Uphill Battle: Poll Shows Strong Public Opposition to Tax Bill Before Its Release

trump tax
Sean Moran

Republican efforts to enact tax reform face a serious challenge.

Even before the House bill was released Thursday, 60 percent of Americans said the plan favored the wealthy, according to a poll by ABC News/Washington Post. The poll was taken between October 29 and November 1, the day before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was released.

Thirteen percent polled believe it will support the middle-class, while 17 percent think it will treat everyone equally.

The poll, which used a sample of 1,005 adults, also suggested that 50 percent of citizens oppose the Trump tax plan, 33 percent support the tax plan, and 17 percent of Americans have no opinion on the plan. 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts features massive tax cuts for middle-class Americans. The tax plan will lower individual tax rates to levels of 12 percent, 25 percent, 35 percent, and keep the 39.6 percent rate for the wealthiest Americans. The bill will also permanently and immediately cut the corporate tax rates for small business from 35 to 20 percent and as well as lower the pass-through rate to 25 percent, a massive cut for many small businesses that organize themselves as sole-proprietorships and partnerships.

The ABC News poll also samples 31 percent Democrats, 23 percent Republicans, and 38 percent independents, which might suggest why the survey argues that so many Americans dislike the Trump tax plan.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) cheered the Republican tax reform plan on Thursday, saying, “Today is a good day for the American people–#TaxRefom is headed in the right direction. Time to finish the job and get our economy going.”

 President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday, “Great Tax Cut rollout today. The lobbyists are storming Capital [sic] Hill, but the Republicans will hold strong and do what is right for America!” 

Editor’s Note: This piece has been updated.

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