{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-votes-no-on-tax-reform-bill", "Ruppersberger Votes No on Tax Reform Bill", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger", "R000576", "ruppersberger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC) Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\nThis bill was a missed opportunity to provide meaningful tax relief for American families.\nI am disappointed that, today, the House passed a bill opposed by the majority of our constituents. And I am worried for the tens of millions of families who will eventually see a tax increase under it, according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. Instead, more than 80 percent of the tax cuts included in this bill will go to our countrys corporations and wealthiest 1 percent.\nLegislation is always better when both parties work together on behalf of our country. In fact, in the mid to late-1990s, our country saw strong economic growth, record job creation and even budget surpluses. It was achieved two ways: by structuring taxes to favor the middle class and by bringing both parties into the tent. Unfortunately, the tax reform bill passed today did neither.\nThis bill caps the state and local tax deduction  which Maryland residents claim more than any other state in the Union  to $10,000. By offering a standard deduction instead, this bill is nothing more than a shell game that will cost most Marylanders the benefits it promises to the middle class. Further, it repeals the requirement for all Americans to buy health insurance, which will increase premiums another 10 percent. And it adds at least $2 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.\nWhile I was a strong no vote today, I want to thank my friend and colleague, Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren of Illinois, for our bipartisan work to protect the tax benefits of private activity and municipal bonds. These job-creating bonds are critical tools for local governments to build new roads, hospitals, fire stations, libraries and other infrastructure projects. I am pleased that they were spared in this otherwise terrible tax reform bill.", 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://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-votes-no-on-tax-reform-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.542694866657257, "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"}