The Latest: Senators Debate the GOP Tax Reform Bill
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(Update: 12/2 1:52am ET): The Senate passed its amended version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on a 51-49 vote.
With Wednesday’s successful 52-48 vote to start debate on the Senate GOP tax reform plan, senators will now consider numerous amendments during 20 hours of floor debate throughout the rest of this week with an eye toward a passage vote on Friday.
You can see the amendments and other procedural motions that have been or will be brought up for a vote below after they’ve been officially announced.
Past Votes
Hatch-Murkowski Amendment: This amendment offered by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) would replace the legislative text of this bill with text approved by the Senate's Budget Committee and legislation from the Energy & Natural Resources Committee related to the Arctic National WIldlife Refuge. Adopted by voice vote. 12/2 1:52am ET
Merkley Amendment: This amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) would eliminate a provision that exempts higher education institutions that choose to forego federal funding for its students from the tax on university endowments. Passed 52-48. 12/2 1:20am ET
Cantwell Amendment: This amendment offered by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) would strike the provision of the bill that allows for drilling on the non-wilderness coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Failed 48-52. 12/2 1am ET
Manchin Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion offered by Sen. joe Manchin (D-WV) to send the bill to the Finance Committee to be revised so that individual income tax cuts are permanent. Failed 38-61. 12/2 12:40am ET
Kaine Amendment: This amendment offered by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) keeps the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) as is, reduces the corporate income tax rate to 25%, makes individual income tax cuts for working and middle class families permanent. Because it would waive the Budget Act, this vote requires 60 votes to be successful. Failed 34-66. 12/2 12:10am ET
Cruz Amendment: This amendment offered by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) would allow funds from 529 Savings Plans to be used on private or parochial school expenses. Passed 51-50 with a tiebreaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence 12/1 11:39pm ET
Menendez Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion offered by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to send the bill back to the Finance Committee to be revised so that the repeal of the state and local tax deduction would be reversed if states' investment and funding for certain services decline, or taxes on the middle class increase. It'd require a simple majority to be successful. Failed 48-52 12/1 11:10pm ET
Rubio-Lee Amendment: This amendment offered by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) would increase the child tax credit to $2,000 and pay for it by setting the corporate income tax rate at 20.9%. Because it would waive the Budget Act, this vote requires 60 votes to be successful. Failed 29-71. 12/1 10:50pm ET
Brown Amendment: This amendment offered by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) would provide for an expanded child and family credit. Because it would waive the Budget Act, this vote requires 60 votes to be successful. Failed 48-52 12/1 10:30pm ET
Sanders Amendment: This amendment offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) amendment would prohibit cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Because it would waive the Budget Act, this vote requires 60 votes to be successful. Failed 46-54. 12/1 10:10pm ET
Schumer Motion to Adjourn: This vote will be on a motion offered by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to adjourn until Monday. Failed 48-52 12/1 9:40pm ET
Cardin Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion to send the bill back to the Finance Committee to be revised to require that tax revenue generated by companies repatriating overseas profits be invested in infrastructure. Failed 44-56 12/1 2pm ET
Baldwin Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to send the bill back to the Finance Committee to be revised so that so-called "carried interest loophole" is eliminated. That provision of the tax code allows investment funds to be structured as a partnership, which means they pay taxes on capital gains instead of ordinary income, which is generally taxed at a lower rate. (Baldwin introduced this legislation as a standalone bill you can read here.) Failed 48-52. 12/1 12pm ET
Nelson Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) to send the bill back to the Finance Committee to be revised so that the cut in tax rates for middle class individuals be made permanent. Failed 48-52.12/1 12pm ET
Stabenow Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to send the bill back to the FInance Committee to be revised to include a trigger to restore corporate tax rates to their current level if average household wages don't rise by $4,000 in the next two years. Failed 45-55. 11/30 7pm
King Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion by Sen. Angus King (I-ME) to send the bill back to the Finance Committee to be revised to be deficit neutral. Failed 48-52. 11/30 4:30pm ET
Casey Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion by Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) to send the bill back to the Finance Committee to be revised to reverse tax breaks for profitable corporations if workers wages don't go up. Failed 48-51. 11/30 2:15pm ET
Brown Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to send the bill back to the Finance Committee to be revised to include a tax credit for "Patriot" corporations. Failed 48-52. 11/30 12:20pm ET
Wyden Motion to Commit: This vote will be on a motion by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) to send the bill back to the Finance Committee for revision. Failed 48-51. 11/29 5pm ET
Tell your senators how you want them to vote on these amendments and motions using the Take Action button.
— Eric Revell
RELATED READING
H.R. 1: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Cutting Taxes for Individuals and Businesses (Senate Version)
H.R. 1: House Version
(Photo Credit: uschools / iStock)
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