WASHINGTON – The full House will vote Thursday or Friday on Tax Reform 2.0 legislation that would make permanent the $10,000 federal cap on the deduction for state and local taxes.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, confirmed Tuesday at a press briefing that the Republican leadership plans to go ahead with the vote before the end of the week.
Brady also said he expects the House to adjourn at the end of this week until after the November election.
Several 2019 fiscal year appropriations bills also need to be completed this week for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 as well as reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Violence Against Women Act, both of which are to expire on Sept. 30.
The FAA reauthorization does not contain any increase in the passenger facility charge, which is used by airports to finance capital improvements.
The tax legislation -- the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018 --- also would make permanent the lower individual tax rates that are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee tried unsuccessfully earlier this month to repeal the cap on the SALT deduction in a party line vote.
Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., who offered amendment, said the average SALT deduction in his congressional district is “over $18,000 and in some counties more than $24,000.”
Democrats have pointed out that the Republican tax legislation is not expected to be taken up in the Senate before the end of the year, if at all.
“This bill will never become law,” Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., said at the committee markup earlier this month. “We’re here for theater.”
Brady said Tuesday he expects “strong support” for the legislation in the House Republican caucus, but declined to estimate how many no votes there will be.
