Mattie Dupler Springer of the National Taxpayers Union would like to see Congress pass a budget before tackling tax reform. She explains why in a Washington Examiner column.
This week, all eyes in Washington are focused on the Big Six and the release of their tax reform framework. But tax reform proponents cannot afford to let this highly-anticipated release distract Congress from first completing the essential task of passing a budget. The Big Six’s outline should increase the resolve of congressional Republicans to pass a budget and unlock the reconciliation process, which is a critical part of the tax reform effort.
Tax reform is Congress’ most important fiscal priority, although the FY 2018 House Republican budget includes many other worthy reforms the conference has supported in the past – reaching spending balance in under a decade, prescriptions on how to secure lasting reforms in entitlement spending, to name a few. This year’s budget goes even further by writing mandatory spending instructions that require committees to find at least $203 billion in savings. These instructions would demand 11 different committees find savings in their mandatory spending programs – a reduction so broad it would result in the largest mandatory spending reform package in 20 years.
With each new day and the chaos it usually brings on Capitol Hill, the punditry class forecasts the end of the conservative policy era in Washington. There couldn’t be a better time for Republicans to demonstrate a strong vision for governing — swift passage of the FY 2018 budget gives them the opportunity to do just that.
