Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.–John F. Kennedy
The American people want and deserve a simpler, fairer tax structure.–Rep. Tom Reed (facebook, Oct. 26, 2017)
The American people want us to get to ‘yes’ on tax reform.–Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) (Politico)
We don’t follow budgets anyway — it’s really just a mechanism to get tax reform done.–Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) (Politico)
Who demands tax reform?
Who demands tax reform? Is it the people or our representatives? I am not aware of a groundswell of public support for reform, but the GOP is certainly pushing it. The above quotes tend to confirm that Congress wants tax reform; the 31 propaganda pieces–many blatantly false or misleading–published in August while Congress vacationed– support this .
Brian Fahler, in the Politico article cited, notes:
House Republicans are so desperate for a win on taxes that they’re agreeing to proposals that would have caused internal party warfare just a year or two ago.
I believe the above sentence accurately tells who is pushing tax reform. Then consider this:
This is a great opportunity — I think people are seizing the moment.–Pat Meehan (R-Pa.)
I think the people Meehan mentions are fellow Republican members of Congress.
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/29/house-gop-tax-reform-debate-244282
https://waysandmeans.house.gov/31reasons/
https://newny23rd.com/2017/08/08/how-can-a-tax-code-be-broken/
New NY 23rd 
Everybody should want Tax Reform. It has turned into nothing more that a big government bureaucracy and is always being used by both political parties to punish certain selected individuals and organizations.
The current IRS is so far from what the Founders envisioned that it is ridiculous.
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Rynstone, have you called your congressman to “demand” to have tax reform? Did you tell him that there should be voices from both political parties to have true input on designing the reform? Did you say that you wanted the ‘reform’ to be created in secret in a few weeks? Did you want Mitch McConnell to tell his fellow Republicans that if they don’t pass something, the Democrats will take over in 2018?
I see that Reed is reporting that they are considering keeping the Wind and Solar Tax Credits (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-30/republican-asks-colleagues-to-keep-wind-and-solar-tax-credits).The National Association of Home Builders wants to keep the “home ownership” tax credit in the bill. How many other special interest groups are talking to Reed and the other GOP of the Ways and Means committee telling them what to include in their proposal?
Reform–Yes. A GOP “must pass or die” proposal–NO!
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This might shed light on Tom Reed’s support for wind and solar–$23,500 from just one company, NextEra, in 1Q 2017.
https://newny23rd.com/2017/04/16/tom-reeds-1q-2017-contributions/
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Admittedly, I’ve heard no public outcry for tax reform, other than the desire to have the rich and corporations pay their “fair share”. The GOP proposals, of course, give even more tax breaks to the top 1-2%, and partially pay for it by cutting domestic programs that benefit the rest of us. Raising the standard deduction while eliminating the deduction for state and local taxes, possibly raising the gas tax by $0.07, and cutting Medicaid and Medicare (among other things) is like tossing us a hollow bone. I called and emailed Tom Reed’s office with my disapproval, as I suspect many others did. As usual, he voted against what would be best for his constituents.
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What tax reform?
It’s tax cuts. Tax Cuts. TAX CUTS. And a thumb in the eye to any of Reed’s constituents who aren’t in the 1 percent.
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William, that article is an excellent resource. I need to refer back to that more often.
Arthur, you are able to say a lot in a few words! (Ryan calls it “Tax Reform”. Trumps calls it Tax Cuts.)
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Second and third quarter reports are now available:
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00464032/1185837/sa/ALL
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00464032/1187146/sa/ALL
It is interesting to search for “breakthru,” “renew,” and “Corning.” NextEra doesn’t appear in these reports, but are likely still contributing via PACs. Can it be an accident that so many Corning employees gave exactly $500?
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Thank you, whungerford. Note all the out-of-district donors. Shocking!
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Thanks Whungerford.
Pystew– This would seem to be an opportunity to highlight Corning’s contributions to Reed. Perhaps a visible protest along the lines of protests in front of Reed’s office?
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Next Era is now up to $25,000 for the 2018campaign cycle. http://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/contributors?cid=N00030949&cycle=2018&type=I
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I think corporations aren’t allowed to require employees to make political contributions. Yet is is evident that corporations like NextEra and Corning do somehow communicate to key employees what is expected of them. Employees must also understand that the company will reward compliance somehow.
Perhaps the corporation simply publishes a list of “suggestions” and intimates that bonuses will reflect contributions.
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Those corporations have a way of “encouraging” you to make a PAC contribution, and if you are in management, even at the Iowest managerial level, it is “highly recommended,” another way of saying that it is an expectation. I have personally seen this in a corporation that I was associated with some time ago, and I suspect that others could verify this.
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Thanks Carol, that has been my experience and my wife’s experience as well.
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http://www.gocomics.com/tomtoles/2017/10/30
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Well, the Republican’s tax “reform” (hahahahaha) does two things immediately.
Makes the tax code MORE COMPLEX.
Steals from the poor and middle class and enriches the rich.
My initial pessimism should have been much greater.
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The proposed “tax reform” is not a tax reform at all. At best lowering the corporate rate from one of the highest in the world to the “permanent” 20% should and probably will help economic growth in the USA with companies once again looking to the USA to invest and come back to. I would rather have seen it at a permanent 15% for the next years.
The rest of the it is basically smoke and mirrors except for the lower income levels. I find it interesting that the Dems and Progressives are basically silent on it with the exception being the only message of “Resist”.
The really sad thing is that thing is that there are media types asking “how will we pay for the tax cuts” !?!?!?
Why does no one ever consider cutting, reducing or eliminating some government spending, especially unconstitutional spending?
What is really sad and crazy is that we still cannot see the proposed “Appropriations budgets” or the Budget that was passed !!!!!!!!! I have yet to see any form of these budgets available to the public.
The GOP controlled House appears to be keeping these budgets “secret” and the Dems are allowing it to happen to set a president so they can follow suit if they ever get back in control. This is really sad & pathetic.
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“Nothing is easier than spending the public money. It does not appear to belong to anybody. The temptation is overwhelming to bestow it on somebody.” Calvin Coolidge
“I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people. The men and women of this country who toil are the ones who bear the cost of the Government. Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so much the more meager. Every dollar that we prudently save means that their life will be so much the more abundant. Economy is idealism in its most practical form.” Calvin Coolidge
“The appropriation of public money always is perfectly lovely until some one is asked to pay the bill. If we are to have a billion dollars of navy, half a billion of farm relief, [etc. ] the people will have to furnish more revenue by paying more taxes. It is for them, through their Congress, to decide how far they wish to go.” Calvin Coolidge
“The government of the United States is a device for maintaining in perpetuity the rights of the people, with the ultimate extinction of all privileged classes.” Calvin Coolidge
“What we need in appointive positions are men of knowledge and experience with sufficient character to resist temptations.” Calvin Coolidge
We need a President and many more Congressional members who are more like Democrat Calvin Coolidge, a true Constitutionalist, and a whole lot less of politicians who are like Socialist & Progressive Democrat Presidents Franklin Rooselvelt and Lyndon Johnson.
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Info on President Calvin Coolidge
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Betrayed by Tom Reed!
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I wonder what “silent Cal” would make of tweets?
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Who demands tax reform?
Who demanded the inclusion of the words “unborn child” in the legislation?
Who is incensed that the bill does not include the ability to claim a child tax credit for a fetus?
Who demanded that the tax cuts bill repeal the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt organizations like churches from engaging in political activity?
Who needed a provision included that would make it harder for immigrant parents to claim the refundable child tax credit, even if their child was born in the US?
We can only hope that the tax reform (haha) bill will go down in flames.
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