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With real estate in the 80's the tax write-offs got so generous that an entire industry was created to build unneeded buildings just so people could buy partnership rights to the depreciation. That's a poor analogy to this mess, since those schedules were helping to create the distortions that led to the S&L crisis a few years later.

Current depreciation schedule allows 20% write-off in year one, this bill moves it to 30%, and the tax savings on that would be in the 25 to 35% range. It's like getting a 2% discount on your asset purchase. Is that really going to be a driver of the internal rate of return on a financed piece of capital equipment? Give me a break. But it means the government is back in deficit and my personal tax rates won't drop for a decade so GE can pay less taxes. Let's eschew corporate welfare in favor of a truly smaller government spending profile and lower taxes for all.

Actually they are only allowed 10% or 14% the first year, using DDB, for 5 and 7 year assets - you only get to take 1/2 in the year of purchase. They are allowed to directly expense approximately $25,000 right away - section 179. So, without having read the bill (and that's important when tax legislation is involved), it looks to be like they are doubling the depreciation allowance. This doesn't just effect the GEs of the world but all the small business owners too. I am sure the NFIB was pushing hard for this.

Frankly, I would have perferred personal tax cuts but the Dems said "no" to that, even if in place of the business tax cuts.

But it means the government is back in deficit and my personal tax rates won't drop for a decade so GE can pay less taxes

First, accelerating depreciation doesn't lower anyone's taxes. Second, if it only lowered corporate taxes you and I would be better off. Corporate taxes are passed on to me and you.