Politics

At The White House, A Celebration For Trump And Tax Reform

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Alex Pfeiffer White House Correspondent
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WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers gathered at the White House to celebrate the passage of tax reform and lavished President Donald Trump with praise.

“Mr. President, I have to say that you’re living up to every…everything I thought you would. You’re one heck of leader, and we’re all benefiting from it. This bill could not have passed with you,” Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch said at the White House’s south lawn. 

Sen. Hatch was one of several lawmakers who stood behind the presidential podium to thank President Trump for his leadership.

The president was in high spirits, and for good reason. The first major legislative accomplishment during his tenure had been accomplished.

The GOP tax bill will deliver permanent corporate tax cuts, temporary individual tax cuts (Republican lawmakers are confident they will not be allowed to expire), the doubling of the child tax credit, the end of Obamacare’s individual mandate and will allow drilling in Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuge.

“It seems like — it was a lot of fun. It’s always a lot of fun when you win,” Trump said about his work with House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to get tax reform done. “If you work hard and lose, that’s not acceptable.”