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Politics & Government

Congress Must Now Cut Taxes and Regulations plus Trump Tariff Insights

Kevin Roberts-Richard Stern say how Trump-Congress Can Insure U.S.A. is no longer "looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered" by other nations.

L. A. "Tony" Kovach's profile picture
L. A. "Tony" Kovach, Neighbor
Credits on left to AI powered Copilot and Gemini. Text and collage credits to this writer for MHProNews and this Patch.
Credits on left to AI powered Copilot and Gemini. Text and collage credits to this writer for MHProNews and this Patch.

From the Daily Signal to this writer for MHProNews is their article in Part I as part of this installment of the "Reality Check" series for this Patch. More in Part II.


Part I

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Commentary
Trump’s Tariffs Are Only the Start. Congress Must Now Cut Taxes and Regulations.

Kevin Roberts | Richard Stern | April 11, 2025

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President Donald Trump announced historic tariffs on April 2—“Liberation Day”—to ensure that America is no longer “looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered” by other nations.

On Wednesday, the president announced a 90-day pause on the tariffs and lowered the tariff rate on most nations to 10%. He also raised tariffs on China to 125%.

His bold leadership, which quickly brought 75 countries to the negotiating table, he said, should be applauded. Clearly, his strategy is working: America is gaining leverage, and China is becoming more and more isolated.

While conservatives have been divided and disorganized about how to respond to the president’s policy, with almost all Republicans in Washington still watching from the sidelines, we’re calling on Americans to unify around a “yes, and” agenda.

That means saying yes to strategic, reciprocal tariffs that target China and other trade abusers—based on their barriers, not simply the balance of trade—as we work toward true free and fair trade.

And it means insisting that tariffs are most effective when paired with a broad array of conservative policies that alleviate economic pain on the American people. While Trump works to liberate us from foreign abuses, congressional Republicans must fight to liberate Americans from the burdens of federal regulations, mandates, and taxes.

Republicans Must Make Tax Cuts Permanent

First, we must not settle for extending the status quo on tax relief. Thanks to the majorities Trump delivered in November, Republicans must pursue deeper tax reform through reconciliation. Every penny raised from tariffs should be offset with pro-growth tax cuts.

Making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent is a good start, but we also must remove every remaining tax penalty on expanding hiring and business operations in America by adopting full and immediate expensing for all investments.

Pairing this with a simplified flat tax for all is even better. Congress should collapse the personal income and corporate tax rates to 15%.

Second, Congress should work alongside the Trump administration, using the reconciliation process, to transform the current 10% universal tariff into a true border-adjusted tariff. That means applying a universal 10% tariff on all imports, while granting a matching 10% credit to all American exports.
That isn’t just smart policy—it’s a long-overdue correction to a global tax system that has punished American industry for decades.

We’ve let foreign goods pour into our markets tax-free, while our manufacturers are taxed at home and slapped again abroad. That’s not free trade—it’s economic surrender. And no country has abused this broken system more brazenly than China, which has cheated on trade, exploited our openness, and gutted the U.S. industry while Washington looked the other way.

If we want to rebuild our economy, secure our supply chains, and end our dependence on adversarial regimes, then a border adjustment tariff must be part of the conservative economic playbook.

As a bonus, these revenues can be used to offset lost revenue from the lower tax rates we are calling for.

Congress Must Cut Federal Spending

Third, Republicans must finally get serious about cutting spending—not with half measures or messaging bills, but with real, structural reform.

Through reconciliation, Congress should significantly cut mandatory spending riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse.

Now is not the time to settle for the lowest common denominator, which is always a temptation in politics. If we are to undo the fiscal and inflationary damage done by the previous administration and decades of fiscal irresponsibility, we must go big and take advantage of this historic electoral mandate.

Then, through the appropriations process, we must slash the bloated discretionary budget that fuels the unchecked growth of the federal bureaucracy.

In the meantime, the Department of Government Efficiency must be fully unleashed to do its job—scrutinizing every dollar, rooting out inefficiency, and holding agencies accountable. This is how we restore fiscal integrity and prove to the American people that their government works for them, not the other way around.

