The White House is delaying the report of its tax reform panel until “after the holidays.” According to a blog posting by top economic adviser Austan Goolsbee, the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board is delaying the report so it can review new proposals for reform. However, the panel still plans to release only what board chairman Paul Volcker calls “an almanac” of reform ideas. It will not endorse specific proposals or make any recommendations. The report had been due on Friday.    more »
In a month, if White House officials are to be believed, the Obama Administration will unveil the tax reform report of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Despite once-high expectations, it is likely to be a waste of everyone’s time. The Board (the PERAB in Washington-speak) is hardly a bunch of economic lightweights. Chaired by ex-Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, its members include economist Marty Feldstein, GE CEO Jeff Immelt, venture capitalist John Doerr, former CEA chair Laura Tyson, and other stars of Wall Street, Main Street, academia, and labor. Its chief economist is Austan Goolsbee, a top-notch researcher who has had close ties to President Obama for years.    more »