# Pro-Growth Conservatives React to “Bonkers” American Compass

Published: 2024-05-21

During a [CNBC interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSBXGjtq2s) this morning, American Compass Executive Director Oren Cass called for higher taxes and dismissed the basic tenets of pro-growth economic policy.

First, see CNBC’s Joe Kernan blasting Cass’s calls for higher taxes: “In what universe would that make sense as a conservative to raise taxes on corporations?” 

After the interview, a range of pro-growth conservatives reacted on X:

CNBC’s Joe Kernan: “Bonkers … Unipartity Progressivism”

Bonkers. Walking quacking uniparty  progressivism. Run as fast as you can.
— Joe Kernen (@JoeSquawk) [May 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/JoeSquawk/status/1792889101764472953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Heritage Foundation’s Joel Griffith: “Embracing higher taxes, tariffs, subsidies, Big Labor, & industrial policy isn’t a ‘conservative economic reset.’ It’s a recipe for economic stagnation.

.[@AmerCompass](https://twitter.com/AmerCompass?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)' [@oren_cass](https://twitter.com/oren_cass?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) on [@SquawkCNBC](https://twitter.com/SquawkCNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) demanding free market supporters "stop spouting Reagan dogma." Newsflash: Embracing higher taxes, tariffs, subsidies, Big Labor, & industrial policy isn't a "conservative economic reset." It's a recipe for economic stagnation. [@JoeSquawk](https://twitter.com/JoeSquawk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)…
— Joel Griffith (@joelgriffith) [May 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/joelgriffith/status/1792887520339886087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Heritage Foundation’s Richard Stern: “[@oren_cass](https://x.com/oren_cass) on CNBC this morning defending the uniparty’s attempt to steal your money and put it in their hands – and to stop capital from flowing to new and small businesses. With “friends” like this, who needs socialists”

[@AmerCompass](https://twitter.com/AmerCompass?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), [@oren_cass](https://twitter.com/oren_cass?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) on CNBC this morning defending the uniparty's attempt to steal your money and put it in their hands – and to stop capital from flowing to new and small businesses.

With "friends" like this, who needs socialists🤦‍♂️ [https://t.co/cgplSrDonZ](https://t.co/cgplSrDonZ)
— Richard A. Stern (@RichAStern) [May 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/RichAStern/status/1792898241593295147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

National Taxpayers Union’s Joe Bishop-Henchman: “Walter Mondale called and wants his presidential platform back”

Walter Mondale called and wants his presidential platform back
— Joe Bishop-Henchman 🗽💸⚖️🚆 (@jbhenchman) [May 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/jbhenchman/status/1792894131443847198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Americans for Tax Reform’s Tom Hebert: “Left-wing billionaires pay Oren Cass to pretend that progressive economic policy is “gaining ground” in the GOP.”

Unbelievably lazy story. Left-wing billionaires pay Oren Cass to pretend that progressive economic policy is "gaining ground" in the GOP. 

Cass says tax cuts are a "thing of the past." No mention of Trump's recent promise to cut taxes for every American. [https://t.co/4dNULpQkme](https://t.co/4dNULpQkme) [pic.twitter.com/0DYQQM4rAk](https://t.co/0DYQQM4rAk)
— Tom Hebert (@TomHebertDC) [May 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/TomHebertDC/status/1792899733003845987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Americans for Tax Reform’s Brian Bashur: “These proposals are anathema to sound public policy and should be rejected by Republicans.”

By enacting these policies [@oren_cass](https://twitter.com/oren_cass?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@AmerCompass](https://twitter.com/AmerCompass?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) would be taxing individuals with a brokerage account, reducing workers’ retirement money, and empowering the Federal Reserve. These proposals are anathema to sound public policy and should be rejected by Republicans.
— Bryan Bashur (@BryanBashur) [May 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/BryanBashur/status/1792917812324745536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)