax cuts will boost the economy, bring back jobs and reduce the deficit.
Paul Ryan said as such in a recent radio interview where he stated quite uniquivocally, that next on the agenda is the usual "review of entitlements" i.e. medicare, social security, etc. etc. which in his small mind, create the deficits. Huh? He honestly doesn't believe this cut bill will add to the deficit!
Remember, "those that giveth can taketh away". In this case, Republicans will eventually will be taking alot more away than what they give.
4
The wealthy put their surplus income into the bank, where it is lent out to 'responsible' borrowers to fund home purchases or higher education or business start ups, all positive things for society. The wealthy tend to be better citizens also. Sorry, but Democrats have been demagogues since time immemorial to create class warfare. Sadly, the Republicans have also abandoned economic sense. There is no hope except for those like myself who thrive in times of anarchy and chaos.
1
> The wealthy tend to be better citizens also
I'm going to have to ask you to back up that claim. Link?
What does that even mean?
Re: Your headline. A victory for whom? Certainly not for the vast majority of the American people. And don't think we don't know it.
4
Paul Ryan's House can not even pass a bill properly. It violates senate rules. This majority GOP Legislative Congress symbolizes chickens head cut off scurrying all all over the place. Relying on Donald's empty head.
3
It's very hard and quite incomprehensible to see the GOP celebrating the devastating harm this bill will do to millions of Americans. The man who sees himself as an uber-Christian, Paul Ryan, has dreamed of this day for decades. From which Christian doctrine did he learn that the Savior wanted those in power to hurt those who cannot help themselves?
Remember the GOP and their effective strategy to scare voters about Obamacare by screaming "death panels"? The Republicans' dismantling of Medicare will actually speed along the deaths of the elderly. Unfortunately, FOX News, our state TV has been enormously successful in keeping their viewership ignorant of facts.
7
I hope the twelve Republicans who voted no don't think that will be enough to save them in next year's elections.
5
I think you need to ask the right people to make a decision on whether or not it is 'unpopular.' Obviously there is a very strong liberal anti-Trump sentiment to everything this administration ever does,regardless of the incredible economic news. (And no, Obama did not build that.)
1
Americans will see for themselves. That bias and anti-rich rhetoric will be meaningless once they see their own bottom lines.
1
What is surprising to me is that no one , including the media, is calling out the bold faced lie that they are doubling the standard deduction!
Yes they are, BUT they are also eliminating the personal exemption with the same breath.
At $4050 per person, anything after 3 people in the family, and basically you lose.
9
Not if you have kids. This case was made in the WSJ comments' section:
For a couple earning $100,000 of W-2 income with 3 children under 17, who take the standard deduction:
Current tax 2017:
Income = $100,000
Standard deduction = $12,600
Five dependent deductions = 5 * $4,050 = $20,250
Taxable income = $67,150
Preliminary tax = $9,149.
Child tax credit = 3 x $1,000 = $3,000
Tax = $6,149
Now let's do the calculation with the new tax schedule for 2018:
Income = $100,000
Standard deduction = $24,000.
Taxable income = $76,000
Preliminary tax = $8,739 (from new tax tables with lower rates)
Child tax credit = 3 x $2,000 = $6,000
Tax = $2,739
1
The NY republicans, especially Peter King, only voted no because they knew their vote wasn't needed to pass. King is a dyed in the wool Republican. He wouldn't cross party lines. Let's not be misled when we go to cast our votes on 2018
7
If one needed evidence of the quote by Moliere " Unreasonable haste is the direct road to error" we have it today in the hasty actions of an unscrupulous Congress. The whole bill must be returned for yet another vote to fix major errors between the House and Senate versions.
Forget the contents for a minute and absorb the fact that one major party in this country values might over right, no matter the cost. Add the contents of a rapacious bill and one can only describe today's actions by our representatives as despicable.
3
If Republican economic plans work so well for the middle class, why are red states with Republicans at the helm experiencing the nation’s lowest levels of good-paying jobs with good benefits, the highest levels of obesity, teen pregnancy, illiteracy, and drug addiction, and fewer resources for public education?
9
What is the real reason this bill passed the House? What do these people fear more than the voters? The Republican party will be destroyed or America will.
3
Wow, passing a $1.5 trillion tax package with no bi-partisan support is just crazy! Why didn't they follow the Dem example in passing Obamacare....
Obamacare was very unpopular (net unfavorable ratings +10%) when it was thrust upon us 7+ years ago and it remained so long enough to see the largest losses in the history of the house of representatives....Democrats told us it would become popular once we learned about all the benefits but it didn't....
This soon to be new tax law is clearly aimed at making US corporations more competitive and hopefully more likely to invest in the US and her workers.
Bottom line, if GDP growth (which was generally mediocre under last several years of Obama administration at roughly 2% annually) accelerates to something closer to or greater than 3%, that will have a very positive impact on economic growth, wages, bring more people into the workforce and this bill will become popular.
If the economy limps along at 2% or less the Republicans will get blown out in November just like the D's in 2010....
My guess is that this law coupled with a far more business friendly adminstration will result in strong GDP...stay tuned.... over 80% of US workers are employed by companies in the private sector.
1
Last time democrats ignored a major cohort (those right above the Obamacare subsidy income level), they received a shellacking. They're doing the same thing again. Small businesses, which create the majority of jobs, will benefit. Democrats are acting as though they don't deserve this help, pretty much ignoring them and focusing on the "rich".
Go back a week or so and look up all those quotes from very rich donors who said "My contributions stop if the tax bill doesn't pass."
Those who believe tax giveaway will be of benefit to the non-wealthy really need to stop kidding themselves.
After all, name a single initiative the Republicans have passed since Reagan that benefit mostly the middle class and working poor.
Just one.
8
Maybe someone has asked this question already: but how is it that a 529 provision is not allowed in a budget bill, but drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is permitted? Furthermore, I thought bills were supposed to be limited to a single topic.
3
Well, this may not be the beginning, but definutely a start of the beginning of rise in esteem for my party - at least in my mind.
Until a couple of months back, after the repeal fiasco, I had just about given up on them.
It was beginning to appear that these incompetent Republicans may not be able to cobble a majority to name a post office after Abraham Lincoln.
Well, if they do pass this tax cut, may be they deserve another look at my vote for them next year.
Will Rogers famously said:"America is at risk when the Congress is at work."
For some in this debate, Will still lives.
For me, he still lives but by an exception.
1
Good post Mike. Corporate tax rates ultimately benefit individuals. The vast majority of Americans will benefit from this bill.
1
This is the gang - and that's what they are, a gang - that can't shoot straight. They can't even get their own bill right.
They are building such a record of legislative incompetence, executive mis- and malfeasance, hostility to constitutional government, animosity towards ordinary people and plain old self-serving corrupt practices, that they should be severely punished at the polls next November. I wish I were confident in the Dems' ability to make these stick as campaign issues. They have yet to learn the Republican art of making a single word do the work of three or four.
8
Good job, Republicans. This day will be looked upon as the day the United States ceased being a superpower.
Some publications are making false comparisons that this is the Republicans' Obamacare. This is worse than Obamacare. Much worse.
11
Oh look! The Senate parliamentarian is giving The House has a second chance to prove what mendacious thieves they can be. For those looking the other way, here is a second chance to see your pocket being picked.
14
the NYTimes is part of the problem. Why would you call the passing of such a damaging tax bill a victory. It;s certainly no victory to the millions of ASmericans who will see their health insurance rates climb,their Medicare and SSI benefits disappear. Whose side are you on here: obviously the wealthy!!
9
The Koch Brothers must be celebrating by uncorking $30,000 wine bottles.
(Several years ago, William Koch paid $30,000 for a bottle of wine that turned out to be a counterfeit.)
14
He probably wrote it off as a loss on his tax return. No problem.
7
The movie was “Sour Grapes”. The best part was listening to Koch talking about how much money he lost on buying junk wine. I guess the republicans are trying to give his wine money back instead of children’s health care. What a disgusting bunch.
5
Everyone posting about their particular tax outlook misses the point, which is that this bill was entirely unnecessary.
The economy is strong, jobs have grown steadily since the middle of Obama's first term, billionaires are still billionaires, and corporations have piles of money.
What WAS needed was for the ACA to be repaired, along with trains and bridges and airports. What WAS needed was job training programs for Trump's beloved deplorables. We can now kiss all that goodbye.
I couldn't care less if some middle-class individual takes home $1500 more dollars, or someone else pays $1500 more under this plan. What an asinine quibble.
For a country founded on the principle of a common good and the general welfare, this tax bill is a rotting pile of garbage.
40
Don't worry. The Dems will clean it up (again).
12
Corruption: When rich people break the law to take money from the rest of us.
Corruption American Style: When rich people make the law to take money from the rest of us.
"Some will rob you with a six-gun. And some with a fountain pen," Woody Guthrie>
14
How is letting people keep more of what they earn taking money from you? Do you even realize how bad that sounds?
Republicans are liars -- this tax bill is only to benefit the wealthy, at the expense of the rest of us.
18
Dear NYTimes,
Here is a suggestion: stop calling it a victory. Continuing to do so debases the meaning of the word.
16
It will be educational to see lots of posts admonishing the NYT for printing the news.
Well, as much as some "readers" hate to see that happen, the NYT reports the news --- some of the time anyway.
Deal with it ;-)
1
Not understanding why you've placed 'readers' in quotation marks. We are readers and many of us have read 1984, Brave New World, The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil and Richard III. You?
3
Wait until Americans outside the bubble start realizing they'll be saving money with this bill. The NYT will eventually have to come clean about who benefits, and when it does, it could get ugly here.
1
"Wait until Americans outside the bubble start realizing they'll be saving money with this bill."
That is the Republican talking point. Throw people a few crumbs for a few years before it expires, while their health care premiums soar, Medicare and Medicaid are slashed so their elderly relatives can't afford home care and are forced into a poor quality nursing home, while their bridges are unprepared and school funding is cut......
In the meantime, people inheriting $20 million estates don't have to pay a penny to the country that gave them so much.
1
Even if the folks that voted for this dreadful bill don't get elected again, they will have a nice kickback for their retirement. It's called 'making off with the loot'.
15
More than a trillion in debt, a decimation of the social safety net, millions thrown off the only insurance they can afford, and fattened shareholders, in exchange for about a hundred bucks a year in tax cuts, with taxes likely to raise in ten years.
That’ll show those uppity liberals who’s boss. Make America Guilded Again!
13
Why doesn't the Byrd rule apply to the ANWR?
7
What angers me is that these politicians and CEOs are not serving the citizens of America, but ruling over us. They have contempt for Democracy. Republicans and CEOs hate government because they want to be the absolute rulers of America, to hold all the power and wealth, and make Americans suffer. We need another Revolution in America.
12
The Republican play book of deception still works: Get the uneducated voters riled up on some emotional wedge issue (immigrants, abortion, etc) and then sock it to them financially after the election to serve this who financed the entire scam. Give a few morsels to the faithful base so that they can maintain the illusion of progress until the next election cycle.
Fox News is the propaganda machine that provides cover for the kleptocrats and feeds junk information to those unable to think for themselves.
Anybody getting mad?
11
Me, I'am a Retired Armt Veteran of thirty Plus years Service , who will never Vote for a Republican again at any Level again !
8
Thank you WL!
After so many years of serving America, that you for continuing to fight such an essential battle at the ballot box!
1
If most NYT commenters are against this bill. You know it's good. Of course the tax cuts go to the rich. Who do you think pays the taxes? The top 1% of taxpayers pay 39% of all federal income taxes collected. If anything the top 1% deserve more taxe cuts.
https://www.ntu.org/foundation/blog/who-pays-taxes-2015
4
That’s called progressive taxation. It’s a hallmark of most western democracies. It’s supposed to prevent the decelopment of aristocracies and oligarchies and the destruction of the middle class.
6
Moreover, their obsession with the rich isn't shared by most Americans, most of whom would be embarrassed to be caught in the act of coveting someone else's money.
2
Dear Reader,
Who do you think does most of the work in this country?
1
This is blue state v red state economic warfare....no more, no less. News Flash, the red states are winning....and still, somehow, we send THEM money.
5
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
So what if he makes $100,000 more per year - you will make $10 more per week!!
Never an owner - always a renter!! That is how to get ahead!!
7
The day of reckoning for the Republicans begins on
November 6, 2018. Alabama has led the way!!
12
New definition for "Having Your Cake and Eating It Too"
$1.5 Trillion Ruinous Tax Cut
AND
$1.5 TRILLION Lockheed Martin F-35 Program
Who says you can't have it all! #MAGA
4
When is the only time you see Republicans smile?
When they're shafting the nation. It's a tell.
And it's been well documented.
8
America as a fascist country, run by billionaire dictators?
Wait a minute, that sounds like some other country that has been in the news lately . . . something to do with election interference?
At what point do you take to the streets?
Your country is being decimated, and it hurts to bear witness.
The door is closing - time to kick it down?
11
People will die because of This Legislation
Don’t Expect a Card of Condolence
From
the GOP
8
Trump supporters, who are not rich, can start counting the days when they will suffer from this Trump Tax Bill and scam. I hope there is a lesson learnt.
2
Memphrie has been around for a long time and he has seen this before. He saw the carriages filled with Montreal's small shop owners headed to Boston to join their brother merchants Sons of Liberty in dumping British East India Company Tea aboard East India Company ships into Boston Harbour. It was 1773 and the Tea Party supporters were not corporate shills.
https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/the-tea-act
2
Love the words " moves " and "passage" in the headline. Perfect for this excremental process AND results. Bigly.
5
We are the misinformed, led by the corrupt, doing the mundane for minimum wage, paid by the greedy and self-deluded.
Thank you sire, might I have another tax cut that only benefits you?
6
The current Republicans can't even make a slam dunk when they have a chance. Inept.
2
So; the GOP, the party of monsters, endorsed pedophiles and sexual predators, got out their knives and carved up the current taxation system making huge profits for their donors and personally. Who knew this would hapen? LOL
WOW America, you sure did drain the swamp with your #MAGA votes and the 46% of you's who couldn't get up off the couch to vote.
Congratulations on your victory comrades.
4
Why is every outlet using the word "victory" for this crap? Republicans engineered a 'victory' over themselves? Who, exactly is vanquished here, politically speaking? The Dems are out of the game by way of gerrymandering and the electoral college. So, why a 'victory? Over who? Or is it whom? This is the same kind of syntactic fuzziness that gives us "worth." That one person is 'worth' more than another simply by the condition of having a claim to more of a monetary currency than another. Really? It's time to take back the language, all languages.
7
Corruption at its finest that will be signed into law by the immoral man in the WH with his MAGA caps. People got fooled yet again by a 'populist'.
10
He and his family will have gotten richer and the population will have paid for it....many unwittingly! Or, witlessly!
Logo should change from America First to Trump First. Much more accurate.
Also a back handed thanks to the legislators who enabled this poor excuse for a president. Gutless people!
Don't know where we are headed but it doesn't look good.
2
A "victory for the GOP"...
...is a loss for you and me...
...from sea to shinning sea...
13
Some "victory" - the Kochs, the Mercers, the Adelsons, the congressional sociopaths et al win and us suckers, the US tax payers, get stuck with their tab.
Do they want to compete with Mao, Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu to see who can starve the most peasants? Bring on the most misery?
Bewildering people with power and little if any heart.
6
It’s not a GOP victory. It’s an American victory. 13 months of sour grapes. Grow up, NYT.
4
Victory?
4
I take minor comfort in knowing that the idiots who voted Republican against their self-interests are going to pay a price for this -- much like the rest of this presidency thus far.
5
Greed wins out!!!!
8
Enabled by ignorance of the people and self interest first by our leaders!
1
Say goodbye to your so-called careers, 'yes' voters. You are all done.
3
I wish the NYT and other sane-minded news outlets would stop using the word "victory" when it comes to this tax bill. Is it a "victory" when a mugger gets away with someone's purse or a rapist claims another victim? Sorry, but from where I sit, it looks like the GOP is getting ready to mug and financially rape the American public and I fail to see any "victory" here.
8
Well said---opinion writer needs to take this on.
2
Let's name it now, "Trumptax", disaster, sad.
6
Stall, Dems, stall!
1
I thought you guys were a pretty sharp outfit but I found a proofing error.
"The Senate could vote as soon as this evening, handing Republicans their first major legislative victory."
You misspelled "booty" and accidentally spelled "victory".
Otherwise, my favorite publication.
2
The Republicans are looting our country. Time to throw them out. All of them.
9
Why does the Times headline this criminal theft as a "Victory"?
This is not a game, a sporting event... many many people will be hurt by this
"death roes of capitalism" bill. NYT... do not treat this as in any way a legitimate
piece of legislating.
3
That's one small step forward for the GOP, one giant leap backward for the USA.
40
Markus
In 1773 the small business owner of North America responded to a similar bill called the Tea Act written by the British East India Company. Small business owners from all over the colonies dumped untaxed tea into Boston Harbour.
https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/the-tea-act
2
Thank you, Carl Ian Schwartz - the word I was looking for is looting.
We are being looted, and low income/low information Trump voters who live hand to mouth are thrilled to sell out their future social security benefits for a few hundred dollars now - while wealthy Trump supporters loot billions from low and middle income families in perpetuity.
New York Times - please don't call any action of Giddy Ryan a victory - this is a horrific loss.
41
It would less shameful if people voted only for what we learned at an early age to be "Right" vs."Wrong". Most of these basic truths should have been implanted in our brains at a very early age. It is not complicated. All politics aside, If we fail to recognize serial lying, stealing, promotion of violence, cheating, warmongering, bigotry, giving comfort to the enemy and groping our sisters and moms as being wrong but we continue to vote for those who practice these evils and even encourage them, we are a sick, sorry society. It has little to do with politics and everything to do with exercising simple, common decency and respect for our fellow humans.
Decency must triumph in 2018. After this tax grab becomes law, the current level of evil in our leadership will be difficult to quash. Its promoters have been sold to the highest bidder and we all know it. Another successful divided society in the fascist world of Putin and his oligarchs. After this tax grab, the current level of evil in our leadership will be difficult to quash. Its promoters have been sold to the highest bidder and sadly we all know it.
21
All I know is, I better see no less than $200 in my paycheck every two weeks? "We shall see"!
3
Senate meets tonight - for a Preview from Puck Magazine
https://i0.wp.com/www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/resources/graphic/xla...
1
Only 29% of the people support this GOP tax bill. Now think about it for a second. So who are the Republican representatives really working for, folks--the people, the well being of American society (infrastructure, health care, reduced drug prices, quality public education, modern transportation, a fair deal for the people of this country)?
If you think your President Trump or your GOP representatives care a whit about the economic situation of any of you middle- and work-class folks who voted for him, please wake up and smell the stinking, stale coffee.
