Ways & Means Chair Smith talks Working Families Tax Cut, reconciliation 3.0, fraud
House Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) spoke about the first anniversary of the passage of the Working Families Tax Cut and the chances of another reconciliation bill in an interview with the Ruthless Podcast.
"When we were here last time, it was literally the fight that I was having with the United States Senate trying to do one big bill instead of multiple different bills," Smith said in an interview released on Thursday morning. "We were able to get it delivered and for the president to sign it into law on July 4th of last year. It's the largest tax cut in US history, out of every tax cut that's ever been done."
Smith was instrumental in shaping the bill and touted the benefits of the expanded child tax credit, the no-tax-on-tips provision, and the no-tax-on-overtime provisions to working families and small businesses.
TRUMP WILL WELCOME FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO WHITE HOUSE DINNER TO CELEBRATE TRADE, TAX WINS
"I did have a waitress come up to be in my district down in Fredericktown, Missouri, a couple of months ago, and it’s exactly why you do this," Smith said. "She's like, ‘Congressman, I just wanna say thank you. I got my tax refund back. And it was over $10,000.’"
From a legislative perspective, Smith specifically highlighted the significant welfare reforms, investment in border security, and cuts to spending.
Now, 365 days later, Republicans are once again considering another reconciliation bill.
"I pushed so aggressively for the One Big Beautiful Bill because if you look at history, two partisan reconciliation bills have never passed in the same year," Smith said. "Even the skinny one that just passed a few weeks ago was not in the same years . So it’s gonna be a challenge."
Reconciliation is a budget-related measure that can pass the Senate on a simple majority vote. Most other forms of legislation require 60 votes to bypass the filibuster in the upper chamber.
Podcast Co-host Comfortably Smug also highlighted the Congressman’s work on combating fraud.
DR OZ SAYS 800 HOSPICE PROVIDERS SUSPENDED IN CALIFORNIA OVER ALLEGED $1B MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME
"Another issue that really caught fire, it feels like starting December of last year with Nick Shirley, uncovering all of that fraud, waste and abuse that was happening in Minnesota," Smug said. "You've been doing a ton of investigations into fraud, especially when it comes to hospice."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Smith highlighted a burrito stand and a tire shop that posed as hospice care. In New York, 600,000 fake employees claimed to work as home health aides.
The interview took place as part of the Ruthless Midterm Interview Series, an ongoing initiative to interview major candidates across the country. The hosts have already interviewed candidates in 17 states, with more scheduled ahead of the November midterms.
Voters in Missouri head to the polls for the primaries on August 4th. The general election takes place on November 3rd.