–Senate Minority Leader: Signals Will Allow Tax Debate To Go Forward
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said
Wednesday Republicans will not block a motion later in the day to
formally begin a Senate debate on the Senate Democratic tax cut bill,
adding that the GOP will also allow the Senate to dispose of the various
alternatives in majority votes rather than insisting on 60 votes.
The Senate will hold a procedural vote at 2:15 p.m. to formally
begin consideration of the Senate Democratic tax cut plan. The plan
would renew those Bush era tax cuts for a year for those families making
$250,000 or less.
In remarks on the Senate floor, McConnell said the GOP will allow
various tax cut plans to be considered on a “simple majority vote,”
saying it is important for senators to go on record on the tax cut
matter rather than “hiding behind procedural votes.”
Republicans support a bill to renew all Bush era tax cuts for a
year.
McConnell has said Republicans prefer votes on three tax cut
alternatives: the GOP plan, the Senate Democratic plan, and President
Barack Obama’s plan.
McConnell said the Senate Democratic plan “doubles down on the
failed economic policies of the past three years,” and it is wrong to
raise anyone’s taxes in a weak economy.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said earlier Wednesday the Senate
Democratic plan is effectively Obama’s tax proposal.
“We have President Obama’s tax plan before us,” Reid said, adding
that Democrats have worked closely with the president on their tax
proposal.
House Speaker John Boehner has said the House will vote next week
to extend the Bush era tax cuts for a year.
** MNI Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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