and sign up for the email. the program guide is a daily email with the most updated prime time schedule and upcoming live coverage. word for word gives you the most interesting daily video highlight, in their own words. no commentary. the book tv newsletter sent weekly is an insider's look at upcoming authors and book festivals. and the american history tv weekly newsletter, give you the upcoming programming exploring our nation's past. visit c-span.org/connect. and sign up today. >> the "washington post" reports the online filing system run by the i.r.s. has at least partially failed. ahead of the midnight deadline tonight. the i.r.s. acting commissioner says they are working to resolve the problems and people should continue to file as they normally would. the agency is planning to attempt a hard reboot of the system and that again from "the washington post." we'll bring you any updates as we can on this tax filing day.

on the c-span networks. today is the first tax day since congress passed the tax overhaul. we got a closer look during today's "washington journal." " continues. host: on this first tax day the passage of the tax cuts and jobs act, it's a good in with chris edwards, tax policy study director. of the tax overhaul are going to be impacting individuals who are file year?sgiving guest: generally the tax cuts and job act went into effect year, and so his employers across the country are tables. withholding workers on pay stubs should see will see a or 90% tax cut on pay stubs. in terms of filing this year, if filing for tax year 2017, there is no change for are filingeturn they today. however, there is about $30 in ion small businesses

america. their first estimated quarterly payment is due today, for those the new tax law does ffect them and they should recall clat how much their estimated tax is and it will year.ly be less than last host: what are the biggest impacts down the road for individuals? individuals, for the big parts of the republican tax bill were lower rates across the board, a doubling of the standard deductions, so married gets standard deduction of $24,000 a year, huge increase. be less people itemizing on their tax returns. americans 0% of itemize meaning they have andrate deduction for state local taxes, that will drop from 30% down to just about 10% of itemize and 90% will take the standard simplification. the child tax credit doubles small to 2000 dollars and

businesses get a special tax cut, as well. end, who benefited the most from this tax over haul in december? tax cuts are across the board. data from the tax policy center of midand he will tax cut.rners get a end, f folks at the bottom lower income, they don't currently pay federal income benefits are smaller from this bill. generally 80 or 90% of people a tax cut, another eight or nine percent will see another seven or eight percent will see no change. point, four months after this bill was passed, are ou prepared to say who the biggest winner was? guest: the winner is the american workers and the american economy. tax cut, part of the center piece of the big plan, the help all americans in

long run. we've seen hundreds of big usinesses across america increasing wage rates, give bog nuss, that sort of thing. for will be a great thing the american economy in the long run, raise workers' wages. long-term about fiscal health of the united states? was it a winner here? problem here.s a running overnment is deficit. caused by the e spending keeps increasing, while republicans are cutting taxes. so there is a bit of dissidence there, can't keep raising if you are cutting taxes. most of the republican tax cuts 2025, i think there will be a big debate in ongress and amongst the american people as to whether the tax cuts will continue after because by 2025, the federal government deficit will be larger than they are now and i view it, you know, it

will be up to the american can e whether -- if they pressure members of congress to lower spending enough, the tax expanded, but if -- really, it is congress host: to that point, how much of trillion dollar deficit by 2020, would you blame on the tax act?and jobs guest: you know, we don't know. part of the thing with the tax job act, it will spur extra economic growth. there will be so-called dynamic feedback effect from the tax cuts. a static on paper, about trillion and a half revenue law years.b act over 10 but the real effect revenue loss to the government will be that.r than the recent omnibus spending bill increased epublicans

and constant increase on ntitlement programs like medicare and social security is pushing up spending every single year. here.ation of problems i think members of congress, both parties, are being rresponsible with giant deficits we're running. host: chris edwards with us until the bottom of the hour to about tax policy on this tax day in the united states. epublicans call in at 202-748-8001, if you have questions or comments. democrats, 202-748-8000. independents, 202-748-8002. studyrector of tax policy at cato institute for viewers who aren't familiar, what is cato institute? cato institute is nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank in washington. enterprise n free and small government and civil studies s and we write and appear in the media advantages of smaller government. host: did you support the tax over haul in december? i did support it overall.

