BUSINESS/GOP/LOBBYING/TAXES: “Lobbyists have launched an all-out effort to save tax breaks and protect powerful industries as the Republicans’ tax overhaul lurches toward President Donald Trump’s desk.
Builders and real estate interests are pushing to save the mortgage interest deduction. Businesses are fighting to strip out a last-minute provision inserted into the Senate bill that would preserve the corporate alternative minimum tax. And a coalition of trade groups and local government leaders is urging Republicans not to cut the state and local tax deduction.
With Trump pressing Congress to send him a bill before Christmas, lobbyists must decide where they want to focus their efforts over the next week.
Some are working the senators and representatives who will make up the conference committee charged with ironing out the differences between the House and Senate bill. Others are working to persuade Republican leaders or leaning on the members of Congress whose constituents may see their taxes go up if changes aren’t made to the bill.
The lobbyists with the most leverage may be those who can argue that the bill won’t pass unless lawmakers address their concerns.”
-Theodoric Meyer, Aaron Lorenzo, and Colin Wilhelm, “Lobbyists push GOP in last-minute scramble to save tax breaks,” Politico, Dec. 7, 2017 05:04am