Jason Furman served as the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama. In an opinion column in the Wall Street Journal discussing President Trump’s tax reform proposal, Furman noted the need “for seriously revamping America’s inefficient business-tax system to unlock stronger economic growth.” But he also observed that tax reform is even more difficult than reforming the health care system “since it touches a larger fraction of the economy and threatens more powerful vested interests.”

a. Briefly explain what Furman means by “powerful vested interests.”

b. If tax reform leads to stronger economic growth, shouldn’t a majority of Congress support it even if vested interests oppose the reform? Why then has tax reform legislation been difficult for Congress to pass?