Two paths to tax reform

Republicans frequently compared their 2017 tax cut bill to the 1986 Tax Reform Act. To that end, the Center for Public Integrity compared the processes that the 99th and 115th Congresses followed to deliberate, research and write their respective bills, looking at the number of hearings, witnesses and government reports issued.
1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House; Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House; Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources, Committee on Government Operations. House; Committee on Government Operations. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources, Committee on Government Operations. House; Committee on Government Operations. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Oversight, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House; Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House; Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House; Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Small Business: Family Farm, Committee on Small Business. Senate; Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House; Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Economic Committee. Joint; Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House; Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House; Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Energy Conservation and Power, Committee on Energy and Commerce. House; Committee on Energy and Commerce. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Energy and Agricultural Taxation, Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels, Committee on Energy and Commerce. House; Committee on Energy and Commerce. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Fiscal Affairs and Health, Committee on the District of Columbia. House; Committee on the District of Columbia. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels, Committee on Energy and Commerce. House; Committee on Energy and Commerce. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Tax, Access to Equity Capital, and Business Opportunities, Committee on Small Business. House; Committee on Small Business. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels, Committee on Energy and Commerce. House; Committee on Energy and Commerce. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Oversight, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Oversight, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Economic Committee. Joint; Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Economic Committee. Joint; Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Tax, Access to Equity Capital, and Business Opportunities, Committee on Small Business. House; Committee on Small Business. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Aviation, Committee on Public Works and Transportation. House; Committee on Public Works and Transportation. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Social Security, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Health, Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels, Committee on Energy and Commerce. House; Committee on Energy and Commerce. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Oversight, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Labor, Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Senate; Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels, Committee on Energy and Commerce. House; Committee on Energy and Commerce. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Savings, Pensions, and Investment Policy, Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Savings, Pensions, and Investment Policy, Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Taxation and Debt Management, Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Agriculture and Transportation, Economic Committee. Joint; Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. Senate1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Economic Committee. Joint; Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Economic Committee. Joint; Committee on Economic. Joint1986 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Ways and Means. House 1 2 3 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 1986 - Witnesses - 13 25 38 1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Congressional Budget Office1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Congressional Budget Office1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Congressional Budget Office1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint; Committee on Finance. Senate1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint1986 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint 1 2 3 2017 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. House2017 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House2017 - Hearings - Committee on Ways and Means. House2017 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate2017 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Senate2017 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Tax Policy; Committee on Ways and Means. House2017 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate2017 - Hearings - Subcommittee on Tax Policy; Committee on Ways and Means. House2017 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate2017 - Hearings - Committee on Finance. Senate2017 - Hearings - Committee on Economic. Joint2017 - Hearings - Committee on Small Business. House 1 2 3 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 2017 - Witnesses - 13 25 38 2017 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Budget. House2017 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Ways and Means. House; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Budget. House2017 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Finance. Senate; Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint2017 - Reports - Committee on Budget. House2017 - Reports - Committee on Taxation. Joint. Joint 1 2 3 President Reagan signs tax bill into law. 1986 Tax bill introduced. 2017 Tax bill introduced. President Trump signs tax bill into law.