WATCH: Republican tax plan could end up taking down one of the officials who wrote it

MSNBC reported Tuesday that the deficit had ballooned under President Donald Trump, in part because of Republicans' penchant for cutting taxes for the wealthy.

Host Ali Velshi pointed out that their giveaway to the richest Americans is not likely to help Republicans in the midterms.

"I'll give you a hint. It's not working so well for Republicans," Velshi said.

The segment honed in specifically on one Illinois race, which might serve as a bellwether for the rest of the country: the dead heat between Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) and his Democratic opponent, Sean Casten.

MSNBC interviewed potential Illinois voters for whom taxes are the main concern. Roskam helped Republicans pen the tax bill.

"For Peter Roskam, the challengeis that he is tied up in acontroversial provision in thetax law that puts a new limit onthe amount that households candeduct in state and localproperty and income taxes," the reporter noted.

"Real estate values here arepretty high.A lot of residents worriedthey're going to get hit bythat." 

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