Treasury Secretary John Snow on Thursday likened President George W. Bush to Ronald Reagan and said overhauling the US tax system would be a priority for the Bush administration in a second term.
Less than two weeks before the Nov. 2 presidential election, Snow told a Florida radio station that the last time broad-based tax reforms were put in place, Ronald Reagan was in the White House.
"This president, like Ronald Reagan, has said he wants to make far-reaching reform of the code a priority," Snow said.
"We only get broad-based tax reform when the president provides leadership on the issue. This president is going to provide that leadership, he has indicated that," he said.
Asked if he would support a national sales tax or a flat tax as an alternative to progressive income taxes, Snow declined to comment.
"The president has asked me to work with a bipartisan panel of experts to develop a set of recommendations for him. While I'd love to answer that question, it is better if I refrain from prejudging any of these proposals - especially publicly - until I have had a chance to deal with this bipartisan panel," Snow told a caller to WAMT-AM's Guetzloe Report.
"But let me assure you, all those ideas are going to be on the table," he added.
Snow has not yet said when the bipartisan tax panel would be named, or when its recommendations would be completed.
The Treasury chief, in Florida for the fifth time this year, is scheduled to meet with local business leaders and bankers in Orlando later on Thursday.