When 40 economists were asked if trickle down economics (the faulty assumption of this GOP bill), was going to improve the economy for most of the people, 39 out of 40 said NO. Furthermore, most said said a stimulus for the economy was not needed at this time, with low unemployment and a booming stock market.
Why do we need this tax cut for the Kochs, Mercers, the Freedom Caucus, and all those other multi-billionaires funding GOP politicians? Because they believe the excessively rich really, really need and deserve more money.
And when the deficits shoots up sky high, thanks to this GOP tax cut, these same multi-billionaires will demand that any and all economic and social government programs for regular people be slashed or obliterated.
See the photo of Trump and the gloating GOP leaders:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/18/16782484/gop-tax-bill...
27
How 'bout the Times tracking the re-election prospects and actualities of those 12 Republican House members who voted against the tax bill?
9
they got my vote!
I believe a lot more than blue stateRepublicans are going to be out of office. The truth is really out there for all to see now. It’s way bigger than Trump. This is a meme now about the entire Republican Party. This is nothing close to a win; rather, it has changed perceptions regarding the Republican Party. The base is moving away in increasing numbers. It’s feels visceral to me this time.
1
The swift passage of the Republican Tax Overhaul under the cover of darkness is a sad state of affairs; we are no longer represented, we are ruled. Why? Because your vote has been twisted (gerrymandering, Electoral College), your voice has been neutered (Citizens United), and your representatives are resolved to put Party before people while abandoning any semblance of moral authority. Capitalism needs a government Of, By, and For the People. Now that we don’t have that, money is power and power will rule. Medicare and Social Security will now disappear under the justification of "fixing the budget deficit hole", the hole created for just this reason. It is cold, calculated, and ruthless. It is “The Republican Party”.
23
It is therefore time for the 60% American majority to stage protests all over the country. The bill is a massive crime that is destructive to the middle class and poor. It is absolutely inhumane!
22
The best and most effective protest will be to help those who have been stripped from voting rolls illegally by Republican vote suppression, and those who don't have drivers licenses but must travel a hundred miles to get a copy of their birth certificate from decades ago, and others, to be able to register to vote, and help them to get to their polling place in 2018 to vote for Democrats up and down the ticket.
3
We need to see trump's tax returns, now more than ever. If President Obama was forced to produce his birth certificate--primarily because the media kept trump's insane racist birtherism alive for two years--then the media should publicize trump's tax returns immediately.
Our pockets are being picked right in plain sight. The very least we deserve is to find out how much trump will benefit from this welfare program for the rich! For that, we need his tax returns!!
24
Anyone who believes this tax plan is GREAT should put a marker in their calendar to see what they think on its anniversary in coming years.
The plan is a shortsighted political gambit that will need to be radically fixed in the near future... Question is if that will happen before or after another 2008 style correction in the markets.
What fools these bought-and-paid-for representatives of extraordinary wealth be!
14
I'm thinking we are headed for another burst bubble. Hope I'm wrong.
Now, who will the tweeter in chief blame for that?????
12 Republicans out to save their seats (irony)...
Out with them in 2018.
10
Why is this a "victory"? Over who? They passed a bill, barely, with no support at all from democrats. This wasnt a "battle". The only losers are rest of the country.
18
Just like Obamacare passed without no Republican votes. Was that a victory?
3
Republicans are obviously not worried about how they are remembered by fellow humans. You can't feel shame when there is no one left to blame you.
7
I have to echo other commenters. Stop using the term "victory" when you write about this highway robbery.
18
The 27th Amendment protects the country from self-serving Congressmen by forbidding Congress to give itself a pay raise during the current session.
Why, then, can Congress (and Trump) enrich themselves through this tax bill with no protection against self-interest? We don't even get to see Trump's (and Corker's) tax returns to know for sure whether the new tax code they are enacting will benefit them much more than any pay raise might?
How is that democratic?
68
You well deserve a Times "Pick", Jay. A primary purpose of the Amendment was the avoidance of conflicts of interest by Congressional members. This bill is obviously a snake pit of such conflicts. Hopefully, some public interest groups will step forward to litigate this gross, insider dealing by corrupt Republicans.
4
It is starting to feel like September 2008. I remember it well. I was on the Hill lobbying when the economy went into free-fall. Before it happened, the stock market was turbo-charging, pig-styes were going for millions of dollars, and Goldman Sachs was saying it was realistic for oil to surge over $200 per barrel....Goldman Sachs, why does that name ring a bell....and it ain't the Liberty Bell.
13
My two wishes:
1. For the NYT and Washington Post to take all the public information available about the GOP and democrat senators and see how personally (based on their tax returns) they are impacted by this bill.
2. Same journalists to do an analysis of doing the opposite. Permanent tax cuts for people and no permanent cut for business. At the end of the day, people are more committed to stay in country, to be an avid consumer that can make markers grow. We, on the street, deserve permanent efforts not temporary bribes.
9
The vote was not "along party lines"; that sort of statement implies that all of the Republicans voted in favor of the bill and all of the Democrats voted against it. That's not what happened. There was bipartisan opposition to the tax bill in the House. It is factually inaccurate and feeds a false narrative to suggest otherwise, as this article does.
8
If republicans from the states that will bear the brunt of this tax bill (like CA and NY) don't vote No, I think they should prepare to find another occupation. Their constituents will more than likely help them along.
14
From what I have read there are more than enough loopholes in this hastily written bill, it has been compared to a sieve, to make all their merely wealthy voters very happy. Why vote for someone else who may attempt to close these tax escape hatches?
Carson Wentz is out for the season and we’re all dead inside in Philadelphia. Now this.
3
Alter Boy Ryan had a great deal to be "giddy" about upon the passage by the House of the Billionaires' Bill. He's getting within a cat's whisker of securing that corner office at Goldman Sachs, or its equivalent, the eight figure income, chauffeured travel, the $1,000 lunches, the Central Park West duplex, private schools for the kids, etc., etc. And all he basically has to do is smooze with his former buddies.
God, ain't America an amazing country!
19
When Trump signs this tax bill (even with the changes in wording) the opposition will wither. Democrat lawmakers will begin softening to Trump because they will see the positive reaction from the public, specifically the working class and because they will begin to hear from constituents leading up to the 2018 elections. With the passage of an infrastructure bill and further dismantling of Obamacare, the pace of movement by Dems toward Trump will quicken. This pettiness by the Senate Dems, this last gasp, only makes them look more foolish, Americans are fed up with them.
1
I hope the parliamentarian continues to reject the bill. Paul Ryan is nothing more than a self serving elitist who does not deserve the respect of being identified as an American. The composition of the legislature may not change in the foreseeable future and the proletariat in this country cannot count on a Democrat landslide next year. However having been complicit in drafting tax reform of this nature I would not have the audacity present my face in public. Shame on all in Washington especially the republican house. Shame, the great houses of Europe who imagined themselves as divinely anointed didn't fare so well and I believe once they experience the magnitude of loss they experience (financially) the American people will begin to make the change they need to make.
8
In what way is the "GOP Near Victory"?
They control every branch of the federal government and can do whatever they want.
Thus, there is nothing to overcome, no battle to be had, and no "victory."
However, considering how the GOP got to where they are, stealing a SCOTUS placement from Obama, stealing Congressional seats and the Presidency with dark money, social media propaganda and a heavy assistance from the Russians, you might be closer to meaningful if you phrased it:
"GOP Near Another Heist."
13
There is a provision in this bill to deduct expenses for Home schooling
Anyone else catch that?
9
I read that it violate budget rules so it has been nixed along with a few other things, hence the bill going back to the House. The last hope for some Republicans to listen to their better self and vote NO. Not sure any have a better self so that's probably a 'hail mary' at best.
This is numbing.
Millions will be without healthcare insurance.
And I hope Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski fall asleep every night thinking about the women and men and kids who will be sick and have nowhere to go.
Murkowski just blathered on about nothing. And she got the sell out she wanted -- the drilling. So now we know what she can be bought for.
Collins swears there WILL be new legislation that will somehow help protect insurance.
You'd better hope so, Susan.
Because WE WILL REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE THE SELLOUT.
17
Trump really does keep his promises - to GOP Donors.
The Tax Plan, EPA regulation roll backs, Consumer Banking, Energy, Assault on Planned Parenthood and contraception coverage...
All a gigantic thank you!
As many on FOX are saying,
this is a Coup.
A Coup of Greed on the American people.
14
"It's a crime to let a fool keep his money."
- Paul Ryan, on how this is supposedly good for "all those millions of Americans struggling paycheck to paycheck."
5
Please stop calling this a 'victory.' You are only feeding the fires of divide in this country. It is an 'accomplishment' but no one was beaten. Government is not a contest.
4
Shame on the Republicans in Congress for foisting this bill upon Americans! This tax bill is a government heist of the future of all but the wealthiest Americans. The President and Republicans in Congress have lied to the American people. Increased stratification of wealth will harm our society and Democracy. The ultra wealthy would do well to remember what happened during the French Revolution. I hope that this bill will spur Americans to do their civic duty and vote the thieves out of office.
9
It is not the Constitution that guarantees our liberties, but the economic, social, and moral progress of our people. If this is true, then the tax bill will lead to a weakening of our liberties.
9
Ahh, the voodoo economics of St. Ronnie revisited, repackaged and sold to us with the same pitch that Reagan did so many years ago.
Ohh, and how myself and others prospered, along with the country. Heady days those were. The wealth transfer was just fantastic.
Yup, I do remember that "trickle down" thingy, although I do not believe it was rain....just as this tax legislation will also rain that substance on our heads for years to come as we may predict from the Reagan days-the wealth transfer to us is a fallacy and we get just the scraps.
11
Note that the few Republicans who voted against this tax bill include senior leaders in the House, who usually tout their influence, especially at election time. Most especially, that's NJ's Frelinghuysen and Chris Smith; NY's Pete King; and CA's Darrell Issa.
So either they have no power and don't deserve re-election, or they're fine with not using their influence to protect their constituents. Moreover, I suspect if their votes were needed, these few NJ-NY Republicans would have voted for the bill, because the GOP is party over constituents (or county).
7
The permanent tax cut for corporations and temporary cut for US citizens, which is included for the purpose of legislative misdirection, reveals who the Republican Congress serves.
12
Unfortunately, the forces in our land that seek ways to circumvent our democracy, to turn us into an oligarchy serving money masters, are stronger than those who love our nation and founding spirit.
8
Let's fix that. I, personally, won't accept this.
1
My mom who lives on a pension and has huge medical expenses will see her tax bill reduced from the increased standard deductions and decreasing medical deductions threshold to 7.5% of income. I am middle class and will also see a reduction in my taxes. Thank you to the GOP and Mr Trump.
3
For how long? You do know many of the tax cuts for individuals are not permanent and slashes in Medicare, Medicaid and a whole host of other things will be used to pay some of them. The only permanent cuts are the ones for the ultra wealthy and Corporations. Time to set up a Corporation and an off-shore account.
1
But what will you do in 10 years when those tax cuts expire? That's assuming you still have a job after the inevitable recession.
Then your breaks dry up. And your premiums will be going up as people drop out of the insurance pool. And your state and local taxes will be going up as these grifters in Washington keep throttling back on social safety. So you WILL end up paying more, mark my words.
2
Well, this is a additional 1.5 trillion debt plan, after W's 3 trillion dollar wars, and a 6 trillion debt from W's great depression. Of course Regan spent all the 300 billion surplus of social security on his "starwars" illusion. Trump thinks debt has no meaning, we just chapter 11 the US, congress is not doing it's job of oversight, just reelection.
11
"Trump thinks debt has no meaning" it has always made him richer the upside of having a Corporation and a huge siphon into personal.
This whole tax bill "violates" any sense of decency and fairness. It's an outright massive transfer of wealth from the 99 percent to the 1 percent, and blatant political thievery that impoverishes the nation to the tune of $1.5 trillion by taking from the many to give the the very wealthiest among us. In doing so, it's robbing us and our children of their future by removing health care from millions, the chance to revitalize our infrastructure, pressuring states and localities to reduce funding for public education because of a cap on the real estate tax deduction, adding to our national debt and the pressure to cut important social programs. And for what? To pay back political patrons, wealthy corporations and those at the very top of the income distribution. This a criminal act that hopefully will result in the defeat of this rapacious political party and the restoration of economic fairness in a "repeal and replace" tax system that will work for all Americans not the top 1 percent. The very economic viability of our nation is at risk as long as this legislation remains.
12
The article says "Their success was a stark contrast with their effort this year to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act"
I would take it further: Their success was a stark contrast with any semblance of reasonable or rational government-the legislation was drafted secretly and Republicans did not permit any reasonable amount of Congressional public debate or public evaluation to permit the public, on whose behalf Congress nominally governs, to understand the contents of the legislation and its likely consequences-because objective, neutral experts would not confirm Republicans' pie-in-the-sky, false claims about the bill's merits
8
This "victory" will be their ultimate defeat. People need to wake up and realize that the only way we can stop the Republican Party from giving the country away to their rich friends is by voting them out of office.
10
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in a celebratory mood, told reporters at her briefing that the House vote put President Trump one step closer to delivering “tax cuts for Christmas.”
She didn't happen to mention the $25 billion being cut from Medicare? No, I didn't think so. Maybe they will talk about it on Republican sponsored FOX News. No, probably not. I guess we should be thankful for the government tax cut which is the equivalent of a free toaster to the most in need and calling it the biggest tax cut you have ever seen. The wealthy will be smiling as they get to unwrap their nice new boats, Lamborghinis, diamond necklaces, and stocks. Pass the lump of coal please. It’s getting cold in here.
13
Speaking as someone who is part of what I suppose is the 2%, it is clear I will do well with this plan. I am not desperate to shop for anything I need, because, to be honest, my cup runneth over. I suppose the extra money will go into the bank. That extra cash won't make that much of a big deal to me or my peers. I suppose it will go into the bank. It most certainly won't affect my spending habits.
Seems to me it is the middle class who needs help here. A dollar in their pocket would have been a dollar that goes right back into the economy. But alas, any scraps they get from this bill will be offset by the higher state and local taxes that will go up due to the federal shortfalls, as they always do.
But, here we go again. As with Reagan and Bush2's cuts, this money will go to the corporations, who will in turn give their CEOs, CFOs and COOs 400% salary increases, while continuing to ship mid-level jobs overseas and have the remaining positions in such demand they are fighting for the scraps of stagnant wages. The wealthy will keep the money, or perhaps buy a second home in the Hamptons. Rinse, repeat.
Any tax plan that takes away tax credits for home buyers, while giving tax credits for private jets is completely wrong. As is this plan.
Shame on anyone who votes for it, and shame on anyone in the middle class who votes for these people. You are your own undoing.
13
I wanted to like your post, but it leaves a bad taste. What are you doing here? Bragging about your place in the economic pyramid? Displaying to all that you are a self-centered little narcissist, "my cup runneth over"? "I guess I'll put it in the bank" How about you donate some of this unnecessary money to people whose lives would change profoundly for the better? You sneer at people you have never met and do not know and have the gall to state "You are your own undoing"? Well, I say, "back atchya."
Yikes, amskeptic, I think you missed my point entirely in your haste to judge it. Chill out. I was pointing out the absurdity of tax cuts for people who don’t need it. Nothing more. You have no idea how much I give to charity. What has that to do with this tax bill. The point is this tax cut is going to the only two segments of our population that are currently thriving: corporations and the wealthy. I have a difficult time calling myself “wealthy”. But how are people who qualify for that category supposed to comment on this and say they don’t need it without having you jumping down their throat for admitting they don’t need it? Are they not allowed to comment in your opinion? Anyhow, the people who need a tax cut are the middle class. That was my point.
1
Also, telling me to donate any extra money to charity shows that you missed my point. Even if it all went to charity, that’s not putting it directly back into the economy, which is the supposed purpose of the tax cut. You missed my point so completely.
THIS is why Trump refused to release his tax returns - because then we could see exactly how much he is robbing from us. The presidency had been used for a lot of things - but taking millions upon millions of dollars away from millions of poor and middle class people and giving it directly to the president and his Congress, that's unprecedented.
I really wonder, though, for Trump supporters who see a few hundred in savings - will they be happy with that and not care? By the time the cuts expire and their taxes go up, and social security and Medicare go on the chopping block because of the enormous debt that Trump accrued, I think they will just find some way to blame that on the liberals.
12
I just love how they gave the East and West coasts the finger (sarcasm). This was definitely a message to those who did not vote for Trump. People really need to take voting seriously and vote in every election that presents an opportunity. Republicans have certainly fashioned this Bill so to penalize those who do not vote for them anyway. In addition, not enough republican seats are up anytime soon to do real damage. So statistically they feel that this was a safe bet.
7
Barak Obama was ahead of his time when he stated that Republicans are the party of NO. During his tenure, Republicans would do every they could to make sure he would be a one term president by denying his initiatives. The Republicans simply could not accept a brilliant man who was above their pettiness and racial bias. Now, in the post Obama era, Republicans continue to be the party of NO by refusing to be fair and equitable toward working people. They are saying YES to the wealthy and corporations and NO to working taxpayers by burdening them with paying for the tax cuts and subsequent national debt of a trillion and a half dollars.
To say Republicans are despicable is to flatter and the recourse working taxpayers have is to vote them out of office in 2018.
7
Another taxpayer funded shareholder subsidy.
9
Like any other grifter, Paul Ryan boasts but he offers no guarantees. Those of us who don’t take conservative amnesia pills have heard sunny predictions of endless economic growth before. We recognize that the GOP tax bill is predicated on an economic house of cards. For the tax bill to pay for itself we’ll need to experience uninterrupted growth for years. Republicans haven’t left any room for ordinary fluctuations of growth—up a percentage one year, down the next -- let alone the possibility of recession or, for example, catastrophic wars with Iran and/or North Korea. Right-wingers will talk about investment or corporate competiveness, but when was the last time you heard them address boosts to worker productivity or the structure of the workplace, economic factors that also play a part in economic expansion? Remember, if something is too good to be true…
34
So when do we get a balanced budget? During the next recession? This $1.5 trillion tax cut means $12,000 of additional debt for every American household. But we’re already on track to add $10T in the next decade. That’s $80,000 per American family. Guess we’ll just have to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education and scientific research, and all other government programs that benefit the American people as a whole. Whatever happened to infrastructure repair sand the opioid crisis? Oh never mind, we can’t afford them now.
41
If this tax bill is as wondrous as the Republicans claim, why were there scribbled notes in its margins promoted as a serious way to conduct The People’s business? Why didn’t it undergo commentary by the public and by economists? Why weren’t Democrats invited to be part of the process? Why didn’t it go through normal committee processes? Why wasn’t it drawn out to periodically scored by the CBO? Why did Republicans say they’d vote for it even without seeing it? Why did Corker suddenly reverse course on his principled objection to the debt? Why did McCain, Collins, and Murkowski accept a change to Obamacare that is worse than the health bill they previously rejected?
