gap. that s the amount of money we should collect in taxes every single year, but don t. 2016, that number is $486 billion. almost enough to close the deficit that year and we don t assume an additional penny of that being closed as part of our tax reform. wise and important? there s two reasons, three reasons why people don t want to pay taxes. there is a certain number of people who don t want to do that. number two, it s too hard for them to do. it s too complicated for them to do it. if it s a simpler tax code, people are more likely to pay, that makes sense. if you can really fill out your tax reform, tax returns on a single piece of paper, you are more likely to actually do it. it s also easier for us to pay the right amount.
donald trump in droves. by way of example, our organization was looking at two venues in the following 12 months, both donald trump have you not in washington, d.c. we have since decided we will not be going to these properties. in our decision alone, that several million dollars that donald trump will suffer in losses in addition we represent hispanic homes in this country, $486 billion to the economy and do our work through a network of 200 local business associations throughout the united states. already we ve heard from more than 25 of our member companies considering trump owned properties for corporate outings, galas, golf outings, even for dinners. all of them are canceling. interesting to me is that we re also hearing, and hearing
properties. in our decision alone, that several million dollars that donald trump will suffer in losses in addition we represent hispanic homes in this country, $486 billion to the economy and do our work through a network of 200 local business associations throughout the united states. already we ve heard from more than 25 of our member companies considering trump owned properties for corporate outings, galas, golf outings, even for dinners. all of them are canceling. interesting to me is that we re also hearing, and hearing frankly more, from nonhispanic organizations, nonhispanic business leaders canceling everything from personal vacations. so i think the tip of the spear is what we re seeing now.
donald trump will suffer in losses in addition we represent hispanic homes in this country, $486 billion to the economy and do our work through a network of 200 local business associations throughout the united states. already we ve heard from more than 25 of our member companies considering trump owned properties for corporate outings, galas, golf outings, even for dinners. all of them are canceling. interesting to me is that we re also hearing, and hearing frankly more, from nonhispanic organizations, nonhispanic business leaders canceling everything from personal vacations. so i think the tip of the spear is what we re seeing now. this will be prolonged. it will be acute and it will go for quite some time. downstream effect will be significant. this brings the question of
recently sat with senator ted cruz. what did you tell him and what positions do you think it was important that he know? again reremindwe reminded the senator of the impact of america s business community certainly the hispanic business community. what this community means to the continued well-being of this nation and the american way of life. our association represents 3.2 million hispanic-owned firms in this country that collectively contribute over $486 billion to the american economy every single year. we continue to grow at a rate that outpaces the general market by a rate of 3-1. and so the reality of it is our voice should be heard and anybody running for the presidency and the highest office in this land should sit with our constituents and explain his strategies and allow himself to kind of articulate why he or she thinks that they re the right person for that job. why do you think and you