There is always the issue of Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. Senator Paul has historically been more than willing to hold up his own party’s legislation. Republican leadership has every right to be worried that Paul will vote against any plan that is not explicitly deficit-neutral. He has made his philosophy clear. “You pay for a tax cut with spending cuts,” Paul said, as reported by Politico.
Jumpstarting the Agenda
While Washington talked tax reform on Monday, President Trump convened his cabinet to address his stalled legislative agenda. Trump took the opportunity to hurl criticisms at both Democrats and Republicans failed legislative items like Obamacare repeal. He first blamed the “obstruction” of the Democrats. The President then added that “there are some Republicans, frankly, that should be ashamed of themselves.”
The administration lacks any forward momentum in its legislative plans at the moment. Rallying a unified front for tax reform is crucial for the administration and the rest of the Republican agenda.
