Tax Reform: The Good, the Bad, and the Really Ugly – Part Three

‘We have a system that increasingly taxes work and subsidizes nonwork.’
– Milton Friedman
‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’
– Mahatma Gandhi
‘Real change requires real change.’
– Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
Today we come to part 3 of my tax reform series. So far, we’ve introduced the challenge and begun to describe the main proposed GOP solution. Today we’ll look at the new and widely misunderstood ‘border adjustment’ idea and talk about both its good and bad points. What follows may make more sense if you have first read part 1 and part 2. Next week we’ll explore what I think would be a far superior option, though one that is based on the spirit of the current proposal. If House leadership thinks they can get the present proposal through (doubtful), then they should stop messing around and do something really controversial by changing the entire terms of engagement. As my friend Newt Gingrich has often told me, ‘John, real change requires real change.’
Warning: There is something in this series to offend almost everyone. Everything is fair game. If nothing else, I hope that no one can accuse me of simply talking the Republican book. I think this letter will pretty much eviscerate the key component of the proposed Republican tax plan. I hope the plan will be seriously changed. Many of you have direct contacts with your Senators and Representatives on both sides of the aisle. I urge you to send this letter to them and talk to them. This is one of the most serious national conversations we have ever had.

This post was published at Mauldin Economics on FEBRUARY 19, 2017.