>>> OUR FRAMEWORK INCLUDES OUR EXPLICIT COMMITMENT THAT TAX
REFORM WILL PROTECT LOW INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME HOUSE HOLD,
NOT THE WEALTHY, AND WELL CONNECTED.
THEY CAN CALL ME ALL THEY WANT. IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP.
I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ME, BELIEVE
ME. >> WITH US NOW FROM CAPITOL
HILL, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS, MARK MEADOWS.
CONGRESSMAN, GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY ONE THING HERE.
THE TOP RATE RIGHT NOW FOR INDIVIDUAL EARNERS IS 39%.
DOES THAT STAY AT 39% OR DROP TO 35%?
>> JOE, WE DISCUSSED THAT VERY THING YESTERDAY.
I THINK THERE'S A REAL PUSH BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO KEEP THAT
TOP RATE WHERE IT IS. AND NOT BRING IT DOWN.
I KNOW IN THE FRAMEWORK IT TALKED ABOUT 35%.
I THINK THOSE DECISIONS WILL PROBABLY BE MADE IN THE COMING
DAYS AS WE LOOK AT THAT TOP BRACKET.
>> JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF IT.
IT WAS AT 35%. BARACK OBAMA GOT IT PUSHED UP TO
39%. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THE 39% IS THE OBAMA TAX RATE YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT TO DO WITH? >> AND JOE, AS YOU KNOW, YOU'VE
BEEN HERE ON CAPITOL HILL. YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES BACK AND
FORTH, THE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT SHARING ANYTHING IN TERMS OF
PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT, I DID WITNESS ON THIS
VERY THING, HE IS VERY FIRM ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE RICH
DON'T GET A BREAK AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HARDWORKING AMERICAN
TAXPAYER. AS WE LOOK AT THE TOP TAX
BRACKET, WE'LL ADDRESS IT AND IT COULD STAY IN PLACE.
>> LET'S MOVE ONTO I WOULD SAY VERY GOOD, BUT FOR THE FACT I
LIVE IN CONNECTICUT AND PAY 55% TAX RATE.
>> HOLD ON. THIS IS BREAKING NEWS.
THIS IS JOE SAYING WE NEED TO GIVE A BREAK FOR THE 1%?
>> I'M NOT SAYING THAT AT ALL. I'M JUST SAYING, I PAY 55%.
TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT. >> I THINK IT NEEDS TO COME DOWN
FOR EVERYBODY.
AGREE. >> I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO J PROBABLY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD
TO PAY THAT 55%. >> WELL SAID.
>> THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT, OBVIOUSLY, AS CONSERVATIVES, AND
THAT AT LEAST I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT, AND I'M SURE
YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. THERE'S ALWAYS A BALANCE.
WE WANT TO LOWER THE TAX RATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT PEOPLE
KEEP AS MUCH OF THEIR MONEY THAT THEY EARNED AS POSSIBLE.
BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, ALWAYS HAS TO BE A CONCERN ABOUT
THE DEFICIT. AND THE NATIONAL DEBT THAT'S
GONE FROM 4 TRILLION UNDER CLINTON TO 11 TRILLION UNDER
BUSH TO 20 TRILLION UNDER OBAMA. NOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE 30,
35 TRILLION UNDER DONALD TRUMP. HOW DO YOU CUT TAXES WITHOUT
BLOWING A HOLE IN THE DEFICIT? >> OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THE
DISCUSSION OF THE DAY. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
>> IT COMES DOWN TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE DEFICIT.
ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT MANY OF THE CONSERVATIVES ESPOUSE TO
IS AS YOU LOWER THAT RATE, WHAT YOU GET IS ACTUALLY GREATER
ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND THAT GPD WILL MAKE UP FOR MUCH OF THE
DEFICIT. YOU MAY GET A DEFICIT IN THE
SHORT RUN, BUT YOU CAN MAKE A COMPELLING CASE THAT OVER THE
NEXT 15 YEARS IF WE'RE AGGRESSIVE AND BOLD ON REDUCING
THESE TAX RATES NOT ONLY FOR INDIVIDUALS BUT FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND CORPORATIONS, THAT WHAT YOU CAN DO AS LONG AS
YOU DON'T GROW THE GOVERNMENT ALONG IT.
