A 50 percent chance of doing the impossible

While everyone else is focused on Anthony Weiner and Edward Snowden, two members of Congress are quietly attempting to do the impossible. They are starting from scratch to write a new Federal Tax Code.

Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana, and Republican House member Dave Camp of Michigan – their mutual Twitter handle is Max&Dave – have been traveling the country – meeting with individual taxpayers and small business owners because even though they’re from different parties and different houses of Congress they agree on one thing:

“The current code is indefensible.”

Indefensible. But can it be done?

Nancy Cordes and Bob Schieffer sounded pretty skeptical on the CBS Evening news, “In a body this gridlocked, it’s hard to see how they can tackle something as complicated as overhauling the tax code.”

But Max and Dave give it a 50 percent chance. Because they’re willing to do whatever it takes – even if it means getting the members a little drunk.

“We put together what we call burgers & beer twice a month. Six house members, senators, to get to know each other,” said Max.

In fact they have asked every member of Congress to suggest specific taxes and deductions that they would keep or eliminate.

“These submissions go to me,” said Max. “And we’re keeping them confidential, because we want candid conversations.”

Yes – the issue is so sensitive they had to promise that those tax reform suggestions would be deposited in the National Archives and sealed for 50 years.

So that even Edward Snowden couldn’t hack them.