Corker urges Trump to "stay out" of the tax reform process
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, says that President Trump is "taking things off the table" with regard to the Republicans tax plan process, saying that the president is risking a path to achieving successful reform.
"I would let the tax writing committees do their work, I think both the House and Senate has done a lot of preliminary work and stay out of taking things off the table and really negotiating against the process before it even begins," Corker advised Mr. Trump on "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday.
Corker said that Republicans are facing "4 trillion dollars worth of loopholes and credits" that "have to be closed" in order to successfully deliver the American people a more simplified tax code.
"If you keep taking things off the table in advance, you really don't have a path," he added.
"It's not religion to me which ones we close or don't close at least not at this point, but we need to leave everything on the table to be successful," Corker said of the loopholes. "I hope we're going to be successful, I hope we can create economic growth but I hope we do so without any way increasing the deficit which is the greatest threat to America right now."
Meanwhile, Corker responded to his ongoing spats with the president, who is expected to appear on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to advance his work on the tax plan.
"I guess like all Americans I would have hoped that he would rise to the occasion and bring out the best in our nation. Hopefully what presidents do is to try to bring the country together, unify around common goals and not to debase our country, if you will, and that has not happened. I'm beginning to believe it's not going to happen," said Corker.
He added, "it appears to be the governing model of this White House to purposefully divide."
Corker and Trump's discord has now gone on for weeks, with the president firing the first shots at the senator, claiming he had "begged" Mr. Trump for his endorsement. Corker's staff has since disputed those claims.
But Corker has said his retorts on Twitter, comparing the White House to an "adult day care center" and his scathing interview in the New York Times that followed, have been building for some time.
"I don't hold out a lot of hope, but I hope somehow a little bit different course of action can be taken," Corker told CBS.
Corker, who announced he would not be seeking re-election in 2018, said he told his constituents that he came to Capitol Hill on a "two-term mission."
"I couldn't imagine serving more so I've felt independence the entire time I've been in the Senate," Corker said. "I'm doing the best I can without, you know, trying to do so in a statesmen-like manner but I think this is shared by many Americans."
The president has since responded to Corker's comments Tuesday morning, tweeting that Corker "who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts."
The Senator then responded back, tweeting shortly after his remarks on "CBS This Morning", "same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDaycareStaff."
