Bugsy McGurk
President
That seems to be the case.
The conventional wisdom is that the GOP promised a certain type of "tax reform" and that, if they don't pass it, they will get their asses kicked in the 2018 midterms.
And what is that promised "tax reform"? Basically a huge cut in the corporate tax rate, the end of the estate tax (which applies only to huge estates), and other tax "reforms" that benefit big business and the wealthy. Sure, there are a smattering of "reforms" that might cut taxes paid by some "regular Joes," but that part is a confusing mess that leaves such people unsure if their taxes will go up or down.
That's the kind of "tax reform" the GOP must pass to increase their chances in 2018? I think the opposite is true - lavishing big business and the wealthy with more tax cuts may make their donors happy, but voters will punish them at the polls.
If the GOP really wanted to pass a tax law that would help them in the polls, they would limit all the tax relief to the regular Joes. But the GOP won't do that - they are too beholden to their benefactors (big business and the uber wealthy).
So, the GOP is in a real jam. If they do nothing, as with health care, they will look like the party that can't govern worth a damn. If they pass a tax law lavishing big business and the wealthy with most of the tax relief, voters will punish them for it. And the GOP is ideologically incapable of providing all the tax relief to consumers, who would spend it and boost the economy.
In other words, the GOP is screwed. They're in a box and they just can't get out.
The conventional wisdom is that the GOP promised a certain type of "tax reform" and that, if they don't pass it, they will get their asses kicked in the 2018 midterms.
And what is that promised "tax reform"? Basically a huge cut in the corporate tax rate, the end of the estate tax (which applies only to huge estates), and other tax "reforms" that benefit big business and the wealthy. Sure, there are a smattering of "reforms" that might cut taxes paid by some "regular Joes," but that part is a confusing mess that leaves such people unsure if their taxes will go up or down.
That's the kind of "tax reform" the GOP must pass to increase their chances in 2018? I think the opposite is true - lavishing big business and the wealthy with more tax cuts may make their donors happy, but voters will punish them at the polls.
If the GOP really wanted to pass a tax law that would help them in the polls, they would limit all the tax relief to the regular Joes. But the GOP won't do that - they are too beholden to their benefactors (big business and the uber wealthy).
So, the GOP is in a real jam. If they do nothing, as with health care, they will look like the party that can't govern worth a damn. If they pass a tax law lavishing big business and the wealthy with most of the tax relief, voters will punish them for it. And the GOP is ideologically incapable of providing all the tax relief to consumers, who would spend it and boost the economy.
In other words, the GOP is screwed. They're in a box and they just can't get out.
