House Speaker Paul Ryan, noted Republican "policy wonk," got a plum spot on Fox News Thursday morning to answer charges that the tax cuts for the rich and big business would mean a tax hike for millions of middle-class Americans. He couldn't manage that even with a friendly audience. On the show, Steve Doocy asked Ryan: "Are 36 million Americans in the middle class gonna see a tax hike?"
Ryan started by saying "no," but when he was pressed to explain further, things went off the rails.
"36 million middle-class taxpayers are not getting a tax cut—middle-class tax—are not getting a tax increase," Ryan stammered, apparently confusing his talking points.
"Middle-income taxpayers are getting a—look, don't, just go to fairandsimple.gop, and by the way, let me just say it this way — if you’re a family, your first $12,000 today are tax free, under this plan, your first $24,000 are tax free, what that means is, nine out of 10 Americans will be able to fill out their taxes on a form the size of this postcard—that's radical simplification," he continued.
Don't ask him to actually provide an explanation of his math. He can't do it. Or maybe it's possible that Paul Ryan actually has a conscience that doesn't allow him to out and out lie on national television about the fact that his tax bill would raise taxes on roughly 36 million households over the next decade.
Probably not. He probably didn't expect Fox & Friends to actually ask him about how math works. We know from long experience he can't do that.
Jam your member of Congress's phone line at (202) 224-3121. Tell them to vote "no" on the Republican tax bill.