{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/santa-came-early-hardworking-montanans-gianforte-tax-reform", "Santa Came Early for Hardworking Montanans, Gianforte on Tax Reform", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Greg Gianforte", "G000584", "gianforte.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte today voted for pro-family, pro-growth tax reform. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cuts tax rates for Montanans at all income levels, provides relief to Montana families, and helps our small businesses grow and create jobs.\nSanta came early for hardworking Montanans with tax reform that will let them keep more of what they earn, Gianforte said. Montanans of all income levels will see their taxes cut. These tax cuts keep $800 million in the hands of Montanans, not sent 2,000 miles to the federal governments coffers. \nWith tax reform, Montana families will be able to better afford the rising costs of raising their children with the doubling of the child tax credit, Gianforte said. And Montanas small businesses will have more incentives to invest and grow, creating Montana jobs and jumpstarting our sluggish economy.\nTax reform will make taxes fairer for Montanans by eliminating special interest loopholes that Washington lobbyists have carved out. We have delivered on our promise to reform our tax code to benefit hardworking Americans, and I will continue to look for ways to boost our economy and create Montana jobs, Gianforte said.\nThe bill cuts tax rates for hardworking Montanans at all income levels and doubles the standard deduction. It also doubles the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000, which will benefit the nearly 70,000 Montana taxpayers who claim the credit. The measure preserves the adoption tax credit, the home mortgage interest deduction, the deduction for charitable contributions, the deduction for state and local property taxes, and the medical expense deduction.\nThe legislation also benefits and protects Montanas family farmers, ranchers, and small business owners by doubling the death taxs exemption level.\nThe measure makes America more competitive, keeping American jobs here and bringing overseas profits back home. The bill lowers Americas business tax rate from 35 percent, the highest in the industrialized world, to 21 percent. The legislation encourages investment by allowing businesses to immediately write off the full cost of their business investments, including vehicles, equipment, software, combines, facilities, and buildings.\nMontana stakeholders welcomed the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\nWebb Brown, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce: The Montana Chamber of Commerce thanks Rep. Gianforte for passage of significant federal tax reform in the US House of Representatives. Simplifying the tax code at low, broad-based rates will meet several objectives in our 10-year strategic plan, Envision 2026. Pairing tax reform with responsible management of the deficit will spur economic growth, raise gross state product, and boost per-capita income for Montana's small businesses and families.\nSteve Bryan, executive director of Child Bridge: Child Bridge works with foster and adoptive families from across Montana on a daily basis. These families are heroes  offering opportunities of hope and healing to our states children who have been victims of abuse and neglect. We are so thankful that the adoption tax credit has been preserved in the final tax reform bill. When children in vulnerable circumstances are brought into nurturing, safe environments, outcomes are improved not only for the child, but also for our state and the country as a whole.\nRiley Johnson, Montana state director of the National Federation of Independent Business: NFIB would like to thank Congressman Gianforte for his support for the most important small business tax cut plan in more than 30 years. His support for Main Street businesses means they will be able to reinvest their money, grow, and create jobs.\nJeff Laszloffy, president of the Montana Family Foundation: We appreciate congressional Republicans keeping their promise and standing up for American families. Letting hardworking mothers and fathers keep more of their own money is good for families and good for the country.\nLiz Marchi, small business investor and former hospital board member: Private-activity bonds enable cost effective financing of critical infrastructure like hospitals and treatment centers in states like Montana. These bonds have financed aver $2.5 billion in hospitals and clinics over the last 12 years in Montana. The MFFA has the expertise and oversight to offer and administer these bonds which have an excellent track record. Thank you to Congressman Gianforte for his support of retaining this very important tool for maintaining quality health care facilities in Montana.\nHans McPherson, president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation: Comprehensive tax reform was long overdue so we appreciate all the work that Congressman Gianforte and others have done to see it through. This bill will benefit individuals and businesses in our country, including Montanas family farms and ranches. Keeping more dollars in the hands of farmers and ranchers will insure that they are able to reinvest in their businesses, benefiting their families and the local community.\nBryan Mussard, president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association: The Montana Stockgrowers Association applauds Congressman Gianforte for working to pass comprehensive tax reform. Many of the tax provisions are important to Montanas ranchers, including doubling the death tax exemption levels, bonus depreciation, section 179 and interest deductions.\nFollowing passage in the Senate, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will go to President Trump to be signed into law.\nBackground information on H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:\nFor Individuals and Families, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act:\n Lowers individual taxes and sets the rates at 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% so people can keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\tSignificantly lowers the tax burden by nearly doubling the standard deduction to $12,000 and $24,000 for individuals and married couples, respectively.\n\tDoubles the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 for single filers and married couples to help parents with the cost of raising children.\n\tPreserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families care for their children and older dependents such as a disabled grandparent.\n\tPreserves the Adoption Tax Credit so parents can continue to receive additional tax relief as they open their hearts and homes to an adopted child.\n\tContinues to allow people to write off the cost of state and local taxes  up to $10,000.\n\tPreserves the mortgage interest deduction  providing tax relief to current and aspiring homeowners.\n\tContinues and expands the deduction for charitable contributions so people can continue to donate to their local church, charity, or community organization.\n\tMaintains the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide important tax relief for low-income Americans.\n\tImproves savings vehicles for education by allowing families to use 529 accounts to save for elementary, secondary and higher education.\n\tProvides support for graduate students by continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from taxes.\n\tRetains popular retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) so Americans can continue to save for their future.\n\tProvides immediate relief from the Death Tax by doubling the amount of the current exemption to reduce uncertainty and costs for many family-owned farms and businesses when they pass down their lifes work to the next generation.\n For job creators of all sizes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:\n Lowers the corporate tax rate to 21%  down from 35%, which today is the highest in the industrialized world.\n\tDelivers significant tax relief to Main Street job creators by offering a first-ever 20% tax deduction that applies to joint income earned by most small businesses.\n\tAllows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of new equipment to improve operations and enhance the skills of their workers  unleashing the growth of jobs, productivity, and paychecks.\n\tPreserves the Research & Development Tax Credit that encourages businesses and workers to develop cutting-edge Made in America products and services.\n\tRetains the tax-preferred status of private-activity bonds that are used to finance valuable infrastructure projects.\n\tMakes it easier for American businesses to bring home foreign earnings to invest in growing jobs and paychecks in our local communities.\n\tPrevents American jobs, headquarters, and research from moving overseas by eliminating incentives that now reward companies for shifting jobs, profits, and manufacturing plants abroad.\n For more information on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, visit the Committee on Ways and Means website here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/santa-came-early-hardworking-montanans-gianforte-tax-reform"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.222748076543212, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}