Tax Reform Could Make or Break Paulsen

Rep. Erik Paulsen, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, has made tax reform one of his signature issues.

Source: Facebook Congressman Erik Paulsen

RICHFIELD, Minn. – While Congress is on its August recess, Rep. Erik Paulsen is using the time away from Washington to rally hometown support for tax reform.

Last week, Paulsen sat down with Best Buy employees to discuss the GOP-led effort to reform the U.S. tax code, according to the Star Tribune. Earlier this year, Best Buy opposed a proposal to raise revenue through a tax on imported goods, saying it would drive up prices significantly. Now Paulsen is turning to Best Buy, the third largest public company in Minnesota according to Fortune 500, to better understand how tax reform will impact the consumer.

“We can’t have uncertainty of what it’s going to be like for consumers,” Paulsen told the Star Tribune in an interview after the meeting.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, joined the meeting with Best Buy employees to explain his committee’s tax reform plan to lower tax rates for families and businesses and simplify the tax code. According to Brady, some special exemptions will have to be cut, but the standard deduction will increase under the Ways and Means Committee’s plan.

Brady told the Star Tribune they expect to have a tax reform bill ready for President Donald Trump to sign by the end of the year.

Paulsen, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, has made tax reform one of his signature issues. Throughout the month of August, Paulsen has been using social media to highlight the reasons why he believes overhauling the “broken tax code” will benefit Minnesota families.

“The key principles are building for growth. New jobs, higher wages,” Paulsen told the Star Tribune.

Christine Bauman