What, exactly, are you hiding, Republicans?
77
“a move that Republicans are betting will increase economic growth.”
Why does the Times repeat their propaganda?
This is a tax give away to the wealthiest of Republican donors, a move that Republicans are CLAIMING ( not betting)will increase economic growth to excuse this inexcusable theft. All they are betting on is that their donor/owners will pour money into their 2018 re-election campaigns to continue to fool some of the voters all of the time.
Also, why is the Times parroting the Republican claim of “victory”?
Victory over whom?
Victory over the ALS patient afraid of losing access to health care?
Suppose a group of thugs successfully broke into a health Care clinic that served an economically struggling community, to steal all the supplies and medicines and kidnap the doctors to hold them for ransom? If they celebrated that their heist were successful in destroying the neighborhood Clinic, would you describe it as a “victory”?
33
Brilliant!
1
I have ordered a Marlin bolt action, tube fed .22 rifle for my grand children's recreation to celebrate the occasion. In a state which restricts tax paying citizens possession of a firearm with magazine capacity greater than ten rounds, unless a fully tax payer supported law enforcement officer or if earlier models are specifically grandfathered into law. Hoping the senate doesn't screw this one up or when we talk about why the rifle came into uor family I will only have nice things to say about House Republicans.
Cry Freedom!
2
Ah, yes, children with fully-loaded guns as they’re about to be told the debt they’ve just incurred, and with no return on the investment.
What could possibly go wrong?
8
That's great! Your whole family will have an arsenal big enough to kill all the Yankees that are responsible for your freedom. I used to say that guns kill people, but it's obvious that PEOPLE kill people. Teach your children well - you may yet get what you asked for. When was the last decade that you survived by shooting animals and eating them? When was the last time you made clothing out of their skins in order to survive? I think we've evolved past that for some time now, unless you intend to use this for aggression.
2
You couldn't just buy them a butterfly net?
3
Remember the 2008 public bailout of Wall St? This is like 2 bailouts.... paid for by only by the middle class. Government of the people?
This is what happens when you can’t jail criminals on Wall St.
48
Victory? Passing a wildly unpopular bill is neither democratic nor victorious. I just hope we MakeThemPay in 2018 and beyond.
57
Republican cynicism knows no bounds.
Those "virtuous" Republicans in New York, California and New Jersey basically were told by party leaders that there were enough "yes" votes from the rest of the Republican thieves that their votes wouldn't be needed to pass this execrable bill. The "virtuous" Republicans voted "no" because they absolutely knew that a "yes" vote would have resulted in voters turning them out of office in 2018. The Democrats have demonstrated what each taxpayer in a high-tax state will lose as a consequence of the bill -- and it's gonna be a whopper.
The question is, how can Democrats convince voters in the districts of those "virtuous" Republican that they (the voters) need to vote Democratic in the next election? One good way to start would be to get those Republicans to explain on the record right now exactly why this bill is such a bad deal that they had to vote against it. It'll be interesting to watch them come up with some choice weasel words on the subject.
29
We will see many of those who voted for this bill voted out of office in next year's midterm elections!
21
Not in my state. Being a member of the Greedy Old Party along with stellar grifting, con artistry and conniving is a badge of honor and the voters will continue to elect and reelect those politicians even while those politicians are picking their pockets.
4
I'm sure most of them are planning on their post-retirement lucrative lobbying positions, thank you gifts from the donors who got their tax break. Why put up with the hassle of running for office when you can have money handed to you? Or retire with a hefty nest egg that you gave yourself?
5
Now, make it happen. Get out and motivate people to vote against this abomination (Trump included, of course).
1
I feel as if I passed something similar this morning.
53
'I feel as if I passed something similar this morning.'
more like a kidney stone..
2
The headline on the main landing page should be changed. Stop using words like "victory". This isn't a sporting match. This isn't a game. This is policy crafted by the minority, that affects the majority. That is all.
30
Marvin, you state under Trump and the GOP congress, the economy is doing really well compared to 8 years of stagnation.
The government fiscal year starts in Oct and ends in Sep. This means, when Trump took office in Jan 2017, the government was still operating under the budget and changes Obama and Congress put in place in Oct 2016. Since taking office, Congress has not passed a new fiscal budget; rather, they keep passing continuing resolutions which means they are essentially borrowing against the future 2018 budget whenever that gets passed. So, the bottom line is, you cant give Trump credit for an economy he had nothing to do with in terms of passing a budget and putting policies in place before he took office, and before he's even worked with Congress to pass a new budget -- which is now 3 months past due.
36
Corporate media, whether "anti-Trump" or not, should be congratulated for helping the GOP pass the tax cut that will enormously benefit them. The president and the party will soon have their first "major legislative victory". Who cares that almost nobody supports this bill that goes directly counter to the prevailing mood, which is not exactly supportive of corporate welfare. If I remember correctly, the president himself ranted about corporate lobbyists and how the politicians are controlled by them. This included Hillary Clinton who, yes, has taken money, for example, from Goldman Sachs. It is difficult to imagine, however, that she would have hired half of her cabinet from the said company before passing a giant corporate giveaway. Well, Trump did. Congratulations again, everybody! Well done.
10
Is it a legislative "victory" if the result is a tax law that burdens the majority of Americans?
23
This is the same kind of Electoral aberration "victory" that put Trump in the White House with a significant MINORITY of votes. This "victory" is a dish best served cold.
2
Yes it is. I win, companies win, and the rest of you lose.
Two out of three ain't bad.
Merry Christmas.
Sincerely,
Mitch M.
2
Use the NY Times own calculator. In the first paragraph it states that 75% of all american will pay less taxes. They will get to keep more of their own hard earned money. How is this a tax law that 'burdens the majority of Americans?"
1
By April of 2019, the middle class won't even remember this tax cut. It won't create jobs, it won't change most people's taxes enough to even notice. It won't stimulate the economy. It will add another 1.5 to that debt number that no one understands and only cares about when some politician tells them to get excited about it.
The things they will notice, they won't realize are a result of this bill. Republicans will be especially dictatorial when talking about the budget because suddenly the debt will matter. There will be more emphasis on the bottom line by your employer as they move to maximize the benefits of this tax cut. Expect layoffs. The markets should get a nice bump throughout 2018 as corporate profits jump up.
But if you are like most Americans, you won't even notice any of that.
13
As I have told friends, the only wealth distribution we will see is into the pockets of CEOs, shareholders and off-shore banks.
4
The New York Times is calling it a "victory" as if it is a good thing. The business takeover of our government is nearly complete. Giving more to businesses and the wealthy, diminishing the middle class and increasing the despair of those living in poverty isn't a win. I am looking forward to voting these people out of office as soon as possible and replacing them with people who actually represent The People and reversing all the damage.
10
Maybe we should call for all members of congress and the president to release their tax returns (from before and after this bill becomes law) to see exactly how they benefited from it.
A little sunshine goes a long way in restoring the public trust.
14
Well said. I am sure it would be most enlightening. Good luck getting Trump to do anything legal, moral or ethical. He can't spell it, he can't say it, and he doesn't know what it is.
5
We won't know the final effect of the tax changes until we file our taxes in Spring 2019. The pay checks may look larger first but the impact of taking the standard deduction or itemizing can change the picture, right?
2
So, the only consolation is that the House (after crowing about their vote) has to vote again due to the required changes being made before the Senate votes. That blunts their celebration just a bit. Still, it's a sad day for America's middle class.
7
The results will speak for themselves in less than a year. If you want the year 2018 to be like 2017 or better than you have a choice to vote more of the same people back in. If you don't like the current representatives because they voted for this bill you vote them out.
2
I was told if Trump won the election, the stock market would drop 30% last year, but DJ is up more than 5000 since election. The same medias said the tax cut is bad for the country, Why the market is cheering?
5
The market "cheering" does little to help the average middle-class family.
Also, as many before me have asked, if the market and business in general is doing so well, then why do corporations need a tax cut?
WHY?
63
The tax cut is bad for the country and the market is cheering, because the stock market does not reflect what is happening to the country. Only half of Americans own any stock, and the top 20% in income own 92% of all stock. Since the stock market actually reflects the anticipated gains for the well-off, the stock market is cheering because 83% of the gains from the tax bill are expected to go to the top 1% in income.
https://www.npr.org/2017/03/01/517975766/while-trump-touts-stock-market-...
7
Simple, the Market likes stability. It has nothing to do with liking Trump (agh, who would anyway?).The Market dos what IT wants - it's legal gambling. Warren Buffet once said, when asked why he did so well with investments, that he just guessed a little better than most. No pundit can predict the Market for long - except, of course, lying Donald Trump. So far, HE has had NOTHING to do with gains - it all started after the Recession with Obama and is still continuing because businesses are making record profits at the expense of their employees. Great reason to give THEM a huge tax break, huh!
3
The nation has played host to many bad laws in the past. What makes this different is that it was done behind our backs and in the dark. Dark Money Rules! And that's not fake news. It's just not news.
9
Get your friends to "follow the money". Start with Trump's mysterious tax returns and then before and after returns for all Republicans relative to this tax abortion. Interesting things afoot!
1
Grand Old Prevaricators win and America loses. Let's hope the RepubliCONs get their just rewards next year. Get out and vote, campaign against these con men and women, and let them hear our message.
12
"They take like Caesar and nobody cares." -- Jack White, "Entitlement"
10
Amazing how closely the "Christians" in the Republican party embody the Seven Deadly Sins. in real life, they are obviously atheists.
13
NY Times: Stop with the win/lose narrative. We are all going to lose. This is crisis for our country, for our democracy, and for the world. Stop with your attempts to make these people and their totalitarian agenda sound normal. The more you normalize Trump, the more you are abetting. Stop. Just stop.
26
Your headline is so misleading. A victory for Republicans? You'd think they were the minority in both houses to have pulled this off. But no, they are the majority: there is no victory when victory should be automatic. How pathetic. And shame on you for painting it so.
10
Let me fix your headline: "Tax bill passes with support from only GOP, and not even all of them."
20
The GOP have (once again) proven themselves to be traitors, liars and thieves of the lowest order. To them the American people are merely sheep lining up to be fleeced so they can feather their already comfortable nests. These parasites only worship money. Human beings are expendable.
9
Please define “victory,” New York Times, and be a bit more thoughtful with your headline composition in the future.
9
"Victory" refers to the fact that Republicans haven't been able to help the slob in chief fulfill his drunken promises without stumbling all over each other or getting in trouble with the court system. But with this tax bill, they finally got something done. A pathetic victory, but it's still a feather in their cap.
Do they really believe that people "will learn to love this bill"?! How stupid do they think the majority of us are? Every year our tax cuts will get worse for the middle and lower classes! VOTE THEM OUT!
13
Did anyone realistically expect a different outcome? They're probably all back slapping themselves (while holding their noses) at finally passing something, anything of substance. And Paul Ryan probably (finally) has a smile on his face, other than that smirk he always seem to have.
Onto to the Senate where I would hope/wish for a pleasant surprise but not certainly not expecting it!
4
Please tell me how they made it a more simplified tax plan? All they did is drop some percents on the bracket incomes and created more loop holes for the rich. Paul Ryan and his buddy Trump are sitting there spitting out common sense lies. Who believes these people anymore now that they pretty much lie to your face. You know what I am tired the most about, is people believe what all of these clowns say. I admit Democrats do lie and tell half truths but come on guys these guys are making YOU look like idiots.
4
FYI, this is why the Senate will delay this nightmare until tomorrow. Try to stick it to higher ed and use 529 accounts for private K - 12 schools. Too bad repealing the ACA mandate did not cause this to hit a brick wall.
* The House version that passed Tuesday included a provision to tax net investment income of private colleges and universities with more than 500 students and assets of at least $100,000 per student. Emory University president Claire Sterk has raised concerns about the endowment tax, saying investment helps fund patient care and financial aid. Emory reported in November 2016 a 1.9 percent return, net of all fees, on its endowment for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2016, and it was valued at $6.5 billion. Some Senate Budget Committee members said Tuesday afternoon the provision may be removed from the bill.
* A proposed tax on tuition waivers for graduate and doctoral students for research they do on campus has been removed from the bill. Nearly 50,000 graduate and professional students are currently enrolled in the University System of Georgia. Many students worried they would be unable to afford this new tax, and would fail to finish their program0s.
* The House version of the bill would expand use of 529 college savings accounts to include K-12 private school tuition. These accounts can be used for up to $10,000 in tuition expenses annually. Some Senate Budget Committee members said Tuesday afternoon the provision may also be removed from the bill.
4
Noted that the top of the fold story online at NYT around 3-45 pm Tuesday is about cat-calling and groping. Tax bill update is below that.
5
This is a dark day for America when the President and Congress are clearly not paying attention to the will of the people. This tax proposal is deeply unpopular and yet has been jammed down our threats in record time simply for the sake of one legislative win in 2017. Pathetic.
16
You mean jammed down our throats to make sure we start paying as soon as possible, like when we file next month.
1
I hope that this will further enrage Democratic voters to come out and vote in mass in 2018! The oligarchy must be stopped!
15
LOL... It's not a victory if everybody hates it and it costs them the Congress in 2018.
13
Disgraceful. DEMS let's repeal and replace in 2018. Right after you impeach Trump. Good times are coming back! Can't wait!
9
Taking from the majority of the people to give to the filthy rich. Wow, this is historic--a new high for a low in this country. And that is saying a lot.
Have these Republicans no shame? Obviously not!
Ask who is government for? And if your answer is it is only for rich people, crony capitalism, millionaire politicians, and media outlets that lie and insult, then vote Republican.
14
The talking points are so amazingly silly. Go to the link that the NY Times provided to calculate your own taxes. 75% of the people in this country will pay less! How is that taking from the majority of people to give to the filthy rich???????
Calculate the tax cuts for those earning 750K and come back and defend your silly statement.
There is an saying:"Don't throw a glass of water on my back and tell me it's raining"!
5
Americans voters have a moral obligation to show up at the polls and vote these Republican criminals and traitors out of office.Enough is enough. We cannot pretend that this is a democracy as long as the Republicans control the government and continually violate the Constitution to feed their own greed and the greed of their corporate masters. Stand up for justice and get out the vote!
12
Duped Trump voters will surely declare victory.
6
First of all, the people in the Make America Great Again hats who were yelling for Hillary to be sent to jail deserve this tax bill.
Second, I hope they enjoy it.
11
There is no longer any pretense of fairness, ethics, common good or middle class. The republicans are shamelessly grabbing all they can for their corporate donors while they have an incompetent, mentally dysfunctional man in the White House.
It a feeding frenzy by sharks, wide-eyed looters in the night.
6
Please stop calling it an "achievement." The word has very positive connotations.
10
No one wants this !
5
The first time we got Republican style tax cuts like this under Reagan we got enormous deficits and debt and no, the economic growth did not pay for it. The rich got richer, the poor got poorer, and the middleclass got nowhere.
The next time we got Republicans style tax cuts like this under Bush we got enormous deficits, exploding debt, the Great Recession, and, no the economic growth did not pay for it. Still The rich got richer, the poor got poorer, and the middleclass got nowhere.
If history is any lesson, this time with the Republican style tax cuts like this we will almost certainly get enormous deficits, exploding debt, probably a Great Depression, and, no the economic growth will not pay for, Still The rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer, and going nowhere for the middleclass will seem like good times compared to where they will be.
What is that saying about fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Where is the shame, the cruelty, the ignorance, and stupidity for being fooled three times.
10
Is the goal of a party to score a victory, or deliver an accomplishment? Even the tone of our press — print included — focuses on gamesmanship and short-sighted “wins”. Is either party aiming to deliver an advance for the people of our nation? Leading Democrats are angling in iowa or writing op ed pieces — instead, write a bill, post it online, bring it to every talk show, including fox. Show something real. Write a one page bill that says “those earning less than $50,000 will pay 0 tax. To compensate and balance the budget, those earning over $5 million will pay an extra 0.25 percentage points in tax. The End.” Wave that in front of Postcard Ryan and ask him why he can’t sign onto that bill? One page bill — buy an ad on the Times (instead of writing an op ed). Counter Republicans with a real and concrete bill. This will force Ryan and McConnell to bring it to the floor. Dems could pound this message easily. Why are Dems not doing this?! Because they’d rather complain about Trump and Republicans, jack up voter resentment, and get power in 2018... maybe 2020. Then, they’ll do something real (presumably?). This is what upsets voters. The opposition party just fights to get back to power, instead of fighting for causes. Use the media. Use social media. Not just for protest. But behind a real bill that is ready to be voted on. People will rally around a bill like the one mentioned above...... unless Dems just want power because they too are bought out by special interests.
4
Orrin Hatch, is not on the same planet as the rest of us!!
4
No he lives on the Planet of Republican along with the rest of them.
Theft pure and simple. None of the other complicated thoughts and words are needed. Dooh Nibor strikes again. (If you can't decipher that, shame on you).
3
Dear GOP Congressional Members -
You have 12 months left in office* so make sure to pass through any other garbage legislation you can. When you're voted out of office 11/18 you can go work for lobbyists and consulting firms. Then when the Dems reverse this piece of unpopular garbage you'll know how the rest of us feel.
Signed - The American People
* Some of you like Paul Ryan may leave even sooner while the gettin' is good. Others will be ousted in continued abuse scandals.
*
6
Why are these men so bent on destruction and greed?
They do not represent citizens; they represent their donors only.
21
They have second homes in foreign countries as well as off-shore accounts.
1
It is time states like New York and California lowered their taxes if they are concerned about their citizens WHO ITEMIZE getting shafted. Statistics are that only about 25% of taxpayers itemize and only about 2% itemize in the amount of over $50k (they all live in blue states).
If you consider that you do not pay a penny in taxes on your first $24,000 in income, it is difficult to argue that this bill is a bad deal.
Much of the rage among the lunatic fringe that passes for progressives is caused by that the Republicans are actually getting things done (how dare they?) and they conniption arises mostly from their hatred of Trump.
Unless you are a taker through and through, you will have a great deal to cheer in this tax bill.
Enjoy the extra bucks, progressives.
1
Yes, CA and NY should become impoverished red states.
6
Sad, sad day for Americans!! When your government serves only the interests of the wealthy it is time to replace all who voted “yes”.
Remember 2017 and get out to vote in 2018!
6
Well, Mr. Trump, two questions: when will I get my postcard for filling out my taxes? and Why did you lie about not profiting and being hurt by this tax bill ?
13
Trump has no business being president, so lets get that out of the way, but what's Democrats big idea here--lets root against the US economy for the next few years so that we can hang it around Trumps neck in 2020?
