Tax Reform Effort Doomed to Failure

[Frodo]

Unless and until Trump releases his full tax returns, neither Republicans nor Democrats will move forward on this issue.  And even then, it isn't a sure thing:

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NYTimes

[Stranger in a strange land]

I really, really hope it comes up for a vote because I want another replay of the Trumpcare/Ryancare fiasco. If they can do that on immigration reform too, that would be great.

[Hindsight was 2020]

10/10 troll job by the dems XD

[Virginiá]

Maybe Republicans could compromise with Democrats and pass a bill forcing the release of a president-elect's tax returns if they didn't already release them by the time of inauguration. I don't think this is too much to ask, and it would neutralize the current strategy Democrats are using - a strategy which, for the record, I don't get why some people were calling it crappy a while ago. People have a right to know what Trump stands to gain from his proposals. It's not like he's just some honest guy who may coincidentally benefit. This is Donald Trump. One of the few things he seems genuinely interested in is tax reform, and that is probably because he intends to use it to benefit himself and his family substantially. There is no valid reason in my mind why he should be given the benefit of the doubt. He has never done a single thing to earn that.

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Also, relevant:

https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-18/gop-targets-trillion-dollar-tax-breaks-for-democratic-states

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All other pro-repeal reasons for this deduction aside, I think that excuse is rich, given the weight of contributions to this country in blue states vs red states.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

I think all tax returns should be a matter of public record.

[The_Doctor]

This is a shame because I align with the Republican Party on tax reform. I think taxes should be flatter, simpler, and fairer.

[Hermit For Peace]

I really, really hope it comes up for a vote because I want another replay of the Trumpcare/Ryancare fiasco. If they can do that on immigration reform too, that would be great.

[SoLongAtlas]

Well if tax reform goes down as well, get ready for a challenge for Speaker. Ryan really is feckless...

[Cory]

This is a shame because I align with the Republican Party on tax reform. I think taxes should be flatter, simpler, and fairer.

Taxes should be vague, vague, and vaguer.

[The_Doctor]

This is a shame because I align with the Republican Party on tax reform. I think taxes should be flatter, simpler, and fairer.

Taxes should be vague, vague, and vaguer.

Not really. I would cap the payroll taxes at 6% of income, and then have three tax brackets, with the top bracket at 30%. To finance it, I'd cut Social Security and Medicare payments.

Never politically feasible but it's what I'd support.

[Virginiá]

Never politically feasible but it's what I'd support.

I have to wonder - what happens if Republicans finally got to reform taxes in a way substantially similar to what they have dreamed of? What will they run on at that point? Republicans have a pretty big deficit of actual ideas. Many of them rely on manipulation of the tax code to provide some sort of benefit. Would they just stick to running on taxes/govt spending stuff until they reach a point where there are no more taxes to cut?