Let Trump tax cuts expire to trim deficits

The 2017 tax cuts that President Trump pushed through Congress are set to expire in December.

Trump wants Congress to renew them. If they are renewed into 2026 and even beyond, middle class taxpayers will benefit a little and wealthy folks will benefit a lot. The federal government will continue to run ever-increasing annual deficits and the national debt will soar.

Or Congress could allow the 2017 tax cuts to expire. Taxes would return to what they were doing the Obama administration. The 2026 and 2027 annual government deficits would be lower and the nation’s debt would grow less. Good, right?

James A. Stegenga

Everett

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, April 29

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

County Council members Jared Mead, left, and Nate Nehring speak to students on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, during Civic Education Day at the Snohomish County Campus in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Editorial: Students get a life lesson in building bridges

Two county officials’ civics campaign is showing the possibilities of discourse and government.

Comment: What’s harming science is a failure to communicate

Scientists need better public engagement to show the broader impact and value of their work.

Dowd: Instead of leaders we get Trump’s vicious sewing circle

Women were once deemed unfit for office as too emotional. Trump’s Cabinet is stocked with Real Housewives.

Saunders: Even supporters nervous about Trump’s tariff gambit

Trump’s tough talk worked with NATO, but so far he has little to show from tariff’s economic havoc.

Comment: War on ‘woke’ could end up killing U.S. innovation

‘Elite’ universities aren’t without fault, but starving research is eroding American competitiveness.

Comment: Has Trump learned from his ‘hot stove’ moment?

Mark Twain said a cat won’t sit twice on a hot stove. Trump may have learned the same lesson about the Fed.

FILE - This Feb. 6, 2015, file photo, shows a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine on a countertop at a pediatrics clinic in Greenbrae, Calif. Washington state lawmakers voted Tuesday, April 23, 2019 to remove parents' ability to claim a personal or philosophical exemption from vaccinating their children for measles, although medical and religious exemptions will remain. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
Editorial: Commonsense best shot at avoiding measles epidemic

Without vaccination, misinformation, hesitancy and disease could combine for a deadly epidemic.

Local artist Gabrielle Abbott with her mural "Grateful Steward" at South Lynnwood Park on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 in Lynnwood, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Earth Day calls for trust in act of planting trees

Even amid others’ actions to claw back past work and progress, there’s hope to fight climate change.

Snohomish County Elections employees check signatures on ballots on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 in Everett , Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Trump order, SAVE Act do not serve voters

Trump’s and Congress’ meddling in election law will disenfranchise voters and complicate elections.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Monday, April 28

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Musk doesn’t understand what Lincoln knew

That government should do the things that individuals and markets can’t or won’t do. That’s not waste, fraud or abuse.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.