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RELEASE: As Culture of Corruption Engulfs House GOP, Rep. Buchanan Highlights Tax Bill Self-Dealing
Press Release

RELEASE: As Culture of Corruption Engulfs House GOP, Rep. Buchanan Highlights Tax Bill Self-Dealing

“It’s no secret to his constituents that he has lived the American Dream.”

—Spokesperson for Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) 

Washington, D.C. — The House Republican Conference is collapsing under the weight of its own corruption. The two members of Congress who have spearheaded the cover-ups of President Donald Trump’s wrongdoing, Reps. Jim Jordan (OH-04) and Devin Nunes (CA-22), find themselves in the midst of their own deeply disturbing scandals. Speaker Paul Ryan (R) so far refuses to investigate either of them, having also recently stated that “I haven’t paid close attention” to the countless corruption scandals that led to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s resignation.

Now, Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16) has become the poster boy for self-dealing in the ultimate example of the Republican culture of corruption: the Trump tax bill. After a Center for American Progress Action Fund analysis revealed that Buchanan would see a tax cut of up to $2,131,750 from just one secretly-inserted tax loophole in the tax bill, it has now been discovered that on the day he voted to pass it, he bought himself a new $3 million yacht.

Rep. Buchanan was only one of dozens of Republican members of Congress who voted to enrich themselves, even as millions of American families saw a tax hike. Every member of Congress who voted for the legislation should also be asked their total windfall, since this analysis captures only a single loophole. Find a list of some of the biggest winners from that loophole below, and read the full analysis for the legislative history of the so-called Corker Kickback and the detailed methodology based off of public financial disclosures.

