Tennessee’s Senator Bob Corker has championed himself as a fiscal conservative, who has preached, preached, and preached the need for America to cut it’s deficit. He has repeatedly said he would oppose any tax bill “adding one penny to the deficit,” but now he appears to be ready to vote for a tax bill that adds close to $1.5 trillion to the nation’s deficit.
The bill, which was written almost entirely behind closed doors, uses hundreds of billions of dollars in gimmicks to provide new giant giveaways to millionaires and billionaires — including Corker personally — at middle-class Americans’ expense.
Corker, the lone Republican to vote against the original Senate bill, which didn’t include the provision, also admitted over the weekend he had not read the final tax bill he announced he will support. The bill was expected to be voted on Tuesday.
After weekend reports that Corker, a wealthy real estate developer, would benefit from tax treatment in the bill, the senator faced intense backlash and accusations, which he denied, that he traded his vote. Corker along with President Donald Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan and a handful of other GOP lawmakers who were directly involved with the tax bill, would be enriched by the new provision.
One top economist estimated by Corker could shave $1.1 million off his annual tax bill from the provision.
We in Northeast Tennessee have always championed Bob Corker. He has stood apart from most politicians in Washington. In recent weeks and months he has stood up to President Donald Trump.
Now, we wonder if Bob Corker is just another politician in Washington’s “swamp?”
Earlier, he announced he would not seek re-election to the Senate. Is his vote on the tax package his way of saying “thank you” to Tennessee for electing him to the Senate?
Is Senator Corker just one of many lawmakers in Washington who do not know what is in the bill? Is he just another lawmaker who is using his position to enrich himself before he leaves the Senate? If this is so, it is very disappointing to the voters of Tennessee.
Just because he is not seeking re-election does not mean that he no longer has to answer to Tennesseans. He will be remembered, but perhaps not in the way he wants to be.
Sen. Corker should stand by his pledge, by his beliefs and vote “no” on the tax bill. Which is more important? The extra money he stands to reap from the tax bill or his character?
Very few Americans know what is in the tax bill, because they have not seen a copy of it. They only know what they are being told. They are depending on their elected representatives in Washington to represent their best interests.
The tax bill is certainly confusing. Every Democratic lawmaker who is interviewed about the tax bill predicts very bad consequences. Yet, every Republican lawmaker praises the bill and predicts prosperity for everyone. They can’t both be right. Only time will tell.
The point is that any tax reform plan nearly always benefits some more than others. But the way to measure the success of tax reform is if businesses begin to invest and expand, both of which create jobs and grow the economy.
Here in Carter County and Elizabethton, we have yet to see a piece of the economic growth that most of the state has experienced. That is why next year’s election is important, not only locally, but in the choices for the governor’s office and who we elect to replace Bob Corker.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we were given good solid information based on we the people rather than how it will benefit the politicians and their quest to be elected again?
Elections have consequences.
Back to tax reform, if tax reform is that important to Corker and other senators, they should cool their heels, take a break and start over next year with a bill that every member of Congress can understand and explain to the public. And it should be done in the light of the day and debated openly.