Republicans Clear Major Hurdle as Tax Bill Advances
The Senate bill would cut the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from a top rate of 35 percent. For individuals, it would make tax cuts temporary and create seven income tax brackets, with a bottom rate of 10 percent and a top marginal rate of 38.5 percent, down from the current rate of 39.6 percent.
Representative Kevin Brady of Texas, the Republican chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said that he felt encouraged that the two chambers would be able to align their bills but that the House would not simply pass the Senate legislation.
For as much common ground as we have, there are some areas where we are taking different approaches that will be worked, and can only be worked out, in a conference, Mr. Brady said.
Lawmakers are also awaiting a report from the Joint Committee on Taxation that would show the effects of the proposed tax cuts on the economy. That analysis is important, since it will indicate the extent to which the cuts will bolster growth and avoid adding to the deficit. Outside analysts expect the assessment to demonstrate that the Senate bill does not create nearly enough growth to generate revenues to offset those lost via tax cuts, essentially undermining Republicans claims that the bill would pay for itself.
Mr. Corker, who has voiced the loudest concerns about the bills effect on the deficit, said on Tuesday that he received assurances that the final legislation would include a mechanism to avoid ballooning the debt, which has passed $20 trillion. While the exact details were not specified, the bill is expected to include some type of trigger that would require certain taxes to increase if the package does not generate as much revenue as projected.
I think weve come to a pretty acceptable place, from my standpoint, said Mr. Corker, who has stated that he would be unable to vote for the bill if it added to the federal deficit.
That trigger, however, could complicate the bills passage. Several other Republican lawmakers, including Mr. Brady and Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, are resistant to the idea of including a trigger that would increase taxes.
Im not too keen on automatic tax increases, Mr. Kennedy said. Im just not too excited about this idea of automatically tying our hands.
Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group backed by Charles G. and David H. Koch, also blasted the idea, calling a trigger mechanism antithetical to the principles of the unified tax framework that lawmakers have proposed.
There is no consensus among economists about the amount of growth that would occur under the plan, but key models predict it would not cover its cost.
Other holdouts, like Mr. Johnson, appear to have been swayed by admonishments or assurances. Mr. Johnson objected to the bill on the grounds that it did not do enough to help so-called pass-through businesses, which pass their income on to their owners.
During lunch with Mr. Trump, the president chastised Mr. Johnson over objections he raised in the meeting, telling the senator at one point, Come on, Ron, according to a person familiar with the discussion who declined to be identified because the event was not public.
Mr. Johnson voted for the bill on Tuesday, telling reporters: The good news is, everybody agrees its a problem, it has to be fixed. I just keep getting assurances its going to be fixed. I just want to see how.
Other Republican senators who have been skeptical of the tax bill also appeared ready to back it.
Ms. Collins, who has not yet thrown her support behind the bill, said that she felt more optimistic about the plan after meeting with the president.
I believe that a lot of my concerns, it appears, are going to be addressed and that Im going to be getting the opportunity to offer amendments on the Senate floor, she said.
Ms. Collins said that the president was supportive of her wishes that $10,000 of property taxes be deductible under the Senate plan, a change that would be similar to the compromise that House Republicans made on the repeal of the state and local tax deduction. She also said that Mr. Trump was supportive of backing legislation to help stabilize health insurance markets under the Affordable Care Act, which she said would help mitigate the effects of ending the laws requirement that most people have insurance, as the tax bill would do.
Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee, said that Senate Republicans were increasingly united about repealing the requirement that most people have health insurance or pay a penalty.
He said that Mr. Trump was very involved in the details of the tax package on Tuesday and that he took several questions from senators.
He had a vigorous back-and-forth, Mr. Alexander said.
Both Mr. Alexander and Ms. Collins demurred when asked whether they would be concerned if the Joint Committee on Taxation report showed that the bill would increase the deficit even with additional economic growth.
Im not going to be hypothetical about that, Mr. Alexander said.
