Trump pushes tax overhaul on Midwest trip
• President Donald Trump will kick off his lobbying effort for a tax overhaul at an event with a Midwestern manufacturing backdrop and some economic tough talk.
The one thing missing? A detailed proposal.
Instead, in Springfield, Mo., Wednesday, Trump will give remarks the White House said will focus on his “vision” for spurring job creation and economic growth by cutting rates and revising the tax code. Details will come later, officials said, when lawmakers work them out.
With no major legislative wins, the stakes are high for the White House and GOP leaders, who face mounting pressure to get points on the board before next year’s midterm elections.
After failing to deliver on seven years of promises to repeal and replace the Obama health law, many Republicans believe they must produce on taxes. If they don’t have something to show for full control of Congress and the White House, voters could try to take it all away next year, beginning with the GOP’s House majority.
Ahead of the visit, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump’s tax plan should not include tax cuts for the wealthiest one per cent of Americans. He also said it shouldn’t increase budget deficits and should be written by both parties, not just the president’s fellow Republicans.
A key challenge is to frame a tax plan that could include cuts for corporations and top earners as a boon for the middle class. Officials suggested Trump would argue that cutting business taxes will benefit American companies and workers.
Republicans are hoping the president commits in a way he never did for health care.
“If you’re a Republican, you have to be encouraged by the president’s recent focus on tax reform,” said Brian McGuire, former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “Not only does presidential leadership make the chances of success here far more likely, it could also very well be the difference between Donald Trump presiding over a jobs boom and Nancy Pelosi presiding over an impeachment trial.”
But in order to clear their other priorities and focus to rewriting the tax code, Congress will need a steady partner in the White House, something that’s been sorely lacking from Trump thus far. If the president chooses to renew fights with key lawmakers like McConnell or double down on contentious issues like funding his border wall, which he’s threatened to shut down the government to achieve, that could only hurt chances of success on taxes.
“He’s a liability,” said Republican consultant Rick Tyler. “He proved that in the whole health-care repeal and replace. He just can’t stay focused on one thing.”