On October 5, 2017, the House passed the Building A Better America Budget.
On October 19, 2017, the Senate approved their version of the FY 2018 Budget Resolution.
This concurrence by the House with Senate amendments to H.Con.Res. 71 unlocked the reconciliation process that allows Congress to enact tax reform legislation without threat of the filibuster in the Senate. For more on the FY 2018 Budget, click HERE.
Barbara Lee (D-CA 13th)
Once again, Republicans proved they have no concern for everyday Americans and families struggling to make ends meet. At its heart, the federal budget is a moral document that spells out the principles and priorities of a nation. The Republican budget is nothing more than a morally bankrupt Trojan horse that steals healthcare from children and rips food from the hungry just to fast track massive-tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires.
In nearly two decades of service, I have never witnessed such an un-American budget pass through the House of Representatives. Their budget cuts $1.3 trillion from Medicaid and $500 billion from Medicare. It takes an ax to education, research, and job training programs while increasing the national deficit by more than $1 trillion. What’s worse is that this cruel budget is Robin Hood in reverse. As it devastates families across the country, it showers tax cuts on the rich and powerful.
Any changes to our nation’s tax code will impact millions of Americans – Republicans are using this sham of a budget to try and rush massive tax giveaways past the American people. Today’s vote was simply disgraceful. I reject this sinister budget and remain committed to fighting for a federal budget that lifts Americans out of poverty and invests in job creation and healthcare. A budget that empowers the American people and moves our country forward.
Jason Lewis (R-MN, 2nd)
“I’m committed to delivering a tax cut for families in Minnesota’s 2nd District.
“As a member of the House Budget Committee, I’ve been working hard to get us to the point where the formal tax reform process can start for the first time in over 30 years. Hardworking Minnesota families can’t wait any longer for relief from the broken tax code.
“Today’s passage of the Budget puts us on a path to lower taxes on middle-class families and small businesses, a simplified filing system where you can complete your return on a postcard, and a more competitive business rate to encourage American companies to create jobs in our communities here at home. I’m proud to have supported tax reform by voting for the Budget today.”
Tom McClintock (R-CA, 4th)
The budget resolution sets the spending architecture for the fiscal year. The House version provided for $200 billion of enforceable mandatory spending reductions over ten years and balanced within the decade.
The Senate amendments gut these provisions, squandering the one opportunity Congress has each year to bring mandatory spending under control -- taking us another year closer to a sovereign debt crisis. This is tragic and I condemn it in the strongest terms.
Betty McCollum (D-MN, 4th)
“House Republicans’ budget reflects their priorities: it fast tracks lavish tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, slashes health care for families, guts investments in America’s future, and forces working families to pay for it all.
“Minnesotans should understand exactly what this budget vote means: it will allow expedited action on the Trump-Ryan-McConnell tax plan, which gives the top 1 percent of wealthy Americans 80 percent of the benefits. By eliminating the state and local tax deduction that helps middle class Minnesotans, it actually raises taxes on working families in our state.
“Make no mistake: every Republican who voted for the budget today voted to raise taxes on working Minnesotans to fund a giveaway to the wealthiest Americans.”
A. Donald McEachin (D VA, 4th)
“Today, I reiterate my firm belief that legislative budgets are moral documents outlining our principles, values and goals. Congressional Republicans put forward a budget that slashes billions of dollars from the services that hardworking Americans depend on most. The budget heading to the President’s desk is one that values the wealthiest Americans over meeting the basic needs of hardworking families.
“Republicans will follow this disgraceful bill with their so-called ‘tax reform’ plan that will once again demonstrate their priority of protecting and enhancing the already wealthy. This billionaires-first tax plan will be rammed through precipitously, adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit. Apparently, deficits don't matter anymore.
“Rather, we should be prioritizing bills that will support children and working families such as CHIP reauthorization, or my Pollution Transparency Act. I urge my colleagues to take the time needed and to carefully consider legislation that gives the American people what they really want – better jobs, better wages, high-quality education, and affordable healthcare.”
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA, 5th)
“We are unlocking our historic opportunity to unleash everyone’s potential through comprehensive tax reform,” said McMorris Rodgers. “A fair, simple tax code is how we help lift up those who are left behind. America was built on freedom, opportunity, and hard work, and it’s time our tax code reflected those principles.”
Grace Meng (D-NY, 6th)
“Today I voted no on the immoral GOP budget resolution that serves to advance a crushing tax plan particularly harmful to New Yorkers because it includes elimination of the State & Local Tax Deduction. Thirty percent of the households in my district rely on this critical deduction to get back an average of $11,000 per year.
The budget resolution would jeopardize the health care of seniors, children, the disabled, and veterans. It disinvests in our future by slashing funding for education, infrastructure, and medical research. It cuts Medicare by $473 billion, Medicaid by $1 trillion, infrastructure spending by almost $200 billion, and Pell Grants by more than $100 billion, all while increasing the deficit by $1.5 trillion through tax cut proposals to provide a break to the wealthiest on the backs of hardworking American families.
My constituents, and indeed all Americans, deserve a better deal.”
Paul Mitchell (R MI, 10th)
“Today, we passed a budget that is the next step toward enacting pro-growth, pro-worker tax reform. Our tax plan focuses on families living paycheck to paycheck; it’s projected to increase wages by $4,000 on average, create new jobs, and allow workers to keep more of their own money. We are now well on the way to realizing tax reform that will bring bigger paychecks, growing businesses, and a stronger economy.”
Gwen Moore (D-WI, 4th)
“Much like their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Republican budget resolution was drafted in secrecy, denounced by both sides of the aisle, and rife with massive tax cuts for powerful corporations. Despite condemnation by those in their own party, Republicans narrowly passed what can only be described as a reckless and dangerous bill that will reshape our economy and deal an immense blow to critical services like Medicaid and Medicare.
“In passing this spiteful resolution, the GOP once again turned its back on a group of Americans too often overlooked in the halls of Congress: the single, working-class mother. With her in mind, I forcefully voted against this bill as the trillions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy will come at the expense of the very programs that help her escape poverty. Threatening essential health programs for the most vulnerable as a means to satisfy President Trump’s wild campaign promises reflects nothing but contempt for women who are simply trying to provide for their families.
“Our shared failure to invest in these women with robust contributions to health services, child care, and vocational training cannot be understated. Such indifference and neglect while simultaneously burdening them with soaring taxes demands nothing less than our collective indignation. If single, working-class mothers are truly the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to the well-being of our country, all of us have cause for concern.”
Jason Lewis (R-MN, 2nd)
“I’m committed to delivering a tax cut for families in Minnesota’s 2nd District.
“As a member of the House Budget Committee, I’ve been working hard to get us to the point where the formal tax reform process can start for the first time in over 30 years. Hardworking Minnesota families can’t wait any longer for relief from the broken tax code.
“Today’s passage of the Budget puts us on a path to lower taxes on middle-class families and small businesses, a simplified filing system where you can complete your return on a postcard, and a more competitive business rate to encourage American companies to create jobs in our communities here at home. I’m proud to have supported tax reform by voting for the Budget today.”
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