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How the Senate Can Improve the House Tax and Budget Bill
Wall Street Journal ^ | May 22, 2025 | WSJ Editorial Board

Posted on 05/23/2025 8:12:11 AM PDT by karpov

House Republicans passed their giant tax and budget bill Thursday, a political triumph for Speaker Mike Johnson despite its policy disappointments. The House bill had to pass because the alternative was a GOP failure to govern, but the Senate now has a chance to make it better.

The House version does include some policy gains, notably preventing a $4.5 trillion tax increase next year if President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts expire. Lower tax rates for individuals are made permanent. The measure would restore full expensing, which encourages business investment, albeit only through 2029. The bill also doesn’t disturb the 21% permanent corporate tax rate, which was the crowning achievement of 2017.

The bill’s tax and Medicaid provisions are absorbing media oxygen, but there are brighter spots elsewhere. The $150 billion infusion for national defense is sorely needed. The bill’s billions for building ships could be a life raft for a shrinking U.S. Navy, if paired with presidential leadership.

There is some modest welfare reform that cements the GOP as the only party still defending America’s work ethic. The bill tightens food-stamp work requirements and asks able-bodied adults, including parents with school-age children, to work or volunteer part-time.

The bill also aims to limit the federal government’s student loan buffet and hold colleges more accountable for student outcomes. One provision that has received little attention is an expansion of health-savings accounts that Americans like and allow more individual choice in health spending.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial
KEYWORDS: budget
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1 posted on 05/23/2025 8:12:11 AM PDT by karpov
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To: karpov

I concur with these mentioned points.
American foreign policy does well, with a great gunboat president .
American foreign policy does poorly when a cash throwing president presides.


2 posted on 05/23/2025 8:19:45 AM PDT by Terry L Smith
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To: karpov

Reinstated the $10,000 limit on SALT deductions.


3 posted on 05/23/2025 8:20:52 AM PDT by taxcontrol (You are entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong it is.)
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To: taxcontrol

Git rid of all Green Deal crap... That should have never even left the house.


4 posted on 05/23/2025 8:27:06 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: karpov
The senate is where this bill will be neutered. With a higher bar for passage, the Democrats will make their demands for implementation to make it even remotely viable to go through.

I don't have high hopes.

5 posted on 05/23/2025 8:28:51 AM PDT by fwdude (Why is there a "far/radical right," but damned if they'll admit that there is a far/radical left?)
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To: karpov

How the Senate Can Improve the House Tax and Budget Bill , ROFL


6 posted on 05/23/2025 8:38:52 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: karpov

Medicaid for illegals MUST end. To fund it is simply ridiculous. To cut the program at all will generate the same amount of end-of-the-world noise, so why not go for it?


7 posted on 05/23/2025 8:40:59 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: karpov

No tax on social security! Our seniors have paid enough!


8 posted on 05/23/2025 8:42:51 AM PDT by Blue Turtle
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To: karpov
after loading the bill with special favors for seniors, tipped income, overtime and, worst of all, interest on car loans.

Yea, giving those over 65 a tiny 4k deduction in lieu of eliminating DOUBLE taxes on SS (which cannot be done in a reconciliation bill) is hardly a "special favor" to seniors.

9 posted on 05/23/2025 8:44:44 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: karpov

Is even one useless agency being de-funded?


10 posted on 05/23/2025 8:47:39 AM PDT by marron
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To: fwdude
FYI, the Senate will only have to muster 50% of the votes on passing this, not 2/3. That said, there are the RINOS who can screw things up!
11 posted on 05/23/2025 8:49:41 AM PDT by ExSES (the "bottom line")
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To: karpov

“billions for building ships”

Russians ships rest on the bottom of the Black Sea.

Large ships are simply not survivable in fierce combat nowadays.


12 posted on 05/23/2025 8:53:58 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: taxcontrol

Dead wrong, so basically you want an inside fight amongst all the GOP members????? You profess to start an inside battle, is that what you want done? Get the bill done, then come back after it becomes law and start another bill to modify the new budget bill. And that way the crooks from across the aisle can get fiscal control and finish destroying America???


13 posted on 05/23/2025 8:55:31 AM PDT by electricjack (Hello I am from the govt an an I here to help you Ugh worst thing I ever heard in my 80+ years..)
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To: Carry_Okie

“Medicaid...To cut the program at all will generate the same amount of end-of-the-world noise, so why not go for it?”

That is the dynamic.


14 posted on 05/23/2025 8:57:26 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: Blue Turtle

reconciliation rules preclude this so they added $4000 to deduction from income for seniors. they have to do reconciliation because they don’t have votes otherwise.


15 posted on 05/23/2025 9:01:26 AM PDT by avital2
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To: 1Old Pro

they may be able to work on further relief for seniors afterwards- but can’t do no tax on SS under rules of reconciliation. and it will be hard to get just thaat level of votes.


16 posted on 05/23/2025 9:04:07 AM PDT by avital2
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To: avital2

agree


17 posted on 05/23/2025 9:05:55 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: karpov

Jerkass Republicans need to meditate on the red/blue map of the 2024 elections and compare how much redder the Presidential map is compared to the House and Senate map.


18 posted on 05/23/2025 9:10:45 AM PDT by Texas Eagle ("Throw me to the wolves and I'll return leading the pack"- Donald J. Trump)
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To: Blue Turtle

Under the rules, Social Security cannot be touched at all. Yes, I am getting SS, but I also know the rules. The way they are getting it done, you must understand the GOP is getting it done, so learn the rules of the game before you join the game. To get laws passed in our nation, they in Congress have to play the game.

However, the foolish $4000 suggested for a separate bill is not the answer! The honest answer is a single-page bill all by itself.
Bill Number 1: Social Security is a stand-alone entity and shall not be counted as part of a citizen’s Gross income and tax requirements.

1-page bill period, no attachments, no changes under any circumstances, no matter who controls the government.

I am sick of 1399-page bills where nasty things are hidden. Following single-page bill TERM LIMITS on all elected positions at all levels of the Government within the USA, federal, state, county, and city governments. That’s a real problem in America. These people make a living stealing. The longer someone is in control, the more they learn how to steal////


19 posted on 05/23/2025 9:14:28 AM PDT by electricjack (Hello I am from the govt an an I here to help you Ugh worst thing I ever heard in my 80+ years..)
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To: Blue Turtle

Under the rules, Social Security cannot be touched at all. Yes, I am getting SS, but I also know the rules. The way they are getting it done, you must understand the GOP is getting it done, so learn the rules of the game before you join the game. To get laws passed in our nation, they in Congress have to play the game.

However, the foolish $4000 suggested for a separate bill is not the answer! The honest answer is a single-page bill all by itself.
Bill Number 1: Social Security is a stand-alone entity and shall not be counted as part of a citizen’s Gross income and tax requirements.

1-page bill period, no attachments, no changes under any circumstances, no matter who controls the government.

I am sick of 1399-page bills where nasty things are hidden. Following single-page bill TERM LIMITS on all elected positions at all levels of the Government within the USA, federal, state, county, and city governments. That’s a real problem in America. These people make a living stealing. The longer someone is in control, the more they learn how to steal////


20 posted on 05/23/2025 9:14:57 AM PDT by electricjack (Hello I am from the govt an an I here to help you Ugh worst thing I ever heard in my 80+ years..)
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