Former Vice President Mike Pence advises President Trump against imposing higher tax rates on affluent citizens in the United States.
Going Against the Grain:
Mike Pence Tells Trump and GOP Not to Rip Off the Rich
In a candid chat with Digital, ol' Mike Pence pulls President Donnie and his Republican cronies aside, cautioning them against jacking up taxes on the wealthy sons-of-guns.
You heard it from the former VP himself: Mike Pence is urging his good ol' buddy Donald Trump, along with the GOP, to nix the idea of hiking tax rates for the wealthy. A smart move, doncha think?
Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Trump's shiniest domestically-made achievement in his initial term, is set to expire if it ain't extended by the fingers of Congress.
For weeks now, the Trump White House and a few resilient Republicans in Congress have been tossing around the idea of letting the tax cuts for the high rollers expire, on account of needing to fund the rest of their tax shenanigans and Trump's other pricey, "How in the world are we gonna pay for this?" second-term priorities.
But here's what's goin' down, according to sources in the know:
What Donnie's Asking Speaker Johnson to Do
President Donald Trump's been hollering at House Speaker Mike Johnson to lay off the resistance to tax hikes on the top-dollar earners as part of an overall budget reconciliation package.
And during a call the other day, Trump gave Johnson an earful, telling him to get the taxes on the highest income earners hiked and close that long-standing carried interest loophole in the reconciliation process.
According to our peeps at Digital, Trump's thinkin' about lettin' the rate on folks makin' $2.5 million or more jack up by 2.6%, from 37% to 39.6%.
But Pence, a stalwart fiscal conservative and budget hawk with a long career in the House, as Indiana's gov, and as VP, ain't buyin' it.
"Listen here, if I've heard 'bout any whisper of leavin' the top rate where it's at, or raisin' it, that'd be a bloated tax hit on Mom-and-Pops businesses across the land," Pence said. "That one's gotta be stood up to."
What Pence Said to Digital This Week
Talkin' to Digital this week, the former VP argued that "most of the folks payin' a mil in taxes just so happen to be owners of businesses, runnin' their dough back into their operations. Raisin' that top rate would be a gigantic hit on ol' Small Business USA."
"Let's keep the Trump-Pence tax cuts a permanent fixture, that's the way to set a growth course for the economy," Pence advised.
Why was Pence Honored by the Kennedy Family?
Pence, who recently received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award, gave Trump "all the credit in the world for hittin' it out of the park in '20, kept the country from another liberal Democrat disaster."
He also sung praise for Trump's work on securin' the southern border, boostin' recruitment in the military, and fightin' the Houthis.
But he warned that "[I truly believe that some of the steps the president is takin' away from the conservative agenda should be a concern that hurts his legacy and the success of our party or our country. We'll keep bein' a voice against 'em."
So there you have it—a self-proclaimed fiscal hawk "urin' and scatterin' in the same corner." We guess it's all part of the political dance. Keep your eyes on these players as the dance floor heating up.
- Mike Pence, a former Vice President, cautioned President Donald Trump and the Republican party against increasing taxes on the wealthy in 2025, with concerns that such a move could harm small businesses.
- Pence, while speaking to Digital, argued that maintaining the Trump-Pence tax cuts is important for setting a growth course for the economy, with most of the individuals paying million-dollar taxes being small business owners.
- Despite receiving recognition from the Kennedy family, Pence expressed concern about some of the steps President Trump is taking away from the conservative agenda, which he believes could potentially harm Trump's legacy and the success of the Republican party or the country.
- According to reports, President Trump has been pressuring House Speaker Mike Johnson to support tax hikes on the highest income earners as part of an overall budget reconciliation package, including raising the tax rate on those making $2.5 million or more.
- The political landscape is evolving as we approach 2025, with fiscal policy-and-legislation decisions and general political dynamics playing a crucial role in shaping the economic and political future of the United States.
