Obama official details 8 ways conservatives would dramatically change America — for the worse

Donald Trump and his campaign allies continue to insist that he has nothing to do with Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's detailed 920-page blueprint for a second Trump Administration.

But Democrats are pushing back, pointing out that Project 2025's controversial and highly unpopular proposals came from Trump's close allies — and that Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), wrote the forward for Heritage President Kevin Roberts' forthcoming book "Dawn's Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America."

Steve Rattner, who served as treasury secretary under former President Barack Obama and is often featured as an economic analyst on MSNBC, takes a close look at Project 2025 in a listicle/op-ed published by the New York Times on September 9.

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Ratter lays out eight ways in which "Project 2025's proposals could alter American life" — and not for the better.

Project 2025, according to Rattner, would: (1) "raise income taxes on those earning less," (2) "cap Medicaid," (3) "eliminate Head Start," (4) "phase out Title 1," (5) "end student loan forgiveness," (6) "repeal the Inflation Reduction Act," (7) "ban the abortion pill," and (8) "bolster President Trump's power."

"Project 2025 proposes to “simplify” the tax code by collapsing the complex system into two tax brackets — 15 percent and 30 percent — while eliminating most deductions, credits and exclusions," Rattner explains. "Sound good? The plan would also raise taxes for American families making under $170,000 a year — nearly tripling them for a family earning $75,000 — while cutting them substantially for those with higher incomes."

Rattner adds, "Oh, and remember when Mr. Trump slashed corporate taxes to 21 percent from 35 percent? Project 2025 wants to reduce the rate even further, plus shrink the already-low rate on capital gains enjoyed by the wealthy."

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The former Treasury Department secretary argues that Trump's efforts to "disavow Project 2025" are totally disingenuous.

"When Donald Trump takes the debate stage on Tuesday," Rattner warns, "he will doubtless again try to disavow Project 2025, the radically conservative blueprint spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation for the next Republican administration. We shouldn't let him. Seventy-eight percent of the contributors to the effort were members of his last administration, and many of them are likely appointees to his next team if he's reelected. As the old Washington saying goes, 'personnel is policy.'"

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Steve Rattner's full op-ed/listicle for The New York Times is available at this link (subscription required).