Conservative House members are saying it's important that the tax cuts in the GOP tax package unveiled today be retroactive to the beginning of this year. They want people to get an immediate benefit from the tax plan – but aren't yet saying the issue is a dealbreaker.
Reps. Louie Gohmert and Tom McClintock spoke up on the issue at today's Republican conference meeting. Senior members of the House Freedom Caucus, including Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan, also favor making the tax cuts retroactive, according to sources familiar with their thinking. During the meeting Gohmert also asked the plan's drafters if anybody would see their taxes increase under the bill. He was told, after some hesitation, that that the answer was "no."
Why it matters: Lobbying groups for small business owners and home builders have already come out against the tax plan, along with members from states with high property taxes. Republicans only have a cushion of about 20 votes in the House.