A Congresswoman who represents 24 counties in west-central and southwest Missouri says the tax bill approved by the U.S. House will create one million new jobs.
Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler speaks to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce on November 17, 2017 (Brian Hauswirth photo)
U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, says a family of four earning $59,000 would receive an $1,100 tax cut.
“I think it’s really important that we have tax reform and provide help for Americans,” Hartzler says. “And so my purview is dealing with the federal tax code which is antiquated, hasn’t been updated since the ’80s.”
Hartzler tells the Columbia Chamber of Commerce that the bill doubles the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals and to $24,000 for married couples.
Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D) blasts a similar proposal, saying that “corporations and wealthy business owners make out like bandits” under a plan backed by the GOP-controlled Senate Finance Committee.
Hartzler, who’s in her fourth House term, voted for the bill approved by the House on Thursday.
The vote was 227-205. Every House Democrat and 13 Republicans voted against the bill.
Hartzler is hopeful the bill will be signed by President Donald Trump (R) by Christmas. She says there are still provisions in the bill that can be improved.
“We’re doing a lot of discussions between the House and the Senate and the White House all trying to come together,” says Hartzler. “We’ve all agreed on a basic framework, but now we’re just looking at the details.”
Hartzler also says the House bill preserves the home mortgage interest deduction for existing mortgages. She says reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent would allow businesses to hire more employees.
Senator McCaskill describes the GOP Senate Finance Committee plan as a “bad deal for Missouri families”, adding that “working people in Missouri deserve better than to get scraps.”
