Republican Bill Full of Secrets and Corporate Giveaways

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Tax Policy Subcommittee, questioned Chairman Brady during the Republican Tax Bill (H.R. 1) mark-up on the secrecy of a new manager's amendment that would alter the bill. You may view Rep. Doggett's full speech here. A portion of Rep. Doggett remarks are as follows:

"Here we are on the fourth day of hearings, and every single Democratic amendment has been rejected, with absolutely amazing circus-level contortions by some of our Republican friends explaining why they are voting against something their constituents support.

"The only thing that has changed the cost of this bill is an amendment the Republican Chairman has offered, and it added a big gift to multinational corporations. Now it exceeds the budget limit, and that's the purported excuse for needing to have another manager's amendment – to correct what we were not told the first one did.

"If we withdrew every single one of our amendments that you will vote against anyway, are you ready to present us your manager's amendment and tell us what secrets you're hiding there?

"Would we have an opportunity to see your secret proposal that you've worked out here in the backrooms with the Washington special interests that won out with your amendment #1, with the big giveaway to corporate America and multinational offshoring?

"I assume you're still not ready to present the manager's amendment to correct the fiscal irresponsibility of the first giveaway to corporate America."

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