Aside from the possibility that the economy might respond well to the tax bill, looking for that sort of political advantage is a bit un-American, even for a pathologically impractical bunch of utopians.
2
The bill cuts taxes for everybody so the NY "Trump has a 9% chance" Times headline says: "Tax cuts for the rich!"
Its so funny watching the liberal urbanites in hysteria over Trump. So so so much fun.
1
Wait and see. Oh what’s that, that just fell off your face? Oh, oh - your nose, right.
1
So now is everyone happy? Anyone? Someone? Come on, don’t be so ungrateful. It’s not every day the government hands out the equivalent of a free toaster to the most in need while calling it the biggest tax cut you have ever seen, as the wealthy get to unwrap their nice new boats, Lamborghinis, diamond necklaces, and stocks. Pass the lump of coal please. It’s getting cold in here.
4
"Twelve House Republicans also voted no on the bill, including lawmakers from high-tax states like New York, New Jersey and California."
DON'T BE FOOLED! Their votes weren't needed for passage, enabling these frauds to have it both ways. Getting what they want, while pretending to object.
5
Remember, remember the 19th of December. With a vengeance.
4
As Robert Caro says, this is not a democracy.
4
Not anymore. Once upon a time, maybe.
Not when the "winning" presidential candidates loses by almost 3 million votes.
Not when the GOP doesn't even bother to let the Democrats bother to read this bill before passing it.
Not when the GOP doesn't even hold ONE public hearing.
Not when the GOP has methodically gerrymandered congressional districts to create its own bogus majority.
5
There is, I believe, a second less-reported reason that there was such a rush to pass the bill this year. Members of Congress did not want to go home over the holidays and face massive demonstrations not unlike those over repeal of ACA. Now they can say, "done is done". Now go eat your broccoli - its good for you.
Why does the NYT keep calling this a victory for Republicans?
They control all three branches, so they can pass any legislation they want. Merely being able to internally agree on something, anything, is hardly a an accomplishment.
And this bill is political suicide for the GOP. Everyone hates it - with very good reason - except a tiny few super rich. Although that constituency is certainly wealthy and powerful, it is not enough to win elections totally on its own.
3
The House Republicans passed the bill, not the House.
4
You have to laugh. How can a party that controls both legislative chambers and the executive branch pass a bill, and claim it's some sort of 'victory'? Over what, their constituents who work for a living?
4
The US just squandered an opportunity to pay off its debt, which is likely to balloon. Interests rate on it will then increase and if the world think a second you're likely to default, will be crushing. Then you'll regret all this monkey business.
2
Here's an idea:
Support as little corporations as you can. Start by closing out your chain bank account and opening an account with a credit union. Buy as many things as you can from individual sellers on Ebay. Prepare breakfasts and lunches at home and have dinner out once a week. Get neighbors together to form a wholesale price circle e.g. you all buy toliet paper in bulk.
2
Or just get a grip and hope that trying something new after 8 years of malaise will help. Give it a chance.
Shockingly irresponsible, continuing a record of shockingly irresponsible actions and attempted actions by the Republican controlled Congress and administration.
1
Not to worry, Senator Grassley said the middle class would have money to save and invest if they had not wasted it all on women, booze and movies.
So no more wine, women and Star Wars and you will have plenty of money even with the tax increases.
2
Why is it called a "victory" when the Republicans only had themselves as an opponent?
1
Once again, we see the deep state failure.
We sat passive, comfortable, and neat.
In the meantime, the forces of evil, did the hard work- they gerrymandered our districts, they took away minority voting rights and they gave the rich another break.
The time to light up the torches is now. It's time for the wealthiest to burn. They have bug outs in New Zealand and Australia.
Let's get them on their way.
2
The enormity of the consequences of this tax legislation, like those of many of Trump's actions, do not reflect the closeness of the general election or how closely divided the House and Senate are. Here, the tax bill barely passed the House and will probably squeak by in the Senate by a margin of 3 votes, yet the result is to balloon the deficit by $1.5 trillion (for the poorly educated who voted for trump, a trillion is one thousand billion(!), or one million million), and future devastating cuts to social programs that millions rely on. Similarly, the newest supreme court justice cleared the Senate only because the Vice-pres cast the tiebreaking vote, yet Gorsuch will likely be on the Court for 30-40 years. Same with the numerous Trump federal appeals court judges that have already cleared Senate approval. Meanwhile, Trump LOST the popular vote-most voters do not want him in office. Yet his irrational (one can hardly call them political, since he has no principles) actions will devastate the country for years to come, from deregulation in the environment and withdrawal from the climate change agreement to playing chicken with North Korea and cozying up to Putin. He barely won, but his actions are extreme.
2
correction-Gorsuch was approved 54-45
Thank you GOP for providing such great fodder for the 2018 Democratic campaign.
2
Just watch: The Republicans with start caring about deficits again as soon as a Democrat replaces Trump. You can bet your student loan interest on it.
4
This bill is feudal in nature. The idea that the rich overlords will provide. We will all benefit from their largess as they they go a'pillaging the public good. Please, sir, can I have some more, sir?
3
Is there any chance at least one Republican will find a conscience between now and the time the Senate vote takes place.
No. :(
The public is opposed because of the constant and dishonest disinformation campaign that has been waged by the left. If you actually look at the bill and run your own taxes you will find you will get a break, in most cases a pretty fair break. If you are in one of the high tax states and IF you are a high earner then you will actually pay more. If you are in one of the high tax states and you make under 300K then you will pay less. Stop letting people like Maddow tell you how you should think. Look at the bill and calculate it for yourself. I realize that Matthews doesn't have a lot of time for details in between his sexual misbehaviors but even he should be able to do the math.
1
You must have different tax tables
1
Are these Breitbart tax tables you have gotten a hold of?
Once more, taxation without representation. Time for a revolution to throw the Republicans out. Even the ones who are not personally millionaires don't have the integrity or courage to protect us from greed.
The fundamental question is "Who pays these people to stand in front of a camera and lie, lie, lie?" Their salaries come from the U.S. Treasury. Do we pay them to lie? If not, who does? To a person, these Republicans lie absolutely and unequivocally. It is mind boggling, honestly.
3
What we see is a new generation of Republicans cheering the fiction that is trickle-down.
Tough to watch them jeer at liberals as the shareholder class sneaks up from behind to rob the jeerers of everything they have.
You really kind of have to hand it to Republicans for their skill at carnival barking.
2
Looks like we're all gonna be in Kansas now. Thanks to the tax and government cutting wizards of the GOP.
1
GOP: You own this. It won't be forgotten. Not this time.
1
“The vote puts Republicans one Senate vote and one presidential signature away from their first significant legislative achievement”
This is by far the furthest example of a significant legislative achievement. Let’s call it what it really is….fleecing America. This is the ultimate abuse of power by a corrupted self serving and malicious government. This President, administration and GOP have miserably failed to serve the people of this nation in basically all facets of decent and moral governing. They are a total disgrace to the nation and people.
2
I'm reading that the House has to vote again because the Parliamentarian objected to 3 provisions....what a [bad] joke. This is arguably the worst Congress ever.
3
They got this through by lying and hiding the bill from the public. No discussion and no detailed reports because they didn't know what was in the bill until the last minute. Some (perhaps many) have not read the bill at this point. Unless the GOP senators are very lucky, this will eventually come back to bite them. Hopefully before the 2018 election. It appears to me that Trump thinks this bill is totally a reflection of what he wanted. Perhaps so, because we never know when he is lying and he lies most of the time.
1
The reason that so many Americans don't like the tax reform is because the media has been telling them that it is a gift to the rich which is a lie. The wealthiest income earners go from 39% to 37% , some gift. Here in NJ in towns like Livingston, Alpine, Fair Haven etc. where property taxes are $30,000, $50,000 they can now only claim $10,000 in property taxes. That is not what I call a gift to the rich. The reform also makes American companies more competitive with the rest of the world.
1
Great News, I just kept $2291 more of my own money. Married Family earning 65K per year. Onward and Upward MAGA
1
For how long? Those tax cuts are not permanent Here today, gone tomorrow. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Soon you will be supporting parents without social security. Oh, you better pray your kids stay real healthy! Your guns won't help get them better!!
Government outstanding debt and corporate profits are at both at the highest level as percent of GDP in at least the last 60 years. On what planet is a budget busting corporate tax cut an appropriate policy?
4
Well, next November we'll see exactly how the country honestly feels about this. That's the great thing about elections. They have consequences. If the Democrats are right about this tax plan, then they should be elated. They'll win the House back. If they're wrong, they're not going to like 2020 at all.
Interesting how the NYS Republican Congress people voted. Chris Collins and John Faso (who voted "Yes") have been outspoken about wanting NYS to change the 1966 policy implemented by (Republican) Gov. Nelson Rockefeller requiring a portion of county property taxes to be applied towards covering Medicaid in the state. They tried to change this in the stalled ACHA (TrumpCare) plan with their "Local Share Limitation Proposal" putting the onus solely on the state which can't fund it all, therefore forcing cuts in Medicaid - Medicaid that was expanded because of Obamacare.
So if NYS taxpayers are going to be limited to deducting much less in (very high) property taxes, perhaps people are going to be more inclined to push the state to lower their county property taxes, accomplishing the "Local Share Limitation Proposal" by different a tactic.
A year ago, I suspected Trump ran for the presidency to manipulate policy and legislation to get richer. Today there is no doubt. But I had no idea the degree to which he would ruthlessly smash the economic and social values and goals of the average American in the process. The biggest threat to our country walks among us.
2
And I thought he did it to stave off financial ruin and keep foreign creditors at bay. Hard to collect that i.o.u. when he has 24hr security to hide behind.
I really don't like the headline of this article, calling it "victory". This is a piece of legislation, Congress is passing it and presumably the President will sign it into law. It is not a football match. It should not feel like a victory to anyone. In the best case, it will improve people's lives. Here, it will improve only a very few people's lives.
Their "victory" is locking out Democrats and the voices of the American public. It's a dubious word to use for something that was obtained through heavy cheating in the game of legislating. The bill hasn't even been public for an entire week - no bipartisan review or hearings, no town halls, and nothing but deaf ears from Congressional Republicans. The long term consequences of the bill have barely been discussed, and any impartial review has been sidelined. That is the kind of victory earned by bullies and cheats.
1
Am lucky to make good income. This tax bill raises my rate and eliminates 3/4 of my deductions, so I will pay thousands more in federal tax. Actually, I would not mind paying more if it were helping to shore up Social Security and Medicare, making individual health insurance more affordable, or reducing tax burden for families with less income. But I will pay more so Trumps and Corker and robber barons can get even richer? Makes me sick.
It is critical at this stage of our history that those with the most, the most in the history of the world, get more....AND, at the expense of our national well-being. Thanks GOP.
It's Hilarious that the Democrats are complaining about adding to the debt after Obama added $20 Trillion dollars to our national debt.
1
What's hilarious is where you get your information, and the fact that the reality of this tax bill hasn't hit you yet.
Actually, much of Obama’s debt were the result of W’s two unfunded wars, the Medicare donut hole, and tax cuts, which Obama extended. His main addition to the debt was the stimulus, which many states took, and which saved the auto industry, which would not have been necessary had W not ground Clinton’s surplus into the ground.
Learn to look beyond the man behind the Fox “News” curtain, paisan.
Obama inherited an economic catastrophe. When the next one hits the till wilk not be there to help us dig out...
as soon as we ask "will I pay more or less in taxes under this law?", the republicans have won. this is because asking that question indicates accepting the premise that a tax cut is good if my taxes go down. but really the cost of this bill comes less from any individual's tax bill than from all of the cuts to govevernment programs that will be required to pay for it. We do not need and cannot afford a tax cut. This $1.5 trillion tax cut will hurt every single one of us in underfunded programs for scientific research, tax collection, social security, medicare, medicaid, children's health insurance, funding programs at universities, infrastructure, FEMA (how would Houstonians feel if they got zero from the federal government because we have to cut taxes for the wealthy and for corporations (who already avoid taxes anyway!)), center for disease control (Ebola anyone?), and numerous other programs (remember the sequester?). We ALL lose from this tax cut bill-even the super-wealthy, since the society they need to support all their super-wealthy activities will evaporate-no more breathable air, no more poison-free water, no more water (drought in CA) no more food (climate change will eliminate that), no more going outside (for fear of contracting the many diseases that are spreading as a result of climate change and various environmental insults (remember the mosquito-borne Zika virus/microcephaly scare). All of this and more is coming our way and is foreseeable.
3
A high tax state is not an act of nature, it came about over years of spending and spending by State and Local governments. Fortunately here in NYC we have the certainty that each and every tax dollar is spent in the most efficient way providing maximum support for each dollar we pay. We have the best roads, transportation systems, public services and our schools are so in demand due to their high quality that a large percentage of the 1% lives in NYC so as to send their kids to our public schools.
2
This country will have no safety net in a decade - we will be paying taxes to line the pockets of the defense industry and plutocrats, and then they will come for more (notice the cuts aren't permanent for the non-rich). If you have money, get it out of the USA as soon as possible and, if you are able, move or at least send your children elsewhere where there is a reasonable future and balance between taxation and safety net/services. The middle class and upper middle class should get out while the going is good. The Kochs and their ilk will never be satisfied.
1
The elephant in the legislation is the elimination of the personal exemption. Most of the summaries of what's in the omit this. Thus...a family of four is out more than 16 thousand dollars right from the get go. It's a killer for the elderly, many of whom have substantial medication deductions but not enough to clear the 24 thousand dollar standard deduction threshold without the personal exemptions. Merry Christmas!
2
This should not be a shock that the tax bill passed in the house. It will now go to the senate where it will also pass. The Republicans promised tax cuts during the election and are finally delivering. I do not think it is as bad as the liberals are predicting it will be. Some of us are quite happy and will actually see our taxes reduced putting more money into our paychecks. This is a good thing.
This Tax Bill simple shows that we have the Best Democracy Money Can Buy.
3
The most important piece of this bill is the elimination of the State And Local Tax exemption, which will force the wealthiest people in high state-income tax rates, like NY, CA, IL and VT to pay more of their income in taxes.
Those state and federal legislators will have to defend the high tax rates, which will be hard to do. Many rich people, left and right, will abandon those states for other places, which will likely create a snowball effect, as less money is available to pay for running that state's govt. This will necessitate even higher taxes to compensate for the losses.
This could quickly get ugly.
1
They all get thirty pieces of silver in their Christmas stockings.
We get a lump of Clean Coal in ours.
2
Such good news! The fantastical wrecking ball crew appears to be on the cusp of passing a grotesquely partisan transfer of wealth to the already rich amongst us. Wow. Such cringe-worthy leadership. And us lucky middle class folks might get around $1000 per year in tax cuts while corporations and the very wealthy will rake in hundreds of thousands... or millions. Sounds like a really good deal. Meanwhile, CHIP goes down to defeat, the Dreamer's lives have been turning into a nightmare, we have an imminent government shutdown. And in the near future, praise be, there won't be enough tax revenue to pay for medicaid, medicare and social security, let alone roads, bridges, airports, and other critical infrastructure that actually might make America safer and more competitive. Here's to the snake oil salesmen and saleswomen. They sure know how to ram things through to an unjust conclusion. May this come back to haunt them in 2018.
1
Believe him. This is not good for Trump personally. POTUS said so himself. Thats good enough for me. We should thank Mr Trump for his selfless service. Where could he have learned that commendable quality? In the military?
1
I can't wait to get to the polls next November, and I've got a lot of company.
Since when is fleecing the poor and middle class considered a "victory?" GOP need to go in 2018; they have lost touch with the country. They will cheat, however, and we will have to make sure everyone gets out and votes to beat their cheat. We can do it. Let's do it.
Paul Ryan should have known better. Like the architectural style of the building that represents the World Trade Center which is disappointment of a generation, Ryan is likewise such a disappointment.
Be sure to thank your children and grandchildren on Christmas Day for this Christmas present. They're paying for it.
A win for the GOP is a loss for America and hopefully GOP candidates next fall.
Time to face facts. Most of us are going to see a tax cut. But we are also going to see a cut in Social Security, Medicare and a million other programs that benefit the middle and lower classes so they are net losers. But since those groups are notoriously numeracy illiterate, they will be thrilled to get the $200-$500 and will pull Republican in 2018. It's also time for the Democrats to stop claiming the world is about to end. If this tax bill is really that bad, the voters will vote accordingly. I think they made a huge mistake claiming this bill will make taxes higher for most people when the true framing of the issue is how many social programs will be cut.
2
Vote your conscience come November 2018.
After 11 months of this being discussed (by next year's vote), in the press and voters talking to their accountants and friends, this will be an easy vote. All politics is local.
Even those who honestly think this bill is great, must admit that the price of it was the election of Trump, and the erosion of many key norms. All the damage that Trumpism did to our orderly government, is inseparable from any benefits of this bill. Let's never forget this basic truth. Republicans can never claim that this bill was enacted to uphold some principle, because the indelible price of it was this utterly unprincipled presidency.
68
This is not a victory; this is a disgrace. Republicans will be booed out of their own town hall meetings with constituents, the moment this bill is mentioned.
1
So, the Senate plans to debate this late into the night, so they can sneak it in under the cover of darkness. And, then have Americans wake up tomorrow morning to find out that come 12 days, from now, the largest distribution of wealth, since the American Revolution, will take place. Creating, in essence, a new landed aristocracy in the progress. And, relating, most of America, to a serf and peasant class status.
Merry Christmas America. You all got a lump of coal to open on Both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Await your lord of the manor to come forth, as they start taking you assets away, when they tank Wall Street and the real estate market, to come in and grab all the spoils. And, for those working, prepare to train your off shore replacement, as trickle down economics will take your job away and give it to a visa holder or someone in Asia. And, fro those who in their early careers, prepare to work until your death, as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will be just memories, when they are cut to pay fro the $1,000,000,000+ deficit that is coming. And, if you get sick, can't work, or the like; better find a nice warm sidewalk to call home or do not be a burden on society.
Oh, forget about farming; corporate America took all the family farm land for themselves and the landed aristocracy. Sort of like Stalinism meets capitalism.
Yes sir, they are making America Great Again.
54
The Trump Republican Party received roughly 3 million votes fewer than did Democrat Hillary Clinton, of whom I never have been an enthusiast. (I voted for her enthusiastically, considering the alternative.) In the first disastrous year of this minority presidency, Trump and his party have done all they could get away with to harm the poor, old and ill while enriching themselves and their corporations. We shall deal with them in 11 short months -- even less than that. Time flies when you're politically enraged.
49
Another ridiculous post about Hillary receiving more popular votes nationally. So what???? That is not how presidents are elected. You might as well bring up the weather on election day. Not relevant.
