Rubio defection threatens Republican tax overhaul
WASHINGTON — The Republicans’ razor-thin margin for driving their sweeping tax package through the Senate was thrown into jeopardy Thursday when Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., declared he will vote against it unless negotiators expand the tax credit that low-income Americans can claim for children.
Mr. Rubio’s potential defection complicates Republican leaders’ goal of muscling the $1.5 trillion bill through Congress next week, handing President Donald Trump his first major legislative victory by Christmas.
Senate Republicans could still pass the package without Mr. Rubio’s vote, but they would be cutting it extremely close. An original version was approved by only 51-49 — with Mr. Rubio’s support. The cosponsor of Mr. Rubio’s proposed change, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is undecided on the overall bill and pushing to make the credit as generous as possible, said Lee spokesman Conn Carroll.
The Senate turmoil came on the same day that a key faction of House Republicans came out in favor of the bill, boosting its chances. Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus predicted that the vast majority of their members would support the package.
The developments came a day after House and Senate Republican leaders forged an agreement in principle on the most sweeping overhaul of the nation’s tax laws in more than 30 years. The package would give generous tax cuts to corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and more modest tax cuts to low- and middle-income families.
Confident Republican leaders predicted swift passage next week, sending the bill to Mr. Trump for his signature.
At the White House, Mr. Trump said he was confident that Mr. Rubio will get on board.
The tax package would increase the child tax credit from $1,000-per-child to $2,000. The bill makes a portion of the credit — $1,100 — available to families even if they owe no income tax. They would receive the money in the form of a tax refund, which is why it is called a “refundable” tax credit. Mr. Rubio wants to increase this amount, but wouldn’t say by how much.
Message to Roy Moore
The White House sent a clear signal Thursday to Roy Moore, the defeated Republican candidate for Senate in Alabama: It’s time to concede.
Asked at the daily news briefing whether the White House thinks the Republican facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with minors should concede today, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “It probably sounds like it maybe should have already taken place.”
Immigration campaign
The White House is embarking on a major campaign to turn public opinion against the nation’s largely family-based immigration system ahead of an all-out push next year to move toward a more meritbased structure.