The Tax Policy Center hosts a forum today at noon EST on Should We Put the Brakes on Tax Breaks? (live webcast here):

This year, the federal government will collect about $2.2 trillion in revenues. It will also distribute more than $1 trillion in tax breaks to individuals and businesses. Many of these preferences, such as the mortgage interest deduction, are enormously popular, but they make the tax code extremely complex and are often economically inefficient. For the first time in years, Democrats and Republicans are beginning to debate whether these credits, deductions, and exclusions should be scaled back as part of a broad reform of the Internal Revenue Code. As tax filers ready for Tax Day 2011, a panel of experts will debate controversial proposals to put the brakes on tax breaks.

• John Buckley (Georgetown)
• Howard Gleckman (Urban Institute) (moderator)
• Nina Olson (National Taxpayer Advocate, IRS)
• Eric Toder (Urban Institute)
• Alan Viard (American Enterprise Institute)