the center piece of reducing was crucial rate for the u.s. economy. parts of t some the -- congress is raising policies don't go together well. congress should try to balance the budget, especially now is growing.economy most states balance their budget every single year, i think the should, as rnment well. host: if the overhaul was done again, what would you add to it? what was left done? guest: i continuing didn't simplify the tax code that much. despite republicans talk about how it simplified the tax indicate. was someici simplification. other things make it more complicated, doubling of child credit, new deduction for small business will be complicated. to simplify, er

get rid of more deductions like i tgage interest deduction, think they should have cut that eliminated, could have >> describe how he saw people doing their taxes in the future after reform. think that could happen next year? uest: no, it won't bea a postcard. in fact, the acting i.r.s. commissioner testified to ongress last week that they're having to change 450 different tax forms and instructions for tax overhaul. don't think they're going to -- commissioner david at that, here is him the ng about changes at i.r.s. host: roadmap of what needs to stakeholder ght

input as part of the process and at this point, all the forms that need to be all the instructions that need to be updated, the be ications that need to changed. at this point, our estimate, we will need to amend as many as 450 tax forms and instructions nd publications to fully implement the tax reform act. -- xpect to have new forms expect to have most instructions by may and chance release forms and -- to tions over the review and comment on. host: chris edwards, how does that time line sound to you? uest: looks like the i.r.s. is make prog aggress here. if you look at their web page, they are issuing guidance to and individuals on

how to deal with the tax new tax changes. mentioned, for example, small businesses will have a new 20% deduction. legislation makes how that deduction works, you know, a lgs obscure and not clear to a lot of businesses. ome businesses get deduction, other businesses don't. the i.r.s. will have to release giving instructions. william is our 1st caller. aller: yes, this new tax bill -- is going into effect eight different write-offs i had time.is country the tax plan will allow me to be ble to get a little better money at the end of the deal here for right now.

however, over time the tax bill it fades ou once deductions, pe -- how is that supposed to be good for me? guest: the caller is right, the ax bill lasts a number of years, eight years through to 2025. as a small business owner, or an he's a lawyer accountant or a few other get a ions that do not new small business tax break, he probably will get a new 20% break and in tax fact, all businesses headed by households with income under $150,000 a year, do get this new break.business tax he's right, the tax break will through 2025 there is problem small businesses will

estructure themselves to take time will be debate at the whether to continue. host: chicago, derrick, democrat. good morning. good morning. yes. this tax cut scares the of me.t i'll explain, i'm on disability. $1200 a month and, you startwhen the republicans thinking how will we pay for first thing they want to do is hit social programs. -- you can erally imagine, i'm going through hell trying to live in chicago off $1200 a month. i applied for food stamps, i got, receive $30 a month, you know. earlier, i mean,

one potone big or maybe of beans or something and i make days.st two or three i don't believe politicians have any indication truly what are going ople through and they constantly giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires talking about trickle down and they just do not work. guest: well, the caller raised the issue of reforming some of programs like food stamps and social security, disability. and true republicans president trump proposed reforms to the programs. disability orms to and food stamps are very, very cost and they won't reduce that much. host: define minor. guest: for example, with trump ity program, administration has proposed reforms to try to get more back into isability the work force to make them better off, frankly. so it is not like republicans

going around and willy-nilly slashing benefits. they're not. people who get are -- get benefits to get into the work force. growing labor shortage in the united states now with booming.my it makes sense to encourage into the workback force. herndon, virginia. go ahead. caller: thank you for taking my call. i want to say to the guest, look, the republicans have a disease called tax cuts. back at history -- expert expert, but everyone say that tax cut will not create jobs, problem for us. he is saying they need more employees. giving millionaires more money

jobs, the eate more reality is, we have a problem a problem we have we don'tce department, have money to pay people. taxes.one wants to pay look at what george did to the country. democratss came in and solved the problem. now donald trump shows up, he's do the same thing. when are we going to learn republicans t -- have. people will benefit. hen do we stop this crap and act like responsible people? agree with i don't that caller at all. most job necessary america are created by private businesses. businesses and small businesses, they invest to learn return, whether it's gm,they hire people when they earn after-tax the n on productivity of

workers. if reduce tax rate on new invest more, ey build new factories, when you more new factories, hire workers and pay them higher wages. the was the idea behind recent business tax cuts in the republican tax plan, corporate cuts and small business cuts and add to u.s. will economic growth, which will benefit all american workers. touched on this a little bit before. if you can drill more into it, of the centage population received a tax cut or mark asked on twitter. how many went up? taxes areclaimed many going up under the plan. guest: that is not true. look at data from the nonpartisan tax policy center in d.c., run by brookings and urban institute. they came up with now analysis on individual tax cuts that show in the middle class, income, dle and higher

aybe 10% at most will see tax increase and some people don't tax cut, they don't pay federal income tax at alla. vast majority of people will get a tax cut. on pay stubs.t i ask people to compare pay stub they are currently receiving received last year. i think they will probably see withhold are for federal income tax has fallen as they of are the tax cuts. you think the polling reflects reality of people's results here?e tahome pay.anges in are seeing more.

