Dec 3, 2017
GOP within striking distance on tax reform
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Republican House members return to Washington on Monday — a day earlier than previously planned — to vote to proceed to a conference to hash out a final tax bill with the Senate.
None of my best sources — inside or out of Republican leadership — think there's much of a chance the GOP tax effort collapses.
Per a senior administration source: "There's always a chance for this Congress to f--- things up, but I don't think it will happen. Have one vote to spare in Senate. Lots of momentum." Republicans are saying they'll have final legislation on Trump's desk by the end of this month.
Per sources close to leadership:
- Everyone agrees it's a good thing the Senate ditched Bob Corker's idea of inserting a "trigger" into the bill to automatically increase taxes if the growth fueled by tax cuts didn't bring as much money into the Treasury as Republicans promised. They lost Corker's vote — he was the only Republican senator to vote against the tax package — but the Republican House would have never agreed to his idea.
- "They're really not all that far apart and it's easy to see what Senate provisions are better and what stuff the House needs. I still don't think the House could pass the Senate bill as-is."
- "One thing no one is talking about — the Senate bill is super complex and they gave a lot back to get votes. House is still committed to their post card."
