WREX: Local lawmakers celebrate bipartisan tax bill, hold hesitation for immigration

Bipartisan celebrations continue following the recent passage of a tax bill on Capitol Hill.

Looking closer to the Stateline area, local representatives Bill Foster (IL-11) and Darin LaHood (IL-16) highlight not only the bill's sprawling consensus, but the potential peek into "how Congress should work."

The $78 billion Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act utilizes funds leftover from the federal government's COVID-19 spending. Similarly, the vote notably passed with 357-70 in the Republican-led House.

"I think there's sort of winner take all, I want 100% or I'm not gonna play is a very toxic kind of politics," says Rep. Foster. "I think in the end [it] doesn't move no matter which way you want the ball moved."

Foster labeled the compromise bill as a "half loaf." Democrats hail the return of the child tax credit – returning income to working-class families –, while Republicans note other tax measures including breaks and "rep tape cutting."

Rep. LaHood praises the bill's potential for housing construction incentives – an effort he sponsored within the bill.

"We are facing an affordable housing crisis in this country," says Rep. LaHood. "The low income housing tax credit – established by Ronald Reagan – is key in this and will be very successful to bridging the gap to more affordable housing in this country."

Still, while lawmakers praise the recent bipartisan "half loaf," a potential Senate immigration deal could disrupt the short-term consensus sweeping over the House.

Recently unveiled, a Senate deal is reportedly "dead on arrival" in the House as Republican leaders refuse to consider the measure imposing tougher asylum and border control.

While LaHood was unavailable to add his perspective, Rep. Foster focuses his immigration concerns on those seeking asylum in the U.S.

"If you talk to immigration lawyers who handle the asylum seekers cases, they estimate that somewhere between 90 to 95% of those applying for asylum will not in the end have a valid claim on asylum," says Rep. Foster. "You know, they're simply coming here to get a better life for their children, which is 100% understandable, but that cannot be the standard."

Rep. Foster described his aspiration for additional judicial officials to manage and process migrants seeking America.

As the Senate immigration deal shows no sign of appearing in the House, Senate leaders show no sign of considering the House's tax bill. If either were to become law, measures wouldn't take effect for months or into 2025.