OUT OF THIS DEFICIT OR. 1.8.
3% OR BETTER. I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHAT THE
PRESIDENT'S PLAN IS ALL ABOUT. AND WE ARE CERTAINLY EMBRACING
IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY, AS YOU KNOW. WE TOOK AN OFFICIAL POSITION
YESTERDAY TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET TO START THIS PROCESS IN
EARNEST. >> CONGRESSMAN MMEADOWS, THE
OTHER BALANCE IS BETWEEN TRYING TO GET THIS DONE QUICKLY, AND I
FOR REPUBLICANS TO DEMONSTRATE SOME PROGRESSTHON ISSUE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S ALSO A COMMITMENT TO RUNNING AN OPEN
PROCESS, A FORMAL PROCESS WHERE YOU COULD BILL SOME BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT. HOW DO YOU STRIKE THAT BALANCE
APPROPRIATELY AND WHAT IS A FAIR TIMELINE -- WHAT DO YOU THINK IS
THE IDEAL TIMELINE FOR STRIKING THAT BALANCE.
>> JOSH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ON THAT SIDE OF THE DESK INSTEAD OF
ON THIS SIDE BUT AS WE LOOK AT THAT, THAT BALANCE IS HOPEFULLY
BEEN TAKING PLACE OVER THE NINE MONTHS IN TERMS OF TRYING TO
WORK AND GET SOME INPUT BUT IN TERMS OF THE BIPARTISAN SIDE OF
THAT, I THINK WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ON
THE HOUSE SIDE OVER THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS SOME REAL BACK AND
FORTH. THERE ALREADY HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSIONS I KNOW BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND KEY SENATORS
AND HOUSE MEMBERS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO TRY TO PUT IT
TOGETHER BUT WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW ARE FED UP WITH EXCUSES.
THEY WANT US TO ACTUALLY DELIVER AND PUT SOMETHING ON THE
PRESIDENT'S DESK AND TAX CUTS IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE A D
OR AN R BEHIND IT AND UNAFFILIATED VOTERS LIKE IT JUST
AS WELL WHEN YOU PUT MORE OF THEIR MONEY BACK IN THEIR
POCKET. WE'VE GOT TO DO IT.
WE HAVE A TIME LINE OF HOPEFULLY HAVING SOMETHING ON THE
PRESIDENT'S DESK BY THANKSGIVING BUT CERTAINLY NO LATER THAN THE
END OF THE YEAR. >> IT'S WILLIE GEIST.
THERE WAS A RACE IN ALABAMA SETTLED ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF YOU THINK THAT ROY MOORE SHOULD HE WIN THE
GENERAL ELECTION WOULD BE A GOOD ADDITION TO THE CONGRESS?
>> I THINK THE ALABAMA VOTER IS THE ONE WHO DECIDES THAT.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAD A PERSONAL CHOICE IN THAT BRINGING FORTH
JUDGE ROY MOORE BUT THAT WAS MORE AN INDICATION OF THE
FRUSTRATION THAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT WITH JOSH.
THERE'S A FRUSTRATION OF SAID, GET SOMETHING DONE AND SO THAT
OVERWHELMING VICTORY FOR JUDGE ROY MOORE WAS MORE A PUSHBACK
AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL AND THE FACT THAT THEY FAILED ON A
NUMBER OF CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO DELIVER SOMETHING TO THE
PRESIDENT'S DESK AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THAT HE'LL MAKE A GOOD
SENATOR. I DO BELIEVE THAT HE'LL WIN IN
DECEMBER AND ULTIMATELY THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA WILL HAVE A
VOICE HERE ON CAPITOL HILL. WE NEED TO TURN CAPITOL HILL
BACK TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER AND THAT'S WE, THE PEOPLE, AND SADLY
SO MANY TIMES MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE FORGET THAT.