Businesses Need Deregulation

Fourth, American enterprise must be unleashed through sweeping deregulation. For too long, unelected bureaucrats have imposed crushing rules that stifle innovation, punish small businesses, and expand government control far beyond its proper bounds.

It’s time for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority, starting by empowering lawmakers to roll back legacy regulations that have accumulated over decades of executive overreach by passing the REINS Act and the Sunset Act.

At the same time, the administration should lead a coordinated effort—through executive orders and agency rulemaking—to dismantle the regulatory state piece by piece.

Fifth, permitting reform is long overdue, and it’s time we treat it like the national priority it is. For decades, radical environmentalists and bloated bureaucracies have used red tape to delay, derail, and destroy American energy and infrastructure projects. The result? Higher costs, energy dependence, and missed opportunities for American workers.

We need to streamline the permitting process from top to bottom—cut timelines, eliminate duplicative reviews, and ensure projects get approved on merit, not political ideology. If we’re serious about unleashing American energy, rebuilding our industrial base, and securing true energy independence, then Congress must act—the administration must lead—with bold, unapologetic reform.

In Washington, conservatives talk a lot about policies, but policies are not ends in themselves. They’re tools to achieve a certain end—the flourishing of the American people. Americans care about policy only insofar as it influences how they can purchase a home, build strong families, raise their children in safe communities, and live lives rooted in faith, purpose, and freedom.

For too long, America’s strength has been undermined by a bipartisan failure to defend our own economic foundation. Congress and previous presidents ran up our debt, piled up regulations, outsourced our manufacturing base, surrendered our supply chains, and signed trade deals that ignored Chinese cheating.

All of this served government bureaucrats, but not the American family. The result? Hollowed-out towns, lost jobs, and a working class forced to pay the price for decisions made in Washington and on Wall Street.

This result wasn’t inevitable—it was a choice. And it’s time we choose differently. It’s time to put American industry, families, and sovereignty back at the center of our national agenda.

As conservatives, we’re not just fighting for policies—we’re fighting for the American way of life. A way of life rooted in personal responsibility, bound by opportunity, and defined by human dignity. Every policy we advance—whether it’s tax reform, deregulation, tariffs, or border security—must serve that higher purpose: to strengthen families, empower communities, and preserve the blessings of liberty for the next generation.

Originally published by USA Today

Part II

1) According to the Daily Signal.

Kevin Roberts, Ph.D., is president of The Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America and the author of Dawn’s Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America.

Richard Stern is director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation.

2) Kevin Roberts may not (yet) be a household name, but he is well known among those, for example, who follow Tucker Carlson.

3) Roberts all but predicted that Fox News would can Carlson.

4)

5) MHProNews has reported on Roberts several times. One of the more significant reports is one linked below. Roberts predicted a year in advance that Trump would win in 2024. He told the 'globalists' at the World Economic Forum (WEF) face-to-face in Davos what a Trump 2nd term may look like. Roberts called the "hypocritical" billionaires and other 'elites' out on several points.

https://www.manufacturedhomepr...

6) While the report linked below is mostly not about affordable housing and manufactured homes, that is in the backdrop and wrap up of the article linked below. The broader principles of Roberts' and Stern's insights are supported by an array of evidence that applies to many professions and to most Americans. An array of insights that include Warren Buffett's and Citi research remarks on the "class warfare" against the working class, middle class, and retires are included that reveal that America shifted to plutonomy.

https://www.manufacturedhomepr...

7) Other topics follow. Thanks as always for checking in for your latest dose of "Reality" in this ongoing series of articles for this Patch.

https://patch.com/florida/lake...

https://www.manufacturedhomepr...

Mark Weiss, JD-“The Good, The Bad And The Ugly” in Affordable Housing

Mark Weiss, J.D., is President/CEO of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) on MHI, HUD, and MH Industry Woes

Is Decline in Christianity in U.S. Over? Pew Research Suggests It Is

Numbers of Those Praying and Attending Religious Services or Mass Have Stabilized According to Recent Findings Including a Big New Pew Study

ESG Ruling Puts New Pressure on Public Pension Funds and BlackRock

Trump Team Secures Southwest Land Border-Lowest Encounters Since 2000

Real Reason Behind Left’s Freak-Out About the Department of Education?

