In a sign of the challenge to come, House Republicans narrowly passed a budget measure on Thursday allowing the tax overhaul to increase the deficit by $1.5 trillion over a decade. “It shows the strength of the willingness to get tax reform done,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said of Thursday’s 216-to-212 budget vote. But as they rush forward, lawmakers have not resolved basic questions about how the tax overhaul would affect the wealthy, the middle class or lower-income earners. Democrats are accusing Republicans of pursuing tax cuts that will expand the budget deficit to deliver tax cuts that mainly benefit the wealthy and corporations. “With this budget, House Republicans are officially on the record supporting a middle-class tax increase — something they’ll be forced to defend repeatedly in the midterms,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Tyler Law.

Source: Washington Post October 26, 2017 23:01 UTC