Politics

House Expected To Vote On Final Tax Reform Bill Again Wednesday

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Juliegrace Brufke Capitol Hill Reporter
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The House is expected to pass the GOP’s sweeping tax reform package for a second time Wednesday after the Senate parliamentarian ruled changes needed to made to the bill to comply with Senate rules.

The lower chamber overwhelmingly passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act along party lines in a 227-203 vote Tuesday afternoon.

House Republican leadership encouraged members to be present for Wednesday’s vote series to ensure the measure passes.

“Members are advised that we expect Senate Democrats to insist on a Byrd Point of Order on the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1, which is likely to be sustained,” House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s office said in a scheduling announcement. “As such, Members are further advised that an additional procedural vote on the Motion to Concur is expected tomorrow morning, which will clear the bill for President Trump’s signature.”

Democrats challenged three provisions in the legislation, two of which were deemed to be in violation of the Byrd Rule — a requirement to pass the measure using the reconciliation process. Reconciliation allows lawmakers to pass legislation with a just a simple majority in the Senate, which was necessary for Republicans who don’t hold a supermajority in the upper chamber.

Language related to 529 accounts for homeschooling and criteria for whether private universities’ endowments are subject to tax will be eliminated from the bill.

The Senate is expected to pass the bill Tuesday evening after up to 10 hours of debate.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Democrats’ decision to challenge parts of the bill wasn’t unexpected.

“It’s not a big deal — it’s just a Byrd thing,” McCarthy told The Daily Caller. “We knew that this would probably happen so we’ll take care of it and be done with it tomorrow.”

Republicans remain on track to send the sweeping tax overhaul to the president’s desk before Christmas.

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