Don't let the status quo block tax cuts and job creation

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The Republican Tax Cuts & Jobs Act passed by the House of Representatives and advancing through the Senate will free up an enormous amount of capital for new investment and job creation.   Many struggling businesses -- especially younger corporations -- will benefit immediately and start looking for talented employees to fill the demand.  The taxes those new employees pay will help fund the social safety net that is so important to many in New Jersey.  And just as important, employment frees people from government dependency so that more resources can be directed to those in dire need.

Of course, there are those who don't want the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act to succeed.  The status quo suits them just fine.  They are beneficiaries of the current crony capitalist system, in which winners and losers are not so much chosen by government, as by the globalist corporations that spend billions lobbying government.  The dominant media corporations that decide what you read, hear, and see are some of the biggest global corporations in the world.  They have every reason to want to starve the new enterprising forms of media coming from younger competitors.  And so do their allies in Congress -- like Josh Gottheimer and Cory Booker.  These media "darlings" want to keep rewarding the corporations who reward them and so they are trying to make the argument that the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act is "anti-business".  Sure it is... if you are a crony capitalist insider.  But if you are an honest business trying to make it in the open market, the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act represents some breathing space -- fresh air and the opportunity to grow your business and employ your fellow Americans.

The Tax Foundation calls the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act "a big step forward toward comprehensive tax reform".  As the nation's oldest pro-business, taxpayer watchdog, the Tax Foundation has seen a lot of false hopes in its day and isn't quick to hop on a bandwagon.  After careful analysis, they have endorsed this legislation and offer this long list of positive details about the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act:

"The bill makes a number of noteworthy changes and would, according to our Taxes and Growth Model, increase GDP, raise wages, and create more jobs.

Below is a summary of the major provisions of the House package:

  • Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets:  Consolidates current seven income tax rates into four, while retaining the top marginal rate of 39.6 percent and including an income recapture provision which phases out the effect of the 12 percent bracket for high earners.
  • Standard Deduction:  Increases the standard deduction to $12,200 for single filers, $18,300 for heads of household, and $24,400 for joint filers.
  • Itemized Deductions:  Retains the state and local property tax deduction, capped at $10,000, while eliminating the remainder of the state and local tax deduction, except for taxes paid or accrued in carrying on a trade or business; limits the mortgage interest deduction to the first $500,000 in principle value.
  • Child and Family Tax Credits:  Increases child tax credit value to $1,600, with the phaseout for joint filers beginning at $230,000, while creating a new $300 per-person family tax credit for those not eligible for the child tax credit, to expire after five years.
  • Treatment of Pass-Through Income:  Caps the pass-through rate at 25 percent and adds a lower minimum rate, with anti-abuse rules.
  • Corporate Income Tax:  Cuts the tax rate to 20 percent, effective tax year 2018.
  • Capital Investment:  Increases the Section 179 small business expensing cap from $500,000 to $5 million, with the phaseout beginning at $20 million, and maintains current depreciation schedules for real property.
  • Tax Treatment of Interest:  Caps net interest deduction at 30 percent of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).
  • Business Credits and Deductions:  Eliminates credits for orphan drugs, energy, private activity bonds, rehabilitation, and contributions for capital, among others.
  • International Income:  Moves to a territorial system with base-erosion rules.
  • Deemed Repatriation:  Enacts deemed repatriation of currently deferred foreign profits at a rate of 14 percent for liquid assets and 7 percent for illiquid assets.
  • Estate Tax:  Increases exemption to $10 million, indexed for inflation, with repeal after six years.

(Source:  The Tax Foundation)