Democrats on the Budget Committee assailed their Republican colleagues for shedding their deficit hawk feathers and backing a bill that they say is fiscally irresponsible. Many Republican senators left after protesters disrupted the meeting, chanting, Kill the bill.
Acknowledging that a final vote was most likely days away, Democratic leaders appeared to have few procedural maneuvers left to slow the progress of the tax bill.
Our Republican colleagues, in their rush to get a bill done, are legislating in an irresponsible way, especially when it comes to something as important and complex as the tax code, said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader.
See the original post here:
Republicans Clear Major Hurdle as Tax Bill Advances
- Republicans Struggle to Respond to Shooting, Reflecting Political Peril - The New York Times - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Disturbed and deeply concerning: Even Republicans want answers on the Minneapolis shooting - MS NOW - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Pence And Other Republicans Break With Trump Over Pretti Death: Deeply Troubling - Forbes - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Chaos, Candidates, and the Fight for Texas Republicans - houstonpublicmedia.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Morrow County Republicans call on Rep. Greg Smith to resign over ethics - salemreporter.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans Wont Split the DHS Funding Bill as a Partial Shutdown Grows Likelier - NOTUS News of the United States - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Some Republicans call for investigation after fatal shooting in Minneapolis - mprnews.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans appeal decision that threw out NYC's only GOP-controlled House district - sfchronicle.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Why Is the Press Treating Republicans Like Toddlers After Their Agents Killed an American Nurse? - Zeteo | Substack - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Why Republicans invented the myth of voter fraud to justify laws that keep American citizens from voting - milwaukeeindependent.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- ICE killings a watershed moment: Trump, Republicans risk breaking with the American people - France 24 - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans Ignore Democrats Demands on DHS Funding - NOTUS News of the United States - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- More Republicans call for investigation after Minneapolis shooting as it happened - The Guardian - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Native Americans Are Getting Swept Up by ICE; Republicans Say There Will be Mistakes - oklahomawatch.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans appeal decision that threw out NYC's only GOP-controlled House district - lufkindailynews.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Are Republicans Growing a Little Uneasy About the ICE Raids? - The New York Times - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans move forward with plans for a midterm convention featuring Trump - CNN - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Johnson warns House Republicans to stay healthy as GOP majority shrinks to the edge - Fox News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Georgia Republicans are Putting Themselves on the Path to Income Tax Elimination - Americans for Tax Reform - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats are crushing Republicans in this new poll, and Trumps approval numbers tell the whole story - oregonlive.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- This Week, Republicans Showed Us Who Theyre Really Working For: Anti-Abortion Extremists - Reproductive Freedom for All - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans narrowly fend off bid to limit Trump on Venezuela - Politico - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans fuss over name calling while ICE wreaks havoc - mainebeacon.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Assembly Republicans approve stewardship reauthorization, with less money and more oversight - wpr.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans tried to snag Jack Smith on technicalities. But they didnt engage with the facts. - Politico - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- House Republicans tax cuts, election reform, and more - alohastatedaily.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michigan House Republicans threaten judicial funding over proposed court rule on ICE arrests - michiganadvance.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans holding midterm convention this year | Campaign News | 2news.com - 2news.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Maine Republicans call for investigation into DHHS over claims of MaineCare fraud - wgme.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Tennessee Republicans want a Houston-style takeover of Memphis schools. What does that mean? - Chalkbeat - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Louisville Republicans hope to gain Metro Council majority for the first time - lpm.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Jack Smith to defend Trump investigations to House Republicans - opb.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats leave Jack Smith hearing thrilled and frankly stunned Republicans let him testify - MS NOW - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- House Republicans vote to lift 20-year ban on mining near pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area - wcax.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- A Better Wisconsin Together: Wisconsin Republicans couldve helped lower your property taxes this week. They didnt. - wispolitics.