Sen. James Lankford said Tuesday that he wants the ability to change the tax bill if it doesn’t achieve the expected results.
“We are all making our best educated guess of what the rates should be,” Mr. Lankford, Oklahoma Republican, said on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.”
He explained that if the projections fall short, he wants the government to be able to increase the tax rates and not increase the deficit. He pushed back on the idea that these were “trigger points” and instead said that he saw them as a “backstop.” The increase would be automatic if the projected revenue from tax cuts doesn’t happen.
Mr. Lankford said he believes this change would ensure the support of Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Todd Young of Indiana and Jeff Flake of Arizona.
These senators have remained hesitant to support the current tax legislation in part because of the increase to the deficit.
“None of us are trying to not do this,” Mr. Lankford explained. “All of us are going through a very complicated bill.”
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He said he still thinks the Senate can pass their bill before the end of the legislative year as Republicans had hoped to do.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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