Potential Tax Cut from Passthrough Business Deduction
 Non Real Estate Assets  Real Estate Assets  Total Potential Tax Cut from Passthrough Business Deduction
Member of Congress  Low  High  Low   High   Low    High  
Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (IN)  $             –  $                 –  $  676,004  $  4,566,500  $  676,004  $  4,566,500
Vern Buchanan (FL)  $  231,501  $  1,305,000  $  140,251  $     826,750  $  371,752  $  2,131,750
Rep. Diane Black (TN)  $             –  $                 –  $  171,501  $  1,045,000  $  171,501  $  1,045,000
Rep. David Valadao (CA)  $  600,000  $  1,000,000  $             –  $                 –  $  600,000  $  1,000,000
Rep. Markwayne Mullin (OK)  $  120,501  $     621,500  $    10,500  $     101,500  $  131,001  $     723,000
Sen. Bob Corker (TN)  $      4,883  $          4,883  $  120,500  $     701,500  $  125,383  $     706,383
Rep. Dave Trott (MI)  $    11,500  $        25,000  $  114,501  $     615,000  $  126,001  $     640,000
Rep. Tom Rooney (FL)  $  110,100  $     600,250  $             –  $                 –  $  110,100  $     600,250
Rep. Chris Collins (NY)  $    30,000  $     300,000  $    30,001  $     146,500  $    60,001  $     446,500
Sen. Steve Daines (MT)  $             –  $                 –  $    48,751  $     422,000  $    48,751  $     422,000
Rep. James Renacci (OH)  $      5,000  $        10,000  $    38,021  $     320,100  $    43,021  $     330,100
Rep. Tom Rice (SC)  $             –  $                 –  $    35,101  $     230,250  $    35,101  $     230,250
Sen. Ron Johnson (WI)  $      1,500  $          5,000  $    20,000  $     200,000  $    21,500  $     205,000
Rep. Rick Allen (GA)  $    10,000  $     100,000  $    11,000  $     103,000  $    21,000  $     203,000
Sen. John Hoeven (ND)  $  135,680  $     135,680  $             –  $                 –  $  135,930  $     136,180
Rep. Roger Marshall (KS)  $    14,021  $     113,100  $      4,500  $        15,000  $    18,521  $     128,100
Rep. Jeff Denham (CA)  $    10,000  $     100,000  $      3,250  $        10,500  $    13,250  $     110,500
Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN)  $      1,649  $          5,149  $    11,540  $     105,200  $    13,189  $     110,349
Rep. Kenny Marchant (TX)  $    18,271  $     108,271  $             –  $                 –  $    18,271  $     108,271
Rep. Susan Brooks (IN)  $             –  $                 –  $    12,000  $     106,500  $    12,000  $     106,500
Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL)  $    10,000  $     100,000  $      2,000  $          6,500  $    12,000  $     106,500
Rep. Justin Amash (MI)  $    10,000  $     100,000  $      1,500  $          5,000  $    11,500  $     105,000
Rep. Warren Davidson (OH)  $             –  $                 –  $    10,000  $     100,000  $    10,020  $     100,100
Rep. Ted Budd (NC)  $    10,000  $     100,000  $             –  $                 –  $    10,000  $     100,000
Rep. Dennis Ross (FL)  $             –  $                 –  $    10,000  $     100,000  $    10,000  $     100,000
Sen. Rob Portman (OH)  $             –  $                 –  $    69,550  $        69,550  $    69,550  $        69,550
Rep. John Curtis (UT)  $             –  $                 –  $    15,751  $        32,000  $    15,751  $        32,000
Rep. Ken Calvert (CA)  $             –  $                 –  $    10,978  $        31,174  $    10,978  $        31,174
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (MO)  $      1,148  $          3,825  $      8,523  $        22,529  $      9,671  $        26,354
Rep. Greg Gianforte (MT)  $             –  $                 –  $      8,020  $        20,100  $      8,020  $        20,100
Rep. Neal Dunn (FL)  $             –  $                 –  $      7,344  $        19,316  $      7,344  $        19,316
Sen. Johnny Isakson (GA)  $      5,501  $        17,500  $             –  $                 –  $      5,501  $        17,500
Rep. Lamar Smith (TX)  $             –  $                 –  $      6,312  $        15,683  $      6,312  $        15,683
Rep. Mike D. Rogers (AL)  $             –  $                 –  $      6,120  $        15,300  $      6,120  $        15,300
Rep. Tom Marino (PA)  $             –  $                 –  $      2,295  $        15,300  $      2,295  $        15,300
Rep. Mike Kelly (PA)  $      6,500  $        15,000  $             –  $                 –  $      6,520  $        15,100
Sen. James Risch (ID)  $             –  $                 –  $      4,591  $        14,153  $      4,591  $        14,153
Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC)  $             –  $                 –  $      4,453  $        14,038  $      4,453  $        14,038
Rep. Mark Sanford (SC)  $             –  $                 –  $      4,094  $        12,049  $      4,094  $        12,049
Rep. Paul Ryan (WI)[i]  $      3,500  $        11,500  $             –  $                 –  $      3,500  $        11,500
Rep. Michael Conaway (TX)  $      1,500  $        10,000  $             –  $                 –  $      1,500  $        10,000
Rep. Randy Weber (TX)  $      3,825  $          7,650  $          765  $          2,295  $      4,590  $          9,945
Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA)  $      9,121  $          9,121  $             –  $                 –  $      9,121  $          9,121
Sen. Pat Roberts (KS)  $             –  $                 –  $      2,678  $          8,798  $      2,678  $          8,798
Rep. David B. McKinley (WV)  $             –  $                 –  $      4,208  $          8,798  $      4,208  $          8,798
Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ)  $      1,148  $          3,825  $      1,148  $          3,825  $      2,295  $          7,650
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA)  $      3,825  $          7,650  $             –  $                 –  $      3,825  $          7,650
Rep. Doug Collins (GA)  $      1,148  $          3,825  $      1,148  $          3,825  $      2,295  $          7,650
Rep. Tom Reed (NY)  $             –  $                 –  $      2,295  $          7,650  $      2,295  $          7,650
Rep. Lou Barletta (PA)  $             –  $                 –  $      3,825  $          7,650  $      3,825  $          7,650
Rep. Keith Rothfus (PA)  $      3,825  $          7,650  $             –  $                 –  $      3,825  $          7,650
Sen. Dean Heller (NV)  $      4,991  $          4,991  $             –  $                 –  $      4,991  $          4,991
Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI)  $      1,000  $          3,000  $             –  $                 –  $      1,000  $          3,000


For more information or to talk to an expert, please contact Jesse Lee at [email protected] or 202-741-6350.