South Dakota’s chief executive says he’s concerned by the rhetoric surrounding federal tax reform.
Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans are pushing forward. Congresswoman Kristi Noem says they hope a conference report on tax reform will drop in the coming weeks.
Both Senator John Thune and Congresswoman Kristi Noem are on the conference committee where they will hash out the differences between each chamber, and send that bill back for a vote.
Noem says she hopes the tax reform proposal is signed before Christmas.
“We focused on it being something that would be a big benefit to the country, and specifically to South Dakota. In fact, South Dakota numbers are in fact that it results in an average of a $1,200 – $1,400 tax cut for the average South Dakota family, but would also increase their wages by $4,000 per household,” Noem says. “So that’s lifechanging for those average South Dakotans who are looking at this proposal and what it means to them and their family.”
Noem says the reform could even create thousands of jobs for South Dakota. She references analysis from the Tax Foundation.
But other state leaders are not so optimistic about the reform bill.
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard says he’s concerned about the federal tax overhaul adding to the federal debt.
“It’s hard to judge the validity of those who say the tax cuts will stimulate the economy and be offset by increased tax collections. It will force us to confront the deficit than we would have otherwise had to confront it.” Daugaard says. “At some point we’re going to have to confront it at the federal level.”
Both Daugaard and Noem say the tax reform proposal shouldn’t impact the federal dollars the state receives.