Exclusive: Congressional Republicans are working on a president who will advance a trillion dollar bill Donald Trump’s Agenda – And one of the GOP tax writers said, it could include a modest tax hike for wealthy Americans.
“There could be talk of tax increases on wealthy Americans. I think our goal in this committee and the president’s goal was to provide tax cuts to workers and the middle class,” RN.Y. Rep. Nicole Mariotakis told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
“We have to find a way to pay for it, so we need to see how this all shakes up.”
Senior House GOP aides who spoke with Fox News Digital also hinted at the table as possible tax increases.
Meet Trump Pick’s lawmakers speaking at the Full House GOP conference to Johnson
Republicans are writing bills that will advance President Donald Trump’s agenda. (AP/Alex Brandon)
“The reason we are the majority and have the ability to do this whole process is because of the working-class voters, not the wealthiest Americans,” they said. “We believe our tax package reflects that reality.”
Malliotakes is located in the House Ways & Means Committee, one of the most important panels in the house Budget adjustment process.
The settlement lowers the Senate’s passing threshold from 60 to 51, allowing parties that manage both the Congressional Room and the White House to pass a massive policy overhaul while standing by the sidelines of the opposition, in this case Democrats.
This process traditionally begins in the House, with seven committees preparing to meet in the next two weeks, eliminating policies under the relevant jurisdictions. These will then be slotted into a larger budgetary framework and will then be considered by the House Budget Committee before the vote of lawmakers.
The Ways & Means Committee is responsible for the tax portion, an important priority for Trump.
Rep. Nicole Mariotakis is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. (Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
The president hopes Republicans will extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Employment Act (TCJA) and also offers new tax policy slates, including tips for retirees, overtime salaries and social security check duties.
Republicans are currently studying the path to pay those priorities.
Mario Takis shows that corporate tax hikes are likely off the table, but she is among several Republican lawmakers who have said they are open to small tax hikes for wealthy people to pay for Trump’s mid- and working class priorities.
“Personally, if you don’t intend to cut your spending, it should be on the table. But I hope that it will cut your spending,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md. told Fox News Digital.
But others said they opposed it.
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“I don’t think there’s a revenue problem. I don’t think we should not look for a place to add revenue. I think there’s a spending issue. Congress is spending too much money and spending too much of its GDP.
It is not immediately clear what shape such a tax increase will take. Republicans discussed potential proposals, including a decline of about 2% at the TCJA and then increasing the top tax bracket by about 1%. Another proposal would create new tax frames for potentially billionaires of up to 40%.
Jason Smith, R-Mo, Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. will not share details of future plans when asked about possible tax increases.
R-Mo, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. Rep. Jason Smith of the company will not share details. (Houseway and Means)
“There are a lot of things I read in the media that are not accurate, but I’m not going to say if it’s accurate. Every time they deliver it just before the markup they’ll see the bill,” Smith told Fox News Digital.
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“But what I say is we have a tax bill that is growth, pro-family, pro-parents, pro-parents, pro-workers, and Republicans believe in ensuring that Americans maintain their hard-earned dollars.
He said Americans would probably be able to see the plan in “days rather than months” issues.
Deirdre Heavey from Fox News Digital contributed to this report
