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Tax Writers Head to White House to Try for a Bipartisan Tax Overhaul Trump Threatens Iran on Twitter, as Part of a Broad Public Salvo
(35 minutes later)
■ President Trump has summoned the bipartisan leadership of Congress’s tax-writing committees to meet Thursday and start talking tax reform. ■ President Trump has threatened Iran on Twitter, grabbing the spotlight after a night of troubling news reports.
■ Ethics watchdog sues to open divorce records of Mr. Trump’s nominee to be labor secretary. ■ Mr. Trump has summoned the bipartisan leadership of Congress’s tax-writing committees to meet Thursday and start talking tax overhauls.
■ Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general, is likely to get a committee vote on his nomination to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, with or without Democrats. ■ Ethics watchdog is suing to open the divorce records of Mr. Trump’s nominee for labor secretary.
In its still-short life, the era of President Trump has been as partisan as it gets, but the promised rewrite of the tax code — something that hasn’t been accomplished in three decades, despite a lot of talk — won’t get done with one party alone. President Trump does know how to please his audience.
So Mr. Trump has summoned Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, his ranking Democrat; Representative Kevin Brady of Texas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; and Representative Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, the House tax-writing panel’s lead Democrat, to meet at the White House Thursday morning. The mainstream media lit up Wednesday night with tales of Mr. Trump angrily berating Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, after the Australian leader pressed Mr. Trump to honor an agreement to accept 1,250 refugees from an Australian detention center. He also apparently suggested that U.S. forces might invade Mexico to get control of the drug trade.
Huge hurdles stand in the way of tax reform, although both parties profess to want it. Does an overhaul have to include both the corporate tax code and personal taxes, or would the business side be enough, since Republicans and Democrats agree that the corporate code is such a hopeless morass that it is costing jobs and economic growth? Even conservatives were a bit taken aback.
The president was in turn defiant, bellicose and diversionary. Early Thursday morning, he joined the saber rattling of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, when he threatened Iran over a ballistic missile test that violated a United Nations Security Council resolution.
That was hardly his first salvo. He made no effort to shake the Australia story.
He got the White House involved in a student riot at the University of California, Berkeley, that forced the cancellation of an appearance by the Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos, a prominent figure in the white nationalist “alt-right.”
And he claimed the presidential mantle by bringing up his unscheduled trip to Dover Air Force Base to greet the remains of an American commando killed in a raid in Yemen. He had been studiously silent before, saying he was respecting the wishes of the family of the deceased.
The era of President Trump has been as partisan as it gets in its short life, but the promised rewrite of the tax code — something that hasn’t been accomplished in three decades, despite a lot of talk — won’t get done with one party alone.
So Mr. Trump has summoned Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the committee’s ranking Democrat; Representative Kevin Brady of Texas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; and Representative Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, the panel’s lead Democrat, to meet at the White House Thursday morning.
Huge hurdles stand in the way of a tax overhaul, although both parties profess to want it. Are changes needed for both the corporate tax code and personal taxes, or would the business side be enough, since Republicans and Democrats agree that the corporate code is such a hopeless morass that it is costing jobs and economic growth?
Should an overhaul raise more revenue (perhaps to pay for infrastructure spending), bring in the same amount of taxes as the current code, or cut taxes over all?Should an overhaul raise more revenue (perhaps to pay for infrastructure spending), bring in the same amount of taxes as the current code, or cut taxes over all?
How progressive should the tax code remain?How progressive should the tax code remain?
Those questions will certainly not be answered Thursday, but the long struggle may well begin.Those questions will certainly not be answered Thursday, but the long struggle may well begin.
Four times Andrew Puzder’s confirmation hearing to be the next secretary of labor has been postponed — a clear sign that he is in deep trouble. Andrew Puzder’s confirmation hearing to be the next secretary of labor has been postponed four times — a clear sign that he is in deep trouble.
And now an ethics watchdog group filed a petition on Wednesday to unseal court documents related to the divorce of Andrew Puzder, the Trump administration’s nominee to be Labor secretary. And an ethics watchdog group filed a petition on Wednesday to unseal court documents related to the divorce of Mr. Puzder.
In some of the sealed documents, Mr. Puzder’s former wife, Lisa Fierstein, appears to have alleged that Mr. Puzder physically abused her.In some of the sealed documents, Mr. Puzder’s former wife, Lisa Fierstein, appears to have alleged that Mr. Puzder physically abused her.
The Washington-based group, the Campaign for Accountability, argued that the allegations are directly relevant to Mr. Puzder’s nomination because the Labor Department is charged with assuring workers’ physical safety.The Washington-based group, the Campaign for Accountability, argued that the allegations are directly relevant to Mr. Puzder’s nomination because the Labor Department is charged with assuring workers’ physical safety.
“If confirmed Mr. Puzder would be responsible for and oversee policy for millions of working American women,” said the group’s executive director, Daniel Stevens, in a statement. “Before the Senate acts, the public has a right to know if Mr. Puzder abused his wife.” “If confirmed Mr. Puzder would be responsible for and oversee policy for millions of working American women,” the group’s executive director, Daniel Stevens, said in a statement. “Before the Senate acts, the public has a right to know if Mr. Puzder abused his wife.”
George Thompson, a spokesman for Mr. Puzder, who is currently chief executive of the parent company of the fast food outlets Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, called the petition “a shameless attempt to smear an individual who has shown nothing but dedication to creating jobs.”George Thompson, a spokesman for Mr. Puzder, who is currently chief executive of the parent company of the fast food outlets Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, called the petition “a shameless attempt to smear an individual who has shown nothing but dedication to creating jobs.”
