Trump asks CNBC host for help on tax plan

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has tasked two conservative economists for help in revamping his tax plan to reduce the amount it would add to the deficit, Politico reported Wednesday.

The news outlet reported that the Trump campaign has enlisted CNBC host Larry Kudlow and Stephen Moore of the Heritage Foundation to lead the effort.

{mosads}Kudlow and Moore, who were brought on last month, want Trump to raise the top individual tax rate in his plan to 28 percent and cut the number of people who would pay no income taxes. Their suggestions also include allowing businesses to immediately write off the full cost of capital investments.

“The full effect of all the things we talked about would have a very important reduction in the deficit,” Kudlow told Politico. “The economic growth would be increased, as would jobs and wages.”

Trump has not yet signed off on the recommendations, Kudlow said.

The report comes after Trump made comments about taxes that raised questions about his position on the subject.

Trump had suggested in interviews over the weekend that he was willing to raise the tax rate for the wealthy after negotiations with Congress. He later clarified he still plans to cut taxes for the rich but that their rate may end up being higher than what he had proposed in his plan.

Trump’s tax plan, released in September, would lower the top individual tax rate from 39.6 percent to 25 percent and the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent. It has been estimated to cost about $10 trillion over 10 years.