Trump Goes for Tax Reform, Take 2

The Republican tax reform gets its big introduction on Wednesday by way of a presidential speech in Indiana. President Donald Trump will deliver an afternoon address in Indianapolis, joined by, among others, the state’s Democratic senator, Joe Donnelly.

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because something similar happened earlier this month. Trump delivered a speech on tax reform in North Dakota, whose Democratic senator, Heidi Heitkamp, also appeared with the president. Like Heitkamp, Donnelly hails from a state Trump won last November. Both are up for reelection next year, and that, the White House figures, suggests they might be gettable on a big tax package.

What’s in that package, new details of which the White House and Republican congressional leadership are promising to reveal on Wednesday? A simplified code, from seven to three brackets. A bigger standard deduction—double the current one, Axios reports. Net tax cuts for most Americans, alongside reforms of heretofore unspecified breaks and deductions that the Washington Post says will remain unspecified for the time being.

“By refusing to specify on Wednesday which tax breaks could be jettisoned, GOP leaders make a calculated effort to try to postpone any backlash while they try to build a coalition, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the internal negotiations,” the Post reported.

Things get done in Washington by “calculated efforts.” The White House and congressional Republicans have worked better and harder at just that kind of calculating, especially when compared to the party’s failed health care effort(s).