Could The Times please reveal for its readers, perhaps in graph format, Trump's tax savings under this new legislation as best it can, using all publicly available data? Even a range of projected savings would be better than having no information at all. That he has not released his income tax records to date is now more scandalous and frustrating than ever. I assume that there are skilled forensic tax experts who could come up with some fairly reliable numbers in Trump's case. Thank you.
52
We voted for Donald J. Trump to be the president of the United States of America on the promise of much needed tax reform. America has been in the need of tax reform since the late 1980s, its been long overdue. Now it seems like evermore a reality. Gone are the burdenous years of previous decade during which everthing possible was done to stop American business dead in its tracks. Under President Trump the American economy is back in force; people are woking; work is no longer a dirty word; this tax reform will ensure work continues and America is great again. Thank you.
9
Yes sir, the south has risen again, and has brought with it the reason why they lost the Civil War; greed, human trafficking, slavery and implementing a landed aristocracy. They hijacked the party of Lincoln, in irony, using abortion and Christian vales as a wedge issue to do it. But, in the end, the USA is now the CSA; effectively. I am just waiting for poll tax, and voter suppression to make it to the rest of the 50 states. Not to mention, full endorsement of wage slavery among the aristocrats.
And, eventually, the United States may get that populist uprising that happened in France and Russia, when the masses the off the yoke of tyranny.
In my last life, I am seeing the United States transforming itself into something imperial; just like what happened in Ancient Rome. This, courtesy of people like Southern Boy.
31
There is nothing wrong with reducing the tax burden as long as the subsequent reduction in revenue does not increase the deficit and government borrowing.
The Republican Tax legislation increases the deficit by over 1 trillion dollars by the best of estimates. So, any economic gains from increased investment and spending will be tempered by the increase in interest rates brought about by increased deficit borrowing.
And don’t forget, the personal cuts are temporary.
This tax legislation rewards a cabal of ultra-wealthy contributors to the Republican Party. It is nothing more than a wealth transfer from the many to the few.
1
Please, Trump inherited a booming economy. Corporations have made plenty of money and profits over the past 5 years under the democrats who btw rescued the last tax giveaway that Republicans did back in 2001 and 2004. We'll see if this tax cut stimulates anything other than Trumps ego.
2
“Victory”?
Really?
For who?
40
Victory for the very very rich of course-not the folks who have worked extremely hard and knew how to save, and now as they enter the world of retirement have unexpected worry at a time they looked forward to. Sad.
Decidedly not a victory for democracy.
For me , I just got a tax cut of $2291 for my family earning 65K per year.
My parents got to keep even more of THEIR money
MAGA
Say goodbye to those few remaining Republican Congressman from CA!
66
It'll be nice to see Nunes and McCarthy go.
1
yeah if Dana Rohrabacher & Darrell Issa think they are safe for voting no - they are mistakened.
1
Why?
https://getliberty.org/2017/12/u-s-rep-devin-nunes-named-congressman-of-...
I am not sure if it is a "victory," if the press and the public are mainly strongly opposed to this bill. Not only are people opposed to it, many characterize the bill as a "scam." Such a victory will lead to a victory for their opposition.
38
Yea right, "mainly strongly opposed to the bill" the way everyone was going to vote against Trump as late as election eve! This "against the bill" stuff is fake news invented by the left media because they know in their hearts that we're all going to love its results. Just look at the stock market if you want to see an unbiased affirmation. The left hates success because people who enjoy it generally don't vote Democrat.
1
Yes, I am deeply opposed to news media calling it a "win" for the GOP.
The stock market is hardly "unbiased." The stockholders are the main beneficiaries of this "tax cut." This is a scam.
If Bob Corker had $14 million in real estate income and a tax rate of 25%, how much does he save? ANSWER: The 20% deduction for his PTEs means deduction of $2.8 million. If his tax rate is 25% (probably more but unlikely to be less) he realizes a savings of $700,000. The average for the middle class is $1,400 or .2% of what Bob saves. And Bob's savings are permanent, middle class will see a rise in taxes before their cuts expire altogether. Good job Bob! Thank you, I was so worried about your retirement prospects.
79
Great comment-thanks for putting this in print so we can see how bad it really is. What a government-each and every one of them for themselves-America , what has happened?????
Indeed. The Corker kickback.
At least Corker is grateful for the largesse he has been given.
The difference between Democrats and Republicans is Democrats are trying to help the citizens and Republicans are not. We don't need a tax cut now. The economy is doing well. Now is the time to raise some taxes and pay for infrastructure, education, healthcare. Republicans say that Obamacare was passed without Republican support therefore it is ok to pass tax legislation without Democratic support. The difference is that healthcare helped millions get health insurance that they need. The tax legislation provides large tax cuts to the wealthy and small tax cuts to others. I blame the Republicans for the state of politics today. They are appealing to people's greed to stay in office.
46
Let us not forget this is just the tip of the Republican spear. Expect attempts to carve up Medicare, Medicaid and SS in the months to follow under the claim of necessary deficit reduction, which the Republicans are about to jack up another 1.5 trillion with this tax bill, all the while claiming it will pay for itself in a trickle down fantasy.
Also notice the mention again of "the wall" in Trump's recent speech on national security. Lets' see, if we reduce our revenue by 1.5 trillion and we need XX billion for the wall...carry the ignorance...divide by stupidity...oh heck, just slash those darn entitlements so we can claim another win!
47
I used the handy dandy tax calculator on this site to see my big return on this tax cut.
Looks like remodeling my kitchen is out of the question. But the good news is that I'll be able to buy an extra cup or two of coffee each month.
Not worth the price of admission.
At least the rich hit the jackpot. According to Trump and his party, that will be great for people like me. They still haven't explained how exactly it will be great though.
31
And for your Christmas bonus your tax cuts will be rescinded in 6 years per this tax bill, so don't get too attached to having those extra sips.
1
It will be great because you can buy an extra cup or two of coffee every month! Just don't pay attention to your health insurance rates going up, or the "reforming" of social security, medicare, or medicaid. It is all good if you don't pay attention!
1
In war, the first causality is the truth.
In debating tax reform, the first causality is the complete truth from both sides. This is not unexpected, since it has been the norm for a long time.
The current bill is not as bad as opponents say it is, and it is not as good as proponents say it is. The danger though, is if large segments of the population fail to understand this.
The platforms of both parties are not looking to harm the country or its citizens, but, it is just that both parties differ on how best to create the best opportunities for the most people.
And in politics, expect the game of politics. So here, it would be naïve to think that all the Republicans who voted 'yes' really wanted to vote 'yes' and all the Democrats who voted 'no' really wanted to vote 'no'. There are times when the voice of party discipline is more persuasive than the voice of conscience.
2
Once the Senate passes this, nearly $30 billion will be cut from Medicare automatically.
I wonder if those who support this tax bill realize what they’ve just done to their own parents and to themselves.
68
I just ran the numbers and My family earning $65K a year just got a $2291 tax cut, My parents got back even more of THEIR money. MAGA
This bill is probably one of the most disgusting pieces of legislation I have ever experienced in my lifetime – ever, anywhere. Fie on Trump! Fie on the Republicans! Fie on all those who supported this despicable bill! I thought America was bigger than this. Alas, I was mistaken.
43
As a suburban New Yorker who pays a tremendous amount of property taxes, state and local taxes far exceeding the very ungenerous proposed $10000
deduction, I resent the rushed and partisan process in which this so called tax plan is being passed. I feel it will be harmful to my state and to our state and local governments and to health care and its workers.
I estimate that over 40 percent of New Yorkers work for the government and in the medical fields. This carelessly rushed bill will lower the standard of living not only in NY but though out the US . It will lead to a precipitous decline in home values further damaging New York's economy and devastating the housing industry. It is unfair to burden our state this way in order to transfer wealth to the privileged few and big corporations. If this bill passes,
I propose that an organization be formed consisting of citizens from high taxed states to demand the immediate re-institution of the SALT deduction, the political
defeat of Representatives who supported the repeal, and if necessary a state wide refusal to be double taxed.
This would require state wide boycotts of this discriminatory change with every citizen in our states taking the full SALT deduction on the 2019 tax forms. Again repeating there should be no DOUBLE TAXATION without representation. In my opinion there was none here. Important tax bills need an open and full Senate process with a filibuster option to be fair and valid and democratic.
33
Instead of whining, why don't take this opportunity to do a serious examination of the(corrupt) tax and spend policies of NY and other wealthy blue states. That way, you won't have to worry so much at the scale back in the SALT deduction.
1
Mindless Democrats just vote across party lines once again. Is it even possible that this tax bill helps the economy? Are 100% of the Democrats absolutely 100% certain that it won't? If not, then you are mindless fools for not considering voting for this bill. Even Sweden understands basic economics and is responding by lowering corporate tax rates to 20%. Sweden!
4
Or maybe they did consider carefully, and it really isn't worth voting for.
What if the bill being voted on were "Punch the bottom 99% of income earners on the nose"? Should some percentage of them vote yes for that too, because they might not be 100% certain it's not all bad?
What is Sweden's military/defense budget? Do the Swedes war-monger and have troops all around the world? Do Swedish corporations hide their money in off-shore bank accounts? Does Sweden have tax loopholes for the wealthy?
1
Jerome, what is mindless is the answer you will give me to the following question: if the rich have doubled their wealth in the past ten years, and the middle class has seen erosion of their discretionary income, and the economy is pretty much at full employment, and corporations are sitting on record high cash reserves, why on Earth did we just exacerbate the inequity in this country and give the wealthy another huge shot of wealth? Why? Remember, mindless . . .
1
And of course the pathological liar in the White House who said this tax bill is going to hurt him is caught in another big lie. He and his family are in-line for a huge Christmas gift. The con man will never show his tax return so you working class Republicans can continue to live in his world.
28
One of the reasons the New York Times has devolved into a newspaper that merely preaches to its choir is its refusal to state facts that everyone knows, everyone, that is, who doesn't rely solely on the NYT and its ilk for all information. To the tax bill, it has its flaws and it has its merits, but everybody knows who pays the taxes in this country and that is the rich, in particular the filthy rich. A tax cut, then, is interchangeable with a "tax cut for the rich" and all the social injustice that attaches to those five little words. So you cut taxes or you don't. And even though I am a mere schoolteacher, even we teachers know small businesspeople--relatives, parents, neighbors...--just about all of whom are celebrating the relief that is coming their way and, by extension, their employees' way and, best of all, their new employees' way.
5
Why can't the rich pay the same percentage of their income in taxes as do I??? I earn about $100K, have no dependents and, net of all tax breaks, pay well over 20 percent of my gross income in state and fed taxes.
Why can't millionaires and billionaires do the same? And why can't they pay the same taxes on unearned income as I pay on the dollars I slog out of bed at 5 a.m to EARN??
2
November 6, 2018.
39
Vote them out in droves in 2018 and 2020. Gerrymander every district. Make poll taxes for tobacco chewers and goat ropers. Raise taxes to 90% on every nickle over 500k a year. If we need China or France to hack the RNC for dirt on the Republicans so be it. Its all fair now.
16
The goal for 2018 should not just be to win back both houses of congress, but also get to 60 or more in the senate and thereby nullify this president's veto power. A filibuster proof majority would staunch the bleeding, and we cannot wait for the next presidential election; ALL THE MARBLES IN 2018!!!!!!!
25
Running up the National "Credit Card" debt is a victory? Wow, added ten percent to our twenty trillion dollar debt--why stop there, lets spend fifty trillion dollars and still get nothing for it--why not just have Steve Mnuchkin and his trophy wife (aging quickly) have an open house at Fort Knox again and let the ultra rich take what they want.
14
With interest it's more like adding $4 TRILLION to our debt. Thanks, Congress.
1
Senator Collins.
We are going to replace you in 2020.
119
She hasn't voted yet. Maybe she will be one to help pull the rug out .... or in my dreams. What does she - or any of the republicans have to lose - maybe their souls? When will they realize their souls had value and they have made a bad bargain with the devil?
Or maybe she'll "retire" like many of the others knowing their robber baron days are over.
“Their first significant legislative achievement”—
Please don’t call this an “achievement”. Use the word victory or some other word.
14
Print and save the roll call vote, America, for when the 2018 election comes.
32
The GOP has sealed it's lap dog fate with the billionaires of this nation. Especially interesting to note how brazen they are, like a smash and grab jewelry shop heist of our tax money, knowing full well the get away car is waiting outside. Thing is, GOP, there are a lot more of us than there are of you. History is not on your side....
17
The GOP needs to go extinct. Luckily, they are doing it on their own.
17
But unluckily, the rest of us might go 'extinct' before they do.
1
Still haven’t funded the CHIP program, children will loose healthcare and some could die, because as O. Hatch said there is no more money.
Sleep well Republicans this is your first legislative victory.
19
Good to know that there may be 12 honest Republicans.
4
which ones?
No they are just trying to get re-elected and their vote didn't matter.
Transitional victory.
4
It is beyond my comprehension how the GOP can continually stick it to their voters and they keep trotting back to the ballot box to re-elect them...
12
Most every key swing voter who voted Trump and/or GOP will pay less in taxes next year. How is that in any way 'sticking it to them?' The rich will now pay a larger percentage of the pie than they did before this bill. Again, how is this sticking it to many of these voters?
Yes indeed, it is 'your moment', Paul Ryan. . .your 'chance' to enact those policies you debated at your university keg parties so many years ago. Experience with the electorate, the stories of people in need, the responsibility of governments, particularly of developed countries, to care for all their citizens, not just the wealthy with whom you hobnob, reveals your sophomoric thinking that has not matured.
We have paid your salary and we have paid for your quality healthcare. Your lobbyists have paid for opportunities for you and others with your ideology to enrich yourselves. You will never had to know personal need, personal travail or disenfranchisement due to your obtuseness that will affect millions of us, your fellow citizens. Perhaps, we can put the Susan Collins vote down to 'ingenuousness', believing the majority of aging white men in the House and Senate who were salivating for a Republican 'win.' Savor your victory. Savor your wealth. Savor your political losses in the future, as voters begin to chip away, election by election, at the egos of representatives such as you. Our legacies at some point in our lives, are what we are known and remembered for. Our legacies are the individual mark of the men and women who have cultivated and written them.
16
"...their first major legislative victory" at the expense of the many for the very generous benefit of the few.
That's not a victory, guys. That's shameful, unforgivable and deeply disappointing.
11
The Democrat Party is totally against the Tax Reform. But not Democrats throughout the USA They are not listening.
Wrong again Greek Pete. We are listening very hard. In fact I think I hear the rumblings of a Democratic tsunami. It should make land fall somewhere around November 2018.
1
Every time the article says the House or Senate did this, it should read the REPUBLICAN House or REPUBLICAN Senate did this. No Democrats voted for it. It's all the Republicans' doing. Period. Remember in November!
25
Stop calling it victory. How is it victorious to undermine the fabric of our democracy in the name of tax cuts to the rich? I’m holding you accountable NY TIMES. You do this, repeatedly, normalizing what isn’t normal. This legislation that is FAR from normal.
7
So read this before you start thinking this will not help you on your taxes.
A separate study by the Tax Policy Center, a private nonpartisan group, found that individual taxes would be reduced on average next year by $1,600. That ranged, on average, from $60 for people earning below $25,000 to $7,640 for those making above $149,000. Those in the top 1 percent, earning over $733,000, would see average tax cuts of $51,140.
Yes if you have a high income to will benefit but even if you are average--1,600 is a nice bonus.
1
@Jon Smith: But when your insurance premiums go up by $1600, where's the benefit? And this so-called cut is temporary, to be phased out by 2025, while the corporate tax rate remains low. Not what I would call meaningful tax reform.
1
$1600 = $133/mo
You might be able to pay your internet bill with that in Illinois.
That is of course you don’t have any healthcare problems or any other serious personal expense...
How generous.
Really?
You'd sell your integrity, the 'general welfare' and the future of democracy for $1,600?
Talk about pearls before swine.
1
The only thing we can do is take back the Senate and as much of the House as we can next year, and try to undo this. Focus on registering voters in States engaging in suppression, and get them to the polls. Focus on a clear, simple, inclusive message. Focus on the atrocities committed by this "president" and the Republican party. Focus on reforming the Democratic Party and getting rid of the corporate-beholden dinosaurs in our own midst. Offer a clear alternative. Commit to overturning Citizens United. Give us a leader! If we don't do whatever it takes to remove these lying scoundrels from power, we deserve whatever fascist oligarchy we end up submitting to. People made the mistake of not showing up once - it cannot happen again!
13
Brian Fitzpatrick, who is supposed to represent Pennsylvania's 8th district, voted for this bill. This is spite of his district being one of the highest SALT areas in the country. As bad as the GOP tax scam is, I think listening to corrupt Republicans lie about how great it is going to be for the middle class really adds insult to injury. We are not stupid, Brian, and we know what you did. Now everyone in the GOP, please close your lying lips.
9
Please stop referring to this debacle a major legislative achievement. Republicans deserve to be relegated to a small minority in the 2018 midterms.
5
Why are you using words such as “win“ and “victory“? This isn’t a game. This is our country. This is our lives, our future.
8
Yes I'm angry as well. But if you're one of the 60-something percent of voters who didn't bother to show up a year ago, YOU OWN THIS. You also forfeit your right to complain.
9
That's right. When you don't VOTE, you lose your voice -- even if it's to complain.
1
Do these Republicans have any idea how unpopular this tax cut is with normal non-rabid pro-Trump Americans, and what kind of backlash they are going to unleash upon themselves and their party? They are sealing their fates in the next elections.
2
My thoughts and prayers are with the average American.
11
Their "victory" will morph into a defeat in 2018.
4
Merry Christmas.
I hope all those folks who voted for Trump keep a list of these Republicans who are [insert polite word - I can't think of one] them all grandly. When you finally wake up and realize what you have done, perhaps you'll go have a chat with your friendly Republican legislator. Be sure to exercise all your Rights when speaking to them. Pound of flesh, you know?
They owe you, and this is what you get: higher taxes, no jobs, no health benefits.
I would laugh if it wasn't so disgusting and hurting us all.
4
If their "Republican legislators" are anything like the one I am cursed with in my district, they wont' get within 10 miles of him. Mine has managed to go years without contituent interaction, his phone lines emit nothing but busy signals and e-mails ony accepted if you can produce your ZIP+four code on the spot.
These fraudsters are totally unaccountable to the people they supposedly represent. I think until or unless they start fearing for their safety, they will continue to thumb their noses at us.
1
That may be true. One can hope.
We have to pass this bill while he's still sentient enough to know what's in it . . . for him.
2
Remember a few key things:
72% of people do NOT itemize. 99% of these folks will come out well ahead due to 1) the brackets going down a bit AND 2) the standard deduction being doubled. In fact you could see upwards of 75% or more of folks now not having to itemize.
