On individual amendments, however, there were a few exceptions. Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota voted with Republicans to reject an amendment prohibiting tax breaks for the top 1 percent of earners. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia voted to adopt a GOP amendment that called for reducing the state and local tax dedication.
Both Democrats face re-election next November in states President Donald Trump won handily in 2016, and they’re seen as his likeliest sources of bipartisan support.
‘Poison Pill’
But both senators gave themselves an exit by voting for Heitkamp’s amendment to guarantee that nobody making less than $250,000 get a tax hike. She said it’s “essential” to draw “an absolute bright line” against that prospect. Nonetheless, 51 Republicans shot her measure down after Senate Budget Chairman Mike Enzi called it a “poison pill” that would “inappropriately bind the Finance Committee’s work on any tax legislation.”
The White House and GOP leaders have refrained from categorically promising that no middle class Americans will see a tax hike, arguing that there may be exceptions to the broad tax cuts they aim to provide. Some experts have said ending the state and local tax break and personal exemptions could raise taxes on big families in high-tax states.
Democrats also voted unanimously for an amendment to prevent tax legislation from adding to the deficit. Republicans banded together to reject it; their budget measure allows tax changes to add up to $1.5 trillion in new deficits over a decade.
Having failed to repeal Obamacare, or build a border wall, or get going on an infrastructure package, Republicans are feeling enormous pressure to succeed on taxes.
“There’s a real consensus among our members that this is something we have to deliver on,” said Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the third-ranking Republican. “It’s unfortunate we didn’t get a result on health care.”
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.