Republican strategist ‘optimistically cautious’ tax reform will get done in September

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House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) speaks during a town hall with Boeing employees at the company’s plant on August 24, 2017 in Everett, Washington.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told CNBC on Thursday that Congress can get tax reform done this year, despite also having to tackle government funding and the debt ceiling in September.

He also said he thinks Republicans can get some Democrats on board with the tax reform plan.

Christie said he wouldn’t be surprised if that happens.

Ryan “has many solid relationships on the other side of the aisle. People who trust him, people who believe in him,” said Christie, who served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush.

Democrat Patrick Murphy, a former congressman from Florida, isn’t convinced tax reform will happen.

“There’s going to be more and more distractions from this president,” he told “Power Lunch.”

While Murphy believes comprehensive tax reform is important, he said, “I just don’t think it’s realistic.”

And he doesn’t think Republicans are going to get Democrats on board to support the plan they ultimately come up with, he said.

“What we’re going to see, realistically speaking, after they raise the debt ceiling, after they pass the budget, is a small version of tax cuts for very few people. That’s something I don’t see many Democrats getting behind,” Murphy said.