1600 Daily: Everything White House 12/12/17
Fixing immigration can’t wait
A little more than one month ago, a terrorist ran his truck into cyclists and pedestrians on a bike path in New York City, killing 8 and injuring at least 12 more.
A failed detonation yesterday thankfully kept another attempted terror attack in Manhattan from becoming a similarly tragic headline.
Yesterday’s near miss “once again highlights the urgent need for Congress to enact legislative reforms to protect the American people,” President Donald J. Trump said in a statement. He specifically cited enhanced arrest and detention authority for officers, tougher sentencing of convicted terrorists, and one area of particular alarm.
“Today’s terror suspect entered our country through extended-family chain migration, which is incompatible with national security,” the President said. “Congress must end chain migration.”
Read President Trump’s full statement on the attack.
‘This one will go down as especially special’
Today marks the beginning of the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah. The President and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed members of the Jewish community to the White House last week to wish them a blessed and happy holiday.
The First Family struck a personal note. “I am also proud that my beautiful grandchildren . . . have joined us tonight, right here as we celebrate with all of you the sacred traditions that they observe each year at home,” the President said. He also made passing reference to last week’s decision from the White House to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “The miracle of Hanukkah is the miracle of Israel,” he said.
“We wish you a very happy Hanukkah, and I think this one will go down as especially special,” the President said to applause.
The elephant in the room on tax reform: Growth
The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy (OTP) released an analysis yesterday that considers what will happen to federal revenue if the Senate Finance Committee’s version of tax reform becomes law.
Many on the left use static estimates of the economy—that is, estimates that assume no change in the status quo—to argue that tax reform will put a big hole in the federal budget. But OTP’s report underscores the real debate should be about how much we can help the economy grow. GDP growth of just under 3 percent, which is still below America’s post–World War II average, would make tax cuts revenue neutral.
Read Treasury’s one-page summary here.
Bonus: The Wall Street Journal says prospects for U.S. growth are the best they’ve been in years.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
President Donald J. Trump signs Space Policy Directive -1 | December 11, 2017 (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
POTUS TODAY
Today, President Trump will sign H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. Later, the President will meet with Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and United States Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty.
This afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence will deliver remarks to the Values Action Team at the U.S. Capitol and participate in the Senate Republican Policy Lunch.
COMING UP
Tomorrow, the President will deliver a major speech on tax reform.
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