Politics

New Democrat House Rules Make Passing Tax Hikes Easier

REUTERS/Toya Sarno Jordan

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
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WASHINGTON — The new rules package that the incoming House Democratic majority is set to pass includes a measure that makes it easier for Congress to hike taxes, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) noted. (Related: New House Rules Package Establish Key Agendas For Dems)

Since Republicans had the majority in 2011, they established a rule that any bill allowing increases in federal income taxes must have the support of three-fifths of the lower chamber to pass. The Democrats’ rules package repeals this rule and requires that a majority-by-voice vote will instead be required to raise taxes.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Gathers With Incoming Freshmen Democrats 12/2018 (Credit: Daily Caller/Kerry Picket)

Democrats promised to repeal the Republican-passed tax reform package during the 2018 mid-term elections. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the bonuses and salary hikes companies gave to their workers as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “crumbs” last year and said the legislation would lead to “Armageddon.”

Another change in the rules includes the rolling back of the Joint Committee on Taxation releasing dynamic scores of legislation. Republicans argue that dynamic scoring offers a way for lawmakers to predict the effects of tax relief policy based on the future behavior of people and organizations.

“By returning to static scoring, Democrats ignore the real-world changes in behavior by tax cuts and other boons to economic growth,” ATR spokesman John Kartch said in a statement.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at her weekly presser Oct.5, 2017 (Credit: Daily Caller/Kerry Picket)

Democrats found themselves fighting among each other over the rule changes related to replacing the Republican budgetary process of CUTGO, which requires that increases in mandatory spending be offset only with equal or more decreases in mandatory spending. Democrats’ preferred process of PAYGO requires any new House spending be offset either by tax increases or budget cuts. (Related: Ocasio-Cortez Will Vote Against Pelosi’s Rules Package Because It Hinders Medicare For All)

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