Republicans’ tax proposals are so unpopular that they present them to a hand-picked group in Biddeford (“Ivanka Trump joins Sen. Collins to pitch Republican tax reform effort in Biddeford,” Nov. 10). Even then, no “unscripted” questions were allowed. The reason is obvious.

Imagine if Ivanka Trump had been asked to promise that, if plans to reduce the corporate tax rate pass, she would shift production of all goods sold under her name from foreign factories to the United States.

Better yet, Trump should have been asked why, in a tax plan that is supposed “to provide meaningful tax relief to middle-income families,” there are so many provisions designed to provide an enormous windfall to families like, well, the Trumps.

Repeal the alternative minimum tax, which currently ensures that the wealthy pay at least some tax. In 2005, this represented 80 percent of Trump’s tax bill.

Provide a special “pass-through” tax rate of 25 percent for businesses like Trump’s.

Allow real-estate developers (like Trump) to retain their deductions for both state and local taxes and interest payments.

Keep the “carried interest” loophole.

And, Republicans want to eliminate the estate tax, a huge gift to extremely wealthy families like the Trumps.

Now we see why Trump refuses to release his tax returns. If Republicans get their way, his tax bill may nearly disappear.

“Meaningful” tax relief for the middle-class? Not only is it meager, it also disappears over time. Huge tax cuts for the wealthy are forever.

The Republican tax plan should be named The Trump Family Enrichment Act.

Sen. Susan Collins voted for the Republican budget. After passing tax cuts for the wealthy that add $1.5 trillion to the debt, Republicans will attack Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Will Collins represent most Maine residents, or only the wealthy few?

John R. Merrill

Augusta