A former top aide in President Donald Trump’s first administration has argued that Republicans “no point” to raise taxes on wealthy Americans.
Mark Short, former Chief of Staff of former President Wiese Mike Pence, was an integral part of Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Employment Act (TCJA). He also worked at Trump’s first White House as director of legislative affairs from 2017 to 2018.
“It makes no sense to raise taxes on America’s highest earners and biggest job creators, because these are American job creators, they don’t understand why they’re within the current administration that is pushing Congress to raise the highest tax rates,” Short said.
“So many small businesses are filing taxes as individuals. And you’re actually trying to raise taxes not only on individuals, but also on many small businesses.”
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President Donald Trump wants to cut taxes on middle- and working-class Americans. (Getty)
Congressional Republicans are working on a massive law called his “big and beautiful bill” that aims to advance his policies on tax, border security, immigration, energy, defense and government bonds.
The tax policy portion is expected to be the most expensive, with House negotiators working to identify many areas to cut at least $1.5 trillion to offset new spending.
A source familiar with Trump’s thinking told Fox News Digital that it is considering allowing individuals making more than $2.5 million to return from 37% to 39.6% before 2017.
Sources said it not only protects Medicaid, but also helps pay large intermediate and working class tax cuts.
TCJA has lowered the tax rate on top revenue brackets – currently the single filer’s $609,350 – is 37%, a cut that expires at the end of the year.
Mark Short, former Vice president Mike Pence’s Chief of Staff, spoke about Fox News Digital and Tax Hikes. (Getty Images)
Creating a new high tax bracket for a vastly greater number of people that will help pay to implement Trump’s new priorities in 2017.
But the brief that helped pass the 2017 package dismissed these new Trump priorities as a myopic political sweetener.
“It feels like some of the new requirements of the administration are somewhat rigged out. I don’t even know if many Americans who earn income based on hints are paying taxes on those tips right now.
Short said these changes would create “many additional hurdles for businesses to follow.”
“I don’t think there’s a tax on Social Security. What we’re trying to do seems to be different from 2017 when we passed the Tax Cuts and Employment Act,” he said. “We tried to simplify tax laws and make them even more flatter and fair for all Americans, rather than creating carve-outs for specific constituencies.”
Fox News Digital contacted the White House to respond to Short’s remarks.
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Some conservative groups, like the Heritage Foundation and Americans for Prosperity, are also wary of potential tax cuts for the wealthy.
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Richard Stern, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Federal Budget Hermann Center, said the group is opposed to efforts to raise the tax rate to more than 40%.
“Congress needs to settle their finances, but they must do so by tightening their belts rather than forcing American taxpayers to their taxpayers. The highest higher tax rates will be counterproductive and will discourage diligence and entrepreneurship,” Stern said.
The Americans for Prosperity Americans said they are the chief government officer of Brent Gardner. “Raising taxes on Americans should be completely off the table,” he said.
Elizabeth Elkind is the main reporter of Fox News Digital’s reporting in the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen on Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow me on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to Elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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