40% of folks are in the stock market, mostly in their 401Ks and IRAs and such. They have already seen a huge benefit with the run-up the last few months as Wall Street anticipated this tax plan. Even that is a large swatch of the middle class that has already benefited.
This bill lowers by a larger percentage the slice of the overall pie that the middle class pays and increased the slice that the wealthy pay. As such, this bill makes the US tax system MORE progressive than it was. That is, when all is said and done, 'the rich' rich are paying a larger percentage of the total tax pool than they are now. This is in all the numbers the JTC and others present, but they left it to others to do the math. CATO has a nice article that did the math.
Reminder as to how progressive the system was already - the top 1% pay more in federal income taxes than the bottom 90% combined. The bottom 47% of folks pay $0 (or negative). The top 10% or so average paying about a 27% effective rate. The middle class about 12-14%.
The corporate cuts are not a zero sum game. It will pull in money that was not going to be coming back from other countries. So, lower rate, but bigger pool of money.
3
Nice translation, Boris... but completely off the mark.
6
Such a progressive system, that the 'benefits' being extended to the middle class EXPIRE, while those to the corporations and wealthy will not.
This tax 'plan' concentrates wealth upwards; no matter how you spin it, it is still reliant on the dead-end 'trickle-down' notion, where the middle- (and lower) class is supposed to be grateful for the crumbs that are coming their way.
And we're not.
8
Remember this, Marvin. This unnecessary tax cut adds 1.5 trillion dollars to the national debt, will drive up health insurance costs for millions of us, and will not benefit the average American in any meaningful economic way....other than to add to an already inflated investment market. Get ready for the bubble to burst, Marvin.
13
To quote Paul Krugman about the "rationale" for certain Senators to vote yes:
"Susan Collins says she's concerned about deficits, and that's why she's voting for the tax bill. I'm watching my weight, and that's why I'm having a huge piece of pie with ice cream."
Susan Collins is showing her true colors - the strange thing is that she was against cutting healthcare insurance, but she's now fine with cutting back Medicare. This is the real person that we're now seeing.
38
GOP Medicare and Social Security are ENTITLEMENTS. How many times do they say that and people still vote for them. Juts wait until they drop SS and call it an Entitlement but really is a tax. You don't think that will happen someday...lol.
And then right there, Paul Krugman fat shames, and makes a sexist comment eh?
Well, it would have been if Trump said that. When Paul Krugman and you leftists say it it's just good and progressive and all. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
The last R, that was not a duplicitous, two fanged monster probably was Bob Dole. Not a great man, bit not a bad one.
Republican reps and senators won't be able to appear in public after this bill becomes law. This vote will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
12
A 24-vote margin in the House. If that doesn't give Democrats and Independents and moderate Republicans a goal for 2018, to change the House makeup from crazed conservatives to those who uphold their oath of office, it should. This tax plan will harm this country. The only way to fix it is to vote better people into office ASAP.
8
The Republicans basically want to sell Americans on the idea that you can eat as much chocolate cake as you want and still lose weight. They are essentially giving the wealthy and big corporations the largest slices and will then tell the middle class and the rest to lose weight. Oh, not to mention the smaller slices will be taken away from the middle class once they get a small bite.
7
$84,000 dollars over 8 years is not a small bite, and I am not rich (90k per year with 4 kids). Sanders would have not only taxed me at about $15,500 just for my own income, my wife working would have been even heavier taxed, so it would be best for the free insurance to take her out of the market, thus lowering the LPR (and it wouldn't be free, there would certainly be co pays). It's not rocket science. If you liberals had your way my wife would not be able to work, and would have no reason to. This tax bill helps me immensely. I will pay zero in taxes. If my wife works due to day care being removable from AGI we won't be hit with more of a tax bill. By comparison to Sanders it is $120,000 more in my pocket to spend how I see fit. The goal of democrats is precisely what I said at the start: Make my wife working do harm, and make me reliant on the government when she doesn't work. It is precisely to do away with the $80k to $150,000 upper middle class. A slave class that needs provisions, provided with the upper upper class, and no in between. That is the goal. It is absurd you guys haven't figured this out yet.
15
I cannot argue against your logic but why is it necessary for the corporate rate to be cut from 35% to 21%? How does that in any way benefit you?
4
Losing your medicare, environmental protections that give you clean air and water, and then losing these tax deductions in just a few years...I think you're going to find that life WAS better before this. AND a huge deficit that will be passed on to all of us in just a few years. It is short-sighted and will have painful repercussions.
10
I hope the House "victory" is followed by a Senate "victory". Why? Because I think such "victories" will dramatically increase the Democrat's chances of re-gaining majorities in both the House and Senate a year from now.
Paul Ryan...
Well the rich folks, especially those who are politicians and in the banking/finance industries, are wrapping up a fine 10 years.
First getting bailed out of the Great Recession and now receiving a massive tax cut that will be spent on anything but creating jobs and investing in America.
The majority of the corporate and 1%er's tax cuts will be invested wherever the labor is cheapest, where social and environmental justice is the weakest, and the return on unearned capital is the greatest.
Any notion of a "social contract" in the United States of America is dead.
Michael Bain
Glorieta, New Mexico
4
Victory? For whom?
The republicans have already announced that they would use the massive increase in the federal deficit that will result from this tax cut to justify "reforming" medicare, social security, medicaid and other programs that are essential to retired persons, the poor and the disabled.
So, whatever paltry reductions in taxes come to the middle class and poor, this will like be more than offset by large reductions in promised benefits and/or increases in SS and medicare payroll taxes.
The republican party is no longer merely the party that favors the wealthy, they are now the party of the Kleptocracy - fully sanctioned by the republican House, Senate and Executive branch.
9
Trump has not scheduled the signing of the tax bill. Some people think that is extraordinary. I think Mr. Trumps feral instincts dictate that he have something dramatic to point to balance the firing of Mr. Mueller.
We fervently hope that the trump supporters will eventually realize the con job that has been perpetrated. Rising health insurance premiums with the removal of Obamacare, increase in middle class income taxes by 2025, reduction in medicare, medicaid and social security benefits to deal with the $1.5 trillion increase in the national debt.
With the lowering of taxes on corporation and the wealthy the chasm between rich and poor will widen.
There simply are no words to describe the arrogance and greed of the republican party.
8
Of course Ryan plan to gut Social Security when his great tax plan runs up deficits. How ironic that he received social security benefits that helped him through school.
What a craven apparatchik.
6
If history teaches us anything it's that the first few years of this tax cut are going to appear to stimulate the economy and then we will slip into another recession. Will the tax payers once again be forced to bail out the banks and corporate America when that happens. Tax reform is long over due but this monstrosity is pure greed.
Republicans own this mess. If it blows up the American people will know exactly who to blame and the GOP will find themselves once again irrelevant. Last time that happened the Democrats taxed the heck out of the wealthy and the American people let them.
We always have to do everything the wrong way before we finally course correct. We get the government we deserve. All it's going to take is one unexpected crisis and we'll slip over the edge. Let's hope the voters course correct before that happens.
5
For this to be described as a major legislative victory is like saying the unsinkable Titanic didn't go down all at once - it took a whole three hours.
7
Of course the market is up because of Trump. Jobs don't interest Wall St. Corporations have lots of cash, interest rates have supported "free" money for years. Now with an avalanche of money, they will buy back stock, making their options worth even more. Doesn't mean a thing to people working for a living in "flyover' states. Well, actually, it does. It means things will continue to stagnate or get worse. (But let's blame the war on coal!) This is not conjecture. Look at Bush's tax cuts and follow the money.
And for a model of what life in "Great America" will look like, Kansas has been a great laboratory. And a great failure. Unless you're a pass through corporation. Life here is now like Bedford Falls without George Bailey.
I feel bad for young adults watching their opportunities fade.
4
Here's an idea, New York Times. Conduct a poll 12 months from now and ask people how many of them are being paid more, how many have better healthcare, how many are doing better in general than they were before this bill was passed. My guess is that we will not be a nation of happy campers. Unfortunately, whether that unhappiness will translate into different behavior in our voting booths in 2018 and 2020 is another question entirely.
2
When the law of unintended consequences takes hold of this tax plan--and it will--It will be pathetically interesting to see how the GOP will blame the dems. (or Obama)
1
Democratic senators PLEASE start speaking up in protest rather than just passively not voting which, to the outside observer, seems to be all you are doing. Don't forget the Republicans vehemently opposed anything proposed by Obama "just because"-- so you should not restrain yourself from similar practices when there are REAL issues at stake and so many people are getting ready to be thrown under the bus and don't seem to realize it. The tax issues are bad enough---but how can you let them essentially sneak through the dismantling of health care reform you fought so hard to preserve previously?!
2
Good. Apparently, first they have to feel the pain on their own skin before they stop voting Republican. Terrible for the rest of us, but it seems to be a long game. Also, we did not reach rock bottom yet, there is a lot more to lose, and once we lose it, either we can come back and throw these pirates out or it will be too late. Too late is always an option though...
1
An impulse purchase of a "Christmas gift," a shiny toy that you bring home, only to watch as it catches fire and burns down the house.
2
I remember bailing the big banks out in 2009. Currently they are getting a big, juicy tax break. I guess we showed them, huh?
1
When Trump Country is looking even bleaker in 2027, who will the GOP use as a boogeyman?
Ask Kansas residents how it's worked out...
Why does the media keep calling this a "win" or a "victory"? There was only one contestant. True opposition was kept off the playing field in this party-line vote on a bill drafted in secret. We're like Venezuela now. Please don't normalize the insane.
3
Repeal and replace. This law has a one year shelf life.
2
I am about to go from paying in some to getting EVERY penny back as I am a lower income American. The doubling of the child credit and the 24K standard deduction for my wife and myself gets it all back for me. I thank the lord that Congress is FINALLY doing something for lower income folks like myself. Maybe all of you against this bill will voluntarily pay what you have been paying since you seem to dislike this bill so much. I am sure that the IRS will taken your money with no questions asked. Four tenths of one percent growth in GDP above last years paltry two percent growth covers the cost according to the CBO estimates of cost. If we cant do 2.4 percent GDP growth, it wont pay for itself. We are already over 3 percent so far this year, so the fact that our economy is on the upswing without the cuts looks good for the future once they are enacted.
Bet you'll be singing a different tune a few months after this goes into effect. Our economy will not stay on the upswing, your "tax savings" will disappear as your healthcare costs, mortgage or rent, and the basic necessities of life become harder and harder to afford. 3 percent growth in a single quarter is NOT predective of future economic growth or stability. Enjoy that extra cup of coffe you'll be able to afford each week until 2025, It's all you're gonna get.
1
Also, you are losing the personal exemption - over $16k for a family of four. So that's a net loss. The more children you have the worse it gets. You'll get $2k instead of $5k ($4k plus the old $1k in child credit). So you might break even depending on your situation. Please don't fool yourself into thinking they are doing something FOR you.
I have already figured my expected taxes on the online tax calculator. I will go from paying a fairly low amount of taxes to paying none and increase my refund almost one hundred percent thanks to EIC and the child tax credit. I am sorry that you seem to think it will hurt you, but you should go to the calculator and figure yours before you regurgitate the talking points on which you base your claims.
Missing in all these discussions about the bill's impact is the hypothetical reversal by a unified Democratic government in 2021.
The bill is extremely unpopular, and the budgetary rules that allow for a 51 vote majority to clear the Senate will still exist (assuming the GOP doesn't pull any NC shenanigans and change the rules before Congress flips).
In three years, the damage can be undone, and the Byrd rule only applies to ensuring the deficit doesn't increase, not contract. A tax hike to recoup losses won't get in the way of a restoral and reconciliation.
And yes, I know this presumes a Democratic president and the political will to raise taxes. But Trump looks extremely unlikely to win a second term, and the GOP agenda and efficacy to date is very unpopular.
"Mr. Corker said he faced a wrenching decision as a Republican lawmaker with deep concerns about the country’s mounting debt and a strong desire to overhaul the tax code. In the end, he put his fiscal principles aside on the assumption that the nation would be better off with the tax cuts than without."
Such noble sentiments from someone who flipped at the 11th hour for his party instead of his constituents. How exactly does adding $1.5 trillion to the nation's debt make this country better off?
8
Obvious. Ot makes Corker and his real estate businesses better off. It could not be more obvious. It is too soon to talk about it. It might be a better time when this catastrophe fulfils itself.
Nice picture of Paul Ryan, He looks like a really nice man. Don't worry folks. His family is getting health insurance. They will be fine. Paul is smiling about the trillion and a half dollar added to the deficit. First major "accomplishment" of the Trump piracy sorry I mean "administration".
1
I read that the average middle class tax cut is about $840, or $70 a month, which might feed a family of four once a month at McDonalds. Those owning their home will face an immediate loss of home equity, and some will face hikes in insurance premiums and possibly loss of insurance altogether.
Are these piddling middle class benefits worth the truly big, unnecessary cuts given to the very rich, the $2 trillion hole blown in the national debt, and the destabilization of the tax code that is going to result from an orgy of loophole exploitation that is going to be done by the well to do.
5
I feel as if I'm on a roller coaster which has no end. Clearly far more scary than fun.
I have tried my damnedest to find something positive to take away from this bill. Because I agree that on a global level our corporate tax rate is high and makes us less competitive, but I don't agree that 87% of the tax savings should go to the top 1%. Then I realize there has also been no debate, except among the far more engaged media and some scattered protests.
Finally, I realize we are no longer a democracy but an OLIGARCHY at the expense of a breached constitution and the moral bankruptcy of all three executive branches of government.
6
Why does the Times adopt the language that the GOP has achieved a "victory"? They have control of both houses and the Presidency--there is no battle that they can win, no "victory" other than actually getting the legislation passed.
More importantly, "victory" usually carries positive connotations. By adopting that word, the Times seems to agree that the bill is a "win." But the only people who win under this legislation are the very rich, including the congressmen voting for the legislation. For the rest of the country, the new legislation is decidedly a LOSS.
2
American Society of Civil Engineers on the state of our infrastructure:
"The 2017 Infrastructure Report Card reveals that we have made some incremental progress toward restoring our nation’s infrastructure. But it has not been enough. As in 2013, America’s cumulative GPA is once again a D+.
The 2017 grades range from a B for Rail to a D- for Transit, illustrating the clear impact of investment – or lack thereof – on the grades. Three categories – Parks, Solid Waste, and Transit – received a decline in grade this year, while seven – Hazardous Waste, Inland Waterways, Levees, Ports, Rail, Schools, and Wastewater – saw slight improvements. Six categories’ grades remain unchanged from 2013 – Aviation, Bridges, Dams, Drinking Water, Energy, and Roads.
The areas of infrastructure that improved benefited from vocal leadership, thoughtful policymaking, and investments that garnered results. These improvements demonstrate what can be accomplished when solutions that move projects forward are approved and implemented."
https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/americas-grades/
Read this part again, Republican voters who believe in the magical power of the private sector, prayer or pixie dust: "The areas of infrastructure that improved benefited from vocal leadership, thoughtful policymaking, and investments that garnered results."
1
these congress people are making the calculation that favoring their donors over their constituents will get them reelected. not so fast....2018 is around the corner....
1
This is either the end of the GOP or the end of "America" as we know it.
(Assuming we get a fair an honest election in 2018)
The choice could not be more starkly clear.
6
The sad part of this dastardly and evil legislation is that 51% of Americans actually believe what the Republicans say. I'm still waiting for those poor
blind-folded Republican voters in Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania to get those mining jobs promised by the big chief storyteller of them all!
10
Majortrout,
The coal miners in these states are likely to lose their much-needed health care. I'm not sure that they're aware of this. It's pure evil.
Note to Peter King.....we don't care how you voted, you support this garbage administration in every other way. Your political career is over. Lee Zeldin's political career is over! Bye guys!
7
Even without the new tax-cuts-for-the-rich, the debt is going to increase by $10 trillion.
https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/115th-congress-2017-2018/reports...
10
Excellent!
3
@Socrates
We both know the answer to that.
But look at it this way -- 'The Volunteer State' will be making out very nicely, thanks to our Blue State's economy.
Christmas for them, indeed.
1
How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
8
It's more like how the Grinch Stole the Election.
Interesting Paul Ryan says he’s not worried at all about the 2018 election. He’s right Americans are too stupid to do anything other then elect the same old same old and then never hold them accountable table for a thing. Shame on all of you, voters. You get what you deserve !!!!!
11
He's not worried because even if the Democrats win enough seats to regain the House the right-wing revolution has no intention of honoring those wins and allowing the new Democrats to take their seats. They will roll out the voter fraud scam. And they have the uniforms and the guns. That is when the last layer of the mask will be pulled off.
Yeah, ignorant voters did get what they deserved with Obama, you're right.
As for this tax plan: It will benefit me $64,000 over 8 years, if my income remains flat (it won't) and more than that if it doesn't.
I have 4 kids, and I make $90k per year. I am not wealthy, and this gets her back into work considering that day care is subtracted from AGI. This is definitely designed to bring back women into the workforce, their LPR is extremely low. The corporate tax rate is in the middle of the OCED rate (which Bill Clinton has numerous times said we should be) it lowers the corporate tax rate in line with repatriation, so the tax reduction won't only have a temporary incentive to bring back jobs, something which hasn't been done in decades, and the democrats try to pretend it has to say it won't work (repatriation without a lower rate cannot bring back jobs, but in CA they lowered their rate to 15% from 40% and their revenues as a percentage of GDP went up for corporations) etc. This is a great tax plan. It encourages people to work and get back in the work force. I'm all for it.
Don't you mean "Shame on all of you 'NON-voters.' You get what you deserve !!!!!
November 2018
November 2020.
Get rid of them. ALL of them.
20
Elections have consequences! LOL
2
All R Congressmen from high SALT districts can kiss their seats goodby.
16
Every non-millionaire/billionaire whose taxes go up need to question how they can ever vote Republican again. With three houses in their corner, they could have offered something good for this country with ease, instead, they are raping the country and its people to serve their Citizens United and Koch-fueled donors. Take down names!
18
Let 'em eat Twinkies.
1
The success of this poisonous legislation and the "Corker Kickback" prove that every man has his price. Every woman too. Right Susan Collins? Unfortunately we the people are the ones paying it. These parasites should hang their heads in shame but instead they are breaking out the champagne. Absolutely revolting. What a cataclysmic day for democracy.
16
The final lap to the empire of plutocracy.
Can you hear the champagne corks being popped on the private jets and mega yachts going to tropical, private islands yet?
9
Thank you Mr President and congress, and shame on all who just sits there and fiddles their thumbs instead of helping us Americans keep some of our money instead of throwing it into the ONLY-hungry-for-power DC cesspool.
