Once again, on Tuesday, Rep. Tom MacArthur (R, NJ-03) was the only New Jersey federal legislator to support tax reform as the reconciled GOP package appeared poised for a razor-close passage in the U.S. Senate:
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US HOUSE PASSES TAX REFORM 227-203.
No Democrat voted for lower taxes.Only 12 Rs voted no.
They were:
Donovan, NY
Faso, NY
Frelinghuysen, NJ
Issa, CA
Jones, NC ???
King (NY)
Lance, NJ
LoBiondo, NJ
Rohrabacher, CA
Smith (NJ)
Stefanik, NY
Zeldin, NY— Grover Norquist (@GroverNorquist) December 19, 2017
MacArthur stuck to his guns in a statement issued post-House passage.
He also pointed out that more than half of his Burlington County and Ocean County constituents take the stand deduction which will double for both individuals and married couples if the new legislation is signed into law.
“This is good news for the overburdened taxpayers in South Jersey. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides real relief for families and businesses—by simplifying the tax code, lowering rates, doubling the standard deduction, providing tax credits for childcare and care of adult dependents; all while preserving the deductibility of property and state income taxes,” said MacArthur.
“I came to Washington to fight for my constituents and solve the tough problems that impact their lives. During this process, I urged the White House and House Leadership to preserve the deductibility of property and state income taxes, restore the medical expense deduction for seniors and those with high medical costs and protect the educator expense deduction for our dedicated teachers. I didn’t back down from this fight and I’m grateful my colleagues listened and preserved these critical provisions,” MacArthur added. “In the end, this legislation will provide a vast majority of my constituents with a much needed tax cut and allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money.”
Leonard Lance (R, NJ-07) took a very different take but while offering a tepid compliment to the conference committee.
“I voted against the tax bill today because it significantly reduces the ability of New Jerseyans to deduct state and local taxes, a provision that has been in the code since 1913. Also, as a deficit hawk, I do not favor adding $1.5 trillion to the national debt,” said Lance. “I was pleased, however, that the Conference Committee improved the bill in several ways, including provisions for extraordinary medical expenses and student debt and graduate tuition.”
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