On when and what to expect in Tax Reform 2.0:

“The news here is we’re going to release the text early in the week; the Ways and Means Committee will take it up on Thursday. We expect to have it ready for a floor vote in September. It’s really going to be [about] locking in and making permanent the tax cuts for families and small businesses. Secondly, there are these really family-friendly and business-friendly retirement and savings improvements, helping families save more and earlier…

“And the third part…it’s the American Innovation Act. It really is focused on the fact that America has fallen out of the rankings as top 10 countries best in innovation on the planet. …Our new startups have never really recovered from the financial crisis, so this Innovation Act is really focused on those new entrepreneurs and growing them in a big way.”

On the need to lock-in individual and small business tax cuts:

“No one wants to go back to the bad old days where the economy was flat, paychecks were flat, and jobs and companies were moving overseas at record pace. I don’t know anyone who wants to go back to that…

“Locking in the permanence, we think, is fair and it’s pro-growth, creating another million and a half new jobs in the long run.”

On the Democrats’ intent to continue to give Washington your money:

“The bottom line is I don’t think they’re [Democrats] worried about tax cuts for the wealthy, I think they’re worried about tax cuts for every American. Look, if Washington doesn’t have first claim over your earnings, and Washington can’t spend it, that’s a problem for Democrats…

“We’ve chosen to really make a modest, smart investment in the economy – which is growing in really significant ways. We redesigned the code so our local companies in New York and throughout the country can compete and win anywhere in the world. That is making a huge difference.”