Is There a Recession Ahead? John Carney's Fact-Packed Insight & Answer

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Americans Mostly Support Trump On Deportation vs Activists Fighting it

Manzanita Miller unpacks new survey insight most 'Americans Side With Trump On Deportation—Not w/Activists Fighting For Illegals and Gangs.'

Lakeland Study Test Frank Rolfe Claim "Mobile Homes" Lower Prop Values

Hybrid Expert Human Study Combined with Multiple AI Powered Fact Checks plus 3rd Party Research Expose Disputed Claims in Critical Reporting

Manzanita Miller-Trump Tax Cut Helped Middle Class-Extension Welcomed

According to Manzanita Miller, the "Trump’s Tax Cuts Benefited The Middle-Class And That Is Why Extending Them Is Wildly Popular" LATK FEA--

New Manufactured Home Production Trend UP But Research Raises Concerns

Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) Released Jan 2025 data that reflects continued improvements since 2023 but...

VP Vance-Illegal Immigrants Squeeze U.S. Citizens from Home Ownership

Bill Wilson - "A Mistake From The Past That Can Be Avoided"

GROK Affordable Housing Crisis Thesis-‘This Ain’t Theory—it’s a Heist’

Fact Checks by Grok-Copilot-Gemini Point to Problems at Manufactured Housing Institute that help Explain 21st Century Manufactured Home Sales

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Is Decline in Christianity in U.S. Over? Pew Research Suggests It Is

Numbers of Those Praying and Attending Religious Services or Mass Have Stabilized According to Recent Findings Including a Big New Pew Study

Feb 2025 sees Lowest Number of Border Crossings in Modern USA History

HUD Sec Scott Turner Tension with HUD Research v Local Zoning Barriers

GROK reports on "Most Comprehensive" article on Sec Turner's recent remarks to WMAL, CPAC, and on challenges to solve affordable housing.

Dems Fretting Over Billionaires Are on Billionaire Dole for Years

Audrey Streb-for DCNF and via Daily Signal: Democratic Officials that Criticized Wealthy Despite Taking Funding from Billionaires (Ouch!)

Rob Romano-Who Controls Foreign Policy? President Or District Courts?

'Sexual Deviants' in Federal Service to be Fired-per DNI Tulsi Gabbard

More on those and other topics in this eclectic "Reality Check" series here on this Patch.

Big Majority Approve DOGE-Plus Political Cartoons to Muse and Amuse

THE Reality Check-All of Us Have Been Manipulated & Lied to-E. Nickson

Dan Bongino to FBI - 'We’re About to See it All. It’s All Coming Out.'

Larry Elder on 'Supercharging the U.S. Economy' Using a Proven Method

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Democrats and GOP both 'Underwater' in New Poll-But Guess Which Leads?

By the Numbers - Evidence of Discrimination Against Believers in God

Employees! It is ‘Not Free Market Capitalism It’s Corporate Feudalism’

HUD Sec Turner-'Corporate Takeover of Housing—A Manufactured Crisis'

'Trump Is Leading a Historic Counterrevolution Against the Deep State'

Federal Racket-Follow the Money-Tammany Hall 2.0 and Big U.S. Media

U.S. Manufactured Home Industry Production 2024 Total Up per MHARR

(Note MHARR is short for the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform.)

‘Endemic Mismanagement of HUD Manufactured Housing Program’ Nom Turner

'Restoring and Expanding Affordable Housing Role of Manufactured Homes'–MHARR Letter Cites 2000 Reform Act, "Enhanced Preemption" Much More

Scott Turner Confirmed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development-Official HUD+Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) News Releases; Manufactured Home Generational Wealth

> ‘Endemic Mismanagement of HUD Manufactured Housing Program’ Nom Turner

'Restoring and Expanding Affordable Housing Role of Manufactured Homes'–MHARR Letter Cites 2000 Reform Act, "Enhanced Preemption" Much More...https://patch.com/florida/lake...

