Ryan says he's willing to compromise with Obama to help economy
By Jennifer Peebles | February 1, 2015 | 1:43 pm
New House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan says he's ready to compromise with President Obama on tax reform if it helps the economy — and says he believes tax reform can be the economic shot in the arm the country needs.
"If we can find common ground, the answer is yes," the Wisconsin Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday in response to host Chuck Todd's question of whether Ryan was "ready to be a compromiser."
"We've got to get the economy growing," Ryan said. "Look, we have had such a stagnant economy, the slowest recovery since World War II. Middle-income wages are stagnant.
"We've got to break out of this slog," he continued. "I believe there are things we can do hopefully in the next year to get this economy growing faster."
Changing the tax code is the way to do it, he told Todd.
"We really believe that we should reform the entire tax code for all people — individuals, families, businesses — make it simpler, flatter, fairer, the whole thing," Ryan said. "But it is pretty clear to us that the president doesn't agree with that [position] on [taxes on] individuals. So, the question is — which I don't know the answer to — is there common ground on aspects of tax reform that we think could help grow the economy? For us, small businesses have to be a part of that puzzle ... and so, we'll find out."
As for specific changes, Ryan supported the president's call to expand income tax credits for child care for working families.
"I think that's something that actually pulls people into the workforce," Ryan said. "It's one of the more effective welfare reforms we had. And so, that that is something that I think with we should work together on."
But Ryan said he would oppose Obama's proposal to increase taxes, such as taxes on inheritances.
"I think it's a bad idea," he said. "You're actually making it really hard for a family to pass on a family business to the next generation.
"What I think the president is trying to do here is to, again, exploit envy economics. This top-down redistribution [of wealth] doesn't work. We have been doing it for six years. It may make for good politics, but it doesn't make for good economic growth."
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ryan-says-hes-willing-to-compromise-with-obama-to-help-economy/article/2559635
