Baucus, Camp take tax reform tour to Silicon Valley

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) recently visited Silicon Valley as part of their nationwide tour to reform the federal tax code to benefit job creators and individuals.

Baucus and Camp visited the San Francisco-based Square, which produces mobile payment technology, and Intel, the Santa Clara-based manufacturer of microprocessors and other computer components.

“Tax reform provides an opportunity to spark economic growth, create jobs and make U.S. businesses more competitive, both here at home and in the global marketplace. It can provide America a real shot in the arm,” Baucus and Camp said. “While Washington often gets bogged down in politics, people out here in the Bay area are focused on real solutions. We’re here to gather input and ideas on how we can improve the tax code and spark growth and innovation.”

While visiting Square, Camp and Baucus listened to company officials address challenges in the tax code that impact Square’s tens of thousands of merchants. Square officials also said the tax system affected the company’s 2009 launch and presented challenges as it began to expand overseas.

Baucus and Camp’s next stop was a tour of Intel, where they met with company leaders and employees to discuss how tax reform can help high tech companies innovate, grow and create jobs.

“There’s a reason why companies like Square and Intel call America home,” Baucus said. “It’s because we’re innovators. We’ve got a real opportunity in tax reform to give innovators here in the U.S. a lift.”