President Donald Trump’s tax reform effort has many problems. The issue itself is fiendishly complex, affecting a host of different interest groups who are already lobbying furiously. House Speaker Paul Ryan’s framework for a bill is tremendously unpopular in the Senate. And the president himself has sent mixed signals, lately saying he wants to give health care another shot rather than moving on. This morning the New York Times’ Alan Rappeport points out another serious problem – President Trump’s refusal to release own his tax returns. As Rappeport writes, Democrats have lately been citing the lack of disclosure of the president’s tax returns as a justification for opposing any GOP bill sight unseen. “If he doesn’t release his returns, it is going to make it much more difficult to get tax reform done.” (As a reminder, Trump has claimed that he doesn’t want to release his tax returns simply because he is under audit – a justification that makes no sense.)
In part, this is a handy political talking point that’s a convenient excuse for opposition, and a way to mobilize the liberal base, tens of thousands of whom marched at rallies last weekend calling for the returns’ disclosure.
It’s also a bit of a win-win politically for Democrats – either Trump finally makes his tax returns public despite his clear reluctance to in an effort to kick-start the process, or Democrats hammer him for what he might be hiding.
Still, this Democratic argument is most effective because of its substantive strength. Fundamentally, they are asking for more insight into how the president of the United States might benefit from sweeping tax code changes he hopes to sign into law. That seems like a very reasonable ask, and if Trump doesn’t grant it, it will be easy for Democrats to characterize him as recalcitrant. So maybe he will give in out of his desire to finally get a legislative win. But maybe not: I did what was an almost an impossible thing to do for a Republican-easily won the Electoral College! Now Tax Returns are brought up again?- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 16, 2017
A wacky Supreme Court idea for President Trump: Our daily politics news roundup will check in on several other big stories, so here’s a look at what else is in the news. In others news, Chris Ruddy – a close friend of the president who founded the conservative website NewsMax and was last seen advocating for a major expansion of Medicaid – is now publicly floating some more idiosyncratic strategic advice.
In an interview with Business Insider’s Allan Smith, Ruddy said that Trump should try to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with …. Barack Obama’s failed nominee to the court, Merrick Garland.
“I think it would be a huge move and a sign for Trump that he’s willing to break through the political ice,” Ruddy said.
It would indeed be a huge move – and one sure to provoke massive backlash from the socially conservative right, who would view Trump as betraying them on one of their most important issues. It’s very questionable whether Mitch McConnell would betray his base by advancing such a nominee through the GOP-controlled Senate. Plus, the move wouldn’t even earn Trump all that much goodwill from Democrats, who would cheerfully pocket this concession and likely go right on opposing him on other topics. So it’s very difficult to imagine it happening. Still, it’s worth keeping in mind that if a pro-Roe v. Wade justice does retire – whether that’s Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, or Anthony Kennedy – Trump will be faced with a choice far more consequential than the Gorsuch nomination was. Because if Trump appoints another staunch conservative to one of those seats, then Roe, the decision preventing states from banning abortions, could well be overturned, with massive consequences for women nationwide. This would be the ultimate prize for social conservatives. But it’s an outcome a city guy with at least some past track record of socially liberal views like Donald Trump is could well blanche at, and seek to avoid if he can. So it’s worth noting that at least one trusted friend of his is counseling caution here.