The GOP tax reform bill known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” came one important step closer to becoming law on Tuesday when the bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 227 to 203.
No Democrats voted for the bill, of course. The party of big, centralized government isn’t for anyone keep more of their own money, other than perhaps illegal aliens and welfare recipients, and will never vote to cut anybody’s taxes.
But not all Republicans voted for the bill either. Here are the 12 Republicans — all from high tax states — who joined Democrats in voting against passage:
- Dana Rohrabacher of California
- Darrell Issa of California
- Walter B. Jones of North Carolina
- Frank A. LoBiondo of New Jersey
- Christopher H. Smith of New Jersey
- Leonard Lance of New Jersey
- Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey
- Lee Zeldin of New York
- Peter King of New York
- Dan Donovan of New York
- John J. Faso of New York
- Elise Stefanik of New York
For years, conservatively-managed states have been in essence subsidizing high tax states because taxpayers from those “blue” states have been able to deduct those high state taxes from their federal income tax returns.
By limiting the deductibility of state and local taxes, the GOP tax plan will result in tax increases on some moderate- to high-income people in blue states, which is why the Republicans listed above likely voted against the legislation.
That is not a problem for the federal government. It is a problem of those states and the voters who enable the thievery. Let them know turn to their respective state governments and demand that their taxes be slashed.
The GOP tax bill will now be voted on by the Senate tonight, where it is expected to pass by a razor-thin margin.
