Hidden costs of tax cuts

LAST week, several Capitol Hill lawmakers, led by Speaker Paul Ryan, made the rounds pitching a yet-to-be-public plan for tax reform.

On the surface, no one would argue that the US tax system is cumbersome and unfair and that the IRS code needs to be revised.

I am all for tax cuts and smart tax reform.

But some of the changes being discussed are just plain stupid and should be taken off the table, ASAP.

For example, there is talk in Washington that to pay for the tax cuts, Congress will do away with the mortgage interest deduction. It is a terrible idea. If enacted, it would surely prevent millions of Americans from enjoying that particular American Dream — owning a home.

It would also ruin the dream for millions of American families who own a home and count on the mortgage interest deduction. I don’t care how slowly the plan is implemented.

Congress and the White House were also eyeing your 401(k). Taking away the tax deduction for making payroll contributions to your retirement account had been discussed.

The tax deduction for 401(k) contributions will total roughly $583.6 billion through 2020. While the White House, once the retirement account raid discussion surfaced, quickly pooh-poohed such a move, consumer groups interested in protecting individual savings are still not convinced a 401(k) raid won’t happen.

This idea is just as dumb as eliminating the mortgage tax deduction.

Look, Social Security is already a complete disaster and will run out of money in about 15 years. American workers need some savings to pay for their golden years — and incentivizing them through tax deductions is the least Uncle Sam can do.

So here is the task for Congress and the White House: Find a way to lower the tax burden on all Americans and all US companies without touching mortgages or retirement accounts.

Americans will be justifiably outraged should Washington do otherwise.