In both cases there is 1.7 mil dollars less in public budget, I don't see how this is different.
Many conservatives view income as "earned" and then taxes as appropriation ("taken away"). Under such a perspective it is only a return of what was originally theirs in the first place.
This country is run on deficits/debt so 1.7M less from rich people is not marginally 1.7M less to poor people.