White House hopes for Dem support on tax reform

A top aide to President Trump said Monday that the Trump administration hopes to get some Democratic support on tax reform.

“Ideally that will become a bipartisan effort,” White House legislative affairs director Marc Short said during a briefing with reporters.

Short noted that administration officials met with both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee and also met with the centrist Democratic Blue Dog Coalition.

{mosads}Congressional GOP leaders intend to pass a tax reform bill through a process known as reconciliation in order to avoid a Democratic filibuster. Short said that even if a tax bill is moved through reconciliation, the administration hopes it receives backing from some Democrats.

Short’s remarks contrast with comments a senior administration official made shortly after the White House released its tax plan in April. That official said the White House didn’t include sweeteners for Democrats in its plan because it didn’t see a chance for a bipartisan bill.

The White House and congressional Republicans are hoping to produce one tax-= reform bill that they all support. As a result, Congress is not likely to mark up legislation until after Labor Day, Short said. The White House is hoping that a tax code overhaul can get done in the fall.

Short said the administration wants a tax bill to be revenue-neutral, meaning it won’t add to the deficit. He also said the White House’s top priority is generating economic growth from tax cuts.