>> YOU SAY HE'LL BE A GOOD SENATOR, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE
WITH SOME OF THE VIEWS HE'S ESPOUSED AS RECENTLY ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BIRTHPLACE, HIS VIEWS ON
MUSLIM AND HOMOSEXUALITY? >> THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT
GET SAID ABOUT DIFFERENT CANDIDATES.
I HAVE TO WORRY HARD ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT I SAID VERSUS ANYBODY
ELSE SAYING IT. WHEN WE LOOK AT A LITMUS TEST
FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY TEST OR RELEVANT JUST TEST FOR ANYTHING
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. WE DIFFER ON SOME OF OUR VIEWS
ON SOME OF THOSE KEY ELEMENTS. REALLY THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SENATE THAT
REPRESENTS THEIR VIEW AND WILLING TO -- JUDGE ROY MOORE IS
ONE OF THOSE WILLING TO DO THAT, HE'S SHOWN THAT OVER AND OVER.
>> YOU'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM IN THE SENATE?
>> YES, WILLIE. >> I WANT TO FINISH WHERE I
BEGAN WITH YOU, SO LIKE I SAID I'M A LUCKY GUY.
IF I DON'T WANT TO PAY 55% IN TAXES, I CAN -- I CAN MOVE TO
FLORIDA, I CAN DO THE SHOW FROM FLORIDA, I CAN DO WHATEVER.
>> IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME, JOE. COME ON NOW.
>> IT WOULD BE A LOT WARMER AND CHEAPER BECAUSE I'D BE PAYING
35% OR 39% TAXES. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE STUCK IN STATES LIKE CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, NEW YORK
STATE, CALIFORNIA. >> NEW JERSEY.
>> THAT ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT WORK THEIR TAILS OFF
AND THEY LITERALLY HAVE TO WORK FOR OVER HALF THE YEAR TO PAY
BACK THE GOVERNMENT ON ALL LEVELS FOR, YOU KNOW, TAXES,
FEES -- YOU ADD IT ALL UP. >> RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> HOW DOES THIS BILL HELP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN THOSE BLUE
STATES BECAUSE ALL WE'VE HEARD IS BAD NEWS, WHICH IS THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEDUCT THEIR STATE INCOME TAXES.
SO THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS UNLIKE ME JUST CAN'T UP AND HOF.
THEY'RE STUCK THERE WITH THEIR BUSINESS.
HOW DOES THIS BILL HELP BRING DOWN THEIR TAX BILL?
>> WELL, JOE, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED BECAUSE I WAS A SMALL BUSINESS
GUY BEFORE I GOT HERE AND WE HAVE BEEN MY OPTICALLY FOCUSED
FOR WHAT WE DO FOR JUST THOSE PEOPLE.
PART OF THIS FRAMEWORK THAT WAS ROLLED OUT YESTERDAY HAD TWO KEY
COMPONENTS. IT MADE SURE THAT WE LOWERED
FROM THAT 39.5% RATE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DOWN TO NO
GREATER THAN 25%. SO A HUGE TAX DEDUCTION.
THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS WE GOT RID OF THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM
TAX. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS BUT IT
BASICALLY SAYS YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO PAY THE HIGHER TAX.
SO THOSE TWO THINGS ALONE WILL TU -- SHOULD BE UNBELIEVABLY
GOOD NEWS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS GUY WHETHER THEY'RE IN
CONNECTICUT OR WHETHER THEY'RE IN NORTH CAROLINA OR IN
CALIFORNIA OR IN BETWEEN. >> ALL RIGHT, CONGRESSMAN MARK
MEADOWS GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. >> CONNECTICUT COULD ACTUALLY
HELP MATTERS BY BEING MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.