Jerry/Iain: Former Ways and Means economist Alex Brill and Treasury official Phil Swagel argue that absent more fundamental reform, ridding the tax code of various deductions, including charitable deductions is “just a revenue grab.” The tax code needs a serious overhaul, one that broadens the base and removes distortions. But just getting rid of deductions without a broader reform doesn’t make much sense since it increases taxes while removing a political lever that might lead to reform down the road. That doesn’t seem like a good trade off in the longer run.