Peter Baker: I Don’t Think Trump Cares What’s in the Tax Bill As Long As He’s Able To Say He Has Big Tax Cuts

EXCERPT:

BAKER: “He’s not going to let senators' qualms get in the way of a final passage. And I think to your point, to Matt’s point, I don’t think he cares what’s in it. As long as he’s able to say he has big tax cuts, he does want to deliver on specific campaign promises, like eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, things he can — he can point to and say promises made, promises delivered, but beyond that, he has no problem if the senators want to fiddle around with it, as long as it doesn’t poison it in a way that means it can’t be passed, also, again in the House, once it returns there. I interviewed his chief tax policy person from the first administration a few years back about the original tax cut bill. He said Donald Trump had nothing to do with it. He had zero to do with any of the details. It was crafted entirely by the Hill. That’s what’s going to happen again here. But he is the hammer. He’s the guy you bring in at the end to say, 'Okay, enough fiddling around, just pass it.' And I imagine, at some point, they'll get to that same stage. Whether they can get it done by the 4th or not, you know, open question."