Langevin Statement on the Passage of Republican Tax Bill

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) released the following statement after voting against the House Republican tax bill, which passed the House by a vote of 227 to 205:

“The House Republican tax bill is the fiscally irresponsible product of closed-door, partisan negotiations. Instead of enhancing the economic security of all Rhode Islanders, this bill primarily benefits the wealthy and large corporations.

“Republicans have sold this bill as a tax cut. However, the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center found that 36 million middle-class households will actually see a tax increase. Students facing ever-rising college costs would lose the ability to deduct interest payments on their loans. The bill severely limits the state and local tax deduction that more than one-third of Rhode Islanders rely on. It also hits middle-class families and seniors when they’re at their most vulnerable by completely eliminating the medical expense deduction. What’s more, it does so by creating a massive hole in the federal budget, which will add an estimated $1.7 trillion to our national debt.

“Congress has a responsibility to create an equitable tax system that responsibly funds vital government programs and contributes to the economic growth of all Americans. Today, House Republicans failed in that duty, instead passing a bill that looks out for the interests of the well-off and the well-connected, leaving hard working families and small businesses with mere crumbs. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to stop traveling this calamitous path by joining with Democrats on commonsense, bipartisan tax reform, not this tax scam.”