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Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist and The Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol on auto unions protesting Romney over his opposition to...
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High expectations for Mitt Romney's big tax policy speech today at Ford's field in Detroit.
But while the presidential candidates spoke auto union workers.
Protest it's still angry over Romney Scotch opposition to the federal bail out of the car companies back in 2000 innate.
Joining me now with some intelligent analysis Grover Norquist president.
Tax reform and Bill Kristol editor of the weekly standard welcome to both of you great to have you here bill let's start with you.
This was a fascinating event today you're really look like at face off between Romney has criticized unions and -- union members themselves.
Who want.
-- for Republican primary voters Mitt Romney objecting to bail -- -- trying to do is make sure bailouts are done responsibly.
He's in the right place -- -- he needs to make clear that he you know his policies will increase the number of auto workers in this country in May -- the unions.
But it's a very different from being a friend of the auto industry and a friend of auto workers and a friend of those who depend on the auto industry that's very different from catering to the -- unions.
But you know interestingly.
Romney's put out this that broad tax plan.
Fairly detailed at least on the tax cut side he proposed that proposes cutting 20% across the board here's Ronnie describing his tax cut plan.
I'm gonna make out across the board 20% reduction in marginal.
Individual income tax rates I'm gonna reduce the corporate tax rate.
To 25%.
From the current 35% I will repeal the alternative minimum tax and I -- abolish the death tax it's simply not fair.
These changes I will not allow to raise the deficit.
Stronger economic growth.
Spending cuts and broadening the base will offset the reductions.
So growth or did he go far and a.
-- to step in the right direction member he kind of had the weakest plan coming out.
Right I a year ago.
Rick Perry of Texas jumped way ahead of him without.
A 20%.
Flat rate income tax Newt Gingrich jumped ahead with fifteen.
He's sort of playing catch up here.
But he's moving very quickly in the right direction very close to where Paul Ryan's plan.
And the Republicans in the house and senate.
Are already sure he's shorter than that in the center of where the modern Republican Party has -- lower taxes.
-- lots of different plans out there obviously one of them from Obama.
Bill when you look at this.
I have to ask politically how is this going over I mean at the end of the day.
Do you think that the regular voters can really see the substantive differences between all these GOP candidates are.
Is it clear as mud for most people.
-- actually -- -- Grover says on tax policy and it out don't look that different from what is rather.
I'm Rick Santorum has a two tier plan if from -- mistake viewers 20% to -- -- they all wanna cut marginal tax rates.
I if I were they I would hammer home of what you -- at the top of the show.
Dave we've just had experiment in a country that's not that's it from us the United Kingdom no real life -- right.
David Cameron's doctor David Cameron -- -- raise the marginal tax rates.
-- -- now here whose whose sophisticated laughs at the Laffer Curve the Laffer Curve was right he raised the rate and we got and -- British government got less revenue.
And why doesn't I've Ira Mitt -- I don't know if you I don't think you -- in today's speeches and over what percent -- -- -- in his -- speech but there's a -- case study that.
Cutting -- it marginally individual marshaling the tax rates that might reduce might -- more revenue and certainly raising them creates less revenue.
-- what do you say about that I mean -- that's really astonishing and a number super clear just raising tax rates doesn't mean that the federal government gets more income.
Well -- Obama's plan he was talking about cutting the corporate income tax rate while actually increasing.
Taxes businesses pay by over a quarter of a trillion dollars but on the individual side he wants to take the top rate from 35.
Almost up to 45%.
In the next year.
So that 10% increase that Britain imposed that lost money that's Obama's plan here for America.
I'm good point good way to look at it.
I wanna talk about Obama for -- second that he made some points about Michigan in a recent -- bill -- -- -- comment on this.
-- a million jobs were on the line.
Every Republican candidate turned their back.
Even said let Detroit go bankrupt.
-- retool restructured industry is back.
Because of the great and sacrifice.
Of Michigan workers.
Still -- I what do you make of that I mean come on right -- It if I get a big bailout from the federal government I'm gonna be a big -- successful company to right.
Well -- this is where Republicans need to avoid.
They lose if they played a kind of tit for tat game with Democrats and how promised Republicans -- -- -- given away a ton of money Republicans can't -- -- -- -- have way more money they have to say this is a crazy way to run a government this crony capitalism it ultimately hurts all of us.
Why has he been out of that like President Obama hasn't yet Detroit has gone bankrupt who's governed Detroit for the last forty years why is Detroit a seriously why -- -- bankrupt.
Detroit is a case study in terrible liberal governance in bad union policy.
And in big government failure so and that's the point Republicans need to make.
And at the end of the day -- we bailed them not.
We picked up the tab that's the thing that drives me over the edge you're successful -- free -- what about me.
Well of course the money that organized labor the labor unions wanted to.
That cash had they gone through restructuring -- Romney and other people recommended.
The jobs would still be there the work would still be there they'd actually I think have a brighter future than they do and tax -- -- -- with lot higher taxes to pay for this and debt from now till eternity.
I don't know that they'll ever be made whole right it would have been nice if Obama is out of said something nice about the people's pockets she'd expect to pay for that.
And then that well the good news here Grover and bill are sticking around for another.
