Miller Says Delaying Tax Reform Not an Option

Donald Trump is expected to have some challenges coming into office, especially for legislation where he will need help from the Democrats.

Incoming Deputy Chief of Policy Stephen Miller, who also worked in the first Trump administration, says that will not be the issue for tax reform.

Miller is confident that even with resistance from the Democrats, Trump will get this done.

Can He Do It?

Donald Trump made a lot of tax promises out on the campaign, but I am not sure how many of those he will be able to deliver.

For instance, Trump talked about no taxes on overtime pay or Social Security.

I don’t see either of those issues getting enough momentum in Congress to pass.

Trump also suggested that service workers do not pay taxes on their income, which, quite frankly, I don’t support.

I worked as a waiter and bartender when I was younger, and some people make very good money in this industry, and we always had to pay our taxes.

I don’t think anyone gets a free pass just because they work in the service industry, especially when I know people who make well into six figures.

Regardless, Miller says tax reform will take place from day one, stating, "…[A comprehensive tax reform package is] where you have to figure out SALT [state and local deductions]. That's where you're going to figure out different policy baselines that you're going to use for the tax cuts, about corporate tax reform, about trade reform, manufacturing reform, and all those tax policies."

Miller expects these policies to come to fruition by February at the latest.

He added, "With the two or three seat majority in the House, obviously that's going to take some time, but nobody, I repeat, nobody is even talking or considering delaying tax [reform]."

He reiterated shortly after, "Tax reform will happen, and it will be the greatest tax bill that we've ever seen. Now, these are not final. These are ongoing discussions and negotiations, but I just want to be very clear that no one is talking about delaying tax reform."

I think there are some deals to be made if Democrats are willing to listen, but they have drawn a line in the sand over the last decade or so, so I am not counting on it right now.

It will be interesting to see which tax issues Trump decides to dig in on and which ones he will just write off with a non-cooperative opposition.