Rubio, tax bill, CHIP and the budget updates coming later tonight. Follow if interested.
Here is the lay of the land on tax:
-GOP conference bill aim to vote Tues-Wed, not much wiggle room
-Jamming compromise language
-Not yet at 50 votes despite public posture
Also
-CHIP/Medicare cuts tied to the budget
-No real work done on budget
-Running out of time 2/
-GOP conference bill aim to vote Tues-Wed, not much wiggle room
-Jamming compromise language
-Not yet at 50 votes despite public posture
Also
-CHIP/Medicare cuts tied to the budget
-No real work done on budget
-Running out of time 2/
Start with Rubio. He claims he will vote against the bill if it doesn't expand the child tax credit to working poor families.👇
Rubio is well-known for toothless threats. Chances of a no vote are slim. He wants to show he can influence the outcome. 3/
Rubio is well-known for toothless threats. Chances of a no vote are slim. He wants to show he can influence the outcome. 3/
If Rubio settles for peanuts he will frankly play to his reputation.
He needs to be held to a very clear standard: all low & moderate income working families need to see a meaningful financial benefit.
That means the 26 million families who don't benefit meaningfully today. 4/
He needs to be held to a very clear standard: all low & moderate income working families need to see a meaningful financial benefit.
That means the 26 million families who don't benefit meaningfully today. 4/
Millions of kids get hurt by this tax bill.👇
Unless Rubio fixes this problem, he must be a no. Otherwise, he won't even get a press releases picked up again. Let alone be the hero he wants to be. 5/
cbpp.org/research/feder…
Unless Rubio fixes this problem, he must be a no. Otherwise, he won't even get a press releases picked up again. Let alone be the hero he wants to be. 5/
cbpp.org/research/feder…
Rubio is finding himself in the same position as Susan Collins. She had a list of demands to support the tax bill. The difference:
-what she asked for has almost no value
-and she also will not get what she wants and still be expected to vote yes.6/
-what she asked for has almost no value
-and she also will not get what she wants and still be expected to vote yes.6/
McConnell is likely to look at any Senator with demands & tell them it's take it or leave it. He doesn't like backbenchers trying to call the shots.
But if Corker stays put & McCain stays hospitalized, the pressure on Rubio & Collins must be intense. Lee & Flake too.7/
But if Corker stays put & McCain stays hospitalized, the pressure on Rubio & Collins must be intense. Lee & Flake too.7/
What about the CR to keep open the government? That also needs to happen next week & needs 8 Democratic votes to pass. Ds have a lot of asks (next tweet) that haven't been addressed yet.
Given tax bill woes, I'm being told no work is even going on with the CR. 8/
Given tax bill woes, I'm being told no work is even going on with the CR. 8/
The current bill has Medicare cuts & cuts 700,000 from ACA coverage in order to pass CHIP. Completely unacceptable by the Senate.
Dems also want opioid $ (to actually deliver on Trump&s rhetoric , DACA & Medicare "parity" (treated same as defense cuts). 9/
Dems also want opioid $ (to actually deliver on Trump&s rhetoric , DACA & Medicare "parity" (treated same as defense cuts). 9/
But none of that will happen this year. GOP may break these in pieces but will have to put them off until January.
Collins should refuse to vote on tax until all these goods are delivered at a minimum.
I hope this isn't too much detail...10/
Collins should refuse to vote on tax until all these goods are delivered at a minimum.
I hope this isn't too much detail...10/
Politically of course these are terrible votes. I couldn't say it better than this. H/T @ezralevin .👇11/
