WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans relentlessly complained about big budget deficits during Democratic President Barack Obama’s two terms, but now a growing number in the GOP are pushing for deep tax cuts even if they add to the government’s $20 trillion debt.
President Donald Trump says he is pushing for “the biggest tax cut in the history of our country,” as Congress tries to overhaul the tax code for the first time in more than 30 years.
It won’t be easy. Congressional Republicans are divided over concerns about the government’s debt, and Senate rules make it difficult to pass deep tax cuts without support from Democrats, something majority Republicans are not actively seeking.
Still, the tax cutters are gaining momentum, even though neither Trump nor Republican leaders in Congress are willing to tackle the government’s long-term drivers of debt – Social Security and Medicare.
“If you want to have real tax reform and a robust economy, you have to both reduce taxes and reduce spending,” said Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho. “Now, if we’re not going to reduce spending, I still want to give families their tax cut.”