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The big health care bills in Congress this year — the ones that failed — were probably the worst pieces of major legislation that I’ve seen. They would have harmed millions of Americans and had virtually no redeeming features.

The tax bill unveiled by House leaders is a bit different. It does have some good ideas lurking in it, like reduced tax breaks for second homes and sports stadiums. Yet the full picture ends up being depressingly similar to what it was on health care.

This is a hastily compiled bill — lacking the thoughtfulness of the Reagan tax reform, for example — and its main purpose is to benefit the wealthy. It would harm many middle-class and low-income families in the short term and the vast majority of families in the long term. Don’t be fooled by anyone who emphasizes the bill’s modest middle-class benefits in its early years. (I explained the bait-and-switch in my column last week.)