BUDGET/GOP/TAXES: “The U.S. policy makers on taxes known collectively as the ‘Big Six’ gathered Tuesday [9-5-17] with President Donald Trump at the White House—and they have some big decisions to make.
Republicans are trying to rewrite significant portions of the tax system by year’s end, giving them little time to agree on policy changes and then muscle them through Congress.
The six are Reps. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) and Kevin Brady (R., Texas), Sens. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and Orrin Hatch (R., Utah), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic policy chief Gary Cohn.
‘We are all on the same page for delivering tax reform this year,’ Mr. Brady said after the meeting.
Many Republicans are optimistic about getting a tax bill done and are moving ‘as expeditiously as possible,’ White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said after Tuesday’s meeting.
With control of the House, Senate and White House, the GOP is eager for the chance to overhaul tax policy and lower rates. Failure to do so would mark a political setback. But they must contend with inherent trade-offs, competing priorities and a tight time frame.”
-Richard Rubin, “‘Big Six’ Policy Group Faces Decision Time on Tax Changes,” The Wall Street Journal online, Sept. 5, 2017 09:19pm