Ken Kies, a longtime tax lobbyist who worked for some of the world’s largest businesses, is now running the Treasury Department’s office that will administer Trump’s tax law.According to a recent report from The New York Times, Ken Kies, a longtime tax lobbyist who has represented some of the world’s largest businesses, has been appointed to run the Treasury Department’s office responsible for administering Trump’s tax law. This move comes after Kies was involved in a conference call with lawyers and financial advisers, where he outlined plans to fight against the Internal Revenue Service’s crackdown on a tax dodge from their “dirty dozen” list of abusive shelters.
Kies, who was confirmed by the Senate last month, has a long history of advocating for tax avoidance strategies used by multinational companies and the wealthiest Americans. He has been instrumental in blocking attempts to regulate offshore tax havens during the Clinton and Obama administrations, and has successfully pushed for legislation to make these tax dodges even easier to execute during the George W. Bush administration.
In 2017, Kies lobbied for a new tax break that provides a 20 percent deduction to certain businesses, which primarily benefits the richest Americans. He has also recently advised the Trump Organization in a dispute with the IRS.
While it is not uncommon for lobbyists or other interested parties to hold high-level positions in the Trump administration, Kies’ appointment has raised concerns due to his close ties to the industries he will now be regulating. This move highlights the revolving door between lobbyists and government officials, and raises questions about potential conflicts of interest.
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