Big developments on the #GOPTaxScam in the last hour. Will they affect the outcome? Maybe, maybe not. Here's what's going on, as best we can tell... 1/
Remember, Rs are using a process called "reconciliation" to pass this abomination with only 51 votes, instead of the usual 60 to break a filibuster. Reconciliation comes with some rules -- and, sorry Regina George, they're real. 2/
One of the rules is that everything passed through reconciliation has to have a revenue effect that is more than "incidental." Want to read more about the Byrd Rule? OF COURSE YOU DO. indivisible.org/resource/byrd-… 3/
Remember the "trigger"? That's the hot new idea @SenBobCorker and others had to make up for the fact that Republicans are promising unrealistic (some would say "magical") levels of growth as a result of their tax cuts for the rich and corporations. 4/
BUT -- if the trigger isn't triggered, it doesn't have a revenue effect. So the Senate Parliamentarian said it didn't comply with the Byrd Rule.
BOOM, Byrded. 5/
BOOM, Byrded. 5/
So what do Republicans have planned now? Since the trigger didn't fly with the Parliamentarian (get it? fly?) -- they're not going to let the tax increases be triggered, they're just going to... put the increases in on purpose. 6/
Others have a different idea. Sen. Hoeven is proposing an "alternative minimum tax" for corporations since the trigger won't work. Remember when Republicans wanted to "simplify the tax code"? Yeah, that's pretty much out the window. 7/
So many flaws w this process. 1. Policies are being written to conform w Byrd, not bc they, you know, MAKE SENSE. 2. All of this policymaking is being done at the LAST MINUTE. Not a single hearing where they could have meaningfully considered (and ruled out) these dumb ideas. 8/
Anyway -- that's what's going on. Could be a long night. Will have more later. 9/9
PS This is a really good piece from @ezraklein on how policymaking to Byrd is a big problem. vox.com/policy-and-pol…
PS This is a really good piece from @ezraklein on how policymaking to Byrd is a big problem. vox.com/policy-and-pol…
