Marc Gerson commented on a recently released letter from a bipartisan group of 33 Senators calling for protection of the charitable contribution deduction in any fundamental tax reform effort. Gerson noted that Senator Ron Wyden's authorship of the letter is an indication of how he may approach tax reform as the expected successor to Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus. Gerson said "His words and his actions take on incredible significance in terms of shaping the [committee's] agenda, and the scope and direction of a future tax reform effort."