GOP congressmen praise House tax bill

Nov. 16--All Republican members of Mississippi's congressional delegation voted Thursday in favor of a tax reform bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a near party line vote.

Some kind of revision to the U.S. tax code has been a major priority for GOP leaders since the party took total control of the executive and legislative branches in elections last year. After repeated efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act collapsed in the Senate earlier this year, congressional leaders and the White House have been especially keen to notch a major legislative achievement.

Locally, 1st Congressional Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Saltillo, has touted fewer and lower brackets and a simplified tax code as major priorities.

On Thursday, he was optimistic about the prospects for success.

"Today the House continued to move the process forward by passing our version of tax reform," Kelly said in a statement issued to the Daily Journal, "I look forward to conference negotiations with the Senate on a final tax reform bill."

In his statement, Kelly highlighted analysis performed by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. This organization found that incomes for middle-income filers in Mississippi would rise by about $1,562 under the House tax plan.

Mississippi's 2nd Congressional Rep. Gregg Harper and 3rd Congressional District Rep. Steven Palazzo also released statements of praise for the bill.

Invoking the memory of tax legislation enacted under President Ronald Reagan, Harper said, in part, "Our tax code has become more burdensome, over-complicated, and unfair -- especially for middle-class Americans. Our country is in need of serious tax reform that helps grow the economy and ease the burden on hard-working Americans."

Palazzo described tax legislation as a long-sought priority for him.

"Today the House finally passed a bill that provides a much needed update to our tax code," Palazzo said. "First and foremost, this bill allows hard-working Americans to keep more of their hard earned money."

The final vote tally on the bill was 227-205. No Democrats voted in favor of the bill, and 13 Republicans voted against it.

The House bill doubles the standard deduction and the child tax credit while slashing corporate taxes and limiting deductions for state and local property taxes and mortgage interest.

It also collapses the number of individual tax brackets from seven to four.

The U.S. Senate continues deliberation of its own tax bill, which diverges in some ways from the House version. If that chamber passes legislation that doesn't align with the House bill, congressional leaders will meet to work out a compromise.

caleb.bedillion@journalinc.com

Twitter: @CalebBedillion

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