Given the complexity of reconciliation, how will the process be used by Congress, and what will that mean for the future of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and other Trump administration priorities? What key reforms might be part of a reconciliation package, and what provisions excluded? How could these changes affect taxpayers, advisers, and business entities? What is Congress’s likely timeline for passing a final bill? 

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Cara Griffith
President and CEO, Tax Analysts

As the moderator for our Taxing Issues webinars, Cara objectively analyzes issues and asks probing questions that challenge panelists to explain and defend their positions.

When she’s not moderating Taxing Issues webinars, Cara provides strategic oversight for Tax Analysts. She has led efforts to improve the Tax Notes suite of products and to aggressively pursue transparency in the administration of tax systems. Previously, Cara managed the editorial department, including the flagship daily news publications and weekly magazines. She has written for a broad range of tax policy publications, including Tax Notes State, The Tax Adviser, The Hedge Fund Law Report, and The Hill. She regularly speaks at tax conferences and other events, discussing a variety of technical tax issues as well as the need for transparency in tax administration.

Cara has a BA in political science and a BA in international studies from the University of Evansville and a JD from the George Washington University Law School.

Erica York
Vice president of federal tax policy, Tax Foundation

Erica York is vice president of federal tax policy with the Tax Foundation’s Center for Federal Tax Policy. She previously worked as an auditor at a large community bank in Kansas and interned at the Tax Foundation’s Center for State Tax Policy. 

Her analysis has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Politico, and other national and international media outlets. She holds a master’s degree in economics from Wichita State University and an undergraduate degree in business administration and economics from Sterling College in Kansas, where she is currently an adjunct professor.  

Chris Towner
Policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

Chris Towner is the policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he analyzes budget, tax, health, and retirement policy. Chris manages the day-to-day workflow of the policy team and oversees many of the policy projects the committee undertakes. He frequently briefs congressional staff and helps members of the media, educators, and the general public grasp the complex concepts of federal budget policy. 

 Before becoming policy director, Chris was an analyst on the committee's policy team, with a focus on Social Security and disability policy. He was the lead analyst for the McCrery-Pomeroy SSDI Solutions Initiative, where he managed the production and publication of two volumes on improving the Social Security Disability Insurance program.  

Previously, Chris advocated for children in federal budget issues at First Focus on Children, leading the annual production of First Focus’s Children’s Budget. 

 Chris was elected a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance in 2022. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in political science from Boston University 

Patrick Driessen
Tax Notes columnist and former government economist

Patrick Driessen is a Tax Notes columnist and former JCT Joint Committee on Taxation and Treasury economist.