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Why Are Republicans in Congress Sticking With Trump on Greenland? The Numbers Tell the Story. - Cook Political Report - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Opinion | Brett Kavanaugh reminds Republicans: What goes around comes around - The Washington Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Video Republicans cut Greenland-shaped cake with American flag at Kennedy Center party - ABC News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans will be hard-pressed to pass Trumps Great Healthcare Plan - Politico - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- State officials say Republicans SNAP changes are running the program into the ground - signalohio.org - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- More than 60 West Texas Republicans endorse Cornyn for reelection - oaoa.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans Cut Into Greenland Cake in Shocking Kennedy Center Party - The New Republic - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- SHOT/CHASER/LIME: Shocker - Big Pharma and Republicans Lied About the Inflation Reduction Act - Protect Our Care - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- ICE Debate Wont Tank Homeland Funding Bill, Republicans Say - NOTUS News of the United States - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Iowa Republicans move to expand gender, sexuality instruction ban to high schools - thegazette.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans took control of education. Can Democrats take it back? - The Washington Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans' Top Senate Recruit in Minnesota Says There Is Room for Her Pro-Choice Politics - NOTUS News of the United States - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Dumbest thing Ive ever heard: Republicans amp up their resistance to Trumps Greenland push - Politico - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans push to hold Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - news9.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - wbbjtv.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - wxxv25.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- This Is Trumps Dark Threat to Republicans: Wolff - The Daily Beast - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - king5.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- The issues that are causing Republicans to break with Trump - MS NOW - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Megabill 2.0? These House Republicans have some ideas. - Politico - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- The Republicans Breaking Ranks With Trump Over Powell Investigation: We Dont Need It - Time Magazine - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans vow to hold Bill Clinton in contempt as he skips Epstein testimony - BBC - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Trump and the Republicans Struggle to Stay on Economic Message - Bloomberg.com - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans Punt on a DHS Funding Fight with Democrats After Minnesota ICE Shooting - NOTUS News of the United States - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Missouri Republicans Admit They Skewed Ballot Language to Protect a Rigged Map - Independent Voter News - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Kentucky Republicans push to eliminate income tax as Democrats propose taxing the wealthy - WDRB - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Clintons refuse to testify in Epstein investigation, Republicans seek to hold them in contempt - localnewslive.com - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans are speaking out on behalf of the Fed. Not Banking Chair Tim Scott. - Politico - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Ohio Democratic U.S. reps joined by three Ohio Republicans to restore Affordable Care Act subsidies - Ohio Capital Journal - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Clintons refuse to testify in House Epstein probe as Republicans threaten contempt proceedings - WTOP - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans Dont Agree on an Affordability Platform Or on How to Pass One - NOTUS News of the United States - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Kansas Republicans frustrated by delay in ban on buying pop and candy with SNAP benefits - KAKE - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Playing catchup to Republicans, Democrats launch 'largest-ever' partisan national voter registration campaign - Fox News - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- House Republicans to hold Bill Clinton in contempt for skipping Epstein deposition - NBC News - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- We need this like a hole in the head: Republicans split over Powell investigation - The Times - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- How John Thune is trying to save the Senate for Republicans - Politico - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Column | A majority in name only? House Republicans are barely hanging on. - The Washington Post - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Fractures start to show in Trump's GOP as some Republicans push back on Greenland, Venezuela, and health care - Fortune - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- NORQUIST: 17 Republicans Fold, Vote with Democrats to Expand Obamacare - Americans for Tax Reform - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Republicans need Susan Collins to win reelection. Trump keeps going after her. - Politico - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- 17 House Republicans vote with Democrats to extend Obamacare subsidies for 3 years - ABC News - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Over a dozen Republicans break with Trump, back Democratic bill to extend ACA subsidies - Axios - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- These Republicans broke from Trump in rare split over Venezuela war powers - Axios - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- The 5 Republicans who voted against Trump on Venezuela - Politico - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Exclusive | NRCC honcho 'very bullish' Republicans will hold the House in 2026, despite historical headwinds - New York Post - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]