In August, while Tom Reed and his wife were junketing in Europe, the GOP published 31 reasons for tax reform. Many of these were silly or false, but by their own standards let’s see how the GOP did.

On Aug. 9 we were told there are too many tax brackets. Tax rates should be flatter, they say. Flat means those who have more than they need would pay less, those who have less would be asked to pay more. The reforms would reduce the number of brackets without making taxes much flatter (less progressive); let’s give them a C.

On Aug. 10 we were told that America has the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world. Whether or not this is true,  the tax reform bills surely do lower corporate taxes; they deserve an A for that.

On Aug. 11 we were told that the cost of filing business tax returns affects productivity. I am not aware of any reform that would lower the cost of filing; they deserve an F.

On Aug. 12, we were told that our broken tax code punishes us for hard work with high rates, uncertainty, and complexity. The tax reform bills do lower rates for corporations, but not so much for individuals. They deserve a C for that.

On Aug. 13 the message was that lower corporate taxes will encourage investment, create jobs, and increase wages.  The tax reform bills surely do lower corporate taxes; they deserve an A for that.

C,A,F,C,A — not too bad by GOP standards. But on the standard of what is reasonable and good for American, not nearly so well.

Interested readers are invited to grade the GOP themselves on all 31 reasons and on their own opinion of the merit of the proposed reforms.

https://waysandmeans.house.gov/31reasons/