President Trump said Wednesday he would be willing to accept a 21 percent corporate income tax rate, giving his blessing to what appears to be the crux of an emerging deal on the GOP’s tax-cut package.
The 21 percent rate, while down from the current 35 percent tax, is higher than the 15 percent Mr. Trump had originally sought and a tick up from the 20 percent compromise lawmakers had reached last month.
But the president said it still marks a major cut.
“If it got down to 21, I would certainly be thrilled,” he said while meeting with GOP negotiators at the White House.
Mr. Trump also said he wants to see a vote next week, saying voters deserve quick action on a tax cut.
He said the timing has nothing to do with the GOP’s loss of a Senate seat from Alabama, which will slim their majority from 52-48 to 51-49 when the new Democratic winner is seated.
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Mr. Trump said that some Republicans were happy with the loss by embattled GOP candidate Roy Moore, but he said he would have preferred Mr. Moore win to help boost the party’s numbers.
“As a leader of the party I would like to have had the seat,” he said.
He added, though, that he doubted the GOP’s agenda would be short-circuited by the election.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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