Republicans are at a retreat today to come up with policies, er, ways to screw the American people over. And together with our Dear Leader Donald Trump, they have come up with a doozy of a plan to pay for Trump’s “beautiful wall” with Mexico. Trump wants 20% tax on imports from Mexico to pay for wall:
President Donald Trump has decided he will seek to pay for the wall on the US’s southern border by imposing a 20% tax on imports from Mexico and as part of a larger comprehensive tax reform plan, the White House said Thursday.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the comprehensive tax reform package Trump and Republicans are looking to put together will include taxing imports from other countries, like Mexico.
“By doing it that we can do $10 billion a year and easily pay for the wall just through that mechanism alone. That’s really going to provide the funding,” Spicer said, referring to a 20% tax. According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, Mexico’s exports to the US in 2015 was valued at $316.4 billion. The trade deficit is estimated to be $50 billion.
The USDA reports, Canada and Mexico are the two largest suppliers of U.S. agricultural imports: “Canada and Mexico remain the United States’ largest suppliers of agricultural products ($22.2 billion and $19.3 billion in 2013-15 respectively), mostly consumer-oriented goods such as horticultural products, red meats, and snack foods.”
This 20% tax on imports from Mexico is going to get passed along to American consumers and increase the cost of your family’s monthly grocery bill.
The cost of other consumer goods, such as autos and appliances manufactured in Mexico, will also get passed along to American consumers.
[The GOP plan] appears to be lodged in raising a massive import tax on goods exported from Mexico to the US — a tax that could cause the price of US consumer goods produced in Mexico to skyrocket.
Despite the controversial nature of the proposal, which is likely to be met by stiff opposition from business leaders in the US, Spicer said the proposal is one “we’ve been in close contact with both houses (of Congress) in moving forward and creating a plan.”
Spicer dodged reporters’ questions about the impact of the border tax on American consumers, instead stressing the tax’s benefits for American workers.
“I’m not going to get into it,” he added when pressed about businesses that manufacture goods in Mexico passing along the tax to American consumers.
So the American consumer in the end is going to pay for Trump’s “beautiful wall” with Mexico — beautiful! Thanks Tea-Publicans!
Speaking of Spicer, I just wrote a rap about him. I’m calling it “Old Spicer.” Feel free to share!
Old Spicer
Old Sean Spicer
you look kinda young
but those are old man lies
rollin’ offa your tongue
Your pants are on fire
but your heart is cold
gonna need some de-icer
if the truth be told
You musta sold your soul
for a fistful of quarters
better be a little nicer
to all the reporters
The whole world is watching
what you do and say
we won’t stop askin’ questions
we aren’t goin’ away.
Sometimes your lack of self awareness is almost laughable, AzBM. You condemn Trump and his plan to pay for the wall because it will raise prices for American consumers. Yet you vigorously defended the spiraling high cost of healthcare under the ACA, the penalties assessed on those who couldn’t afford the high cost, and the anticipated even higher costs that were expected. And you never have a problem with the idea of raising taxes/penalties/surcharges on the American people to pay for any boondoggle the democrats dream up in their fevered little minds. If Obama was building the Wall, you wouldn’t have a problem with the extra costs.
Everyone likes to pinch pennies on projects they dislike and use taxpayer money freely for projects they like. Also, to note, Obama had no plans to build a giant wall along the Mexican border.
I know Obama was not going to build a wall along the border. I was using that as an imaginary example for AzBM. And yes, I know we are all partisan and in favor of projects our side likes. AzBM and I have discussed this before. I just like to rattle his chain about it. ;o)
Steve,
20 million people became insured through the ACA. Lives were saved. In what insane world would you look at providing health care in the same way as building a wall as a means of fulfilling a grandstanding campaign promise made to a bunch of neanderthal haters?
I have no answer for that, Bob. Your point is well made and taken accordingly. Consider me chastised.