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Davidson was selected to serve the remainder of former U.S. Speaker John Boehner’s term last June. In November, Davidson — a former Army Ranger and businessman — won an election to serve a full term in Ohio’s 8th Congressional District. He represents portions of six counties in Southwest Ohio, including Clark County.
Since entering office, Davidson has worked with other leaders to reform multiple areas, he said, including tax codes. The plan he supports can be found at better.gop and featured lots of initial collaboration, Davidson said.
“It’s a good playbook,” he said. “Fundamentally, there’s a plan. That’s a good thing.”
However after President Donald Trump was elected, collaboration on issues — including health care — wasn’t as deep as people thought it was, Davidson said.
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Some are concerned that proposed tax code reform could fall apart as efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare did earlier this year, he said.
“We can’t mess up tax,” Davidson said. “We’ve got to get that done.”
Calls to Clark County Democratic Party Chairman Dave Hartley and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, weren’t immediately returned Thursday afternoon.
The founding fathers didn’t create the U.S. government to elect a king, Davidson said, but rather a constitutional republic. The success of the country moving forward must go back to the government those leaders created, he said.
“Congress makes the laws,” Davidson said. “Maybe we make few laws because it’s hard to get consensus but if we get the right ones, the country can move forward together.”
Congress will find a way to reform tax codes, Davidson said.
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“I mean big, bold, permanent — none of these gimmicks, I hope, that in the 10th, 11th or 12th year it goes away,” Davidson said. “We can’t do that. It’s got to be big, bold and permanent.”
The corporate tax code is crippling the economy, he contended. The United States scored near the bottom of 39 developed countries, Davidson said. Under the GOP blueprint, it would be in the top two or three, he said.
“We’re not going to be able to pull that off because the collaboration was artificial and not deep enough,” Davidson said.
The trillions of dollars held by American companies in off-shore accounts could be used to make infrastructure improvements, he said.
He hopes there’s collaboration moving forward with Democrats on both health care and tax reform, he said.
“There’s a lot of things we have to do, and it’s just time for deeds and not words,” Davidson said.
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