4
Guess when you're referring to yourself as "us Americans", what you really mean to say is "us 1%", because that's the income bracket you must be in to support this reprehensible piece of legislation. "Us 99%" are feeling pretty lied to and worked over about now as we see our country devolve into a plutocracy. (And your "only hungry for power" quote should be changed to: "only hungry for money and more wealth.")
Republicans are deplorable beyond words. This isn't democracy, this is plutocracy run with sociopathic greed.
15
Victory? LOL. There appears to be no limit to GOP cynicism. Miseducate the public, ignore experts, history, and protocol, shamelessly obstruct and disrespect the first non-white president (who was no radical but a centrist who would have worked with them on any number of issues), gerrymander and dismantle voting rights to ensure continued lack of equal representation, obfuscate the truth and then even deny that such a thing exists, shred the reputation and morale of neutral governmental agencies that are trying to do their jobs with decency and integrity, all in the service of their masters, the country's worst racist impulses, and the ego of the Oval Office narcissist who wants to dismantle anything his predecessor did. Who are the slaves now? Do any of them really believe in this garbage they are passing? I find it highly unlikely. Hollow victory for them, major loss for all of us. Appalling how much damage they are willing to do to future generations, stoking the fires that will burn the country on their way out.
14
The success of this poisonous legislation and the "Corker Kickback" prove that that every man has his price. Every woman does too. Right Susan Collins? Unfortunately we the people are the ones paying it. These parasites should hang their head in shames but instead they are breaking out the champagne. Absolutely revolting. What a cataclysmic day for our democracy.
1
Now it is our turn to crow:
REPEAL AND REPLACE!!!
only we will know what to replace it with. Get the Bill ready NOW.
Because after Trump and Pence are impeached it will be a Democratic House and President Pelosi....the Republicant's worst nightmare.
5
Yay, or something.
Thievery by traitors for oligarchs. The looting and pillaging continues with retirees and the sick next.
10
Republicans will now own the tax code and healthcare. Their poor choices and desire to satisfy their mega donors will haunt them come 2018. This partisan economic warfare against liberals, the poor, and working class is absolutely shameful, and will undoubtedly be a scarlet letter that all Republicans will bear for the decades to come!! Shame, shame, shame!!
6
Shame on every member of the House who voted Yes on this miserable bill. Shame! History will remember. So will voters at the polls in 2018.
8
The GOP doesn't pray to God. They prey on the working classes.
7
That’s ok, by the time the Democrats regain any power to do anything to help people out of the GOP’S tax bill mess the GOP and they’re wealthy supporters will make a bundle. That’s their God, the God of green backs and as one female cretin once said “only the little people pay taxes.” And of course the grate orange one once remarked that he doesn’t pay taxes because he’s “smart.” Such a slimy quandary, our country has become.
7
This ridiculous theft of the Treasury has got to stop! How is it possible the Texas Senator Cornyn was able to, after the bill was reconciled, add an amendment at the last minute that gives the fossil fuel companies, aka Big Oil, a huge windfall - the results of which will end up as a massive distributions to its investors. The investors? 13 Republican and 3 Democrat Senators! Including Cornyn and his co-hort Ted Cruz! The investment distributions are due the politicians for being part of master limited partnerships (MLP) with various energy related firms. Yet – as no Democrats in Congress voted for this bill (the Senate has yet to vote as of this writing) it appears only Republicans are taking part in an outright money grab!
This bill is as vile as any to come out of our Legislature. This is not a tax overhaul. It’s outright thievery! My only hope that once these cowards are revealed for what they are, the result of this toilet paper will be undone one amendment at a time – just as 45 and company has done to President Obama’s legacy.
16
Why is this conflict of interest in favor of the sitting legislators not receiving front page headlines? Fourth Estate, in the absence of organized dissent, you must stand and deliver. Let the Trumps scream fake news; this must be told and repeated until it becomes part of their cumulative, political liabilities, selling our country to the highest bidders. We are sick of sound bites and tweets; tell it as it is.
I agree. If indeed there was such a gross conflict of interest, and probable collusion to defraud, this must be prosecuted. It would certainly put the crooks where they belong.
Have some proof of your accusations? Links?
You know why Congress is ramming this tax bill through at the expense of the middle class?
Because they can... Ha ha.
American middle-class voters can scream like stuck pigs, it doesn't matter. We have been rendered impotent. And voting Democrat is hardly a call for serious change, don't kid yourself.
Nothing less than citizen action and active involvement is necessary if there are going to be the kind of changes that will benefit the middle class. There are more of us then there are of the 1 percenters and the impoverished but we are subsidizing both extremes.
Voting is not enough. In fact, it is meaningless if citizens don't step up to the plate and take action themselves.
12
What, specifically, do you suggest? They laugh at protestors and sic their over-authoritarian, gun-happy cops on us, and pass laws to curb our freedom to assemble.
Shame on the Republiocans for putting this on the backs of my children and grandchildren.
15
This is a disaster passed by a corrupt House and now going to a corrupt Senate. Dark days ahead for poor and middle class and the final dismantling of the democracy. Sad days.
14
i hope that all american voter take notice of all the corrupt politician that are voting on this bill that will in fact hurt the less than rich. they are white washing additional debt praying that big business will reinvest
6
Every single GOP congressman/woman who voted for this monstrosity needs to be voted out of office in 11 months.
11
All any of them has to say is either "guns!" or "abortion!" and the ignorati that sent them to Congress in the first place will pull the lever for them again. We are pretty much doomed.
Taxation with no regard for the will of the people. Conceived in the dark of night by con artists.
14
november 2018.
looking forward!
9
Everyone complaining about this being a tax giveaway to the rich. Worry about your own taxes and quit worrying about mine.
1
It's not about you. It's about wasting $1.5 trillion that would be better spent on infrastructure, education and shoring up Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
In 2015, the median household income in Huntington, WV was $29,873.
I just heard Paul Ryan squeaking away, victorious; "Let's recapture our destiny for generations...". Gee whiz, Perfessor, what does that mean?
6
What's good for business is good for America
1
Shameful. They will deservedly lose the house as a result.
6
Plutocrats and kleptocrats win and America loses, We should stop calling these people Republicans and start calling them the Corrupt Republicans. In 2018 the election will be between furious Democrats and Corrupt Republicans. They have played the game and they deserve the name.
4
Susan Collins, don't get too used to your $3-million plus office budget. Since your next office will be in a strip mall, you will have no need for it.
10
There you go Dems! The Republicans voted to give you a tax cut! Go ahead and thank them! Shame on the Dems for putting party politics in front of you guys! Sad! So SAD!!
1
I don't need a tax cut. I need a public option for health care, better watchdogs on banks, roads without potholes, up-to-date airports, a more effective wifi grid, reliable electrical power, SAFE TRAINS, protected wildlife, clean air & water, protected national monuments, parks and undeveloped land, support for the arts and culture, and a decent education system that is affordable to all.
2
Ahem...my taxes are going up! Have no idea what you are talking about
Seems like the Republicans have finally grasped reality -- their constituents are so brainwashed, they can just stab them right in the front, in broad daylight, and as long as Fox News tells them its a win, they'll thank them for it.
8
God bless America! She needs it more than ever!
Is your flag yet displayed upside down? On mine, hanging from my fence for exactly one year, now, reads "Save America Resist Trump Protect Equality, Liberty, Justice for All" Do you have the courage to do the same?
Note: Words and design copyrighted, Dec 19, 2016, LBH
May the members of the 2016 Electoral College live with the devil forever.
4
You do know it is illegal to do that, right?
Illegal to do what? Are you familiar with the Constitution of the United States of America?
It is almost official; we are now living in a plutocracy. Ruled by the rich. For ordinary Americans these hogs at the trough are beyond disgusting to observe as they feather their own nests to the detriment of the poor, of the middle class, and of the people who elected them. Come 2018 let's get rid of these people.
8
Sweet Home, Alabama! If Alabama can do it, so can Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, West Virginia, Montana, Idaho.............and all the other misguided deplorables around the USA..........
Debate? What debate? This thing is written by lobbyists, greased with campaign money and it's a done deal.
4
Once this bill pases Trump will have outlived his usefulness to the GOP.
8
And he's too stooooopid to realize that. As are his sycophants.
Pious Pence and "Mother" probably sit in front of the tube every night talking about new drapes for the oval office and which radical evengelicals will get to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom on their watch.
1
Paul Ryan is droning on... I think he's trying to say "bumper sticker" slogans for the people he is about to crush
3
Oh look at the Grinch's Ole Party's lovely Christmas gift! Let's all return in kind by sending them each a lump of coal to stuff in their stockings.
2
One step forward for the GOP, one giant leap backwards for America.
3
6,100,0000 households are getting a tax cut - probably on average of $987 based upon most recent IRS info
92% of these households (households, not individuals) have an income below $75000
80% have a household income below $50000
37 1/2% have a household income below $25,000
And all the NYT can whine is that the household with $500000 income and a $2,000,000 home is not going get much
Hint: Those 6.1 million households are the ones who made the decision that the ACA (Obamacare) insurance was junk coverage that would cost them more than the penalty cost more than they would benefit.
(BTW if a household is in the bottom 50% - $50k and less - they really don't have anything to lose to medical creditors - no fat savings, no IRS no 401k no stocks and bonds...... $500,000 medical bill? SO what? They can't pay that anymore than they can pay the Obamacare $14700 out-of-pockets in deductibles and copays for a family. Think blood and turnip with respect to creditors and you have the idea)
2
Slowly at first and then all of a sudden...
If this tax bill passes the Senate, which it looks like it will, I don't think I am off by saying we are going to see the slow demise of our once great nation. We can only maintain our place in the world by spending on our citizens and country first. Then, when we have an orderly, equitable society can we go out and help others achieve the same.
The applause in the House by a bunch of old, white men coupled with Ryan's creepy smirk (maybe him dropping the gavel was a sign from above) just made me sick. Instead of Hoovervilles, we'll be getting Trumptowns.
6
hmmmm...what DID happened to America first?
"This is our Moment"???? To saddle two generations with back breaking debt in order to pay back your rich donors, and sail off into the sunset on K street. What a gaggle of spineless greedy narcissists.
6
Now the Left are suddenly concerned about deficits. (?).
Interesting how many glowing comments appear here today on this travesty of a "tax" bill. Must be the same way the FCC managed to generate millions of fake comments favoring the destruction of net neutrality. I think it's worth the NYTimes' effort to find out who all these commenters are. They certainly have no idea what's in the tax bill being voted on.
This bill shifts $1 to $2 trillion from working Americans to the ultra-rich and corporations. The tiny tax cuts for middle class families sunset in a few years, followed by a steep rise in taxes. The huge tax cuts for ultra-rich people who do not work and for corporations (sitting on historically large cash reserves) go forever.
The economy is hot right now -- tax cuts are contra-indicated. Unemployment at 17-year low. No evidence that tax cuts will lead to higher wages or increased job creation -- none.
Every credible economist is against this bill, as are the majority of Americans, who are smart enough to see through the lies from the so-called Republican leadership.
Wake up folks! And let's find out who these commenters are who suddenly flood the NYTimes forum with their hokie endorsements that "NOW, FINALLY, GREATNESS," etc. These comments are bogus. Very few NYTimes readers and forum participants are that stupid.
5
So it's a bad thing that large corporations will bring dollars back to the USA?
Phil Carson,
I agree. Putin is still attacking us and his puppet Trump isn't doing anything about it. Neither are the Republicans in congress who passed this awful bill today.
2
All Congress needs to do now is declare this day between Thanksgiving and Christmas as National Turkey Day because this bill is a big overstuffed turkey with goodies for the very wealthy. As for the rest of us the famous queen in France said it all..........LET THEM EAT CAKE.........I'll have chocolate.......and don't forget in 2025 when the "cuts" expire, the turkey will be replaced with a dead pigeon.....
2
Funny how the dems are suddenly so conceredn about the national debt. They never were under Obama who ran up the debt more than all previous presidents put together.
1
Four NY reps voted yes. Thanks a lot.
3
'House Passes Final Tax Bill, Putting G.O.P. Near Victory'
I would not refer to this mockery of our legislative system, a 'victory'. It is a debasement of the system, with virtually no public input, done behind closed doors with little input from Democrats.
And what a coincidence! Trump 'the developer' is set to profit immensely from this, dispute his lame protestation that it will 'cost me a fortune'. In what universe does 'the donald' live?
9
I woudln't refer to it as a "G.O.P.," not even in headlines. A truly grand party woudln't engage in this kind of flimflammery in the first place.
It is time for Times headline writers to find a different shortener.
People vote with their wallets. When they see more money in their paycheck, they'll vote Republican again. In other words, this scam is a super cunning "win" for said party. Just watch.
1
And,there we have it folks!
Start checking off those freedoms and luxuries you once enjoyed.
Net neutrality - check
Tax reform - almost check
ACA - Hanging on...
Did I miss a couple? Please, add-on.
2
Comment from another blog. "If Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are screaming that this bill is "Armageddon"...I figure it's probably a good thing for most of us, and a bad thing for Democrat politicians trying to hold on to their jobs."
Bingo!! Exactly correct.
1
When the liberal media drivel is pretty much 24/7 anti-Trump, of course the public will be opposed, for now. Of course, I fully expect that to change once people get more of their hard earned pay instead of it going to the ever ineffective federal government.
1
It's unlikely you'll be able to buy more than one additional cup of coffe per week with this great new tax cut. And remember it goes away after a few years, while the corporate overlords retain their tax cuts forever.
1
It only seems ineffective because you put Brownies in charge of it.
But take heart: One day you may be one of them.
Except for the fact that the comically ill-informed "Scott" from Louisville is lying about the effects of the bill. This bill actually RAISES net taxes and eliminates deductions for the poor and middle class in order to fund a tax break for the top 1% and for corporations. Moreover, the top 1% are receiving 83% of the total breaks from this bill. Scott lives in the typical alt-right Fox News, Breitbart, WorldNutDaily bubble that most GOP and Trump supporters inhabit these days. Democrats are going to clean house in the upcoming mid-terms, partly because of this class warfare tax bill by donors against everyone else.
This isn’t how you on know the GOP is totally bankrupt. How about a trillion dollar infrastructure package to bring us up to date without most of the modern world.
3
I wonder, without looking, when the catastrophic ACA passed, did you frame the issue, in your headlines, as a purely partisan accomplishment -- even though it was? The headline here should read "County to Benefit Immensely from Lower Tax Rates Despite Unanimous Dem Opposition."
You might even have written "Congress Refuses to Pass Corporate Rate Reduction Sufficient to Compete with Canada".
And a simple query: if the bill actually does shaft deep blue states, like NJ. NY, and CA, as the representatives from those states -- who are suddenly very interested in protecting tax breaks for the rich -- contend, how can any Dem from (say) ND, WV, MO, etc., refuse to support it? Are they not putting Party ahead of the interests of both their own state and the country as a whole?
Pity there are no Democrats like Bill Bradley -- or even Bill Clinton -- who understand basic economics, left in office. Remember when BB authored a bill setting the top rate at 28%? Or when Slick Willie signed a huge tax cut -- aimed squarely at "the rich" -- which, when coupled with spending restraint, produced an economic boom and the first surpluses in living memory?
BB put the needs of NJ -- lower taxes on NJ residents, aka "the rich" -- and the country ahead of crass partisanship. WJC worked with the GOP, and the spectacular results speak for themselves.
Alas, tis no longer true. If one subtracts envy and identity, what do the Dems have to offer? They're small, venal people.
2
Except for the fact that the ACA ("Obamacare") has been an overwhelming success, a fact that Michael from Morris Township is totally lying about.
Other than GOP states suing to get out of the Medicaid expansion under the ACA, everything the CBO predicted about the effects of the ACA was pretty close to correct. Nearly 24M Americans who had no health insurance before gained affordable healthcare for the first time in their lives, reducing strain on emergency services and saving tens of thousands of lives. In addition, the average annual increase in insurance premiums was CUT IN HALF by the ACA. Moreover, the individual mandate and tax penalty to buy health insurance was a GOP-originated idea, championed by conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation, to force people to take "individual responsibility" for their lives and not mooch off social services. It was an overwhelming success as part of Romneycare in MA.
In fact, the total cost of the program actually came in BELOW the original CBO estimates.
The only problem with the ACA is that it was written in a way that allowed Trump and the GOP to sabotage it. They are illegally withholding subsidy payments that help lower-income Americans afford it, which insurance companies say forced them to increase premiums. This partial repeal of the law today will shrink the pool of healthy enrollees, raising premiums by an additional 10%, further destabilizing the program, & kicking 13M off healthcare.
Voters are no longer fooled by the GOP rhetoric. We know a con when we see one. Bring on the mid terms!
7
For all serious objectors, just wait until February and see how much your paycheck goes up, then just write a check for the extra and send it back to the treasury.
1
Dick—when the $1.5T this bill adds to the deficit is not made up for in revenue by 2027, enjoy talking down to your children/grandchildren about how much they will need to pay out of pocket for your healthcare.
1
Victory for a few...defeat for society as a whole.
6
You will rethink when you see your tax return.
It's Christmastime. How have these lawmakers, casting their votes, missed this sacred passage from the Magnificat in the Gospel of Luke, attributed to Mary:
"He brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty."
Who exactly is waging a war on Christmas, again?
6
Take the money and run. Nothing much else to say.
2
When every economist has warned how devastating to 99% of the US population this tax bill will be, the robber barons in the Republican Party still decide they will push it through putting their greed before all else. Enjoy it while you can Republicans- your days will be short lived. Millions of Americans are angry and we blame you!
5
Yes, millions are angry. Not at Trump but at Hillary. Hillary truly did sell herself out to the Russians. Look at Uranium 1.
Won't a few brave, patriotic members on the Senate please rediscover their moral senses and derail this travesty while there is still time?
5
It is so interesting what we call victory. For whom is this?
9
What are the specifics of this bill you do not like? With the cap of SALT at $10,000, the taxes of the rich will go up.
I believe in Santa. Trickle down? Not so much.
14
You xir believe in the wrong things.
Trump and the Republicans in congress are amongst the most corrupt politicians that this country has ever seen.
This tax plan rewards real estate developers and the wealthy, which includes many in congress. If it becomes law it will constitute possibly the biggest act of self-dealing that our government has ever seen.
But the truly shameless thing about this bill is that millions of working class Americans will lose their healthcare to subsidize the wealthy.
It will be the biggest bait and switch con job in American history.
14
The Republicans as well as Democrats in congress/senate, for a good number of them I would say yes. Trump? No. You guys still have nothing. Be prepared for the conclusion of the disappointment that is the Mueller investigation.
The least the Republicans could do is wear ski masks & point guns at us to make it official.
19
Last time I checked people don't wear ski masks and point guns when they are giving people money. I will be saving $1,300 minimum annually after the tax bill is passed.
Time for the second American revolution. No taxation without representation!