Mr. Puzder and his wife divorced in 1987 and the following year she filed a petition for damages, obtained by Politico, alleging physical abuse. The two sides submitted earlier court filings, now sealed, as exhibits in their back and forth before a St. Louis County judge dismissed the petition. Ms. Fierstein has since recanted her allegations. Mr. Puzder and Ms. Fierstein divorced in 1987, and the following year she filed a petition for damages, obtained by Politico, alleging physical abuse. The two sides submitted earlier court filings, now sealed, as exhibits before a St. Louis County judge dismissed the petition. Ms. Fierstein has since recanted her allegations.
Michael A. Kahn, a Missouri lawyer with experience in privacy rights cases, said a decision on the documents would hinge on the judge’s assessment of whether there is “good cause” to unseal them. Mr. Kahn said the odds were long but that the allegations of abuse coupled with the high-profile position to which Mr. Puzder has been nominated could give the effort a “toehold.”Michael A. Kahn, a Missouri lawyer with experience in privacy rights cases, said a decision on the documents would hinge on the judge’s assessment of whether there is “good cause” to unseal them. Mr. Kahn said the odds were long but that the allegations of abuse coupled with the high-profile position to which Mr. Puzder has been nominated could give the effort a “toehold.”
Senate Democrats, short of a majority but driven by their energized voters, have tried hard to delay Mr. Trump’s cabinet nominees.Senate Democrats, short of a majority but driven by their energized voters, have tried hard to delay Mr. Trump’s cabinet nominees.
But ultimately, the Republicans hold all the levers. On Thursday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will again try to vote on the nomination of Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma’s attorney general, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a government entity he has spent much of his adult life suing.But ultimately, the Republicans hold all the levers. On Thursday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will again try to vote on the nomination of Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma’s attorney general, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a government entity he has spent much of his adult life suing.
If, as they did Wednesday, Democrats boycott the meeting, Republicans are likely to take a page out of the Senate Finance Committee’s playbook, vote to suspend the rules that require a bipartisan quorum, and send Mr. Pruitt through without the Democrats present. If, as they did Wednesday, Democrats boycott the meeting, Republicans are likely to take a page from the Senate Finance Committee’s playbook and vote to suspend the rules that require a bipartisan quorum, sending Mr. Pruitt through without the Democrats present.
The blows keep coming for President Trump’s executive order barring some foreigners from coming into the United States. The blows keep coming for President Trump’s executive order barring some foreigners from entering the United States.
First, there was the mass protests at international airports as the ban went into effect. Then, there were the court orders. Now, the Department of Homeland Security’s internal auditor is getting into the act. First, there were the mass protests at international airports as the ban went into effect. Then, there were the court orders. Now, the Department of Homeland Security’s internal auditor is getting into the act.
The department’s inspector general announced late Wednesday night that it would review the review agency’s implementation of the President Trump’s controversial executive order that suspended entry of refugees to the United States for 120 days and blocked entry into the United States for 90 days for citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The inspector general’s office said the review was launched in response to requests from congress, whistleblowers, and from complaints the received on a hotline complaints. The office of the department’s inspector general announced late Wednesday that it would review the agency’s implementation of the executive order, which suspended the entry of all refugees for 120 days and blocked for 90 days citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The auditor said the review was a response to requests from Congress and whistle-blowers, and from complaints the received on a hotline.
In addition to reviewing how the Department of Homeland Security carried out the implementation of the executive order, the inspector general’s office said it will review if the agency adhered to court orders and allegations of individual misconduct by homeland security employees. In addition to reviewing how the Homeland Security Department implemented the executive order, the inspector general’s office said it would review the agency’s adherence to court orders and allegations of individual misconduct.
The inspector general’s office said it could review other issues as well.The inspector general’s office said it could review other issues as well.
The office did not say how long the review would take.The office did not say how long the review would take.
Mr. Trump campaigned vigorously against what he called the unfair economic practices of China. His new trade council director wrote a scathing book against China, the world’s largest nation. His trade representative has been similarly pointed.Mr. Trump campaigned vigorously against what he called the unfair economic practices of China. His new trade council director wrote a scathing book against China, the world’s largest nation. His trade representative has been similarly pointed.
But his daughter Ivanka Trump and her daughter were spotted Wednesday night at the Chinese New Year reception at the Chinese Embassy in Washington. But his daughter Ivanka Trump and her daughter were spotted Wednesday night at the Lunar New Year reception at the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
Let the Supreme Court advertising war begin.Let the Supreme Court advertising war begin.
A liberal advocacy group is beginning to run television ads against Mr. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, with plans to target some states represented by moderate Democratic senators.A liberal advocacy group is beginning to run television ads against Mr. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, with plans to target some states represented by moderate Democratic senators.
The ad, which includes a clip of a judicially robed man ripping the Constitution, is set to appear for one week in a dozen states, according to the group, People for the American Way. These include several states — like North Dakota, West Virginia and Missouri — that Mr. Trump carried easily in last year’s election but that still have a Democratic senator.The ad, which includes a clip of a judicially robed man ripping the Constitution, is set to appear for one week in a dozen states, according to the group, People for the American Way. These include several states — like North Dakota, West Virginia and Missouri — that Mr. Trump carried easily in last year’s election but that still have a Democratic senator.
Conservative groups have set off on a multimillion-dollar effort to support Judge Gorsuch that includes television advertising and planned events at megachurches. People for the American Way would not disclose the amount of money it was spending to run its ads.Conservative groups have set off on a multimillion-dollar effort to support Judge Gorsuch that includes television advertising and planned events at megachurches. People for the American Way would not disclose the amount of money it was spending to run its ads.