Arizona congressman has hopes tax bill helps all Americans
Nov 17, 2017, 10:13 AM | Updated: 10:21 am
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX — A tax overhaul could be a done deal before the year is over and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona hopes the rate reduction applies to all Americans.
“The thing that bugs me most … (the tax rate reduction) was only going to apply to about 75-80 percent of Americans,” Biggs told KTAR 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Friday.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill Thursday. A Senate panel sent its own version of the bill for a full-party vote.
Like the House bill, the Senate measure would cut the corporate tax rate and decrease personal income tax rates for many. But there was a new feature in the Senate bill that pleased Biggs: elimination of individual health care mandate.
“A twofer in my opinion,” Biggs said.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has projected that repeal of the mandate would result in 13 million more uninsured people by 2027, making it a political risk for some lawmakers.
“You never know with these assurances you’re given but (Senate leaders) gave me some pretty solid assurances that the elimination was going to be there.”
That move would lead to a rate reduction for all Americans, Biggs said.
“I think that’s important. That will juice the economy even more, which has been growing just on the promise of tax reform.”
Republicans would like to send a compromise bill for Trump to sign by Christmas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.