Tax Simplification Opening for the Democrats

"Tax simplification" is typically a Republican issue. You know--eliminate all those confusing brackets. Or--we will make taxes so simple you can file your return on a postcard.

The Republicans had their go at tax reform, and I'm pretty sure it did not include too much tax simplification.

The thing is, there IS a huge opportunity here. In many countries, for the 80% of people with straightforward tax situations, it is even better than file on a postcard. The government agency sends you a pro-forma tax return. If you think it is correct, you sign and send back. That simple.

This could be done in the USA as well, but the tax-prep lobby stands in the way.

I think this would be a KILLER campaign theme for Democrats.

Jargonwatch: Cover Off, On

In my corporate workplace, I am starting to hear the phrase "cover off on" to mean, well, "cover".  Examples:

• Can I call you to cover off on a few things?  
• Do we have anything else to cover off on before we adjourn?

So not one, but two, superfluous prepositions.

I did a quick search, was surprised to find nothing on this usage. What I did find were complaints (1, 2) about "cover off"--which, I agree, is itself objectionable. One of the proposed etymologies was a mental combining of "can we cover this topic" [so] "I can check it off my list". I think that is a stretch.