Posted on 12/14/2017 11:36:20 AM PST by Signalman
Trump will work Little Marco.
“I hope I’m wrong, but I expect that, without Rubio’s change, this tax bill will cost the GOP its majority in both houses in 2018. Part of the reason Moore lost to Jones was probably because of this tax bill. From an optics standpoint, it looks like the GOP is in thrall to the globalist open borders plutocrats. GOP-leaning working class whites with household incomes under $40K will look at this bill and wonder why they even bother to show up at the polls. That’s why the child tax credit refundable against payroll taxes is essential.”
it’s not just the child tax credit that’s probably going to cost the repubs seats in 2018.
In this tax bill the elimination of most of the itemized deductions should be a deal killer to all those of our duly elected to represent us who vote them into office, and should not represent a thank you gift to those corporations who donate the fattest envelopes to their re-election campaigns.
so just as the cost of obamacare was being shouldered by all the healthy young people who had to sign up or pay a fine, this tax bill is being paid for by the average middle class taxpayer for the benefit of big permanent tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. Touting this as a tax cut to all the middle class deplorables who elected Trump is the same as obama promising that you would save $2500 on your insurance premiums and could keep your doctor. This isn’t a tax cut, but a tax increase for the average American.
the standard deduction is being not quite doubled [for individuals, it would go from $6,350 to $12,000, and for married joint filers, it raises that deduction from $12,700 to $24,000], but then they are eliminating the individual personal exemptions [of $4,050 per person] for yourself, your spouse and your dependents; thereby, reducing the doubled standard deductions real net worth to $7,950 for singles [a real net increase of $1,600 from existing std deduction] and to $15,900 for joint filers [a real net increase of $3,900 from the current std deduction]. A couple with 2 children will have their $24,000 doubled standard deduction reduced by $16,200 for a real net reduction of $7,800. so they give with one hand but take away with the other. in addition, they are eliminating the extra deduction for those over 65 or blind.
Now, if you take the standard deduction, you cannot then itemize; therefore, giving up the normal deductions for medical expenses, long term care insurance expenses, state and local taxes, property taxes [under the senate bill], mortgage interest deduction limits, student loan interest deductions, moving expenses, alimony, dependent care assistance accounts, casualty and theft losses, unreimbursed job expenses and tax preparation fees.
further details about this “wonderful” tax grab:
Exclusions and exemptions. The measure would repeal personal and dependency exemptions (which is $4,050 per individual in 2017), exclusions for employee achievement awards, employer education assistance, qualified tuition programs, dependent care assistance, qualified moving reimbursements, and adoption assistance. Contribution to Coverdell education savings accounts would be barred, but funds in existing accounts could be rolled over to 529 plans.
Deductions.
Certain deductions from gross income as well as itemized deductions would be eliminated. Deductions from gross income set to be axed include the alimony deduction (for divorce or separation agreements entered into after Dec. 31, 2017, student loan interest (although the Senate version would retain this deduction), interest on U.S. savings bonds redeemed for higher education, the moving expense deduction, the deduction for contributions to Archer medical savings accounts, out-of-pocket educator expenses, and expenses of performing artists and certain government officials.
Itemized deductions on the chopping block include the medical expense deduction, state and local income or sales taxes, the casualty and theft loss deduction (except for casualty losses in federally-declared disaster areas), and miscellaneous itemized deductions for tax return preparation and unreimbursed employee business expenses.
Tax credits.
The bill would repeal the credit for the elderly and permanently disabled, the credit for mortgage certificates, and the credit for plug-in electric vehicles. The bill would eliminate the lifetime learning credit by consolidating it into the American opportunity credit. The credit would be available for five years of higher education (instead of four years), but the amount in the fifth year would half the usual maximum (including the amount eligible for the 40 percent refundable portion of the credit).
This is a real kamikaze move on the GOP's part. Many of the reps in the purple states had better have lobbying jobs lined up for when they are defeated by their Dem counterparts. Trump's job is probably safe until 2020, but if he couldn't seal the deal for Moore, I'd say it's highly likely that he is down in the polls among Republicans (i.e. those who did not show up to vote for Moore, who normally would have). That means a primary challenge in 2020 for Trump.
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