November 02, 2017 03:55 PM UTC

Gardner Won't Answer Question About Tax Cuts for Millionaires

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• by: Jason Salzman

(The man has never met a question he wouldn’t avoid — Promoted by Colorado Pols)

What will the Republican tax bill do for people who make $1 million or more? That’s turned into a contentious issue in recent weeks, as the GOP weighs the political liability that might result from lowering taxes on the super rich.

To his credit, KNUS radio host Dan Caplis, a Trump conservative, put the question to U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) yesterday.

Asked by Caplis (here at 9:35) if he supports cutting taxes “for earners of a $1 million or more per year net taxable income,” Gardner said he hasn’t yet decided on that aspect of the tax bill.

Gardner: Look, I’d like to see tax relief. I’d like to see us do the most powerful thing we can when it comes to policy to drive this economy, and I’m going to make my decisions on what I support based on that lens.”

Gardner said the U.S. Senate “will be putting its own bill forward, and still [the possible tax cut for top earners] is going to be one of those negotiated points.”

Gardner did not say if he’d be involved in the negotiations or whether he’d fight to reduce taxes on those making $1 million annually.

Gardner said he wasn’t sure if the final House bill would lower tax rates for super big earners, and it turns out that the bill, released today, kept the highest rate at 39.6 percent for individuals earning above $500,000 and couples earning over $1 million.

The Senate tax-reform bill is expected to be out as early as next week.