Washington D.C., Dec 4, 2017 / 16:00 pm
A Senate tax reform bill passed Dec. 2, like its counterpart passed earlier by the House of Representatives, has "fundamental flaws," according to a statement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The bill-reconciliation process, begun in Washington today, offers an opportunity for legislators to address the bills' shortfalls, the bishops say.
"Congress must act now to fix the fundamental flaws found in both bills, and choose the policy approaches that help individuals and families struggling within our society," said Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, in a statement released Saturday.
Dewane added that the bishops are reviewing the Senate's final version of tax reform legislation. They will provide analysis and comments on key improvements they think are necessary to include in the bill's final version.
Two separate versions of the tax reform bill were passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The versions differ on the specifics of some deductions and credits, and these differences will need to be reconciled before the legislature approves a final bill.