Marc Short: Tax Reform Necessary for Economic Turnaround

Tax reform legislation is needed this year to continue turning around the nation's economy, White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short said Tuesday.

"It's begun to turn under the president's leadership," Short told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program. "We actually created 1.7 million jobs. Unemployment is the lowest it's been in 16 years. The economy only grew 1.8 percent in [President Barack] Obama's years, the lowest since the Great Depression for any president. We need to really boost it by making sure we provide tax relief to the American people and help keep jobs here in America. We need it done this year."

First, though, a budget must be passed, and Short said the Trump administration hopes Congress will complete the vote before the end of this week.

"Unfortunately, it looks like again this will be another partisan vote," said Short. "We hope that Democrats will partner with us. We believe it would have been better if they partner with us on repeal of Obamacare. We hope they will partner with us now on tax relief."

Short said the White House has been meeting with Senate moderates, such as Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and "we certainly need their support."

"I think Sen. Manchin has been working with us in good faith," said Short. "I have met with him several times. In fact, I met with him just last night, continuing to talk about ways we can partner on this. We hope that he will see that this will actually benefit companies in West Virginia, too, where they can help create jobs and keep more employees here in America."

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, remains a no vote on the budget, and Short said the White House hopes his vote can be turned around because it's needed.

"The budget is a pathway to tax relief," said Short, commenting that President Donald Trump and Paul have a good relationship.

"Rand is somebody who has always supported limited government," he added. "It's important we begin to provide more of the American people [a way] to keep their own money. It doesn't belong to the government, and Rand, I think, understands that."

• Republicans Brace to See If Trump-McConnell Truce Can Hold
• GOP Senators' Health a Challenge to Tax, Health Reforms