-- the i.r.s. will calculate how much tax cut you should be receiving. worth, texas, republican. go ahead. caller: thank you. hat is the rationale for considering social security and entitlement since we pay for it? guest: that is only partly true. happens during your working life, you would money into social security system and money went out the door almost immediately spending.government there is no big bank account keeps social nt

security and medicare, there is paying in er workers to support the programs and more elderly folks taking money out there is a giant multi trillion dollar gap and the takeay out in on the programs. the timately have to solve problems by raising taxes i or by cutting benefits. should reform and but programs to slowly, steadily reduce benefits over ime and give people adequate warning to save more for retire and rely less on the government. an independent, go ahead. caller: yes. tried to think about the -- and how much they are costing us n the middle east and the a 10 35 series rt and --

save a trillion dollars there. i want to know whatta happened 1.4 trillion dollars that took out of h ocial security and the 1.3 trillion dollars that president obama took out of social security? how much has the war in middle east cost us and how much more it would be costing back ldiers coming disabled? host: a few questions there for you. caller is right. the wars in the middle east were terms stly, not just in of dollar cost to taxpayers, least trillion dollars at from the wars in middle east

but the last decade or so, the cost, human cost and the the budget st of problem, disabled soldiers and military retirement benefits and of thing. the wars were very costly. no doubt about it. the problem with federal government and spending is that across the going up board. the recent omnibus spending bill 13% overall nding in a single year and big increases in defense spending nondefense spending across the board and the cost of ntilingsment programs with social security keep rising every year. really no discipline on the spending side of the federal budget anywhere in recent years by either democrats. or host: not the first caller to concerns about social security funds by president of can you explain just what happens there and how that work? have well, i mean, there

been some modest changes to the programs and social security in recent years, but really, if you look at the how much cash goes out the door spending on the programs, rising by six or 7% year relentlessly year after year. about cutseople talk to -- rams, host: to mississippi, james, a democrat. botheredook, something me since the tax thing come out. elimination of the personal exemption. tried to contact our congressman, i was referred to so the bile, which is not easy. they eliminated personal exemptions, when i file taxes, adjustments of the

taxable income. they doubled the standard deduction, which is supposed to help, but that kind of eliminated the little bit that i can claim on my taxes on my and then the interest -- that looks like it will raise my taxes. been able to get a 4500,ght answer, took away what i could take off my taxes raised my standard deduction to -- what? an you answer questions like that? host: we'll answer the question,

james. guest: eliminate personal xemption, so if the individual has no kids, he used to get exemption, that has been eliminated. ad individual, standard $6000ion will double from to $12,000 a year. okay.ould be unless he lives in a high tax, high income state like california, new york and new jersey, he probably will get a tax cut. people with children, they they won't get personal exemption for kids anymore, but credit doubled from 1 to 2000 dollars. is reduce taxes. rates are also falling. georgia, , rome, democrat. good morning. caller: good morning. how are you? doing well. caller: a question and a comment. my question is, what is considered middle class

nowadays? at one time, during the '50s and making $20 to re $30,000 a year, you were pretty much middle class. the upper class separated itself. now middle class is probably $125 to $150 a year, hich majority of americans -- host: sam, you still with us? i think we lost the call. we got the question. definition of middle class and i'm not sure what the median income is, maybe $70,000 a year. of course, whether you're class or not dle depends what part of the country you live in. you live in manhattan, you will get higher wages, cost of than if e far higher you live in the middle of the country. ne interesting thing about the federal tax code, it doesn't make adjustments for that, the bans and the like and tax dollar and the code, the

amounts have a different effect whether you live in high cost place like new york or lower in middle of the country. host: five or 10 minutes left with chris edwards of the cato the tax policy study director there. if you have questions or comments, we talk tax policy on tax day. we've been talking spending, as discussion t of the and heard talk about recision of federal spineding and what was passed. can you explain the recision that is avenue the white house pursue? right, president trump signed this big omnibus spending spending a reased lot, far too much in my view. there has been a lot of from conservatives and folks who favor less spending. hat was mistake, we got a giant -- an effort for congress bill.s recision

narrow majority from the senate, send to president trump fhe signs that, that will reduce spending, they can cut spending wherever they want. how much here a limit they can cut? guest: no, they can cut whatever they want. is part of the budget act f 1974, way for presidents to exert more control to try to get frugal with e more spending.

