Hawley says Republicans should double down on cutting taxes for working Americans

Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, is pushing for his GOP colleagues to prioritize tax cuts for working-class Americans, who form a significant portion of President Donald Trump’s base. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hawley emphasized that tax cuts are a strength of the Republican Party and specifically called for reforms to the payroll tax system. He advocated for allowing Americans to apply income tax credits such as the child tax credit, mortgage deduction, and charitable deduction to their payroll taxes.

Hawley’s proposal, outlined in a recent op-ed for the Washington Post, has garnered support from President Trump, who Hawley says is “very supportive” of the initiative. The senator highlighted the importance of providing tax relief to Americans earning less than $80,000 per year, stating that these individuals were instrumental in Trump’s election victory.

The debate over tax policy is heating up in Washington, with Republicans considering various options for Trump’s budget bill. While many Republicans are in favor of extending the 2017 tax cuts, there are calls for additional changes, including potential tax hikes on higher-income brackets to offset costs. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana acknowledged the challenge of addressing the national debt and hinted at the possibility of raising taxes in certain brackets.

Hawley suggested that one solution to generate more revenue could involve taxing the endowments of major universities in the United States. With Trump’s administration already focusing on reforming higher education institutions, particularly in relation to issues like anti-Semitism, targeting the substantial endowments of Ivy League schools like Harvard could be a viable option.

Despite the discussions around offsets, Hawley stressed the importance of prioritizing tax breaks for the working-class Americans who played a crucial role in Trump’s electoral success. In his op-ed, he quoted the late columnist Robert Novak, underscoring the Republican Party’s historical commitment to cutting taxes.

As the GOP navigates the complex landscape of tax policy, Hawley’s advocacy for tax cuts for working-class Americans remains a key focus. By aligning with Trump’s base and emphasizing the party’s traditional stance on tax relief, Hawley is aiming to shape the future of tax policy in a way that benefits those who helped propel Trump to the White House.