Francis knows the issues (after all, he is a Jesuit). He is not the bumpkin some right wingers like to believe he is (especially the Luddites).

Repealing state and local tax deductions is appropriate if you are launching a VAT for most taxpayers and lower rates with few deductions for the remaining payers. This option is usually brought up in health reform where the Federal government would take over Medicaid entirely (or at least for the elderly, which is the highest potential cost driver). This White House has little expertise in real tax policy.