10
We will PAY TAXES ON TAXES...
1
Pass at your peril repubs. When the electorate see this is simply “Voodoo” economics all over again (including the usual payoff to their overly rich buddies) you will all get voted out ala ‘92! Who, me cynical? Nah, just realistic. The repubs just can’t help themselves, they always GIVE away the government to the 0.1% whilst John Q drinks the kool-aid!
6
227 Congresspeople we commit to voting out of office next November.
9
Perhaps the best question to ask is not "How dare they vote to increase the deficit?" but rather, "How dare they vote to increase income inequality??" at a time when 40 million Americans live in poverty. Bloomberg called this bill "economic malpractice."
Please check out the recent report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the current situation in the USA. It indicates a vast disparity between the extreme wealth of the country and the increasingly perilous economic situation of most of its citizens.
"In the economy of the twenty-first century, only a tiny percentage of the population is immune from the possibility that they could fall into poverty as a result of bad breaks beyond their own control. The American Dream is rapidly becoming the American Illusion since the US now has the lowest rate of social mobility of any of the rich countries."
http://ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22533&L...
6
"Victory" for Congress and a defeat for the American people.
5
They think this is a victory? This will be the final straw in the unraveling and irrelevance of the GOP. Trump was a fluke. Demographics and greed and dishonesty and bigotry will come back to bite them. Karma. I can't wait.
5
Start now. Banish the phrase "GOP" from your posting.
Unless they really are your idea of a Grand Old Party.
Even if we were smart enough to pass a balance budget...(try not to spit coffee on your computer)...a 100 billion dollar per year surplus would take 200 years to pay off the current debt. And this tax bill increases the debt....oh goody.
3
R.I.P. the American dream.
4
Victory? For the GOP? Might be victory for the lobbyists, but how will the GOP ever speak about the deficit and sound conservative principles? The tax bill has made the GOP a party of hypocrites and the rich, just as Trump and Moore have made the GOP a party of amoral male abusers.
3
How on earth could the be called a victory?
3
Dear Trump Voters: Thank you! My stock portfolio has gained $2M, and the tax rate on my $360,000 salary will decrease from 34% to 24% (saving me $36,000). Hey, did you factory job come back from China yet?
11
Rumor is that thanks to this tax bill, they're building 10,000 new coal mines in rural Ohio and Michigan!
1
Using the Maxim Tax Plan Calculator posted by another reader:
http://taxplancalculator.com/
Look at the following results of tax savings by income level and tell me what's wrong with this picture.
Income Savings
25,000 $307
50,000 $1.122
100,000 $2,582
500,000 $3880
1,000,000 $17,120
5,000,000 $121,120
2
That calculator is badly done. Doesn't take into account credits student loan deduction.
Also so a person making $50000 saves $1,122 for five years and will lose $20,000 a year in socila security down the line.
This is what we all voted for in November 2016. Remember?
How many of these congressmen will not run for re-election in 2018? I am betting more than 50 will parachute out rather than face the voters in November
Shame on all of them.
4
The Republicans, stuffing their pockets, while their eyes are on the gerrymandered districts. They've been playing the very long game to ensure power, wealth, and destruction for a very, very long time.
Trump is a mere inconvenience.
Republicans and Republicans in congress will be our downfall.
1
It is evident Democrats must begin the process of repealing, modifying, or circumventing this greedy, self-serving money grab by the GOP and 1%. A revolt in the 2018 elections is forthcoming unless the GOP crafts a way of stealing that too! Democrats have to portray themselves (and act the part) as the party of, for, and by the middle class. They are our only hope because the GOP are acting like pigs in a feeding frenzy at the public trough.
4
And the Victory goes to Republicans.
Many of the losers, Americans, still seem delighted with this.
3
Technic Ally,
It seems like there are lots of trolls commenting today-don't let them fool you. The fact is that most Americans are against this tax scam.
2
Republicans, and President Trump, could put $10,000 into everyone's bank account and the democrats would still complain, saying it should have been $10,001.
Rallo,
Or you could look at the long term implications of slashing taxes during a good economy to enrich the already super wealthy.
Can we have a complete list of which Yes votes are up for reelection in 2018 and 2020? Will gladly drive around California and support Democrat running against a Republican that voted for this awful bill.
2
House passes, Senate next. I think I can see the housing prices shrinking in NY and CA.
4
That'll be good for the working and middles class right? Isn't that a good thing?
1
If this somehow magically works and we have an unprecedented period of growth and increased revenues.. then by all means I will say thank you. But I don't believe it FOR A SECOND. That is why I am taking every opportunity to remind people whenever there is tax bill discussion, that THIS IS NOT FREE MONEY. IT'S JUST STAGE 1, and STAGE 2 of the GOP Trojan Horse Master Plan is going to consist of cutting, cutting, and more cutting the social services we all depend on. Because that's what the GOP really wants. Give all $$$ to the rich, and cut all social services to 0. This is simply not the kind of society I want, nor do I think it could even be called a proper society.
19
A lump of coal to each and every one of them.
13
Republicans (about to) hurt the economy and their constituents.
Democrats waiting in the wings to clean up the Republicans' mess.
Again.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
And then VOTE.
16
The partisanship in the discussion of this bill is just amazing. Almost no outlet is reporting on this fairly. Most Americans will see a tax cut.
2
So you've read it? Please go on . . .
Most Americans will see a tax cut. A small, temporary tax cut. And then the Republican war on Social Security and Medicare can begin to correct the damage this horrible bill will create.
1
Starman: That's not the point, only the way Republicans are hoping to slide this by people like you. A so-called middle class tax cut bill should have seen the middle class getting the best deal, not corporations that are already fat and cozy. Also, it won't be paid for by economic growth, because there is nothing in the bill that even purports to spur that except yet another dream of trickle down benefit (no text saying such being in the bill, I think).
It also drives a stake into the heart of any infrastructure bill that doesn't accompany cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, unless we no longer care a whit about exploding the deficit and the debt (in which case, yet another example of Republican hypocrisy). Heck, we'll probably have to see those cuts anyway, when it comes time to renew the middle class tax cuts - or maybe even sooner than that - and trickle down didn't work. Again.
2
Having spent time yesterday reading the new legislation, all I can say is, it brings good news to large businesses and very wealthy people; somewhat good news for smaller businesses, especially flow-through businesses; marginally good news for sole proprietors and lower and middle-income people in the nation's heartland (translate red) states, and bad news for residents in coastal (translate blue) states. That includes me, since I'm in California. From the bill's text, it seems pretty clear the intent all along was to flash a big middle finger at voters in progressive states. It does just that.
I'm thoroughly disgusted with that little weasel, Paul Ryan. And of course he's giddy, because he knows this is just the first step. The GOP is setting up our country for a massive transfer of wealth in 2018 as they get underway with the real business at hand: Disabling, and ultimately destroying, the nation's social safety net programs. Just watch: The GOP will claim those programs are unaffordable and driving the nation to ruin. The good news? By an overwhelming majority, Americans agree with me this legislation is criminal. Let's hope Americans can remember their outrage next November when it's time to elect a new Congress.
25
Donors said: Pass the tax bill or don't ever call again. Voter say: Don't pass the tax bill or you'll never get a vote again.
9
A question that we will be asking our Representative, Peter Roskam (IL-06) during every single appearance he makes for the next 11 months (and over the phone and via email) is this:
Why did you not insist President Trump disclose his tax returns during the tax code rewrite? Why is this not a transparent process from top to bottom?
We will ask him that question, over and over. And he will never answer, because he knows that answer implicates him in the theft of a generation.
GOP = Shameless.
16
Democratic socialism is clearly the path of the future. This just may be cold-hearted capitalism's last gasp.
8
Come on Senators, represent all Americans and not just the wealthy. We are counting on you.
5
The malls and shopping centers around here are swamped with shoppers, gayly buying everything in sight, laughing and yucking it up all the way. Nobody cares about some boring old tax bill because they know they'll get through it, as they always do. And if their own taxes decrease or increase a little bit next year, it won't matter as long as they can continue to keep the bills paid - and go Christmas shopping!
So, have a cocktail, beer, wine, whatever, and enjoy yourself as everyone else is doing because, as the old saying goes: when you laugh the world laughs with you, but when you cry, you cry alone - and life is too short to spend the next year moaning and groaning about some dumb tax bill. You'll manage. We'll all manage.
35
I’m a stage4 cancer patient and I was just switched to Medicare to begin next Spring. I’ve run through my savings paying for the extras needed for my care. Medicare is purportedly going to suffer 25 million in cuts.
I’m not at any malls, I’m saving every dime and so are a lot of people. It’s easy to be cavalier when you have good health and some spare cash but I am very, very nervous. I don’t need this ongoing anxiety, it feels like a constant attack.
6
I must have missed it. When did recreational drugs pass in Michigan?
2
Sounds exactly like something a Rich “D” would say.
Nothing wrong with principled opposition, but zero Democratic support looks less like principle and more like a political calculation that will effectively require them to root against the US economy for the next several years.
Problem is, though, that if the economy performs they'll look like Bolsheviks come 2020 and their opposition might wind up keeping the nitwit in office.
1
I don't know if the media is FAKE but I do know it is dishonest: While the Times ran an analysis showing that the average itemized deduction claimed by a person earning over $200,000 and owning a million dollar or so condo or bungalow in the burbs is about $62,000, and not many people itemize deductions and will benefit from the tax bill, it has not bothered to EDUCATE its low-information digital subscriber base as to this reality.
As Paul Ryan and others rightly feel, the moment you say more dollars on your paycheck in the new year, you are going to be craving to vote Republicans in 2018.
Democrats are not smart to oppose this measure. But then, they are simply NOT SMART.
2
PISonny,
When your social security and medicare is cut by a ton, please return to tell us that five years of tax cuts was worth losing retirement in the future.
Congress, next year save yourselves and your constituents (We the People) a lot of headaches and paperwork by repealing and replacing the federal income tax, which unfairly punishes working people, with a 1% tax on all real estate, stocks, bonds, big-ticket luxury items, and cash deposits. And Congress, give retired workers struggling to survive on meager Social Security a RETROACTIVE cost of living increase equal to what you have been giving yourselves and federal employees all these years. At least give us enough to buy a few cups of senior coffee at McDonald's......
4
Chuck Schumer's great accomplishments of the past two weeks:
-- Drumming Al Franken out of the Senate (no ethics investigation needed!)
-- Helping push Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. A move even the White House admitted won't promote peace (then why do it??)
Senator Schumer's failure: Completely ineffectual opposition to a broadly unpopular, wildly destructive tax bill that will devastate the middle class and working people, as well as the State of NY itself.
You know the battle is lost when even PBS' News Hour refers to the bill as the "Tax Cut." Democrats failed utterly even to frame the issue properly. This was, and will be, a tax INCREASE for all but the ultra rich.
Democrats failed on message, and failed to rally the public, even though a greater than two to one public majority opposes the tax bill.
5
So which Dems Re voting for the bill in the Senate?
A minority of voters backs the bill. The overwhelming majority of Americans don't back the bill. What else could Schumer have done. Burned down the Senate Building?
What a great year 2017 was! All-time highs on the markets, houses are worth more than ever, two of my kids got better jobs, unemployment at a 17-year low, GDP humming at 3%+. Now a tax cut where those lowest on the salary scale will get as much as a 100% tax cut, those in the middle will get about 15%-20% and those at the top get 8%.
2018 looks like it's going to be a great year too!
Now all I have to do is stop reading the NY Times telling me how lousy things are.
4
Plus millions of people losing healthcare and increased deficit and debt. Climate change getting worse with no plan to reduce dependency on finite fossil fuels. EPA being changed to the Environmental Pollution Agency increasing the super fund site. Middle class never seems to get a pay raise...student debt increasing with no end in sight. Trump university analogs reenergized to fleece people providing no education benefit. Houses not worth more in most markets. Increased cold war tension around the globe. And a tax bill that will not benefit the economy because it doesn't increase demand. Yay.
1
Traveling Professor, if you live in Mass. and are "in the top 8%"-- a wage earner, home owner, etc. (not a commercial real estate developer or hedge fund manager)--you will see a huge tax INCREASE, due to the non-deductibility of state and local taxes. Do the math.
1
Nope. Note me. Property taxes are about $2,200 a year here in Monterey (near Great Barrington) and even if I have $7,800 in state income taxes (I won't), I am still way ahead of the game. You need to stop reading the fake news - you will be much happier.
1
Historically Democrats cause economic booms, Republicans caused recessions. I expect no different.
13
The new Gilded Age.
7
And we all know what happened after that...
1
So we have finally arrived at the end times. Representative democracy died today. It had been gasping for quite some time but this vote is it. This tax bill--so called as the namers and framers of it are so cynical as to be chronically ill--finally shows us what our so-called democracy has given us. Mildly rich men (mostly) treating themselves and their stupendously wealthy benefactors to a gift-giving holiday treat!
Everyone else, too bad. Up next: "so what if you actually paid into a system that we want to destroy. You lose again." Don't you just love the family values of it all? They love their benefactors so much! Their constituents? Who? Because if they do get "voted" out (unlikely), they will have all that money to spend!
2
America, just look to Kansas to see what happens when GOP supply-side zealots slash and burn taxes on the rich and businesses. The disastrous results: little or no economic growth while even the most basic government services and programs went bankrupt.
Thank you, reckless and mindless GOP. When will you ever learn that Ayn Rand was a crackpot right-wing utopian, not an economist?
12
This is not a "win." This is simply a crime in progress.
9
227 spineless members of the House of Representatives need to be voted out of office in November. Running up the national debt to pay off their wealthy donors is a scandalous. Running up the national debt to line their won pockets is illegal. Either way, these people need to be out of office.
4
My husband is astonished that the Republicans have so quickly morphed from the party of obstruction into the party of destruction.
5
Am I in a Democracy? If I am, I hate it. Of what use are the lofty principles of my vote should matter when I am being strangulated to death. As though my daily grind is not enough, my 50 yr. old middle-class self and my spouse, childless with our multiple illnesses will have no health insurance, may also become homeless and who knows may not have Social Security or Medicare either. What a horrible day for me. I take back my glowing words about Corker, Flake, Collins and right now I am not feeling generous about McCain either.
3
Shows how ineffective the anti Trump Dems and demonstrators are. I'm not a Trumper, but I have to give the Reps credit for passing this bill with all the hate and venom thrown on them. As good a victory as Obama's ACA passage. They too, victims of hate, etc.
"You can keep your Doctor, you can keep your insurance." ( Obama). "This bill doesn't help me personally" (Trump).
I have no hope for 2018.
15
True, but the Obama lie above hurt folks while the Trump lie, well, who really cares in the long run. Once folks do their taxes, many of the more than 80% that see more money will end up being happy with this tax plan. Those that have retirement plans are already happy over the jump from Wall Street anticipating this plan.
Well John S. you still had a doctor and better Insurance than you had earlier. That is more than you have now.
2
Marvin,
And when your social security and medicare get cut to fund your small tax break, you might realize you lost more than you could chew.
1
The unfairness of this bill is evidenced by the manner in which it progressed through Congress. Not a single public hearing. Nothing. Whether you are a Rep or a Dem, that should be a red flag that one group, namely the GOP, does not want to have this bill vetted. No other reason. It is this basic fact that should cause people to cry foul, again, independent of your party affiliation. The GOP has satisfied one group of people, the donors, at the expense of the electorate. It will be amazing if the voters ignore this faulty process when it comes time to vote. Senators Flake, Corker and Collins, had appeared to be independent thinkers, thinkers who listened to their actual constituents; but, alas, they have chosen their donors over those who actually pulled the lever and voted for them.
The GOP is gambling that there is no life after death. For if there is, the heat they are feeling now will seem like an icebox for eternity.
13
Exactly! Just like the icebox endured by the Democrats for jamming through the Affordable Care Act. Don’t cry; payback time has arrived. I say this in all candor but I also say it with sadness. Whatever is happening to our republic?
Confused,
Actually it took months before democrats voted on the ACA. Go back and look at history.
Please accept my apologies for overlooking the enormous amount of Republican input considered by the Democrats. Had that in fact happened the ACA would not be in its current mess.
Does it occur to anyone else that the US taxpayer BAILED out the excesses and plain carelessness of big business less than 10 years ago? Now, instead of paying back the middle class with tax breaks, Congress is going to give big business carte blanche to do it all over again with their tax bill. Just goes to show you who they are working for, and it isn't us. The strength of this country was ALWAYS in its middle class, which Congress and Trump are systematically destroying. I've seen power do it in other countries, and now Congress is doing it to us.
22
Donald's Depression started today.
- Destabilizes housing prices
- Puts Medicare on the block
- Reduces healthcare coverage for 13 million
- Increases the debt 1.5 trillion and far more if tax cuts not reauthorized
- Forces education cuts, putting US behind competitively
15
I honestly can’t stand Ryan and his ilk standing there after the vote with such broad grins on their faces and appearing so smug. Constituents who voted for Republicans and Trump shall regret voting for them soon enough for the true winners are the very wealthy like Trump, his ilk and family, Corker and the like as well as wealthy donors. Unfortunately it will also affect future generations for the national debt will have to be paid down sooner or later which, I am sure, will be on the backs of the middle class and the poor workers.
9
Oh boy. Here we go! The brazen gamble has been taken. They have bet the House, and the Senate, on this thing. It is up to the rest of us to ensure that it is their downfall.
17
Just think of all that they could do if they were motivated by something besides feathering their nests and getting money! Infrastructure, lowering opiate addiction, creating jobs in green energy, which is the fastest job growth industry these days. . . getting Veterans whole, sane and housed. . .
Oh the things they COULD do!
12
The Republicans have forgotten how wealth is created. They seem to think that money can make money by simply force of will. They ignore that there needs to be a lot of buying and selling going on beyond what is being done in the financial sector. If that involves only the rich, then the masses of people become not members of the economy but potentially vast numbers of impoverished outsiders, a lot like the current homeless people. They ignore how shared risk through public and private programs enables people to be robust consumers because they are not burdened by health care costs, carrying for poor and old and sick and young in their families and communities. The rich will benefit in the short run, but they will become prisoners in gilded cages.
6
Since the Democrats and their supporters in the media decided to become part of the "resistance" both Pelosi and Shumer have successfully ensured that they had no input in the final result. Maybe if they acted more responsibly all the whining now going on could have been lessened and a better bill acceptable to more people could have resulted.
2
Except all attempts at amending the bill were rejected by Republicans.
"Derailed Train Was Traveling 80 M.P.H. in a 30-M.P.H. Zone" Paul Ryan and the House Republicans were quite pleased with the incredible speed and progress they were making on the tax-cutting, deficit-increasing journey as their legislative train careened with reckless abandon down the tracks...until just immediately before the crash. Wait...wrong story. Or maybe not.
6