H.R. 1
Much attention has been focused on what executive orders President-Elect Donald Trump will sign on day one of his second term.
Even better would be legislation actually passed by the new Congress in the two weeks it will be in session before Trump’s inauguration. And while members of Congress may have their own idea, let me make a suggestion.
On Day One, Congress should start the process to renew the so-called Trump Tax Cuts, which will expire at the end of 2025 if not renewed. The very first bill should be to renew those for 10 years to give individuals and businesses the certainty they need to plan and to prosper.
Don’t make any changes. Don’t expand the reach of the cuts. That can all wait for later. Grab this now, establish the certainty, and then enhance the cuts and benefits later.
I even have the language for them: “Be it resolved that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is hereby extended through December 31, 2035.”
There. One sentence. Simply extend what’s there for another decade.
It would not only give certainty as noted, but it would be a strong yet easy victory…the kind of thing that leads to additional victories in short order, and pretty soon, you’ve got a record of achievement.
But it all starts with the first bill, the first win. I’d prefer it be the five-year farm bill…but I’ll settle for that being one of the first ten bills passed into law in the first two months of the new Congress.
And what a signal for the American people…a strong sign that government will let them keep their money. Hard to top that as the first item checked off the list…and with a bill consisting of a single sentence instead of 500 pages, to boot.
