The first Republican Senator to come out in opposition to the Tax Bill
(Photo credit: Isthmus)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wisconsin's Ron Johnson on Wednesday became the first Republican senator to say he opposes his party's tax bill, signaling potential problems for GOP leaders.
The Republican-led Finance panel was on track to approve its proposal by week's end. It shut down Democrats' initial efforts Wednesday to modify the Senate bill, voting along party lines against amendments aimed at protecting health care coverage for veterans or people with disabilities, mental illness or opioid addition if the insurance mandate is ended.
But with GOP leaders hoping for full Senate passage early next month, concerns by Johnson and perhaps others would have to be addressed.
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Republicans controlling the Senate 52-48 can approve the legislation with just 50 votes, plus tie-breaking support from Vice President Mike Pence. With solid Democratic opposition likely, they can lose just two GOP votes.
Besides Johnson, Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee have yet to commit to backing the tax measure.
Here we go again . . .
"To pay for these handouts to multinational corporations, millions of Americans are going to lose their health care," said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, top Democrat on the Finance panel.
Now that's there's a chance the tax bill won't be passed...I wonder how the stock marlet will react?
It's been falling for the past few days.
If they don't pass the tax bill. the market may have an even bigger move down.
Or: if they do pass a tax bill but WallSt doesn't like it.
(Even if, for example, there are corporate tax cut but the bill delays them for a year..or more).
Perhaps the main obstacle is not that neither house will pass it-- because they might. However the differences between the House and Senate versions may be too great to reconcile...???
Like it was with the Healthcare bill.
Based on their past performance (which is passing absolutely no significant piece of legislation this session despite majorities in both houses) it would seem obvious that the Republicans will continue to fail-- in their effrets to pass anything!
However I think at this point they just want to pass something-- anything!-- just t obe able to say they did something!
So perhaps they will actually pass a bill this time (by watering it down so it really doesn't do anything)
I really don't think they will be able to pass this or, anything this year, maybe next year but, I won't hold my breath.
Not likely as Republicans will continue to lose seats in the House and Senate. The majority of Americans are already sick of this joke in the white house and the spineless Republicans enabling him, there will be a tsunami of Democrat voters going to the election booths in the 2018 midterms.