Now that the Obamacare repeal effort has stalled, Republicans are focusing on their next big priority: tax reform. GOP leaders in the House, Senate, and White House have issued a “joint statement” promising action in the coming months to create a “simpler, fairer, and lower” tax code.
What about the Democrats? In the Senate, 45 of them have sent a letter to the GOP leadership asking to be included in tax reform discussions. That sounds like a hopeful development, especially given that the last major tax reform in 1986 was bipartisan.
However, this year, with these two parties, bipartisanship on taxes is not going to happen. The GOP can and should go it alone on major reforms.
Back in the 1980s, numerous Democratic leaders pushed for tax reform, including Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri. He penned an essay for the Cato Institute in 1985 on the topic, and today it sounds far more Republican than Democratic.
Bipartisanship on taxes is not going to happen. The GOP can and should go it alone on major reforms.