By Gordon R. Friedman & Mike Rogoway | The Oregonian/OregonLive

HILLSBORO -- House Speaker Paul Ryan visited Intel on Wednesday and said Republicans in his chamber, the Senate and the White House need to "get on the same page" if they are to deliver the massive tax overhaul they and Intel want.

Ryan, joined by U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said he'd like Congress to pass legislation slashing tax rates for business and individuals, a move he said he believes would jumpstart economic growth and make American businesses more competitive. Timeline: This year, Ryan said. But details were scant.

The speaker also addressed President Trump's comment Tuesday that a government shutdown may be preferable if funding for a new border wall with Mexico is not secured. Ryan rejected that, saying a government shutdown isn't the right move.

On taxes, Ryan and Intel appear to be in sync. Corporate tax cuts have long been among Intel's top policy goals. One of the nation's largest manufacturers, the firm wants to reduce the cost of its domestic operations.

At Wednesday's visit to Intel's Oregon facilities, the company's largest anywhere, Ryan said executives told him they could save $2 billion annually by moving factories overseas.

That won't happen. Intel just invested several billion dollars to build the world's most advanced computer chip factory here, and set plans in February to open a similar facility in Arizona within five years. But Ryan said lower corporate tax rates, coupled with a simpler tax code and fewer deductions, would make the U.S. economy more robust.

"What we're trying to achieve here is to get the American economy primed for the 21st Century, to be competitive," Ryan told a small gathering of Intel employees, following demonstrations of the company's microchips being used in drones and an automated car.

Intel was the first of two stops Ryan planned Wednesday in Oregon. He also planned to attend an afternoon fundraiser in Southeast Portland for two Republican colleagues: Greg Walden, who represents most of eastern and southern Oregon in the U.S. House, and Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, of southwest Washington.

TAXES: CUT AND SIMPLIFY

Ryan's visit is part of a larger tour to drum up support for Republican tax proposals, which Congress and President Trump hope to take up this fall. But after their failed effort at health care reform, prospects for success on taxes are murky -- especially with Congress facing deadlines to raise the debt ceiling and keep the government funded.

Ryan said Wednesday he believes Congress will need a continuing resolution to keep the government funded while it completes the appropriations process.

Asked what lessons he's bringing to the tax reform debate from the vitriolic health care discussion, Ryan said the House, Senate and White House -- all Republican-controlled -- must unify before pushing for policy changes.

"Nail down understandings," Ryan said. "Get on the same page and go forward together."

Though Intel's headquarters are in California, its largest and most advanced operations are in Washington County. The company employs 19,300 in Oregon -- more than any other business. Ryan visited its Ronler Acres campus, home to D1X, the world's most advanced computer chip factory.

Intel had a delegation of top executives on hand Wednesday, led by Chairman Andy Bryant, the company's top Oregon executive. Joining them were another vice president Ann Kelleher, manager of the chipmaker's Hillsboro-based manufacturing group, and Ronald Dickel, Intel's tax manager.

The chipmaker showed off some of its latest technology, including a research vehicle for autonomous driving, a supercomputer, and several varieties of aerial drone. Ryan got to fly one of the drones, a prototype equipped with a camera that helps it avoid collisions in flight.

Afterward, Ryan told Intel employees that the American tax code is holding back companies like theirs because of relatively high rates. Intel had $14.2 billion in cash parked overseas at the end of last year, according to Bloomberg. Ryan said it should be cheaper for companies to bring that money back and put it to work in the U.S.

The U.S. could pay for cuts in personal and corporate taxes, the speaker said, by streamlining tax laws and eliminating deductions and exemptions for special interests.

"Our current tax code is a junker. It is a jalopy," he said. "It is the pre-drone era."

The Wisconsin Republican told reporters his aim for the visit was to have "a great dialogue about tax reform" which he described as Republicans' "priority for this year."

Ahead of a private roundtable with Walden and Intel executives, Ryan said flatly that there must be an effort to "fix our tax code" to promote business growth.

"We want more Intels," he said.

Those are lofty goals for a Republican-led Congress that has been unable to pass health-care reform and other major legislation as Congressional leaders tussle with a White House in turmoil.

And there is still a way to go on tax reform. Ryan hasn't offered specifics of his tax plan, but Congressional Republicans are said to be working on a tax-cutting proposal during the August recess. Whether they will propose legislation that aligns with President Trump's goal of slashing the federal corporate tax rate to 15 percent is unknown.

One certainty: Ryan's tax plan won't be modeled on a so-called border adjustment tax, which levies a tax on imported goods. Ryan floated such a plan this year, but backed down after a heavy lobbying effort against it by national industry associations. Oregon's sportswear companies, which rely on importing goods manufactured overseas, strongly opposed the tax proposal.

IMMIGRATION, CHARLOTTESVILLE

On immigration, Ryan told Intel employees he favors a "merit-based" system, which he said is enjoying a growing consensus among Washington lawmakers. Earlier this month, Trump proposed similar changes to American immigration laws, moving away from historical preferences for immigrants with family already in the country.

No one from Intel spoke at Wednesday's event, but the company would surely welcome a merit-based approach to immigration. Intel is among the nation's largest users of H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, and has advocated increasing the number of visas available to U.S. businesses.

The speaker said he and Trump are aligned in that there must be a physical barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. But Ryan didn't say specifically if he supports Trump's campaign promise to build a much larger wall along the border.

Trump said a government shutdown may be necessary if funding for the wall isn't approved. Ryan disagreed. "I don't think most people want to see a government shutdown, ourselves included," he said.

On the racially-fueled violence in Charlottesville, Va., Ryan said he won't add his name to a list of members of Congress -- including three Oregonians Democrats -- who support censuring Trump over his failure to immediately condemn white supremacists and neo-Nazis who lead the rally where a counter-protester was killed.

Ryan said censure would be "a big mistake," but he also repudiated racists and white supremacists.

"Every single one of us needs to stand up against this awful, disgusting stuff that has no place in our society," he said.

-- MRogoway@Oregonian.com

503-294-7699; @rogoway

-- GFriedman@Oregonian.com

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman





