Trump proposes new tax cut after midterms

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump on Monday said he would propose a major tax cut for middle class Americans next week “of about 10 percent” and that Congress would vote on it soon, but he offered few details and lawmakers did not appear to have any plans to act on the president’s promise.

Speaking to reporters before a trip to Texas, Trump said the White House was looking at putting out a proposal next week, which he said would amount to “a very major tax cut for middle income people. And if we do that it’ll be sometime just prior to November.”

“We’ll do the vote after the election,” Trump said, against suggesting a cut after first floating the idea on Saturday.

Aside from saying the tax cut would be roughly “10 percent,” Trump offered no further details.

Republican congressional leaders, who would need to usher any tax cut through Congress, appeared caught off guard once again by Trump’s comments. Spokespeople for House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, referred questions back to the White House.

Legislation enacting such a cut has not been planned on Capitol Hill, and congressional Republicans were privately skeptical that a vote could happen during Congress’ post-election lame duck session, which already looks like it will be overtaken by a fight over Trump’s border wall.