Archives for November 2017

“The Republican tax bill hurtling through Congress is increasingly tilting the United States tax code to benefit wealthy Americans, as party leaders race to shore up wavering lawmakers who are requesting more help for high-earning business owners,” the New York Times reports.

“Those include efforts to further reward certain high-income business owners who are already receiving a tax break in the Senate bill but who are at the center of a concerted push by conservative lawmakers and trade groups to sweeten those benefits.”

“As Republican leaders pressed for a Senate floor vote this week, there appeared to be little momentum for amendments that would help low-income Americans.”

“President Trump’s rocky relationship with Capitol Hill faces a crucial test Tuesday in a meeting with top Republican and Democratic congressional leaders that could edge the government closer to a year-end bipartisan fiscal deal — or a federal shutdown,” the Washington Post reports.

“Leaders in both parties spent Monday preparing to make their case to an unpredictable president who abruptly sided with Democrats the last time he sat down with top leaders.”

“With government funding scheduled to dry up on Dec. 8, both sides have floated the possibility of passing a short-term plan that would push negotiations until just before Christmas.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) “is traveling to Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania this weekend to rally against the Republican tax bill, his office told NBC News, keeping up a brisk pace of political activity since leaving the presidential race last year and ahead of a potential second one in 2020.”

“Sanders, who held a similar series rallies across the country to oppose the repeal of the Affordable Care Act earlier this year, is using the ‘Protecting Working Families Tour’ to pressure on-the-fence GOP senators ahead a vote on President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority.”

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told WISC-TV that he still intends to vote against a tax reform measure in Congress unless changes are made.

Said Johnson: “We are working diligently to fix the problems. If we develop a fix prior to committee, I will vote yes.  If not, I will vote no.”

“Last-minute changes to the Senate tax bill could personally benefit President Trump, who has investment stakes in roughly 500 entities that could be affected by the planned adjustments,” the Washington Post reports.

“Republicans are seriously considering expanding a new tax credit that these types of entities use to lower their taxable income in a way that benefits most people tied to these firms. Trump and other senior administration officials have been in personal contact with lawmakers about the changes.”

New Hart Research polling finds the Republican tax bill is very unpopular in Sen. Bob Corker’s home state of Tennessee (30% approve), Sen. John McCain’s and Sen. Jeff Flake’s home state of Arizona (26% approve) and Sen. Susan Collins’ home state of Maine (22% approve).

For members: Lose These Three Senators and the Tax Bill Is Dead