There is no Obamacare Repeal and there is no Wall.

Margaret Hartmann (New York Magazine):

For seven years, Republicans ran and won on the idea that they had a plan to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something better and cheaper. When they finally got the opportunity to turn these promises into an actual law, all they could come up with was a plan that would drive up costs for older, sicker, and poorer Americans, and leave millions uninsured. The effort failed so spectacularly that they had to cancel the House vote at the last minute. Now Republicans have reverted to a more comfortable stance, constantly promising that Zombie Trumpcare will be revived any day now

You want tax cuts. So do I. So does almost everyone, even the people who say they don’t. They do.

That’s why tax cuts are going to become Trump’s focus and, perhaps, his signature achievement of 2017. And all the other bullshit he promised his base (things that weren’t even good for them in the first place, but I digress), will not be happening.

He’s going to have to pull “the wall” and its funding off the table to get tax reform done. Mexico is not paying for it, it turns out, just like there was no “terrific, tremendous” idea to replace ACA. The time for fantasies being shouted about in Alabama football stadiums has passed and the President is in the process of learning pragmatism.

Trump told the press that he’s open to leaving funding for the border wall out of the current spending bill, and pushing off the fight to September, when another funding bill will be needed…

That will likely allow Republicans and Democrats to reach a deal quickly…

“It’s good for the country that President Trump is taking the wall off the table in these negotiations,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday night. “Now the bipartisan and bicameral negotiators can continue working on the outstanding issues.”

This is a positive development. Increased border security might be the compromise that everyone can live with, and “the wall” may just be the metaphorical name for it. Instead, it’ll be increased personnel and more electrified fences and blimps with lasers and so on. Fine.

Donald needs a win. Tax cuts are feasible, popular and can be pulled off without another humiliation. My guess is they get something done here.

And not just something, if the White House gets its way…the biggest tax cut in history!

“It will be bigger, I believe, than any tax cut ever. Maybe the biggest tax cut we’ve ever had,” is what Trump told the AP. Supposedly, we’ll hear more tomorrow, but already we’re getting word about a 15% corporate tax rate. Here’s what that would look like, via WSJ:

Looking forward to seeing the plan (and the reaction).

Sources:

Trump Caves, Will Let Border Wall Remain a Big, Beautiful Fantasy, for Now (New York Magazine)

Trump Wants Tax Plan to Cut Corporate Rate to 15% (Wall Street Journal)