> Big Govt, Big Pharma, Big Food made Americans Overweight and Unhealthy

> Virginia Bishop for ‘Well-Regulated Borders’ Amid VP J.D. Vance Rumble

> Romano-Trump Bans DEI In Federal Govt—States And Corporations Are Next

> How Republicans Should Follow Through on Tough Talk on Immigration

> NPR=87 Registered Democrats in Editorial Positions and No Republicans

> President Donald J. Trump’s Official 'America First Priorities'

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> Rubio Senate Replacement Ashley Moody (FL-R) Gets Key Assignments

> Trump Plan: Make America Safe, Affordable, Restore U.S. Values for All

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> Official Manufactured Housing Production from 1995-2023-Why it Matters

> Anna Paulina Luna (FL-R) and Barry Loudermilk (GA-R) MERIT Act Insight

> Executive Orders on Investigating Biden Censorship & Weaponization

> Floridian Dr István Dobozi Strikes at Trump Again in Magyar Article (Another critical analysis - fact check).

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> Why do Liars Lie? Why do those Engaged in Paltering and Spin Palter?

> Controversy-Manufactured Housing Institute-Lesli Gooch-Mark Bowersox

> ‘Mobile Home Values Rising Faster Than Single-Family’ House-Wow Fact$

> Realtor-What Is a Manufactured Home? The Next Step Beyond Mobile Homes

> Orlando RE Agent Smith-Younger Adults Will Need $8500 Monthly for Rent

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> Rob Romano-Time To Declassify Everything, Or Another RussiaGate Ahead

> Contemporary Tips from Legend Paul Harvey-Surprising Rest of the Story

> Alert: Is Affordable Housing Linked Scandal at Champion Homes Brewing?

> Report: Biden-Harris Federal Agencies Spent Millions Torturing Cats

> Lesli Gooch Ph.D.-Award, Coverup, Headfake, Scandal? Rest of the Story (Manufactured Housing Institute linked)

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> ALG Unpacks Trump Pitch to Cut Drug Costs by Cutting PBM Middleman

> Is there Evidence that God Exists? Evolution vs. Intelligent Design

> Democratic Voters-Closer Look at Biden’s Acts Before Biden-Harris Exit

> Christian Leaders-Signs of 4th 'Great Awakening' Millions go to Jesus

> Attorney John Morgan - Democrat Megadonor on Kamala Harris Campaign

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> USA Today - David Plouffe and Dem Advisers on Kamala Harris Revelation

> Majority OK Trump Transition-Mass Deportations-Tariffs- Is it Hopeful?

> Niskanen Center Praises Manufactured Home ‘Cost Savings’ and ‘Quality’

> Alice Carter-The Northern Forum-Deporting Immigrants & Housing Crisis

> Cartoons-Kamala Day 1, DOGE the Swamp, Brainwashing, & Out In the Cold

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> The Creepy Line-Peter Schweizer-Dr. Jordan Peterson-Dr. Robert Epstein

> Secret State Miniseries - Fictional TV Series Shed Light on Reality

> Trump Transition Team Asked to Prioritize Affordable Housing Issues

> Top 10 States for Homelessness & Top Cities for Crime=Shocking Lessons

> WashPost-American Dream Fades But Assoc CEO Mark Weiss Shows Solution

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> Blankley-Goodbye American Dream? Only 10% Polled Can Buy a House; But

> Frank Rolfe-Special Interests ‘Don’t Want to Solve Affordable Housing'

> TARK-‘I’m a Teen and Know the Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis’

---> Renting? Rent too High? Odds Are DOJ Suit vs RealPage Matters to You

> New-Certified “Half Price Homes” - Affordable Housing Solution Redux

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> Solution: “Would-Be Homebuyers Need 80% More Income Than 4 Years Ago”

L. A. “Tony” Kovach is a publisher who has earned multiple awards in history. He and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of Manufactured Home Living News.com (MHLivingNews.com) and Manufactured Home Pro News.com (MHProNews.com), trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing. ###

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