most presidents haven't been interested in reducing spending. and few presidents, bush obama, you know, increased substantially. the last president who was frugal was clinton, spending was held in check. is there, thatat should be used more. viewers e to show our as we take this next call. oll call newspaper, visualization of the omnibus on about ht here, gray line hat was enacted in the omnibus spending bill. you can see in 10 or 20% over the left, quested on the various proposals from the house, the senate and the they actually at asked for and those are in the negative numbers mostly in this for the different agencies. take a look at that, we'll hear

florida, a in tampa, democrat. hey, yes. a comment and then there is actually a comment security.ial the reason why mr. edwards the factought it up is hat there is a limit on how much social security can tax upper income peep and he will doesn't want to face the fact that many of the paying people, in other words, business people who social security do not pay into social security limit on ere is upper how much they can pay. upper limit,e this they can't pay, we may be able solve some social security

problems. i'm sure the institute wouldn't the favor, that is taxing wealth and he that is not in fashion anymore. feel that current administration and the cato nstitute and many of our republicans favor the wealthy the poor. guest: the caller raised issue of social security payroll tax, 12% tax on all wages up to around 120,000 a year. caller is right, above $120,000 a year, social security tax cuts out. the reason that is, the benefits tied to amount of payroll tax in.pay so it is true that if you are a a very ire, you have high income of, very high wages first ion per year, only 120,000 in wages are taxed, but years down the road, you start benefits, benefits are going to be only calculated

tax you that amount of paid in. the benefit structure is very progressive, even if the caller is worried that the payroll tax regressive. so in the end, higher earners under social rse security because benefit structure favors moderate income people. say the recent tax cut bill, a lot of misinformation n, it is true that higher earners got larger dollar cuts generally in the recent tax cut but they paid huge share of current taxes, if you look at actually who got largest chad pergram tax cuts, it is people pe e middle, larger percentage tax cuts and not top.le at the host: on social security, any limit, can you make too much to get social security? guest: no, you will -- everyone gets something out of social again, based on how much payroll tax you paid in. wants to this caller

lift so-called social security cap, if or payroll tax that was true, then more money would go into social security, current benefit formula, high earnaers that he doesn't seem to favor would get benefit, that wouldn't help solve the problem. host: to maryland, matt, a good morning. caller: how you doing today? host: doing well. aller: listen, i'm like to clarify a couple of things that the right wing has truly gone out of their way to avoid. one is that with medicare and have to wait don't nine months and be assigned some doctor. i've had major surgery and i best one to some of the plac places. there o like to say that has been no clarification on middle class is and until they are willing to set some middle class at

is, i personally don't believe , e right wing wants to know especially since they aren't there anymore, the middle class -- your definition, matt? caller: i don't know. middle class is mean, the frankly i gentleman himself said what, 170 dollars? $170,000 a year. nobody makes that, how could hat be middle class and these tax cuts, tax cuts were ridiculous. to give the two richest the country the majority of the tax cuts, the the tax cuts that those of us way down at the for, they are only and a thefive-year phase out nobody tells you that, either. nd it is only like 2000 a year

you are going to save in some of brackets and i'd like o know what they plan on doing as far as making people on medicaid work. this, this is id the biggest avoidance of all, they don't talk about the people are on disability who cannot don't d the tax cuts affect people on disability. guest: there is a lot of complicated issues there. seems to favor the current medicare and medicaid programs because he's saying he good care from them. but there is a giant financial problem here. programs, spend being is increasing so rapidly that it is unsustainable. when younger people grow old, those programs simply cannot be as they are currently, there won't be enough money there is increasing number

elderly in america and smaller number of workers to support them. that is why programs like medicare and social security are down the road unless we reform him. middle ax cuts he said income person might get 2000 tax cut that, is enormous for someone in the middle. said i thought median income $170.70,000 not take a typical person earning now, that person probably pays $3000 in federal year.e tax each under the new tax bill, that person will probably get a taxut $8 or $900, enormous tax cut. i said before, middle earners under the well current tax code. host: last call, diane in for democrats, go ahead. caller: yes, thank you. 'd like clarification on the

social security, the way your for the portraying it higher income people, for instance, they get the worst it. of they have so much money, they build up nest egg beside social security. most people, they are 70 and to work.e my husband is 70's and still have to work. we don't have employers that set it up for us as far as retirement. retirement seems to be all on employer anymore, do for you that is o do for you, number one. host: diane, we will take the number one question. guest: so what i would suggest, though, if you think about your -- not sure how old you a working had career, the government has been taking 12% of your wages every you worked, hat which is remarkable. theou had been able to take

12% yourself, put it in the market rket, the stock has grown strongly over recent decades, you would have been under the than current social security system. don't forget, middle income money to 't have the save for themselves is partly because the government has taken so much money from your wages the years to fund social security system. cato.org, to check out chris edwards work there had. director of the tax policy [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [captions copyright national able satellite corp. 2018] >> a look ahead at primetime for this evening --

>> monday, on landmark cases, des moines independent community school district. a case about student free speech. in 1965, five students from des moines, iowa, wore black arm bands to school to protest the vietnam war. violating local school policy. the students challenged the school board's free speech restrictions and the resulting supreme court decision established that the students keep their first amendment ights on school grounds.

she dwan working as a free speech advocate for students. touring nationally as the speaker at schools and youth centers. >> connect with c-span. to