Rep. Greg Walden says he is "working with my colleagues to do all I can to improve" the Republican tax proposals now before Congress, but won't specify the changes he wants to see.

"Because of the ongoing discussions, I'm refraining from publicly discussing all of the specifics that are in play," Walden said Friday in a statement to The Oregonian's editorial board.

It's the first time the powerful Hood River Republican has made any public comment about potential changes to the tax proposals. Bills that passed the House and Senate would sharply cut corporate tax rates and nearly double the standard deduction individuals and families can take.

However, they would offset those savings by eliminating many widely used deductions and exemptions. Notably for Oregon, both the House and Senate would eliminate a local income tax deduction and limit other key deductions.

In 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, state records show Oregonians claimed $8.5 billion in such deductions.

The state deductions are especially valuable in Oregon, which has a relatively high income tax that tops out at 9.9 percent. Other states compensate for lower income tax rates by imposing a sales tax, or have a high sales tax but no income tax.

Losing the exemption would cost high-income households the most – tens of thousands of dollars a year for top earners, according to a preliminary analysis from the nonpartisan Legislative Revenue Office. Because of the complexity of the tax laws, though, it could also hit some middle-income Oregonians.

This week, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown and her leading Republican challenger, state Rep. Knute Buehler, both called on Congress to preserve the local tax deductions.

Congressional Republicans overwhelmingly supported each tax bill, and Walden voted for the House version. No Democrat from either the House or Senate voted for either bill, so Republicans are steering the process themselves.

Republicans from California and the Northeast are pressuring Congress to preserve the deduction. One proposal would allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in sales, property or income taxes. The bills that passed the House and Senate limit that deduction to property taxes.

Walden is among the most powerful House Republicans, chairing the powerful Committee on Energy and Commerce, and could have influence over the final legislation. However, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported earlier this week that Republicans had replaced Walden on the conference committee hammering out differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Walden's office had been unresponsive to inquiries about this position on the tax deductions until Friday, when it sent a statement to the editorial board.

"I've talked to the governor, leaders of some of Oregon's largest employers, as well as value added agricultural interests and affordable housing advocates," Walden wrote. He did not reference the local tax deductions, specifically.

Walden's statement on agriculture may refer to potential cuts in public programs for the industry. The reference to affordable housing may reflect concerns that language in the House bill would eliminate tax-free debt used to finance housing for low-income Americans.

"I'm working with my colleagues to do all I can to improve the final legislation to bring federal tax relief and job growth to Oregon and America," Walden wrote.

-- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699