Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Republicans want to work with President Obama to find common ground on tax reform but declined to state a specific timeframe.
"We want to work with this administration to see if we can find common ground on certain aspects of tax reform and we want to exhaust that possibility," Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee, said Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press."
"And if and when that possibility is exhausted, then we will put out what we think ought to be done. So we fully intend on the Ways and Means Committee of showing what full, comprehensive tax reform for everybody, individuals and families alike, looks like. When? I don't know the answer to that. Because right now, we want to exhaust this possibility of seeing if we can find common ground with the administration," he added.
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Ryan said he is ready to work with President Obama to reform the entire tax code, rather than specific parts.
"If we can find common ground the answer is yes. Look, we've got to get this economy growing. Look, we've had such a stagnant economy. The slowest recovery since World War II. Middle income wages are stagnant. We've got to break out of this slog," he said.
Meet the Press Chuck Todd asked Ryan how he plans to accomplish tax reform given the influence of special interests on certain areas of the tax code.
"If we simply focus on slicing up the tax code and picking winners and losers based on what special interest group has the most clout in Washington, then we'll get more of the same," Ryan explained.
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