Don’t be fooled; Republicans are still struggling to work together. President Trump’s tax reform project was going ahead swimmingly when Sen. Marco Rubio suddenly expressed doubts.
Trump hoped to give Americans a special Christmas gift- a hefty tax return. Republicans seem to like being difficult, however, and getting the Senate to agree on anything has become a gargantuan task.
Republicans can’t afford to lose Rubio’s vote. The senator is demanding increased funding for the child care tax credit. If he doesn’t get what he wants, he won’t vote for the current bill.
“I’ve been pretty consistent in my communications on this issue and that is I want us to see the refundable portion of the child tax credit increased from its current number… If it stays at $1,100, I’m a ‘no.’ Let’s hope it doesn’t,” Rubio said Thursday.
Are Republicans trying to tank the presidency? Or do they just not care if the party implodes? Republicans have had complete control of Washington for almost a year, yet they haven’t been able to get anything passed.
“Senator Rubio has consistently communicated to the Senate tax negotiators that his vote on final passage would depend on whether the refundability of the Child Tax Credit was increased in a meaningful way,” Olivia Perez-Cubas, an aide to Rubio, told CNN.
It’s getting down to the wire. If Rubio isn’t corralled, tax reform is doomed. The slim majority held by Republicans in the Senate isn’t strong enough to push through legislation.
Republicans need to start cooperating.
Real question: does anyone actually believe Rubio is going to be the one that stands between the GOP and a tax reform win at the end of the day?
— Jackie Kucinich (@JFKucinich) December 14, 2017
(Source: CNN)