Marc Gerson, former chief tax counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, commented on the House-passed GOP reconciliation package and the potential for bipartisan tax legislation later this year. Several bipartisan tax provisions – including the new markets tax credit and the work opportunity tax credit – were left out of the current package and could serve as a starting point for future bipartisan efforts. "You could think of those tax extenders as the cornerstone, and maybe married with something in the retirement security space and technical corrections," Gerson said. Gerson also cautioned that the political climate following the expected passage of the partisan reconciliation bill may complicate future cooperation. "I think it's yet to be seen what the political environment is after this kind of bruising partisan reconciliation exercise, and is there ability for the parties to work together at the end of the year?"