{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=AEEB568F-C8C6-46FE-B84C-0C487DECBF3C", "South Dakota has big voice on tax-reform committee", "2017-12-10", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rapid City Journal \r\n\t\r\nSouth Dakota could have outsize influence on the congressional conference committee that is resolving differences between House and Senate tax-reform legislation, with three people who were born and raised in the state appointed to the 29-member group.\r\n\r\n\r\nTwo members of the states congressional delegation, Sen. John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem, are on the committee, making South Dakota one of seven states with at least two lawmakers on the roster. Another member of the committee, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, was born in Vermillion and raised in Rapid City.\r\n\r\n\r\nAll three are Republicans who will bring similar views to the negotiations, but there are numerous differences in the House and Senate bills, and Noem in particular has indicated a willingness to press for specific items.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOne such item is the House bills eventual repeal of the estate tax, aka death tax, on large inheritances. The Senate bill would not repeal the estate tax but would double the current exemption so that estates worth up to $11 million could be passed to heirs tax-free.\r\n\r\n\r\nNoems view on the issue is colored by her family history. Her father died in a farm accident, and she has said her family suffered from the application of the estate tax. In a news release about her appointment to the conference committee, Noems office described her as a leading voice in support of the Death Tax repeal.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe release also said Noem will focus on increasing the child tax credit, preserving the child care credit, excluding the Indian Health Services Student Loan Repayment program from tax, and including pro-agriculture provisions related to interest deductions and expenses.\r\n\r\n\r\nWhile there are differences between the two versions, Im optimistic were coming at this with a united front, striving for the same vision of stronger families and a stronger future for all Americans, Noem said in a written statement on her appointment to the conference committee.\r\n\r\n\r\nThunes news release on his appointment to the committee focused less on specific provisions and more on overall goals, but he did highlight several items of importance.\r\n\r\n\r\nBoth chambers have outlined our priorities, which include doubling the standard deduction, expanding the child tax credit, lowering tax rates for all taxpayers, particularly low- and middle-income Americans, and reforming our business tax code, Thunes statement said.\r\n\r\n\r\nIn his weekly column and in a recent speech on the Senate floor, Thune framed the two pieces of legislation as the culmination of a long struggle for tax reform, and he stressed the importance of putting a bill on the presidents desk while acknowledging that the bill will not be perfect.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWith Congress poised to pass the first major tax reform legislation in more than three decades, I believe were about to take one of those historic steps that will mark a critical point in Americas history, Thune said, and Im excited about what it means for South Dakotans.\r\n\r\n\r\nBrady, who graduated from Rapid City Central High School and the University of South Dakota and worked as a chamber of commerce executive in Rapid City before moving to Texas, is the chairman of the conference committee.\r\n\r\n\r\nLike Thune, Brady has focused his public statements on the importance of resolving differences and sending a bill to the president.\r\n\r\n\r\nThis is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver on our tax reform promise, Brady said in a written statement. Im excited to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate on a plan we can send to President Trump this year.\r\n\r\n\r\nSome of the conference committees work is happening behind closed doors, and there is no definitive schedule or deadline. Noem said Thursday during a teleconference with reporters that there could be a formal, public meeting of the committee this coming week, and she hopes a bill will be signed into law before Christmas.\r\n\r\n\r\nBoth the House and Senate bills would provide large tax cuts to corporations and more modest cuts for families and individuals. Although some estimates say the tax cuts could add at least $1 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years, some Republican proponents of the bill insist that the cuts will generate enough economic growth to eliminate the impact on the debt.", 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": ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=AEEB568F-C8C6-46FE-B84C-0C487DECBF3C"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.76938290335238, "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"}