Odds For Tax Reform 50-50, Boehner Says

OXON HILL, Md. – Tax reform is a last-gasp chance for Republicans to retake their agenda, former House Speaker John Boehner said today.

And perhaps even avoid losing power.

“If they get tax reform done, they’ve got a fighting chance to hold on to the majority,” said Boehner, senior strategic advisor with the Washington lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs.

His own odds for successful tax reform legislation jumped from a one-in-four chance to “fifty-fifty” in recent months, he said.

“They have to get a win,” Boehner said. “They are so desperate to get anything done, it’ll push the members.”

Boehner’s question-and-answer session with LIMRA CEO Robert Kerzner closed the association’s 2017 Annual Conference.

Yes, He Cried

The 67-year-old Boehner joked, told stories, and railed against the right-wing Republican “knuckleheads” who wrecked his agenda as House speaker.

He even cried.

The famously teary Boehner choked up recalling the events that led up to his September 2015 resignation. Pope Francis addressed a joint session of Congress that month, fulfilling a career dream of Boehner’s.

The emotional visit culminated with a private visit with the pope that included Boehner’s first grandchild. The famously fractious Congress were happy and united – for one day, recalled Boehner, adding that he had planned to depart Congress at the end of 2015.

“I thought ‘It’s not going to get any better than it was here today. I’m outta here,’” he quipped.

Since leaving office, Boehner periodically weighs in on the difficulties Congress continues to have getting things done.

After fumbling chances to repeal the Affordable Care Act and failing to move an infrastructure bill, tax reform is a huge deal.

It’s highly improbable the Republicans can get anything close to the tax-change package they seek, Boehner said. For example, cutting the corporate tax rate to 20 percent is dubious, he said.

“There’s just not enough revenue from other sources to do the things that they want to do,” he said. “They may get to 22.5 (percent), but I think that’s about as far as they can go. At some point, somebody has got to pay taxes.”

Boehner has been a sharp critic of Trump since he left office, calling the administration "a complete disaster" in May.

Trump is “not a Republican” and “not a Democrat,” Boehner said. “He’s a populist.”

He’s also a friend, golf partner and past donor to Boehner’s campaigns. The former speaker voted for Trump, but told the real estate baron that he wasn’t one of his top three choices.

Trump's tweeting is a problem that overshadows everything else, Boehner said.

“I’ve tried to talk to him, but it’s hard to talk to someone who doesn’t have any ears,” he joked. “This is the most unusual president that we’ve ever had.”

'All They Want is Chaos'

Boehner served as the 53rd Speaker of the House from 2011 to 2015. He stunned the Beltway by suddenly resigning amid persistent backbiting from more conservative elements of the House.

Boehner has not buried that hatchet. Those members of the House Freedom Caucus are like “anarchists,” he said. “All they want is chaos."

“I don’t know why they’re there,” he said. “All they do is vote no. If all you do is vote no, you’re not responsible for anything.”

Boehner shared some additional thoughts on politicians he served with through the years:

President Barack Obama: “He’s a dyed-in-the-wool lefty and he hadn’t spent a whole lot of time in Washington. He didn’t really understand the process very well (at first).”

Still, Boehner and Obama ended up in a strong working relationship on several key issues. Notably, on the debt ceiling deal of 2011.

Obama was the second person to call Boehner following his resignation news.

“He said, ‘Boehner, man I’m going to miss you.’ And I said ‘Mr. President, yes you are,’” Boehner recalled. “I had a good relationship with him.”

President George W. Bush: “He’s a smart guy, a driven guy and I watched him take all kinds of political hits because he decided he was going to do what was best for the country every day regardless,” Boehner said.

“And he had some tough days, some really tough days.”

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.: “I always thought he had a face for radio,” Boehner joked.

A former amateur boxer, Reid walked into too many punches, he added. Still, they worked together on bipartisan legislation with a mutual respect too often lacking in Congress today.

“When you cut a deal with Harry Reid, it was a deal,” Boehner said. “We’re still close friends today, even though we don’t agree on a whole lot.”

InsuranceNewsNet Senior Editor John Hilton has covered business and other beats in more than 20 years of daily journalism. John may be reached at john.hilton@innfeedback.com. Follow him on Twitter @INNJohnH.

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